the chase

by vamer

ok

The Chase

by kudzuhaiku

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Chapter 1

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Bucky Bitters ran for his life, pursued by the stuff of nightmares. His barrel heaved, his lungs burned, and his legs felt wobbly and weak, and still he ran, his pursuer hot on his heels. Bucky leaped over a fence, barely clearing the top rail with his barrel, scraping a rear knee over the rail as his front hooves drove down towards the earth. He could hear some ponies encouraging him to run faster, other ponies were telling him to stop running and face the music.

Bucky Bitters would not stop running.

No way.

He was young and had his whole life before him.

If he stopped running, life as he knew it would end.

So he ran, digging deep, trying to find the strength to keep going.

As he ran, part of his brain pondered the events leading up to this terrible mess, this confusing jumble of events that made no sense. It had been an accident, a chance encounter, nothing more, something that could have happened to anypony.

He had stopped by work to pick up his weekly pay, not actually on the clock today, with the hopes that he could spend his bits purchasing what he needed for his real passion, brewing beer. He had bloomed late in life, his cutie mark not appearing until he was an adult, taking his first sip of fine well brewed beer and falling in love, hops appearing on his backside mere moments after that first sip. So he had gone to purchase supplies, little things he needed, he had made some idle chit chat in the supply store, and then he had been on his way, eager to get a start on his hobby.

Only things had not gone as planned.

He came out of the supply store, his saddlebags now full of supplies, turned to the left, not paying attention to where he was going, and then he had bumped into her. His dogged pursuer. They had bumped snoots together rather forcefully, coming together with a thud, both of them toppling over and landing on their backsides with a thump. He had worried for a moment that he had hurt her quite severely, and it took him several moments to remember that her eyes were always like that. The two had sat for several minutes looking at one another, at least, he thought she was looking at him, and Bucky, being the gentle sort that he was, had reached out and gently touched her cheek and inquired if she was okay.

But when he had touched her, her cheeks had ignited with a fiery red glow, her eyes grew glassy and bright, her ears swiveled forward, and she let out a strange giggling moan, a sound that haunted Bucky even now, as he was running for his life.

The chase had started several seconds later, moments after Bucky had wormed free of the pegasusâ powerful embrace.

Pegasi were brutes, Bucky Bitters knew this, and they did not willingly let go of their prizes or their fancies, and Bucky knew now that she fancied him. He knew it as he struggled free of her giggling love drunk embrace in front of the store, not long after they had bumped into one another.

For some ponies, all it took was a simple bump of noses or just the meeting of the eyes, and then, life was over. Biological imperatives took over. Buckyâs nose had told him that the mare had more than a passing interest in him. Pheromones were terrible things, and Bucky hated them. They denied reason, ignored logic, and were filled with base biological prompts that made keeping your intellectual senses difficult.

Which was exactly why the grey mailmare was chasing the tan unicorn through Ponyville, giggling madly, pleading with him to stop so they could talk, begging him to snoot-bump with her one more time. She was clearly a slave to her brutish biology.

âœOh please stop!â pleaded Derpy, her wings flapping, trying to catch the fleeing unicorn.

Bucky Bitters did not reply. He couldnât spare the breath. He turned sharply, regained his balance, and then leaped over the flower stall of a mare named Roseluck.

âœBuy some roses for your love?â shouted Roseluck hopefully, watching the hunted unicorn running away, Derpy in hot pursuit.

âœYeah, buy me some roses!â begged Derpy, nearly colliding into a building as she flew after Bucky, her forelegs wrapped around her own barrel and hugging herself tightly, her tail swishing from side to side as she flew.

Other pegasi were joining the chase now, cheering and laughing, encouraging Derpy to fly faster, swooping down over Bucky and taunting him mercilessly. The brutish pegasi had mobbed together to bully him into submission, all of them working together to harass him as he tried to escape Derpyâs clutches.

Pegasi really were brutes.

Bucky ran even faster, his fear flogging his limbs into previously unknown levels of performance. Love between unicorns was simple and easy. A little intellectual conversation, a mention of your reading list, perhaps some talk of magical theory, and life was good. Pheromones be damned. There were magical spells that could rid you of such distractions, allowing you to keep your senses and behave like a well-bred and proper pony, not some sex starved brute.

Love between pegasi involved bruises, or so Bucky had heard.

Derpy had caught him once during their chase already, sweeping him into a near bone shattering hug, squeezing him tightly, trying to whisper sweet words into his ear in between her heaving giggles, her forelegs compressing his ribs almost to the point of breaking. He had squirmed free by sheer luck, falling almost ten feet, and had hit the ground running, thankfully not breaking anything.

Bucky knew that if she caught him again, she would fly away with him, and he would let her, not wanting to plunge to his own death if dropped from a great height.

Pegasi were brutes like that, snatching you up in their clutches, and taking your life hostage to their mercy as they flew away.

Derpy Hooves flew determinedly towards the fleeing unicorn. He was fast, but Derpy had the advantage with her wings. The unicorn would tire eventually, and then they could talk. And maybe snoot-bump. Playing hard to get was clearly an invitation, so the unicorn must want to be caught. Derpy obliged, it had been a long while since she had played this game.

She had bumped into him accidentally, enjoying her day off, out doing a little shopping, hoping to find a birthday gift for Dinky, and the best big sister for Dinky ever gift for Sparkler. And then, as life would have it, she had bumped snoot first into the tan unicorn she was now pursuing, just wanting to talk to him.

He had looked at her so tenderly after bumping into her, his face apologetic and sweet. Most ponies didnât look at her in a nice way at all, and very few of them ever looked her directly in the eye. And she knew why.

But the unicorn had looked her in the eye for just a moment, his face full of worry, and she saw something in his eyes, and then felt something stir within her heart that hadnât been there in a long, long time. For a brief moment, his face had been so full of concern. And a brief moment was all any pegasi needed to absorb the information all around them in their surroundings. Even with Derpyâs vision impairment, she could rapidly take in details that earth ponies and unicorns usually missed. She felt bad for earth ponies and unicorns, and their near blindness to life around them, which is why she was so fiercely protective of her own unicorn offspring. They were helpless to the constant threats of the world around them, and it caused Derpy no end of worry.

She had tried to be friendly, in the traditional manner of the pegasi, reaching out and giving a hug in apology, as pegasi approached everything in a physical fashion. And she had hugged him really hard too, trying to express just how sorry she was, trying to communicate her deep feeling of regret through the application of pressure in her embrace. She may have added a bit of extra squeeze to her hug, trying to express her physical attraction as well.

But the unicorn had squirmed free and then ran off.

Because unicorns were snobs.

But Derpy was determined that she wasnât going to let a little thing like that get in the way. She would just have to try harder, but to be honest, she didnât know how to communicate with the fleeing unicorn. Her usual approaches had failed. She was able to communicate with Dinky and Sparkler just fine though, they understood what extra squeezy hugs meant and gave them in return. For some reason, Dinky and Sparkler didnât get along with other unicorns, and this made Derpy sad. But she was determined to love them even more because of this.

She had caught him briefly, giving him an extra lovey pegasus hug, the sort of hug that pegasi reserve for special moments, moments of extreme gratitude, apologies, wanting to express physical affection, wanting to express friendship, all of those things that pegasi could only express in a hug. She had even lifted him off of the ground, holding him tightly and closely, trying to let him know that he could trust her with his life, that she would hold on to him, keep him safe, keep him from harm, and never let him go. It was the sort of comforting hug she gave her own foals every day, and they reciprocated her affection. If they didnât get their daily dose of affection, they became moody and even a little bratty.

But the squirmy unicorn had broke free and had nearly broken his legs. Silly unicorn.

Because unicorns were snobs and he had spurned her intimate and tender hearted display of affection. Derpy was willing to forgive though. She had seen what the unicorn could be, briefly, when he had gazed into her eyes.

Other pegasi were around her now, cheering her on, none of them louder than Rainbow Dash, who hovered overhead and was pumping her forehoof into the air, hooting wildly.

Pegasi did almost everything as a flock. It was a deeply ingrained part of their being, a practical means of survival throughout the ages, living in a world hostile to the highly edible pony, who was little more than a walking selection of choice cuts, four drumsticks, and a pile of steaks. Pegasi stuck together, raised their young together in rookeries, and took the first step in creating those young in highly developed social rituals, public displays, letting every pegasus in the flock know that the desired target was now off the market, please do not mess with the future potential mate, thank you very much.

Derpyâs fellow pegasi acknowledged Derpyâs display of intention and celebrated her public announcement of a desire for courtship, trying to let the lucky unicorn know that he was such a lucky stallion and that he had been selected for potential courtship.

But the fleeing unicorn had rejected their affection and goodwillâ

Because unicorns were snobs.

Derpy, tiring of the chase, believing that she had given enough time for the public announcement of her intentions to settle in to her fellow pegasi, poured on the speed and increased her efforts to hunt down her target.

Bucky was tiring, his breath going in and out in ragged heaves, his throat burning, and his sides felt like they would tear open at any moment. He was too tired to even try winking, he doubted he could summon his magic anyway, and his saddlebags thumped painfully against his sides. His hooves thudded in the dirt, his pelt worked into a fine sweaty lather, white foam now visible on his sides and his back.

Just as he thought he couldnât run for another second, the chase ended as abruptly as it had begun, with the grey mare ramming into his side in a flying tackle, sending him tumbling in the dirt.

Bucky lay on his back, unmoving, hearing the grey mare approach.

And then, she was there, looking down at him, smiling broadly, her eyes merry and pointing in two different directions.

âœI give up,â muttered Bucky.

âœAw, I was enjoying the chase,â replied Derpy.

Derpy gently snoot-bumped the unicorn laying in the dirt, gently this time, trying to send a clear signal that she really was friendly, trying to make clear her intentions.

Bucky lay as still as possible, hoping that the pegasus mare would not break every bone in his body, also trying to make clear his intentions, his intentions being that he had given up completely and was submitting to her.

As they studied one another, both of them were thinking similar thoughts.

Pegasi are brutes.

Unicorns are snobs.

Chapter 2

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Bucky looked up at the mare looking down at him, looking her right in the eye. Her ears had flopped down over her face as she was looking down at him. For a brief moment, Bucky found this attractive, there was no denying that. Something about a mareâs face over your body, looking down at you, her ears and her mane framing her faceâ

âœYou chased me,â accused Bucky.

âœYou ran,â replied Derpy.

âœYou tried to crush me!â grunted Bucky.

âœI was trying to thank you,â explained Derpy.

âœYou nearly broke my bones!â Bucky shouted.

âœI was trying to show you my appreciation!â Derpy shouted back.

âœBy breaking my bones?â Bucky replied.

âœNo, not that,â said Derpy in wounded tones. âœA hug is only as good as the pressure applied. I really wanted to say thank you for being kind,â explained Derpy.

Bucky lay there for a few minutes, looking very confused.

âœIâm sorry if I hurt you, Iâm really strong. I just wanted to say thank you,â said Derpy sadly, her features now downcast.

âœYou could have just said so,â muttered Bucky.

âœBut I did say so!â replied Derpy, now looking like she was on the verge of tears.

âœA few words would do,â snarked Bucky.

âœWe pegasi think words are meaningless and we rely on physical action,â explained Derpy, one tear sliding down her muzzle and then landing on Buckyâs muzzle.

As the tear splashed on his muzzle, two things happened. Bucky suffered a painful epiphany, and he suddenly felt like a wagon full of horseapples.

âœI didnât know,â said Bucky softly. âœLook, please donât cry. Usually, when I say thank you, I just use words. We unicorns pride ourselves on our ability to converse. Physicality is shunned in favour of intellectual pursuits. I didnât know how you communicated or that you used physical expression in place of verbal. I guess we had a moment as a unicorn and a pegasus,â explained Bucky. He reached up gently and wiped Derpyâs face with a fetlock.

And then, Derpy saw it again, the look she had seen earlier in Buckyâs eyes. She sniffled, feeling his fetlock on her muzzle, her eyes still stinging with tears. The long winded unicorn seemed genuinely sorry, and Derpy felt confused and unsettled by all of the words. Words seemed awkward, and she really didnât understand what was being said.

Bucky suffered a second painful epiphany as he stared up at the grey mare. She was confused, hurt, and suffering, having open her heart up to him, explaining to him exactly how she communicated and how she felt, and Bucky had ignored all of it. Instead, he had gone off on a long winded explanation of his actions, using words, leaving the poor mare even more confused and hurt.

Bucky suddenly had a flash of memory from when he was in Celestiaâs School for Gifted Unicorns and had pulled on a fillyâs mane, and Celestia had personally raked him over the coals. He could almost hear her voice lecturing him right now. He winced, embarrassed from the painful memory and his current situation. There was only one thing he could do. He took a deep breath, and tried to prepare himself for what had to happen.

He grappled Derpy around her barrel, pulling in her in for a hug, squeezing as hard as his fatigued legs would allow, and then finding it within himself to squeeze just a little more. He saw Derpyâs eyes close and her muzzle scrunched.

He couldnât help but notice how soft and warm she was against him. Pegasi pelts were different, thicker, made for insulation at high altitudes and water resistance.

âœThatâs as hard as I can squeeze, Iâm sorry,â said Bucky, apologising.

Buckyâs breath shot out of his body with a whistling wheeze as suddenly he was squeezed back, he could hear his bones creaking and popping.

âœI accept,â said Derpy, her eyes still closed, smooshing the unicorn beneath her. After a few moments, she let go and got back up on her hooves.

âœHow can I make it up to you?â asked Bucky.

âœYou just did,â replied Derpy.

âœA hug makes it better?â asked Bucky.

âœWell, yeah,â answered Derpy. âœYou hugged me and you meant it, right?â she added.

âœYes, but usually there is some kind of required gesture to go along with an apology,â explained Bucky, still laying on his back in the dirt.

âœThere is?â asked Derpy.

âœYes. Usually, some action is taken, some thoughtful and considerate action, showing that you actually feel bad about what you have done and have a desire to recompense for your actions,â offered Bucky.

âœA hug does that without all of the silly words,â Derpy retorted. âœSimpler too. Everything you said sounds complicated.â

âœI suppose it does,â conceded Bucky.

Derpy smiled. âœYouâre a nice pony,â said Derpy.

Bucky slowly got up on his hooves, dusting himself off. Derpy helped him, brushing him with her wing. Her ticklish touch caused him to shiver strangely.

âœWill you allow me to still try to make this up to you?â asked Bucky.

âœOkay,â agreed Derpy, now smiling. âœSo what do we do?â she asked.

âœI, uh, donât know,â admitted Bucky, still trying to orient himself. âœIt occurs to me that a lot of our problems happen because the tribes still donât know to talk to one another,â said Bucky, thinking out loud.

Derpy looked thoughtful, her muzzle scrunched, chewing on her own lip.

âœI thought you were hunting me,â Bucky confessed.

âœI was hunting you, but I thought you wanted to be hunted,â replied Derpy. âœWe pegasi chase one another. You gave all of the signs,â Derpy added.

âœI did?â asked Bucky, genuinely puzzled.

âœYou touched my cheek, gave me a sweet look, and then you ran. You touched meâ You touched me and I thought that meant you liked me, I thought it was an invitation, I was a little confused,â Derpy explained. âœAnd you looked me right in the eye, hardly anypony ever looks me in the eye anymore. So when you ran, I wasnât sure if you were being snobby or if you actually wanted me to chase you, so I chased you,â Derpy finished.

âœYou lifted me into the air, it scared me, I thought you were going to fly away with me so I couldnât escape. I am actually curious to understand what you meant by that,â said Bucky.

âœCarrying somepony in flight is how we build trust, I wanted to show you that I liked you, that you could trust me. I had you safe and secure and I would have never dropped you or allowed harm to come to you,â explained Derpy.

Bucky slumped. âœI, uh, thought it meant something else, I thought that you wereâ you know what, never mind what I thought, I was flat out wrong. And all of these words just feel stupid now,â grumbled Bucky.

Derpy smiled and snoot-bumped Bucky gently.

âœI was probably wrong about a lot of things,â confessed Bucky.

âœSo when are you two going to do something? All of this talking is boring!â cried Rainbow Dash, sitting on a low hanging cloud and looking impatient. âœThere should be a chase or something, somepony needs to be chasing somepony else. All of this sappy stuff is painful to look at and listen to!â exclaimed Rainbow Dash.

Derpy gently reached up and touched Buckyâs face, rubbing her fetlock against his cheek. âœThis is a pegasus invitation,â she explained, and then she turned tail and ran away, her wings folded securely against her body.

Bucky stood there, still fatigued, his muscles sore, watching Derpy sprint away.

âœDonât just stand there stupid, itâs rude to leave her hanging!â exclaimed Rainbow Dash, waving her foreleg excitedly.

Bucky realised that the flock of pegasi were all looking at him expectantly, waiting, some of them wide eyed, many of them confused.

Bucky heaved a sigh and trotted after Derpy, his sides still aching from his long run and being squeezed nearly to death. As he began to run, the pegasi took wing and began to follow, urging him on and giving him firm shoves to get him moving.

âœGet moving groundpounder!â urged Rainbow Dash, swatting his backside.

Bucky was almost certain he was going to die at any moment. He lay on the grass, gasping for air, Derpy standing nearby, she was preening her wings and not the least bit winded. The flock of pegasi were gone, giving them some privacy.

Bucky knew it had to be the oxygen deprivation, but for a moment, Derpy looked exceptionally beautiful, standing in profile, one long primary feather slowly sliding through her lips, her eyes narrowed in concentration. Oxygen deprivation and pheromones. Biology conspired mercilessly against poor Bucky.

âœNopony has chased me in a long time,â Derpy confessed, letting go of her wingfeathers as she spoke. âœIt feels nice being chased,â she added.

Derpy slowly walked over to Bucky, who was laying on his side, smiling at him shyly.

âœI really hope we can chase one another again,â said Derpy in quiet but hopeful voice.

Bucky nodded, unable to speak.

âœYouâre not in very good shape,â Derpy remarked.

Bucky shook his head no.

âœI can help you exercise!â exclaimed Derpy. âœWe can keep chasing each other!â

The thought pained Bucky to no end, but he said nothing, having already done enough harm to the poor mare.

âœI was in love with a unicorn once,â Derpy said sadly. âœHe gave me what I thought were all the right signs. I thought he loved me. He wined me and dined me and said such sweet unicorn words to me. He wrote me poetry that I didnât understand. But what got me going was that he touched me in all the right ways. He knew how to speak pegasus.â

Bucky felt a sharp stabbing pain in his barrel, he couldnât tell if it was from running or Derpyâs words.

âœHe left me high and dry, and all I have of him is Dinky,â Derpy finished, now looking at Bucky, one eye closed so she could study him with one good focused eye. âœI saw something in your eyes that made me like you,â she confessed.

âœI donât want to hurt you,â wheezed Bucky.

âœI know, that makes this a little easier, knowing you donât speak pegasus,â answered Derpy, now moving closer to Bucky.

âœDo you want to have dinner?â Bucky asked, bluntly.

âœMy foals will be out of school soon, I need to be home with them,â replied Derpy.

âœAnother time then? Please let me make this up to you. No strings attached, I just want to do something nice,â Bucky offered.

âœIt doesnât bother you that I have foals?â Derpy asked.

âœIt doesnât bother you that I am a jerk?â Bucky replied.

âœThere was a misunderstanding,â said Derpy patiently.

âœSo then I have a chance to make it up to you?â Bucky asked.

âœMaybe, but if you want me, you are going to have to chase me a bit more,â Derpy giggled, spreading her wings, and then flying away.

Bucky waved as she left, and then he lay there upon the ground, feeling thoughtful.

She was giving him a chance to make things up, which was really very surprising in light of the revelation that she had been hurt before. Bucky felt a pang of worry, suddenly even more guilty about hurting her, she seemed so sweet and harmless now that he understood her intentions.

She didnât seem very brutish at all. In fact, if anything, she seemed fragile.

The thought scared Bucky, filling his mind with worry. Now, he felt like the brute. He had been careless and acted thoughtlessly, seeing the world only through unicorn eyes, forgetting that he was also a pony.

Nothing made sense. This bothered Bucky, things had to make sense or else the world fell apart. Unicorns had an innate need to understand everything.

The wall eyed mare had turned the entire world upside down.

As Derpy flew home, she felt conflicted, torn between fear and hope. She hated to admit it, but she was lonely. While some of the pegasi were friendly enough towards her, nopony wanted to chase her in some sort of meaningful way. Her eyes made her an undesirable target as a mate. Pegasi needed good eyes. Derpy understood their reservations, but resented their rejection. Things had started out rough with Bucky, but she held on to her observation, what she had seen several times now, flashed in his eyes, and the way he had behaved after some level of understanding had been achieved.

Most of all, he had looked her in the eyes several times, and hadnât turned away. It made her heart race just thinking about it. Even Dinkyâs father had trouble meeting her gaze, but used it as a chance to apologise and say pretty words, trying to soothe her injured feelings.

Derpy felt confused and unsure. What she needed was some extra-squeezy hugs from her foals and some time spent in a bubble bath so she could think about everything she had observed. Maybe even some time in the bubble bath with Dinky and a rubber ducky.

One thing was clear in all of this muddled mess, the invitation to chase had been accepted.

Chapter 3

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âœAre you ready to admit what you have done wrong?â

Dinky Hooves carefully considered Miss Cheerileeâs words. Dinky was frustrated, angry, and very confused. Dinky understood that there was a problem, but Dinky did not know what she had done wrong.

âœNo? Perhaps five more minutes after school will allow you to think about what you have done,â announced Cheerilee.

Dinky felt the hot sting of tears in the corners of her eyes and the burning pain of anger on her neck.

This was not fair.

Dinky thought back carefully on the events of the day, trying to see where she had gone wrong. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, who were older and much larger, had been teasing the smaller foals of the class, including Dinky. They had mean words to say to everypony, as usual. It was a common day to day occurrence, and Dinky took refuge in her flock of friends, just as her mother had taught her to do. Dinky had been content to leave things be and just ignore the bullying, the one thing that truly infuriated Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, being ignored.

It was then that Diamond Tiara had shoved PiÃa Colada and knocked her down from the swing. Messing with a flock member was unacceptable, and Dinky made it clear by delivering a swift swat to the tender snoot of Diamond Tiara, making her yelp and panic. It was something Dinky had done so many times among the pegasi foals within her motherâs flock, the flock that Dinky had been raised in. The blow really wasnât enough to hurt, it hurt pride more than anything else; pegasi had tender prides and were especially sensitive to having their pride tweaked.

But Diamond Tiara had collapsed completely, falling down on the ground when Cheerilee had come over, sobbing and crying about being punched in the muzzle.

Dinky really resented Diamond Tiara right now. Diamond Tiara had shoved a friend and a flock member, she had been mean as well as abusive, she had pretended to actually be hurt, and she had lied. Dinky hadnât punched her. Dinky was far too gentle to punch anypony. It had been a simple swat, nothing more, a snoot-tweak meant to communicate a warning.

And now, Dinky was sitting after school, well past the fifteen minute mark, rapidly nearing the twenty minute mark. Each minute passing by was awful to endure. Dinky squirmed in her wooden desk, trying to figure out what she had done that was so terrible that she deserved this. Dinky slumped down in her desk, the first few tears now sliding down her cheeks.

Cheerilee, watching Dinky, saw the tears and believed them to be tears of guilt, not knowing they were tears of confusion and frustration.

âœDinky, I know that you know what you did was wrong, are you ready to talk about it?â asked Cheerilee, her voice careful and patient.

âœI didnât do anything wrong,â sniffled Dinky, more tears coming to replace those tears fallen, her tiny little barrel now hitching from anger as well.

âœDinky Hooves, you punched Diamond Tiara in the muzzleâ

âœI did not!â interrupted Dinky

âœLet me finish!â said Cheerilee in an angry but controlled voice. âœYou punched her in the muzzle hard enough to make her cry. That is unacceptable. You cannot go around punching other ponies in the muzzle, or anywhere else for that matter,â explained Cheerilee.

âœBut I didnât punch her in the muzzle,â protested Dinky.

âœEnough!â snapped Cheerilee. âœI do not want to hear it,â she finished.

Dinky felt quite infuriated, her own pride now terribly tweaked. Dinky couldnât even explain what had happened, that it wasnât a punch in the muzzle, it was a swat, and that there was a big difference between the two. Dinky swatted her big sister too, and there was never any hard feelings between the two of them.

Dinky glared defiantly at Cheerilee through her tears, nursing her injured pride.

PiÃa Colada sat outside the schoolhouse, waiting on Dinky, determined to wait for however long it took. Dinky had been a real friend, a good friend, and when trouble had happened, Dinky had been there. It had been immensely satisfying to watch Dinky deliver a well-placed punch in the muzzle on Diamond Tiara.

Dinky was always looking out for her friends. Dinky kept the group together, never allowing anypony to stray too far, always reminding them that they were safer in a group, which PiÃa Colada knew and understood on some deep level, being an earth pony, with no magic or wings, all earth ponies had for defense was strength in numbers, and the protection of the herd.

Dinky, even though she was a unicorn, clearly understood the value of being in a herd, which made her both a good friend and a good unicorn. Dinky clearly wasnât a snob. Dinky was practically an earth pony, at least PiÃa Colada thought so.

PiÃa Colada felt a twang of frustration and anger when she heard Dinkyâs cries from inside the schoolhouse. A herd member was in trouble, and alone. PiÃa Colada struggled with the instinctual urges welling up inside of her, not even knowing they were instinctual urges, all PiÃa Colada understood was that she had very strong feelings to go to her suffering friend and stand together. Almost anything in life could be endured if you stood together in a herd, and you placed the weakest members in the middle.

PiÃa Colada began to dance nervously on her hooves, feeling dangerously close to tears herself, the terrible feeling of being very little and young, and being completely powerless to do anything about the awful things that went on around you.

Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were the worst sorts of bullies, being earth ponies, they threatened herd stability and caused the herd to break apart, exposing them to untold danger.

PiÃa Colada actually burst into tears when she saw Derpy, Dinkyâs mother, landing somewhat clumsily a few paces away, wobbling on her hooves and trying to carefully fold in her wings. PiÃa Colada ran to Derpy, throwing her forelegs around Derpyâs foreleg, hugging her tightly, seeking comfort, and feeling comfort when Derpy hugged her back, PiÃa Colada felt a wing wrap around her and then she was crushed against Derpyâs warm barrel. PiÃa Colada didnât understand why Derpyâs hugs were so fierce, so crushing, but PiÃa Colada liked them, she felt warm, secure, and safe.

PiÃa Colada had no way of knowing that earth ponies had a deep instinctual need to rely upon the pegasi for protection, fierce airborne protectors of the herd. All PiÃa Colada knew was that she felt extra safe in the downy fortress of being wrapped in pegasi wings.

Derpy could not help but feel that it was one of those days.

She felt frustrated, a little angry, and a little happy, all at once, and it was confusing to say the least. After hearing about what had happened with little Dinky, Derpy had tried to explain to Cheerilee a different perspective on what had happened, but Cheerilee was not interested. She had no desire to understand the difference between a swat and a punch. Both of them were hitting, and hitting was unacceptable.

Earth ponies were numbskulls.

Swatting and punching were two very different things. Swatting was a gentle sociable nudge to let somepony else know that their behaviour was uncouth, punching was violence, plain and simple. Dinky and Sparkler swatted one another all the time, and Derpy never felt concern. Derpy would feel concern if the two never swatted another, it would mean that they didnât care enough about each other to correct each otherâs social blunders. But if either of them actually punched one another, Derpy would have to step in and deliver some serious punishment.

Derpy had never once had to deliver serious punishment to her foals. Both of them were even keeled and well adjusted, good mannered, and equipped with proper social graces.

This was all just another case of misunderstanding between the tribes, just like what had happened earlier, when she had snoot-bumped into Bucky.

Handsome Bucky, with his fine tan coat and black mane. Derpy felt a distracting hot flush.

Bucky seemed genuine in his efforts to overcome the misunderstanding, Cheerilee refused to acknowledge that there was a misunderstanding.

Numbskulls just didnât want to listen to reason. At least snobs could be reasoned with, provided you could get their attention and that you were worth noticing.

Derpy had given up and was simply nodding where it seemed appropriate. Cheerilee was entirely unreasonable. Derpy would have to pull poor Dinky aside later and praise her for doing the right thing.

Derpy did feel a bit angry about Dinky crying however.

Dinky looked at the clock, it was now a little past the thirty minute marker. She clung to her mother and PiÃa Colada, wiping her tears on her motherâs foreleg, feeling hot bubbly anger causing her ears to burn.

Dinky took comfort in knowing that her mother would understand.

Dinky felt a tiny hoof press against her back, rubbing her gently. It was comforting, physical touch was something that Dinky understood. All of the words in the world couldnât match one gentle stroke or a hug for comfort.

Dinky felt herself being lifted on her motherâs back, and then she felt PiÃa Colada sliding up behind her. Dinky buried her face into her motherâs mane, ignoring Cheerileeâs parting words, not wanting to hear Cheerilee anymore. She felt her mother walking from the schoolhouse, her steps slow and careful.

âœThanks for being my friend.â

Dinky heard PiÃa Coladaâs words and felt a bit of comfort. She felt PiÃa Coladaâs nose pressing into her own mane, and the painful frustration of the after school detention began to melt away as Dinky felt PiÃa Colada breathing against her.

âœIâm sorry mommy,â mumbled Dinky.

âœShush Dinky Doo Hooves, weâll talk when we get home. Youâre not in trouble,â replied Derpy in soothing tones. âœToday has been full of misunderstandings,â she added.

âœIt sure has,â Dinky said, sniffling.

âœI have a funny story to tell you Dinky," said Derpy.

Dinky did not reply, she just sighed and snuggled deeper into her motherâs neck.

âœThank you Dinky,â PiÃa Colada said, wrapping her forelegs around Dinky and squeezing tightly, feeling a warm rush of gratitude for her friend.

Chapter 4

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Life was all about chasing something worth having.

These words summed up her motherâs philosophy and Sparkler reflected upon them, not sure what to chase or what was worth chasing. Sparkler couldnât make sense of her life right now. Nothing seemed to fit. Nothing seemed to make sense. Sparkler was certain it was mostly because she was a moody teenaged filly, but there were other little niggling thoughts that wormed through her brain.

She thought about her real mother, an earth pony, who had been an older friend of Derpyâs, and who had seen Derpy through tough times. Tough times being Derpy becoming pregnant, a teenaged filly herself at the time, and all of the trouble that goes along with being in that position. Sparkler could remember Dinky being born. She remembered being Dinkyâs foalsitter. She remembered Derpy being part of the family.

She remembered her mother trying to come home in time for Hearthâs Warming and she remembered the terrible news of the train derailment. Sparkler remembered Derpyâs struggle to keep the family together, getting a job as a mailmare, and keeping them all together, if only just barely. She remembered everything that made her who she was, and while she knew who she was, she felt like she really didnât fit with anypony in particular. It was tough being gifted with introspection, it made being young much, much harder than it needed to be, and caused no end of problems for Sparklerâs social life.

It was tough being a unicorn that didnât get along with other unicorns, she didnât feel like she fit in with the earth ponies which she had been raised with, and she felt like an outsider with the flock of pegasi that tried to make her feel welcome.

The only real anchor point Sparkler felt she had in her life was being Dinkyâs sister and best friend. It defined her.

It was a good day to be walking, and Sparkler thought about all of these things as she walked. She walked alone, her head high, proud in a way that only gawky socially awkward outcasts could be proud, pondering what it meant to chase something, what to chase, all of these things that defined her and how they would fit in to her pursuit of life.

Entirely by accident, Sparkler thought of Rising Star, a unicorn colt about a year younger than herself.

Thereâs something worth chasing her hormone flooded teenaged brain suggested.

Sparkler swiftly kicked that thought from her mind. No colts. Sparkler remembered all too well what Derpy had gone through. Rising Star, the affable slam poet. Rising Star, who even now, was causing Sparklerâs cheeks to blush, a fact that completely skipped Sparklerâs mind. Rising Star, who had once slipped a poem about pretty purple unicorns into one of her schoolbooks, Rising Star, who had once called Sparkler his muse.

Rising Star, who was currently sitting on a chair, seated at a table, drinking a soda and getting friendly with Apple Cobblerâ

Sparkler felt a white hot rage boil up inside of her and she began to grind her teeth. She snorted a few times, pawing at the earth with her hoof, her tail swishing from side to side angrily.

Rising Star, who even now, was looking at her with a dawning sense of horror, worry, and concern. The young colt slowly eased out of his chair, never once breaking eye contact with the snorting filly who stood pawing the earth.

Rising Star bolted ahead at a full gallop, his hooves pounding the road, his breath hot in his nostrils. Sparkler really was being unreasonable. She had made it rather clear that she wasnât interested in colts, and, by extension, not interested in him. So he had moved on.

It was a mistake he now regretted.

The snorting screaming filly wasnât acting anything at all like a unicorn, and his attempts to reason with her had gone terribly wrong. Trying to soothe her with gentle words had only seemed to further infuriate her. Too late, Rising Star learned a valuable lesson that sometimes, fillies and mares said one thing but meant another.

While she had said she wasnât interested in colts, clearly this wasnât the case, and held some lingering interest in at least one colt. And Rising Star wished that it wasnât him.

Oh, she had interested him, she was different. She was mysterious and truly unique, not something easily understood. Her perceptions and perspectives were entirely different and frequently oddâ and Rising Star had drawn a great deal of inspiration from her. She had influenced his poetry a great deal. Out of her mouth came wise things, meaningful things, she asked beautiful questions about the nature of life.

Except that right now, what came out of her mouth wasnât beautiful, but Rising Star was certain some of the things she screamed might have been questions.

Pegasi were swooping down now, harassing and jeering at Rising Star, and he cursed himself for ever taking interest in a unicorn that was part of a flock of pegasi.

âœIâd run faster if I was you,â a pegasi said helpfully.

âœYeah, the faster you run, the better the chase is,â said another.

âœNothing else turns you on quite like a good chase does,â added another with a saucy wink, rolling through the air as she did so.

Rising Star panicked. Something was dreadfully wrong with pegasi he concluded. He struggled to pick up the pace, the pegasi all around him laughing and carrying on.

âœSecond chase today, spring is wonderful!â exclaimed a pegasus swooping lazily through the air.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders came parading out of Sugarcube Corner, muzzles sticky with sweets, and Rising Star swerved to avoid them. Doing so, he lost his footage, slipping and skidding, his hind hooves sliding out from underneath him, causing him to tumble down in a heap.

The angry purple unicorn known as Sparkler placed her hoof down on Rising Starâs barrel and began to apply pressure, scowling angrily as she did so.

âœI donât understand why you are angry!â shouted Rising Star. âœYou told me you werenât interested,â he added.

âœI thought I wasnât,â confessed Sparkler.

âœSo I moved on and started saying hello to other fillies, I am allowed to do that,â Rising Star said, his breath heavy with panic.

âœNot any more youâre not!â Sparkler growled.

âœIâm very confused!â shouted Rising Star, the pressure from Sparklerâs hoof becoming somewhat uncomfortable.

âœSo am I!â replied Sparkler.

âœAtta girl Sparky, show him who is in charge!â shouted Raindrops, a pegasus Sparkler knew well. âœIf you stand on his tail, he will not be able to get away again if he shoves you off!â Raindrops shouted helpfully.

Sparkler placed a hind hoof down on Rising Starâs tail and her scowl intensified.

âœAww, young love is so adorable!â shouted Rainbowshine.

Sparkler felt her cheeks begin to burn fiercely. Is that what this was? She felt horrified for a brief moment, not sure about the source of her behaviour.

A crowd had gathered, all of them watching with a great deal of interest. Including Apple Cobbler, who had finally caught up and was now watching the scene unfold.

âœDonât just lay there!â shouted Rainbowshine helpfully. âœShove her off, give her a tumble, wait for her to get up, and then chase her back you dimwit!â she added, making wild gestures with her front hooves.

Confusion settled over Sparkler, pressing down on her shoulders like a physical weight. Poor Rising Star wasnât faring much better, his eyes were wide with panic and his nostrils flared with fear.

âœWeâll talk later when I can see only one of you,â hissed Sparkler, pushing herself away from Rising Star and running away.

Rising Star did not give chase. He lay there, in the road, still trying to catch his breath, feeling very confused, a little afraid, and a renewed sense of attraction for Sparkler. This was poetic. This was something to write about. He had discovered his muse was an Angry Goddess, and she was a Jealous Goddess. His brain flooded with all kinds of poetic inspiration, words, imagery, feelings, things that would turn into art if given enough time to incubate. He vowed silently to create something worthy of his muse.

The schoolmarm Cheerilee sighed as she began to clean up the schoolhouse, the day finally over. It had been a long trying day. She loved little fillies and colts a great deal, and tried to be a good teacher, but the job was difficult and full of pitfalls. Managing the three tribes all under one roof was a tricky task, which is why so many schools in bigger cities were still segregated, pegasi foals attending one school, earth ponies attending another, and unicorns usually going to some magical academy of some sort. Ponyville was too small for that though. So the three tribes were thrown together. It was wonderful sometimes, seeing the tribes together, working with one another in understanding, and it was a total nightmare at other times. And poor Cheerilee was caught in the middle of all of it. Tribal politics played out here every day, different ponies wanting different concessions made for their foals, because their foals were pegasi, or earth ponies, or unicorns. All of them had special needs and certain behaviours should be overlooked simply because of this reason or that reason. Only Cheerilee refused to overlook bad behaviour or give concessions for tribal identity. In her classroom, a pony was a pony, and nothing else. Nopony got special treatment for any reason.

It hadnât been easy trying to explain to Derpy that it didnât matter why Dinky had hit somepony, or how Dinky had hit somepony, what was important was, Dinky had hit somepony. And that just wasnât allowed. At all. For any reason. It was frustrating trying to get the grey mare to see reason, that hitting in any form was wrong and would not be tolerated in school. Cheerilee understood that different ponies had different ways, but this was her schoolhouse, and ponies were all expected to stick to a single model of behaviour. Her own. Swatting, punching, hitting, slapping, it was all the same and it all carried the same penalty. There was no distinguishing between different types of hitting, all of it was forbidden.

Even more of a concern was Diamond Tiara, who was facing her third school suspension this semester, the third strike meaning that a meeting had to take place with the school board and Diamond Tiaraâs parents.

A very stressful meeting that was certain not to go well.

Last year Diamond Tiara had reached five suspensions before being forcibly removed from school, and her parents required to hire a private tutor. Almost all of those suspensions had involved Diamond Tiara teasing other foals, usually the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders had been getting wise though, and had banded together, ignoring Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, which drove the two troublemakers crazy. This year, they had begun picking on the little foals, the youngest and the smallest, those in the lower grades, and it was infuriating.

Cheerilee herself wanted to slap the wretched little monsters, it was something she daydreamed about and had once even received a visit from Princess Luna about, in the form of a very troubling dream that had almost caused her to quit her job as a school teacher.

It was troubling to feel like a hypocrite, trying to explain why hitting in any form was wrong, when what you really wanted more than anything else was to bring back paddling and deliver a good old fashioned front of the classroom paddling for the source of almost all of the misery in your life. Cheerilee was just old enough to remember how things used to be, and felt ashamed that she desired a return to those times, at least for two little fillies that had become her bane, a painful thorn in her frog.

Frustration overwhelmed poor Cheerilee as she sat down at her desk and she began to cry, finally alone, free to vent her feelings.

Tomorrow she would have to face this all over again.

The kitchen was beginning to fill with delightful aromas when Derpy heard the front door open and then close, indicating that Sparkler was home. Dinky fled the kitchen immediately, squealing with excitement, eager to see her big sister.

âœMother, before you hear any gossip, I want you to know that today I chased a colt and nearly gave him a good thumping,â said Sparkler, sticking her head into the kitchen door, Dinky securely attached to her foreleg as she walked.

âœHeh, I had myself a chase today as well,â replied Derpy, laughing.

âœI swatted Diamond Tiara in the snotlocker and got in trouble,â quipped Dinky.

âœWhy would you get in trouble for that?â asked Sparkler, looking down at the foal clinging to her foreleg. âœAnd Dinky, snotlocker, really? I thought we called noses the booger bunker,â Sparkler finished.

Dinky shrugged and began to rub her muzzle against her sisterâs shoulder.

âœSet the table Sparkler, have a seat, and weâll all sit down and talk over dinner,â said Derpy, stirring a pot with a spoon held in her wing.

The unicorn filly did as she was bid, Dinky still clinging to her leg like a parasitic growth, an adorable and insufferably cute parasitic growth.

Chapter 5

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Above the center of the town of Ponyville, there was a cloud. And from the side of this cloud dangled a tail. A rainbow coloured tail. The tail was attached to a napping blue pegasus. The napping blue pegasus was nestled into the cloud, snoring peacefully, having a late nap as the afternoon now transitioned into evening.

Pegasi, always above everything and everypony, always looking down on everypony below them. The napping blue pegasus was the embodiment with everything that one pony believed was wrong with the pegasus tribe.

And that ponyâs name was Filthy Rich.

Pegasi are brutes. Lazy brutes who contribute nothing to society and who once stole food from us hard working earth ponies. How hard could it be to manage the weather? They do so little and take so much. My taxes pay for the weather team and all they ever do is nap.

Filthy Rich fumed as he stared upward at the rainbow coloured tail, and he internally debated with himself about lecturing the lazy layabout pegasus. Against his own better judgment, he bit his tongue and went home, making plans to tell his filly Diamond Tiara in great detail everything that was wrong in the world, hoping to make her see just how important it was for her to stand up for herself and never once give in to the world that was going to try and shake her down for everything she was worth.

The exhausted Rainbow Dash was taking a well-deserved nap on a cloud, having just finished mapping the area for the upcoming scheduled rainstorm. She had to take note of the dry patches of soil, the moist patches of soil, and the so so patches of earth and soil, observe for flags left out by hopeful farmers needing rain, and check the levels of various ponds and places where runoff went.

All of this mapping culminated with a trip to the upper level atmosphere, an extremely high altitude, which took a great deal of effort, and Rainbow Dash had to do it almost daily, to monitor everything in a wide radius around Ponyville.

The flight was exhausting, as Rainbow Dash had short wings. She had to actually fly up to where she needed to be, she couldnât glide up there on updrafts and rising currents, conserving energy. No, it was all active effort, and it required thousands and thousands of calories every day to keep her body fueled. It was also tiring.

And that was only one of her dozens of duties as the weather captain. Rainbow Dash frequently spent her days in a state of near exhaustion, sometimes struggling to keep her eyes open through her many daily tasks.

The occasional nap kept her safe and allowed her to do her job, which was unbelievably complex. And then ponies like Filthy Rich had the audacity to lecture her on occasion for napping on a cloud.

Those groundpounding numbskulls had no idea how good they had it, their lives were unbelievably easy. They didnât have to have to work all that hard at anything, and were kept safe by the pegasi watching over them. A little gratitude once in a while might be nice.

Sweet potatoes were perhaps Dinkyâs most favouritest food ever. She was already feeling kinda full, but she managed to spoon in a few more bites of the buttery sweet potato on her plate. While butterscotch pudding was a tempting dessert, sweet potatoes were the greatest thing ever.

The little unicorn foal felt like she was going to pop at any moment.

Feeling very satisfied, Dinky rubbed her belly and let out a small belch.

âœDinky Doo Hooves!â Where are your manners?â Derpy demanded.

Dinky hung her head guiltily, still rubbing her belly, now feeling very, very ashamed of herself. She was almost certain that she didnât need to wonder if she had room for dessert. Her mother was glaring at her fiercely, one eye narrowed and focused; the other eye winked shut so Derpy could get her good eye to see clearly.

Dinky took a deep breath, and then another, feeling all of the pressure of the day, and everything that had happened, and felt the dreadful urge to cry again. She struggled, knowing that she had to make this right somehow, her mother was really angry right now.

âœBRRRRRRRAAAAAAURGURGLEGRAAAAAAAAAP!â

Dinky Doo Hooves had to reach in deep and really go for the gusto to make up for her earlier blunder. She had opened her mouth wide, as wide as possible, and even allowed her tongue to dangle out as she belched. The noise was extra resonant and gurgly, and her artistic resonations and the subtle rise and fall in pitch showed that she really appreciated her motherâs efforts.

Sparkler giggled behind her hoof.

âœApology accepted,â Derpy acquiesced, not certain that Dinky had really made her best effort. She had heard better from Dinky. It was a constant struggle, trying to get Dinky to learn good table manners. The little unicorn foal kept letting out the most halfhearted burps and farts, and Derpy quietly wondered if Dinky was reaching some stage of rebellion common during foal hood and the early stages of growth and development.

Her adopted daughter Sparkler on the other hoof, was no slouch. She had been raised by earth ponies. And while earth ponies had different table manners than pegasi, they found humour in bodily functions, and appreciated a good belch or a ripping bit of flatulence. For Sparkler, the transition in table manners had been stunningly easy. Sparklerâs earlier belch was almost deafening.

âœMother,â said Sparkler, pushing her plate away and looking her mother in the eye. âœI am a very confused filly right now. I chased a colt today. I saw him with Apple Cobbler and sort of freaked out. I told him that I wasnât interested in him but seeing him with her made me go nuts. And I really donât want to get involved with a colt because of what happened to you,â explained Sparkler.

âœI regret nothing,â reassured Derpy. âœI have Dinky. Times were tough, but we got through them. You shouldnât let what happened hold you back. You should feel free to love if you want to. Just learn from what happened and donât let yourself get sweet talked into something you are not ready for,â the grey mare finished.

âœI donât know what I am doing,â Sparkler confessed. âœI really donât fit in with other ponies, I am not even sure how I work, and I donât know if I can figure out how dating a colt works,â continued Sparkler.

âœYou are my Sparkler. I love you, and your mother loved you. You just need to figure out who and what you are my silly filly,â Derpy said lovingly.

âœYouâre my sister, no need to be anything else,â Dinky offered. âœI donât want you dating. I want you all for myself,â confessed Dinky.

âœI chased a stallion today,â Derpy said. âœWe snoot-bumped. By accident. And I saw something in his eyes. Heâs special. There was a bit of a misunderstanding though. Well, a big misunderstanding really. But he was really nice about everything and tried so hard to make it up to me,â the pegasus mare added as she began to fluff out her feathers and waggle her ears. âœSometimes I just donât know what goes wrongââ Derpy added, trailing off.

âœI still donât understand the chase thing,â Sparkler said.

âœPegasus tradition,â replied Derpy.

âœWhat do unicorns do?â asked Sparkler.

âœGet chased apparently,â replied Derpy, now shaking with laughter.

Sparkler giggled and felt better. Her mother had a simple approach to everything.

âœColts have cooties,â Dinky said in embarrassed tones.

âœSo do little fillies,â replied Sparkler, smiling at her sister.

âœNo really, colts are gross. And one came into the little fillies room the other day and scared us all!â Dinky exclaimed. âœRumble really had to go and the coltâs room was full so he came right in and did his business. It was gross!â Dinky said, waving her hooves alarmingly.

âœAw, come on Dinky, not all colts are bad. One day you are going to grow up and think one of them is worth chasing,â teased Derpy, her tone gentle.

âœNuh-huh!â Dinky retorted. âœPiÃa Colada and I have promised to protect each other from colts because theyâre icky,â the unicorn filly added.

âœYou and PiÃa Colada seem to be really good friends,â Sparkler said.

âœBerry Punch and I are good friends,â mentioned Derpy. âœMakes sense with how much time Dinky and PiÃa Colada spend together because of Berry and I,â added Derpy.

âœBerry Punch and my mother were good friends. I get confused sometimes. I donât know if I love Berry Punch because of who she is or because of the memories of my mother that she holds,â said Sparkler, suddenly looking a little sad.

âœYou are confusing the two,â Derpy answered. âœBerry Punch is who she is because she holds your motherâs memories. They were very, very close. Losing your mother made life very difficult for Berry,â Derpy explained.

âœI once wondered if I loved you because you were my best friend or because you were my big sister,â Dinky said. âœAnd it took me a while to figure out that it didnât matter,â she finished.

Derpy felt a fierce sense of pride as she watched her foals.

A lone unicorn was feeling oddly lonesome. It was a strange feeling, one he hadnât really felt before. Unicorns were well suited to solitary living, given over to intellectual pursuits, their studies, and their hobbies. Neurosis was actually encouraged among their kind. They had it pounded into their little horned heads from an early age that individuality, a rejection of their base instincts, and rejecting the herd mentality is what set them apart (and perhaps even above) their fellow ponies in other tribes.

Sure, unicorns had families, even loving families, but they made sure to enforce the notion that they were different from other ponies and their families. A foal or two to satisfy the status quo, but never more than a foal or two, otherwise, somepony might begin to think you were one of those sex crazed earth ponies who had more foals than common sense. Foals were also conveniently sent off to boarding schools and private universities so they wouldnât be in the way. Unicorns had been very careful to create social institutions that would do all of the messy foal rearing for them, so their private lives wouldnât be terribly interrupted by the intrusive new life-form. Single mothers were common, and homosexuality was actually seen as a solution for couplehood without the pesky obligations or the messy accident of an unexpected foal.

Like Bucky had been. One of his earliest memories was being sent off on a train to Celestiaâs School for Gifted Unicorns. He occasionally went home for visits, but it was awkward, because his parents were strangers and he really didnât know them. And the feeling was mutual. Time spent with his parents was awkward and painful, and he had finally given up. He had settled in Ponyville, having come here several times during his week-long breaks from school, when he had decided to stop going home. His parents were stuffy, uptight, repressed, and resented him deeply for forcing himself, unannounced, into their lives. And they had told him so, right in front of the family therapist. It had been a major part of the decision to never go home again.

And now, Bucky was feeling an increasing sense of agitation welling up inside of him, his solitary pursuits now interrupted by a strange need, a weird unfamiliar feeling of longing for something. He couldnât concentrate. He couldnât read. He couldnât sit still and listen to a record. He didnât feel like eating anything, even though he was hungry. He felt scared, a little lonely, a little agitated, and mostly, he just felt angry. Really angry. None of his usual methods for dealing with life seemed to be working.

Finally, he could stand it no longer, and he fled from his apartment, now chased by the pain of his past. It was something he was unable to outrun.

Chapter 6

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The grey mailmare was always a welcome sight. This is what Filthy Rich liked to see. The mailmare was dutiful, hard working, and as long as Filthy Rich could remember, had never failed in her job. Rain, sleet, ice, snow, hail, the mail ran. It was delivered in a timely fashion. This is why he payed taxes. Here was a service provided by the crown that was worth paying for.

And the mailmare was a fine example of what a pegasus could be as well, unlike that layabout weather captain that was his bane. This mailmare was a fine example that hard work was rewarded. The entire town knew her storyâ Single teenaged filly mother, left high and dry by the father of her foal. Rather than sit back and collect the dole from the crown or give up custody of her foal, the mare had taken on a job and adopted a much older foal whose mother had died, showing a gritty sense of determination that Filthy Rich truly appreciated. The grey mailmare was an example that the system worked and that everything that Filthy Rich believed in was true and good. He smiled at her broadly as she fluttered up the lane, standing near his mailbox, glancing at his pocket watch. She was early today, and her bag seemed extra heavy, hanging from her body and pulling down harshly upon her as she flew.

Yep, hard work. An overstuffed mailbag and she was still somehow early. This was a fine example of those brutes putting their strength to good use and being productive members of society.

Filthy Rich only believed in what he could see, and he liked what he saw of the mailmare Derpy Hooves. Derpy projected an image that society needed to see. She was always a welcome sight and was almost certainly a way to brighten up his day. Filthy Rich thought about his hard working great great grandfather, Dirt Poor, and how hard Dirt Poor had worked, almost right to the end of his life. Dirt Poor would certainly approve of this mailmare as well, and Dirt Poor had had a poor opinion of almost anypony. Dirt Poor only respected one thing, and one thing only. Hard work.

It was difficult at times, but Filthy Rich worked very hard to live by Dirt Poorâs example.

Ugh, thought Derpy Hooves to herself, he was out waiting for her again. There he was, at his mailbox, looking at his pocket watch, checking it to see if she was delivering at a reasonable time. She struggled with her excessively heavy bag and tried to remain airborne as she traveled down the lane, carefully placing mail into mailboxes.

He was watching her, with his big fake smile, checking his watch, and was probably going to be extra smug today because of what had happened with Diamond Tiara yesterday. Derpy hated delivering mail along this route, she always felt a little soiled after her encounters with Filthy Rich and his smug and insincere compliments, congratulating her on being a single mother and making things âœwork.â

It was infuriating to no end.

Out of every earth pony that Derpy knew, Filthy Rich was probably the worst numbskull there was. He spoke of hard work but did nothing himself, living the high life in the nicest neighborhood in Ponyville, and he had plenty of free time as evidenced by his daily wait by the mailbox to greet her. It was always hard work this, and hard work that, but Filthy Rich didnât actually work. He made other ponies do his work for him while he reaped all of the rewards. Filthy Rich was also painfully stupid and dull, dreadfully out of touch with the real world and practical considerations, asking silly questions like âœwhere do you vacation?â and âœhow do you afford a nanny on your salary?â questions that infuriated Derpy to no end.

And then there was his filly, Diamond Tiaraâ Derpy really didnât want to think about that spoiled rotten little brat and all of the misery she and Silver Spoon caused poor Dinky and everypony else. She forced it from her mind.

With a smile forcibly plastered over her face, she continued up the lane, placing mail in the mailboxes, reminding herself why she did this with every flap of her fatigued and tired wings, this was all for Dinky and Sparklerâ

This was certainly awkward, Bucky Bitters thought to himself.

It had been a trying day. He had spent his second day off taking a train to Canterlot, which was troubling enough, and then he had waited for much of the day sitting in a waiting room, hoping to see Celestia. He was that desperate. It was the privilege of every student that had graduated from her school to seek audience with her and speak with her privately.

He and Celestia hadnât always gotten along. She was always talking about his potential and his gifts, and how disappointed she was that he squandered those gifts, and Bucky, for his part, had spent his entire time in school trying to escape notice, when he wasnât getting in trouble for causing mischief.

Thankfully, he had grown out of his mischievous stage, something many unicorns went through as they tried to adjust to being unicorns.

And now, he was sitting in a chair, the chair he had sat in entirely too many times during his time as a student, with Celestia staring at him the way that she had always stared at him, with her piercing headmistress eyes. She was always overly harsh and critical, always finding his weaknesses, always finding some new way to dig in and tear him a new one. Like she was doing right now, silently judging him with her wide almost unblinking eyes, her ethereal mane drifting aimlessly around her head, her face blank and expressionless as she was no doubt mentally preparing to verbally squash him into jelly.

This had been a terrible idea, coming here to try and find answers to his problems. Bucky couldnât figure out what he had been thinking. But Celestia did seem to know him better than he knew himself, and right now, things were hurt and confused inside, and she was the only pony Bucky could think of to turn to. Celestia was practically his mother. She was practically the mother of every unicorn that attended her school.

And she was looking especially motherly today. Bucky waited for the stern lecture he knew was coming.

Celestia had made it a point to allow her students to see her after their graduation. Just because a student had graduated didnât mean that Celestia was finished working on them. It simply meant that the nature of the relationship had changed, and now, if they needed help, they had to come to her, a sign that they wanted to get better, to make improvements, a sign that all of Celestia and her carefully selected instructors hard work had paid off and they had fixed something that had been broken by society, or at least had undone some of the damage.

What very few ponies understood was that Celestiaâs School for Gifted Unicorns wasnât just to teach unicorns magic, it was a place of therapy and reconstruction, as potentially the most gifted members of society were also the most damaged, the most hurt, and the most in need of help. Failure to reach them and help them meant that magically gifted unicorns may very well fall into darkness, unable to be reached. High magic unicorns were also high strung. Celestiaâs halls were filled with all kinds of flawed unicorns. Unicorns that spoke of themselves in the third pony, unicorns that were prone to mental breakdowns, the ever present neurosis, anxiety and stress found everywhere and in every student.

Celestia eyed her beloved student, a pony that she loved dearly and she had such high hopes for. Buckminster Bitters wasnât a model student, he wasnât the most gifted student, he had been a terrible troublemaker during his time of mischief, but all of that could be forgiven. Bucky had something that many unicorns seemed to lose during their lives.

A deeply ingrained passion and a genuine sense of kindness, something Celestia was seeing in fewer and fewer unicorns these days. Unicorns, with their self-imposed neurosis and therapy, slowly chiseling away at what made them ponies, each generation becoming a little more cold and distant, these things worried Celestia a great deal. There were plenty of good unicorns in the world, but the unicorns attending her school where the highest calibre magicians that unicorndom had to offer, the most magically gifted, and many of them were also the most deeply flawed individuals that Celestia knew.

Bucky had come from two of Celestiaâs former students, both of whom had terrible personal flaws, and the damage they had done to Bucky had been profound. Celestia had undone as much of the damage as she could, but so much more hurt had remained, hurt that Celestia had trouble reaching, the sort of hurt that when you went to dig for it, it hurt the pony that you were trying to help. It was like ripping away a scab to allow the infection to seep out.

And she had certainly hurt poor Bucky, probably too many times to count, trying to pull him free from everything that held him back. She felt awful about it at times, but she loved him, as she loved every single one of her students, and she had a grim sense of resolve that she would help them out somehow, no matter how much it might hurt her.

She had already seen one gifted individual with deep character flaws fall into darkness, and she would never allow that to happen ever again, if there was something she could do to help them, she would.

Celestia would never allow the mistakes of her sister to happen again.

Truth be told, Celestia was very surprised to see Bucky, sitting in the chair that he had sat in so many times before, where Celestia had tried to repair all of the cruelty done to him by his parents. She took this as good sign though, at some point, Bucky had learned to trust her, and Celestia felt blessed to know that somehow, even if it didnât feel like it sometimes, she had actually reached the poor troubled unicorn and touched him.

He told a strange tale, a very confusing tale, of being chased by a pegasus mare and learning a very confusing lesson in perspectives and biases. It was a troubling tale. It was a quiet subtle reminder that the tribes were not as together as they thought they might be, with vast fundamental differences between the pegasi, the earth ponies, and the unicorns. Celestia was delighted to hear that he had learned something, and that he had returned the chase as a gesture of goodwill, Celestia felt troubled as Bucky explained his unease and suddenly feeling lonesome sitting in his apartment in Ponyville.

Bucky had finally felt a connection to his fellow ponies.

Celestia internally heaved a massive sigh of relief. Externally, she was as calm and emotionless as ever. Celestia had so many doubts on if this day would ever come.

Celestia took a deep breath and prepared to try and help her student recover and strengthen his connection to his fellow ponies, quietly thankful that she had reclaimed another soul from the darkness.

Chapter 7

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âœTell me, during all of your time spent living in Ponyville, have you met my student Twilight Sparkle? How much do you know about her friendship studies?â questioned Celestia, leaning on her desk, her forelegs crossed politely in front of her on the desk.

Bucky squirmed in his chair, looking up at Celestia. âœIâve never actually had the chance to meet her,â he replied. âœAnd Iâve never bothered to learn anything about her friendship studies,â he added, feeling a dreadful sinking feeling as he saw a single ear twitch from Celestia. Buckyâs neurotic mind interpreted Celestiaâs movement as being critical, a sure sign of her displeasure.

He had no idea that Celestiaâs ear itched and she was having a mighty struggle not to scratch it, forcing her forelegs to remain folded on the desk before her.

âœBuckminster-Bucky, please, there is nothing to be guilty about, listen to me my little pony,â said Celestia. She took a deep breath and smiled at her student, trying to calm him before she spoke again; âœI want you to look into her friendship studies, and, more importantly, I want you to begin your own.â

âœWHAT?â exclaimed Bucky. âœI came to you for help and you are giving me homework?â

âœYes,â replied Celestia, smiling gently, her eyes warm and bright. âœAnd I know that you will do this, not for my benefit, but for your own. You were always such a good little pony once you were past your mischievous stage and began to settle down.â

Bucky blinked. Several times. He sat there in stunned silence, not quite believing what he had just heard. He certainly hadnât expected to hear that. He had come away with the understanding that he was a bad little pony. Sure, he was no Sunset Shimmer, the whole school spoke of her legendary downfall, but Bucky had spent an awful lot of time in this chair being taken to task by Celestia personally. He had been left with the impression that he was an awful pony and at best, a lukewarm student. His parents had certainly made the fact known, telling him endlessly about how disappointed they were by his school progress reports and how little his instructors thought about him.

âœYou seem confused,â mused Celestia.

âœI am,â replied Bucky, feeling the first painful twinge of panic now blossoming in his barrel, a painful thudding ache that felt like it was squeezing his heart.

âœMay I be frank with you Bucky?â asked Celestia.

âœI cannot stop you,â said Bucky, not able to meet his teacherâs gaze, the painful squeeze around his heart now reaching an alarming level of intensity.

âœBucky, look at me, you can stop me. All you have to do is let me know you are not comfortable with this and walk out that door. I cannot and will not stop you,â Celestia explained, now looking worried, which Bucky did not see, because he did not look up. âœBut I may plead with you to give me another chance to help,â she added.

Bucky slumped in his chair, too confused and feeling his panic attack starting to bounce around through his brain after escaping his barrel.

âœBucky dear, remember to breathe Bucky,â soothed Celestia, sensing something wrong. She saw the panic, it had its claws deep in Bucky, as it always had.

Bucky took a deep breath, then another, and finally, one heaving shuddering breath.

âœBetter?â questioned Celestia, still worried, knowing how bad panic attacks could be. She had seen so many, been witness to so much pain, grief, and worry.

Bucky nodded, and then looked his teacher in the eye. âœI was always under the impression that I was a terrible student. I spent so much time in this office. I felt like I was always in trouble,â he said, now looking Celestia in the eye, his breathing still heavy.

âœJust like you thought that nice pegasus mare was going to do something awful?â asked Celestia, smiling a gentle smile, a merry twinkle in her eye.

âœWait, woah, uh, what-This has been another misunderstanding of perspectives hasnât it?â asked Bucky, one eye beginning to twitch alarmingly. The panic gave him another squeeze, letting him know that it was still there, waiting to pounce.

Celestia beamed and nodded.

âœOh bother,â muttered Bucky, his gaze falling down to the floor again. âœI feel like such a stupid pony.â

âœBucky,â Celestia said sternly, her gaze now piercing, âœyou must never say that again in my presence.â

âœYes maâam,â Bucky said, slumping, now feeling some shame and fear along with his panic, all of them swirling and promising to overwhelm him if they had the chance.

âœI want you to commit yourself to your own friendship studies. Spend some time with other ponies. And other types of ponies. Spend some time with the nice pegasus mare. Find more friends. Try to understand them, and, more importantly, try to understand their points of view. If you are having trouble, just ask them to explain. The ponies that are willing to explain their points of view are the sorts of ponies you want to make friends with. Stop isolating yourself,â said Celestia, her tone firm, motherly, and gentle.

âœYes maâam,â repeated Bucky, taking a deep breath, pressing his swirling emotions down, trying to repress them, stuff them down, make them go away.

âœAnd if you need help, come to me at once and I will do anything I can to help you,â promised Celestia.

âœI donât know how to talk to her,â Bucky blurted suddenly, opening himself up. âœIâm wordy. And being wordy makes her uncomfortable. Somepony hurt herâ And words had a part of it. It is like she speaks a completely different language. She lifted me into the air and I thought she was trying to kill me, she was actually trying to gain my trust. Nothing makes sense. Nothing!â

Celestia looked at Bucky, whose heavy breathing had returned. His eyes were wide and one ear made a circular twitch. She waited patiently, allowing Bucky to have a moment, and then she took a deep breath and spoke; âœBucky, the most important thing to do may be to listen, not speak. And when you do speak, ask questions. Be gentle. Be warm. Be the pony I know you to be on the inside.â

Bucky blushed, his face feeling heated, and he shyly raised his gaze to meet Celestiaâs. He forced himself to look into her eyes for several minutes, silently, trying to will away his fear.

âœPegasi and earth ponies are very, very different than unicorns,â began Celestia. âœPegasi and earth ponies are very similar in many ways. The pegasi call their herd a flock, the earth ponies still use the term herd. Both have a strong focus on family, social groups, and maintaining societal bonds. Pegasi approach everything with the notion that the best defense is a good offense, while earth ponies believe the opposite is true, that when trouble comes it is best to stick with those you know and protect the weak by presenting a united front. Pegasi approach trouble with surgical precision, making carefully coordinated strikes to weaken and cripple their enemies. Earth ponies approach conflict in the same way they approach hard work, by throwing numbers at it and overwhelming whatever it might be that threatens them. In times of trouble, the pegasi and the earth ponies have almost always managed to come together. Now, this is only a condensed and brief explanation, but it should be enough to get you started. Perhaps the most important thing to remember is this as followsâ both of them take a very physical approach to life. There are two little ponies that I have the privilege of knowing. One is named Applejack, and she is the Element of Honesty. The other is Rainbow Dash, the Element of Loyalty. One is an earth pony, the other is a pegasus. Both are remarkably similar, but also very different. They are fierce competitors. They share a good natured rivalry and are always challenging one another. And even with all of their faults and squabbles, they are near perfect examples of their respective tribes and their ability to coexist,â said Celestia, finishing her long explanation.

âœAnd nothing about unicorns in any of that,â said Bucky sadly. âœAnd I know why. I think I am starting to see the bigger picture,â he finished, heaving a sigh.

âœIt is never too late to join in,â said Celestia in a hushed voice. âœAll you have to do is open the door, go outside, and invite a pegasus to chase you. If you will allow them to get to know you, I know the flock will show you how to fit in. It will very likely assault your senses and leave you confused. They will razz you, they will harass you, they will establish their pecking order, and when everything is said and done, you couldnât ask for better friends. They will show you the way.â

âœWhat about earth ponies?â asked Bucky.

âœIt isnât that different. If you find yourself in the company of good kind earth ponies, donât be afraid to show your weakness. You will find yourself surrounded and protected by stout friends until you can figure out your way,â answered Celestia.

âœI still feel confused,â Bucky admitted.

âœAnd that is to be expected. It isnât easy to rediscover what it means to be a pony. Allow the herd to pull you in. Stop using magic to block pheromonesââ Celestia raised her eyebrow as she spoke, her smile broadening. âœAllow yourself to be taken. Just let go for a while and trust in your fellow ponies if you can. I have never been wrong in trusting the good that my little ponies are capable of. Just like you. Iâve always had high hopes for you,â she said, now smiling broadly.

Bucky looked at Celestia, seeing her now as a friend, not a teacher. His mind buzzed with a million questions.

There had been a lot of thinking on the train ride home. The afternoon was slowly changing into evening, the skies filled with the oranges and purples that hinted at the sun settling down on the horizon, and the train was nearly empty as it ran its course back to Ponyville.

Bucky began to realise the damage done to him, worried if he had the strength to change. Celestia seemed confident that he did, and had told him so, and her words had made his shaky confidence soar.

Twilight Sparkle had been, and, to some extent, still was, a neurotic mess and she had been alright. Bucky flipped the page of the book he had been given, reading about Twilightâs troubles, having only two tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala and six friends. It was a messy and confusing situation.

As he read, Bucky realised he would have failed under pressure. At some point, he would have simply melted down and gave up. It seemed like too much effort to try and deal with all of this headache, trying to juggle all of these different needs.

As he thought about this, he had a thought, a profound thought, he thought about Twilight Sparkle and he realised that at some point, she had probably given up as well. And it had probably been her friends that had pulled her along. Friends looked after each otherâs needs.

Celestia had looked after his needs.

His parents had never looked after his needs. They had allowed that task to fall upon others, leaving him to be looked after by strangers, his parents never giving him the one thing he needed most.

Bucky quietly resolved that he would begin his own studies by looking after the needs of Miss Hooves, it seemed to be as good of a place to start as any. He could start by listening to her perhaps, she probably needed somepony to listen to her. He would start now, tonight, figuring out where she lived, saying hello, and announcing his intentions.

He would be home soon. He forced his mind into silence and turned his attention to his book, reading about the friendship studies of Twilight Sparkle.

Chapter 8

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The sun had not yet set. Shadows were long and distorted on the streets of Ponyville. A very determined unicorn strode through the town, with very little sense of distraction that seemed common to his kind. Every step seemed purposeful, his eyes scanning to and fro, occasionally glancing upward, as though he was looking for something.

âœYou there,â cried Bucky, calling out to a pegasus reclining lazily on a cloud.

âœMe?â replied the pegasus, sounding a bit tired.

âœYeah, you, are you part of Derpyâs flock?â asked Bucky.

The pegasus stared down at Bucky, now fully awake, aware, and alert.

âœYeah, I remember you, you buzzed me and harassed me along with a bunch of other pegasi,â commented Bucky. âœWhere does Miss Derpy Hooves live? I really need to talk to her. It is really very important.â explained Bucky.

âœHmm, I dunno if I should tell you,â the pegasus said slowly.

âœHey, look here featherbrain, Derpy chased me first,â Bucky snapped. That certainly seemed to get the pegasusâ attention. It glared down at him, eyes wide.

Thunderlane rolled off of his cloud and glided down to the ground, staring at the unicorn during his entire descent. When Thunderlane landed, he spoke; âœYouâre braver than I thought youâd be. You have a lot of nerve calling me featherbrain. I like that. Derpy deserves somepony brave to look after her.â

Bucky heaved a sigh of relief.

âœCome on you uptight screwhead, follow me,â invited Thunderlane, taking off at a brisk trot, laughing and chuckling as he did so.

âœYou be nice to her. If you hurt her, you will answer to all of us. We see all,â Thunderlane said, looking Bucky in the eye. âœYou hurt her foals, and you are hurting our foals. We look after our own,â Thunderlane added.

âœI know, I get it, I understand,â said Bucky, nervously dancing on his hooves.

âœAnd good luck. I think I might see why Derpy chased you,â Thunderlane said, smiling. He spread his wings wide, reared up on his hind legs, and then took off, kicking himself up into the air, his broad wings flapping quickly.

Bucky stared at the door. He saw lights on inside. The house was on the smaller side, but well cared for, the thatched roof in good repair, the walls had fresh whitewash, and the windows had curtains.

It certainly looked cozy and inviting. Bucky wasnât sure what he was expecting.

Bucky swallowed a few times, took a deep breath, told his always lurking panic to take a flying buck at a rolling donut, and knocked upon the door.

After a few moments of waiting, she answered.

Bucky stood there stupidly, Derpy seemed very surprised to see him. Behind her, a purple unicorn filly stared at him wide eyed, a smile slowly spreading over her face.

âœOh hi,â gasped Derpy in surprise. âœI uh, I wasnât expecting you,â she added.

âœI, uh, had to drop by and say hello. I went through a lot of trouble to arrive on your doorstep. Is now a good time to talk for a few minutes?â asked Bucky.

âœEr, well, I have to give Dinky a bath and it is getting that time of night for little foals to be prepared for be-woah, wait, Sparkler what are you doing?â Derpy cried in surprise as the unicorn filly had planted both front hooves on her motherâs backside and was shoving her out the front door. Derpy was deposited outside, looking very surprised and confused. The door slammed shut.

âœIâll look after Dinky,â Sparkler offered, her tone almost teasing, from the other side of the door, a faint trace of a giggle in words.

âœSparkler, I am going to show somepony the photo album of foal picturesââ Derpy said, making a threat that only a mother could make.

âœYOU WOULDNâT DARE!â cried Sparkler from indoors. There was a click as the door locked.

Derpy sighed, fluffed her wings, and then looked at Bucky. âœThe upstairs window is open to allow the evening breeze in,â said Derpy, looking sheepish and embarrassed. âœI am actually a very good mother, most of the time my foals donât get the drop on me, shove me outside, and lock the door behind me,â she added, grinning and pushing her mane out of her eyes with her extended wing.

Bucky stood there, not quite sure what to do next. He became painfully aware of two sets of eyes staring at him through a window. He felt his mouth go dry.

Derpy stared at him awkwardly, now also aware of two sets of eyes, having turned to look at whatever Bucky seemed to be staring at. âœReally, I am a much better mother than however this might look right now,â she repeated, sounding worried.

âœI am sure that you are a fine mother,â replied Bucky. âœI mean, your daughter feels safe enough to shove you out the door, so it seems logical that you are kind and good to them,â explained Bucky.

Derpy began to make little embarrassed meeping sounds, her cheeks now as red as apples, her eyes scrunched closed, and her muzzle scrunched up as she chewed on her lip.

âœI wanted to formally ask you out sometime. I am aware of your duties as a mother, and I refuse to allow that to become a problem. Iâd like to be your friend, and maybe something more,â said Bucky, his voice cracking several times, and becoming a little high pitched at the end.

âœDâaw,â gasped Derpy, now rubbing one foreleg against the other, kicking the dirt with her raised hoof. She shyly batted her eyes at Bucky, they were moistened slightly, glossy with dampness.

âœWell?â asked Bucky expectantly.

âœDinky is having a birthday party this weekend, there is going to be a small celebration, Dinky doesnât like big crowds, so there is only going to be a few ponies there. Iâd like to have you there if you could make it,â Derpy said in flustered tones, her wings now fluttering excitedly as she squirmed.

Bucky glanced at the two sets of eyes staring at him. Dinky, who owned one of those pairs of eyes, was smiling at him. Both of Derpyâs foals were smiling at him. It made him feel nervous. Not only was he thinking about dating a mare, he was thinking about dating a mare with foals.

Panic sank in its fierce claws as he realised he had to win the approval of three hearts.

âœI can be there,â replied Bucky, wheezing slightly.

âœYou alright?â Derpy asked, noticing the change almost immediately, her shy demeanor now gone, replaced by one of concern.

âœJust a little panic. A personal problem. I have it under control, donât worry,â explained Bucky, driving everything inward.

âœA little panic?â asked Derpy, sounding concerned.

âœWho wouldnât panic dating such a beautiful mare?â returned Bucky, willing his breathing to return to normal.

âœDâaw, youâre so sweet,â said Derpy bashfully, her blush returning. âœSo, Saturday?â asked Derpy, making little hoofy kicks with one foreleg.

âœI work on Saturday but I get off at noon. Will that work?â replied Bucky, feeling a sudden fascination with Derpyâs hoofy kicks.

âœThatâd be fine,â answered Derpy, âœwhat sort of work do you do, if you donât mind me asking?â questioned Derpy.

âœI work as an accountant for Mister Rich,â Bucky replied, âœbut I donât plan on doing that forever.â

âœFilthy Rich?â replied Derpy in surprise, her eyes opening wide, her ears perking up, her mane falling into her eyes as her ears shifted position.

âœYeah, that Mister Rich,â Bucky said, suddenly feeling very intrigued by Derpyâs mane covered eyes. Her wheat coloured mane framed her grey face beautifully. Somehow, her eyes didnât seem like much of an issue, there were just too many other parts of her that were too distracting. Like all of her.

Bucky sighed, inhaling deeply. He hadnât cast a spell to block out pheromones in hours. Hours. And now, the onslaught seemed almost overwhelming. He wasnât used to dealing with this sort of distraction. He didnât have a coping mechanism.

His panic growled fiercely, realising it was no longer the dominant mental force in his brain, and it kicked and screamed inside of his mind, wanting a return to the top of the heap.

Bucky was able to mostly ignore it, enjoying the moment.

âœI deliver his mail,â said Derpy, who couldnât help but notice that Bucky was staring at her, practically devouring her with his eyes. It was confusing. On one hoof, it was nice to know that she still had the goods. On the other hoofâ Derpy suddenly realised she didnât give a plucked feather about whatever was on the other hoof. Nopony had ever looked at her like this before. Not even Dinkyâs father. It was intoxicating. Flattering. Derpy had to resist the urge to fan out her plumage and strut.

She wondered briefly if the unicorn would even react to various plumage displays. She made a mental note to find out someday, hopefully someday soon. Derpy had never really been in a position to display her plumage for somepony that truly appreciated it, not since Dinkyâs dad. She hadnât bothered trying for the pegasi she knew, not since she was younger and more brazen. Her male flock mates had made it clear; they loved her, but they did not love her. And she knew why, she understood all too well the practical concerns.

Poor distracted Bucky seemed far past the point of caring about practical concerns. Derpy felt his eyes staring at her and suddenly seemed very exposed and vulnerable. And she liked it.

âœMister Rich is an awful pony,â said Bucky offhoofedly. âœHe treats all of his employees like dirt. Weâre not even ponies to him. Weâre resources. Just a set of numbers to be accounted for.â

Derpy scowled. âœThatâs awful,â she muttered, distracted, thinking about her plumage and how badly her wings needed preening. She really hadnât been taking care of herself as much as she could. She sighed internally, realising that she may have given up on life a little prematurely.

Bucky couldnât help but notice the little beautiful details in Derpyâs wings. Each feather started out slightly darker in the middle, fading out to a lighter shade of grey along the edges of each feather. Her wings were all of the subtle colours of a stormcloud.

And they were beautiful.

Bucky was fascinated by storms. They represented release. Bucky didnât share the common fear of thunder and lightning that so many ground dwelling ponies had. Storms were wild chaotic release, something that Bucky deeply desired within himself.

I am falling in love with a stormcloud, he thought to himself. Something unpredictable and dangerous. He had been struck by lightning, and this pegasus mare was responsible.

âœOne day, I am going to quit working for Mister Rich and work for myself. I want to brew beer. Start my own business. Working for Mister Rich is a good way to get skills in running a business,â said Bucky, painfully distracted.

âœI have a friend named Berry Punch and she has a distillery,â Derpy mentioned upon hearing Buckyâs words. âœBerry will be at the party on Saturday with PiÃa Colada, Dinkyâs best friend and Berry Punchâs little sister. You should talk to her. I bet that she would hire you if you talked to her. It is rare to find a pony with hooch related talents.â

Bucky had to replay Derpyâs words several times in his head. He could have sworn he had heard the words âœsmooch related talents.â He inhaled deeply, feeling as though he needed air, taking in another dose of pheromones.

Derpyâs wings continued to flutter, with Derpy feeling hot and a little sweaty. Derpy had no idea that her wing fluttering was dispersing her elevated pheromone laden scent into the air and driving poor Bucky to distraction. Derpy had no notion whatsoever that there were major scent glands located in her wing joints, where her wings connected to her barrel, the hot and sweaty places that Derpy was currently feeling an itch in. Sweat flooded into her underwings, feeling hot, sticky, and itchy. Each flutter was causing little microscopic droplets to be dispersed into the air, to be inhaled by nearby ponies. Most of whom had been exposed to pheromones their whole lives and could selectively ignore the distracting scent unless choosing to focus their desire.

Poor Bucky had no such tolerances to the airborne assault. He had not spent his whole life working up a resistance. He had simply isolated himself from the problem. And now, it was a problem.

Biology was a harsh mistress, and she demanded compensation for being ignored so long. Punishment where punishment was due.

Bucky turned once again to the two faces peering at him through the window. âœI look forward to meeting your girls on Saturday Miss Hooves. I shall see you then. I have had a very long day, and I need to be heading home.â

âœGoodnight Bucky, I am looking forward to Saturday,â Derpy said, her voice a little husky. âœIâll show you the photo album full of Sparklerâs foal pictures,â she added in a loud voice.

There was a loud scream from within the house and Bucky could see Sparklerâs mouth opened wide in an âœOâ of terror as she screamed.

Bucky laughed.

Chapter 9

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For my teacher, Princess Celestia, whom I do not know how to address in a casual letter.

I have done as you have asked. I have already read the book, several times now, and tried to take in all of the lessons to be found therein. It is a lot to take in at once. I had no idea what Twilight Sparkle had gone through to get where she is. I shall make some effort to go and speak to her when I have time.

After our meeting, after traveling home by train, I went to visit Miss Hooves as the evening settled upon the town of Ponyville. We spoke. I tried my best to not be so verbose. I kept my words to a minimum. Miss Hooves was very distracting. At some point, I believe that I began to suffer from sensory overload.

I have arrived at the fear inducing conclusion that I have three hearts to win over, and I am very afraid. She has two foals. One is small, one is large enough to shove her mother out the door to force her mother to talk to me.

I am almost certain that I have missed some vital part of communication due to not speaking pegasus. She kept fluffing and fidgeting, which I am almost positive means something, but I am completely clueless as to what it might be.

I have been invited to a birthday party for one Dinky Doo Hooves. I have reached a crisis point because I have no idea what to bring as a gift. I also have no clue as to the level of formality of said party. It is to be held in the backyard garden of Miss Hooves. I do not think I have ever attended a social function of this sort before.

This is why I never go out any more. Life is entirely too confusing.

Buckminster Bitters, Esquire, Armiger of House Bitter, Scion of the Platinum Lineage.

The train rocked back and forth as it chugged up the incline towards Canterlot. Bucky swayed in his seat, feeling almost drowsy, but also feeling agitated and panicked. It was afternoon, and Bucky had not eaten. There had not been time. He had been released from work and had gone shopping, looking for a gift, but the toy stores in Ponyville seemed lacking. There were a lot of Princess Twilight Sparkle dolls. There were a few common toys, simple toys, toys that Dinky may have already had, or might be getting for her birthday.

It was a conundrum that had caused poor him to nearly have a full blown panic attack. There were so few toy shops in Ponyville and such a limited selection. It was almost certain that he would bring a duplicate or something unwanted.

And that would cause a bad impression.

Upsetting her foal would not endear him to Derpy.

So Bucky had done the only thing he could do. He hopped the first train to Canterlot and hoped to make it there before the toy stores closed. Surely there would be something unique and worthwhile in Canterlot. Something not found in the common provincial town of Ponyville.

And then once he had found what he was looking for, catch another train, ride to Ponyville, walk home, take care of his various needs, go to bed, wake up, and then go to work. Tomorrow would be Friday. After that, Saturday.

Bucky took a deep breath and let it all out. He looked around him, studying his surroundings, and realised that he was alone in a crowd of ponies. There were a few unicorns in the car, no other pony types, not in this car at least, and none of the unicorns seemed to have any interest in one another. All of them were busy with something solitary. Reading books, newspapers, or a magazine. One seemed to be going through important paperwork, probably something business related. One was frantically carving at a block of wood with a magical chisel, his smile bordering on a manic grin. One mare plinked away on a small portable typewriter that was magically silenced.

Bucky leaned his head against the window and heaved another sigh, causing the typing mare to raise an eyebrow and glare at him. He squirmed uncomfortably under her harsh glare, suddenly wishing he was elsewhere, anywhere but this train car.

Bucky came to the painful conclusion that right now, he found his own kind unbearable.

It was an unsettling conclusion, unpleasant and bitter.

He stared out the window, alone with his thoughts, his mind drifting to the subtle colour variations on the feathers of Miss Hoovesâ wings and the way her wheat coloured mane spilled around her face.

He sighed contentedly, drawing another harsh stare from the mare with the typewriter.

The perfect gift had to be found here. It was the largest toy store in Canterlot, a massive showroom store, and it had a train that was large enough for foals to ride winding through the display areas. Surprisingly, there were very few foals in the store, but plenty of adults, peering at various toys, looking around, generally confused, very much like himself.

âœSir?â inquired a voice.

Bucky turned to speak to the pony addressing him, seeing a salesfilly, who couldnât be much older than Sparkler. She was frighteningly pink with an orange and yellow mane, and she wore thick glasses with rose coloured frames. âœI need a toy. I donât know what to get. Foal. Young. Small. Unicorn.â

âœEvery foal I know loves Daring Do,â the salesfilly replied.

âœI see,â said Bucky, looking thoughtful.

âœWe have the deluxe Daring Do doll, it comes with a pith helmet made from real pith and a safari shirt. It costs fifty one bits and it is sure to please,â the salesfilly pitched.

âœI dunno, I am not sure if that is what I am looking for, the doll seems nice enough, butâ I just donât know,â replied Bucky, noncommittally.

âœThe deluxe Daring Do doll also comes with a cloche hat and shawl, as well as a fedora and rugged adventurers jacket so you can dress her up in all of her secret identities. It also comes with a super-secret club membership so the lucky foal will occasionally get written letters from the author of Daring Do herself,â the salesfilly explained in patient detail.

âœSold!â said Bucky, thinking that a foal would go nuts to get a written letter from Daring Doâs author. âœWait, how many letters do you get with the purchase?â asked Bucky shrewdly.

âœA minimum of two a year for five years. Most fans usually receive between three and seven, and there is a guaranteed response for two letters mailed in, meaning you will get two personalised letters in return,â the salesfilly answered.

âœHmm, sold. Definitely sold,â replied Bucky.

âœSir, we have a special available with the doll, you can get the entire paperback collection of Daring Do books at a special price of one hundred and ninety nine bits with the purchase of the deluxe Daring Do doll, that is over forty novels at an unbelievably low price,â said the salesfilly.

âœIâll take those as well. Do you take Equestrian Hexspress?â asked Bucky.

âœWe accept all major credit cards,â replied the sales filly, smiling broadly.

âœThink this is a good birthday present?â inquired Bucky, looking pensive.

âœI think it is a modest birthday present,â the salesfilly admitted, looking hopeful.

âœHmm, thatâll have to do. I am not sure what else to get and I doubt I could lug half of the store back to Ponyville,â said Bucky, thinking out loud, watching a giggling old mare go riding by on the storeâs train.

âœHere is a card you can fill out for the letters,â said the salesfilly, handing Bucky a piece of paper with a broad smile, preparing to ring him up.

Rising Star pondered the invitation he had received from Miss Hooves to attend Dinkyâs party. The real reason to go of course would be Sparkler.

His muse. His Goddess. She of the confusing come hither stare and she of the stay away from me scowl. Sparkler, the purple pink filly that inspired his prose.

His parents would certainly be glad to have him out of the house. He was a lone poet among a family of astronomers. Truth be told, he would likely be an astronomer as well, or perhaps a cosmologist, but poetry was really groovy and made him appear deep.

What troubled him was, sometimes Sparklerâs verbal outbursts made him think actual deep thoughts, thoughts that scared him. Thoughts about life, the meaning of life, and the purpose of his own life.

And that made Rising Star nervous. The poetry had all started as an act, to attract filliesâ In particular, Sparkler. And now, he was trapped in it. There was in fact something poetic down deep in his soul and he felt it sometimes when he looked at her.

The act had become reality at some point. And that made life confusing, and was a pretty deep thought all by itself.

Apple Cobbler was nice, well, Apple Cobbler was fantastic, she was really good looking, but she had all of the depth of a teaspoon. She was good looking, athletic, and always wanted to talk about apples. Apple growing season, apple dishes, types of apples, apples, apples, apples.

Truth be told, they really didnât have much to talk about between one another. She was an earth pony with earth pony interests, and he was a unicorn, with a slight case of neurosis, nagging deep thoughts, and a burning desire to compose something meaningful.

Poetry about apples had not been meaningful.

Ponyville was unique, as far as cities and towns go. It was not a pegasus city, it was not a unicorn city, and it was not an earth pony city. It was a city of ponies. It was by far the most integrated city in all of Equestria, and one of the most tolerant, not only of different tribes, but of alternative lifestyles. It was a shining beacon, an example of what a city could be.

Ponies came from far and wide to live here, and yet Ponyville was not a large town. It was a small town, full of small town charm, warm friendly inhabitants, and inviting pre-industrial architecture.

It existed in the shadow of Canterlot, the city of unicorns, the seat of the empire.

And it was something that Celestia was fiercely proud of. Ponyville was her crown jewel, her greatest piece of work, her strongest social experiment ever. And there had been many, some of them failures.

Through careful trial and error, Celestia had worked to secure a guardian for her crown jewel. There had been many attempts. Many students. Sunset Shimmer had seemed like such a sure bet. But Sunset Shimmer had fallen into the pitfall that so many unicorns fell prey to.

And then there had been Twilight Sparkle. Twilight rose to the challenge, became the town librarian, found friends, secured the element of magic, and was now the guardian of Celestiaâs most prized accomplishment. It had taken almost a thousand years, but the dreams of the Founders were now showing real fruition in the town of Ponyville. And those dreams had to be protected. They were so fragile. So frail. There was still so much misunderstanding, as evidenced by Buckyâs tale.

It worried Celestia, but it also gave her hope. A little strife was necessary for growth and development. Mistakes had to be made or learning became impossible. She had to allow flaws into her construction, or else it would crumble, a lesson she had once learned the hard way. That had been painful.

She stood on her balcony, looking down, far off into the distance, seeing her crown jewel, and wondering how she could make improvements. Gently nudging Bucky into the path of friendship studies had been a good start. He was hesitant but willing, he had the right stuff, the right raw potential; he just needed friends to make that potential bloom.

She had hemmed and hawed a bit, wondering if she was going too far, but she had finally broken down and sent a private missive to the Element of Loyalty, Rainbow Dash, asking her to keep an eye on Bucky and Derpy Hooves, keeping her informed of their progress. She also sent a copy of the same missive to Twilight Sparkle, knowing that Twilight Sparkle would want to take an active interest in this as well.

It was like using a river to create the perfect canyon, but Celestia was determined to see the Foundersâ dreams come true, no matter how much time or effort that it took.

She had all the time in the world.

Chapter 10

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Dearest Bucky

Titles are completely unnecessary between friends.

Eagerly awaiting your reports.

Your friend, Celestia.

The brightly wrapped box was large, heavy, and ungainly. It hovered in the air effortlessly, carried along in a dazzling blue-green glow emanating from a tan unicorn that trotted through the streets of Ponyville, his head held high and a broad smile on his face. Bucky was concerned, but it did not diminish his smile. The gift was a last minute purchase, but it would have to do. It was a token gesture, at least Bucky believed so,

Perspectives were fragile and made to be broken.

As Bucky trotted through town, several pegasi watched him curiously, their observance unnoticed. They peered out of windows, watched from half opened eyes as they napped on clouds, and at least two sets of eyes watched him with a great deal of interest. Those eyes belonged to a pegasus the colour of a sunny blue sky day and one lavender coloured alicorn, both on a cloud, peering down together, exchanging glances and a bit of a giggle with one another.

It was always fun to go pony watching.

Upon reaching Derpyâs house, Bucky peered down the walkway that existed between the two houses that were close together, leading to the backyard. He heard the sounds of ponies back there. Taking a deep breath, he screwed his courage to the sticking place and began to walk down the breezeway.

âœOof!â

Bucky was completely unprepared for the grey mareâs tackle. In seconds, she had snatched him, and he found himself airborne, being squeezed until he saw white spots in his eyes. He felt her muzzle pressing into his neck, down below his ear, rubbing back and forth enthusiastically.

âœYou came!â cried Derpy.

A fierce blast of heat boiled forth from Bucky as he thought about Derpyâs words. He was still prisoner in her grasp, hovering several feet above the ground. He allowed himself to be held.

That smell…

Inhaling deeply, Bucky felt a rush that made him feel lightheaded. Was she wearing perfume? Bucky didnât know and couldnât tell. It was taking all of his effort to keep his package aloft. Not knowing what else to do, he pressed his snoot against Derpy and brushed against her cheek.

She pulled away with an embarrassed grin and a blush, pulling her head back and smiling broadly, her eyes twinkling with merry delight. Heaving a sigh, Derpy gently placed Bucky down upon the ground. âœYou feel awfully warm,â observed Derpy with a saucy wink.

And then Bucky found himself face to face with Dinky.

âœHi,â said Dinky, looking a little bashful.

âœHello,â replied Bucky, sitting down upon his haunches and studying the little unicorn foal, he couldnât help but notice that Dinky was remarkably like her mother. Dinkyâs mane fell into her eyes and Dinky brushed it away with a casual swipe of her hoof.

âœYouâll have to forgive Sparkler, sheâs indoors panicking. She found that her colt friend is coming over, and she wasnât expecting him. Sheâs locked herself into her room to panic,â said Derpy, giggling and covering her mouth with her hoof as she hovered.

âœThatâs an awfully big box,â commented Dinky, her eyes wide, staring at the brightly wrapped package.

âœIt sure is Dinky,â Derpy agreed, now carefully trying to look at the box.

âœWhere do I put this?â asked Bucky,

âœOn the table,â replied Derpy, looking very very surprised. âœBucky, what did you do?â

âœWhat do you mean?â Bucky inquired, settling the box gently upon the brightly decorated table, now noticing for the first time how small the other boxes were. He felt the first stab of panic this day. It was sharp and piercing. He winced, his nostrils flaring, and began to curse himself for this obvious social blunder. And this whole time, he had worried he hadnât done enough.

The differences of social class reared its ugly head and made itself known.

Buckyâs gift, a token gesture by his own standards, completely dwarfed the other gifts on the table. And there were precious few gifts on the table. Nothing at all like the birthdays he had attended on occasion within his own social peerage. He began to intently study his surroundings.

At least he hadnât dressed up.

âœOh my Bucky, what did you do?â Derpy repeated.

âœJust a little something nice,â replied Bucky sheepishly.

âœIâll say!â

Bucky regarded the earth pony addressing him.

âœOops, Bucky, this is Berry Punch. My best friend. And that is PiÃa Colada, her younger sister.â Derpy said, looking embarrassed. She hovered in the air, rubbing her forehooves together.

âœCharmed,â said Berry, grinning rakishly. âœAlways a pleasure to meet a stallion with such a largeâ package.â

Bucky gulped.

âœBerry!â Derpy giggled nervously. Derpy began to titter, turning redder, her ears taking on a pink tinge. âœBerry Punch, I donât know what to do with you sometimes,â Derpy admitted with a nervous chortle.

âœYouâre handsome,â said PiÃa Colada, looking Bucky in the eye.

âœIt runs in the family,â said Berry, looking down at her sister and winking.

âœPiÃa!â cried Dinky, running forward and tackling her friend. After a brief struggle, Dinky had PiÃa Colada in a headlock and was giving her a hoof noogie.

The social interaction was fascinating for Bucky. In all of his life, nopony had ever acted this way in a social gathering that he had attended. Bucky had only heard stories of pegasi and earth ponies acting like uncouth barbarians during social events, and now he was witnessing it firsthoof. And it was strangely appealing. He felt like a social ponyologist studying remote tribes that lived just outside the university walls.

âœBeg for mercy sassy plot!â Dinky cried, applying pressure and making PiÃa Coladaâs eyes bulge as Dinkyâs foreleg tightened around her neck.

âœNever!â PiÃa Colada replied, her voice strained, kicking her hindhooves and trying to wiggle free.

Derpy grinned in embarrassment and Berry Punch grinned for the sake of grinning.

Neither one of the mothers seemed overly concerned about the two foals locked in mortal combat Bucky noticed. PiÃa Colada had managed to get on her hooves, and was now running around in circles, trying to buck Dinky off, and Dinky had doubled down on her grip.

The two foals were ruthless in their combat.

And having fun Bucky noted mentally.

âœThatâs enough you two,â Berry said, observing Bucky observing the foals. The two foals let go of one another immediately, looked at one another with a smile, hugged one another briefly, and then sat down in the grass to watch the adults.

âœMore guests will be arriving soon,â Derpy announced. She landed, fidgeting nervously, and began to preen a wing while casting a nervous glance at Bucky, who did not notice.

Berry Punch noticed though, first looking at her friend Derpy, and then turning to study Bucky, who had settled himself into the grass and was clearly using his best manners. He was sitting, rigid, unmoving, still as a statue, the epitome of upper class social grace.

Berry Punch felt a twinge of agitation as she noticed the disappointed look on Derpyâs face when Derpy realised her preening had gone unnoticed. Berry shook her head gently, feeling bad for her friend, but also feeling bad for Bucky.

Bucky was a spring too tightly wound.

Sparkler emerged from the back door, freezing halfway down the steps, pausing to look at Bucky, her mother, and Berry Punch.

âœOh hi,â she said sheepishly as she resumed her movement, walking through the backyard to go and sit with Dinky and PiÃa Colada.

âœHello,â greeted Bucky, still unmoving.

Derpy unfurled her wings and began to work on them in earnest, ruffling them loudly, shaking them, and making very pronounced gestures as she drug her primaries through her lips, leaving behind an oily sheen on her feathers that made them glisten and have a faint rainbow reflection in direct sunlight.

Pegasi had special salivary glands that set them apart from the other tribes. These glands produced a waxy oily saliva that made their wings shed water, and kept the feathers well oiled, smooth, and clean. It also made their saliva have an odd but pleasant flavour, with most ponies agreeing that excited drooling pegasi were great kissers.

Much to Berry Punchâs dismay, Bucky remained oblivious, now watching Sparkler playing with the foals. Berry heaved a sigh of mild frustration. Poor Derpy deserved better.

Derpy was now tugging on her feathers with an almost frantic frustration, flicking her tail, and standing in such a way that one of her shapely legs was being extended briefly, her features pronounced. She shifted and extended out another leg in an exaggerated display of balance as she worked on a wing.

Derpyâs display succeeded in arousing at least one pony.

Berry Punch blinked, now seeing her friend in an entirely new way. The stout stocky muscular pegasus was certainly attractive. Berry Punch had never been attracted to a mare before. She felt a hot tingle along her spine and began to squirm. Derpy was no earth pony, but she was broad shouldered and had the sort of wide hips well suited for heavy loadsâ And plowing. No no no, pulling a plow, Berry Punch mentally corrected.

Bucky remained oblivious, still on his best behaviour, now watching a butterfly that fluttered around PiÃa Coladaâs nose. Pigeons could roost on Bucky, Berry Punch noted. Berry Punch allowed her eyes to go back to watching Derpyâs awkward display.

A small herd of foals frolicked and gamboled in the grass, playing tag. Several more gifts had been brought and were piled in the table. Rising Star and Sparkler sat near the table, with Rising Star occasionally glancing at Sparkler, who sat ignoring him, except for when he was looking away, she would sneak a glance and smile.

Poor Derpy had given up in frustration and was now sitting in the shade, Berry Punch sitting beside her, and Bucky sitting nearby.

âœIâm gonna talk, and both of you are gonna listen,â Berry Punch announced in a low quiet voice, turning her gaze first to Derpy, and then to Bucky. âœBoth of you were putting on quite a display a while ago, and neither one of you saw what the other was doing.â

Derpy peered at Berry Punch through narrowed eyes and Buckyâs face took on a startled appearance as he too, turned to look at Berry Punch.

âœSit next to me,â Berry commanded, patting the ground with her hoof and gesturing Bucky over with a head tilt.

Bucky scooted over, cautiously, looking a little nervous, licking his lips and flaring his nostrils, his ears twitching with high strung nervousness.

Berry wrapped one foreleg around Bucky, and then placed the other around Derpy, pulling them both in close, rubbing both of their shoulders, bring the three of them almost muzzle to muzzle. It made Bucky more than a little panicky.

âœBoth of you put on an impressive display. Derpy, your little plumage display may have just made me bi-sexual. I have never, ever been attracted to a mare until now,â said Berry in a hushed whisper. âœAnd you, Bucky, you sat stone still, never noticing that Derpy was trying to display for you, you were the very model of social grace and good manners, for a snob. I am almost certain that if I was a unicorn, I would have been impressed with your total lack of reaction to anything and would have been turned on in some vast unexplainable sort of way, while never once showing outward expression,â said Berry, now smiling, pulling them both even closer, their muzzles almost brushing together now. âœWhat you both need is a translatorâ And you both have something I think I might want a part of as well,â teased Berry.

There was a loud gulp from Bucky and Derpy gave a nervous titter.

âœI made you bi-sexual?â Derpy said in a hushed giggle.

âœDerpy… that display was hot,â whispered Berry into her friendâs ear, causing it to flicker wildly. âœSo how about we all get to know one another and be friendsâ Really friendly friends.â

Bucky gulped again. He could feel Berry Punchâs body pressing up against him. Her coat felt different than Derpyâs. One ear flickered up against his, causing his whole body to jerk with panic and alarm.

âœI dunno about this Berry, Bucky looks awfully distressed right now,â Derpy said in a low voice full of concern.

âœI know,â replied Berry. âœBut just think, I could pin him down while you tickle him,â Berry said in vaguely threatening tones, causing Derpy to fiendishly giggle.

Bucky squirmed, Berry Punchâs foreleg felt impossibly strong around his shoulders. She was strong, every bit as strong as Derpy almost.

Certainly stronger than Bucky was.

âœBucky, can you say something?â begged Derpy, who was now peering at Bucky with her one good eye, the other now closed, her ears folded back against her head.

âœSomething,â mumbled Bucky.

âœBucky?â said Derpy, her voice now a bit more concerned.

âœCelestia told me to make friendsââ Bucky said slowly, his nostrils flaring, his brain being slowly overwhelmed with pheromones.

âœMmm, friends,â agreed Berry, pressing her snoot against Derpyâs for a moment, her face looking hopeful.

âœI, uh, ohââ Derpy said as Berry snoot-bumped her, âœI have to confess, Iâve checked you out a few times Berry. Weâve been so close. And nopony has touched me in so long. I think I might be bi-desperate.â

Berry Punch giggled and relaxed her grasp on the two ponies she was holding. As Bucky pulled away, Berry Punch tilted her head and drove her muzzle into Buckyâs neck, nuzzling him briefly.

Three very flustered ponies sat together, catching their breath, all of them smiling.

âœTime to open some presents!â Derpy said, her body shivering and wings shaking as she made her announcement, causing the foals in the yard to squeal.

âœOh my gosh, look at them,â Sparkler said in a hushed whisper, grabbing Rising Star and turning his head towards the three adults in the shade, forcibly grabbing him with two hooves.

Rising Star looked and saw three ponies practically sitting muzzle to muzzle, the pony in the middle squeezing them all together.

âœMy motherâs best friend is hitting on my mother,â gasped Sparkler.

âœI dunnoâ maybe?â Rising Star replied in doubtful tones. He watched them for a few more moments, his jaw slowly falling open. âœOh, wait, I was wrong, oh my gosh what am I seeing?â he asked, leaning towards Sparkler.

âœOoh eew, unf, yuck, aw, thatâs kinda sweet,â Sparkler said in a confused whisper.

âœYour mother looks stupidly happy right now, having her best friend and that unicorn both being sweet on her,â Rising Star agreed, leaning even closer to Sparkler.

âœI had no idea that Berry Punch was such a brazen hussyâ go Berry!â Sparkler said in a hushed cheer.

âœWait, you are okay with this?â asked Rising Star.

âœDonât you get no ideas Rising Star, I have no interest in Apple Cobbler,â Sparkler snarked, paying too much attention to her motherâs current situation to notice her own. Rising Star was edging ever closer, slowly and timidly. âœBesides, my motherâs been so miserable that she deserves whatever happiness comes her way.â

Rising Star paused in his advances, watching the three adults pull even closer, their lips moving, things were clearly being said. Ears flickered and bodies squirmed. When Berry Punch nuzzled Bucky, Rising Star used Sparklerâs distraction to lean in and plant a kiss on her cheek.

And everything went horribly wrong.

Sparkler turned her head to say something to Rising Star, her mouth slightly opened, just as he made his final approach to sneak a peck on her cheek.

He planted his kiss on her lower lip instead, and Sparkler sat there in surprise, allowing him to kiss her for a moment, Rising Star even going as far to bravely nibble on her lip briefly since her mouth had been opened, until Sparklerâs brain finally began to work again. She shoved him away roughly, causing him to fall over and sprawl in the grass.

Sparkler stared down at Rising Star in complete confusion, her mouth opening and closing, her ears waggling around wildly. She glared at him fiercely, feeling shock and surprise. Rising Star looked a little afraid. And maybe just a little pleased with himself as he grinned back up at Sparkler.

âœTime to open some presents!â Derpy said, snapping Sparkler out of her confusion.

Dinky tore through her presents rapidly, saving the big one for last. There were pens, markers, two boxes of crayons; which had caused Bucky to privately cringe, because he had considered a box of crayons briefly when he had browsed the stores of Ponyville, some watercolour paints, and a few paint brushes.

Dinky was especially pleased with the paints. She liked painting. Derpy and Sparkler usually joined her for a quiet time of painting and they all painted together. Dinky took a great deal of satisfaction in knowing she was a better painter than her sister Sparkler. Dinky never had to be reminded that ponies only had four legs.

One of the larger boxes was a massive puzzle, far too big to go on the kitchen table. It would have to be put together on the floor. It was a picture of Ponyvilleâs historic clock and bell tower.

As Dinky unwrapped her presents, Bucky began to realise there was an unusual number of clouds overhead. The skies were clear over most of Ponyville, but overhead it had become quite a cloudy day. On the clouds were pegasi, he could see them peering down, peeking over the edge of their clouds, watching Dinky with great interest.

And Bucky supposed they were keeping an eye on him as well. Thunderlaneâs words had been quite clear. Pegasi see all.

Bucky realised that had he not been paying attention, had he not looked up, he would have missed something very important. The flock truly looked after their own. While Dinky might have been a little shy and didnât like crowds, it didnât mean that the flock wasnât there, celebrating another year of Dinkyâs life. They were above, watching patiently, taking in as much of the celebration below as they could.

And Dinky was a unicorn. Not a pegasi. And yet right up above Derpyâs yard, a troop of pegasi stood watch over one of their own.

Derpy was quite aware of this as well, occasionally looking upward, gratitude visible on her happy face, beaming at her watchful feathered brethren.

Dinky squealed as she opened a box that contained a book, Dinky loved books. This was a fresh copy of âœA Fillyâs Guide to Growing Up,â a booklet that many fillies received, a little primer on good manners and good graces common to all of the tribes, as well as practical life advice. Sparkler had once received a copy as well, and it was now dog eared and tattered, but still a treasured possession.

It had taught Sparkler how to talk to colts and take confidence in herself, quite possibly the most important lessons in her life. The little social primer had convinced her that she was beautiful just the way she was. It was Sparklerâs saviour when Derpy just couldnât seem to reach her no matter what Derpy had said, and a something Sparkler constantly turned to for advice about embarrassing subjects.

The book was a gift from Berry Punch, just as Sparklerâs had been.

Berry Punch sat back, looking very pleased with herself as Dinky came to the realisation that this was a book for growing fillies, and that Dinky was in fact, growing up. A few tears began to roll down Dinkyâs cheeks, and she ran to Berry Punch and squeezed her tightly, as tight as her little forelegs would allow. Berry Punch squeezed back, also crying just a little bit, just as she had cried a little bit when Sparkler had hugged her, just like this, not all that long ago.

And when PiÃa Coladaâs birthday rolled around, Derpy already had a copy of the same book for her, tucked away in a high shelf inside the closet.

Derpy squeezed the stuffing out of Berry Punch and Dinky, and, after letting them go, wiped away a few tears from both of them with her wingtips. It was a small quiet private family moment.

And it was entirely unlike anything Bucky had ever witnessed. So far, this whole day had been completely beyond his ability to ken. He was very confused. His own family events had never been like this. There had never been this much warmth or affection. There had been gifts, sure, Bucky had once received a train set for Hearthâs Warming that he had never really had a chance to play with because he was never home. But it had been an impressive display of generousity on his parents part, and they had assembled it and had it running around the tree, and had made sure to show it off to all of their friends along with all of the other conspicuous consumption to be found in their home during the holidays.

They had also sent him a photo of it so he could enjoy it too, as he was spending his holiday at school. He had not been invited home that year.

Bucky shooed away his distractions and focused on the moment, watching the family bonding and realised that he was very, very lonely. He closed his eyes and tried to forcibly squash down these annoying and distracting emotions, determined to not let them bother him, not today. Today was too nice to focus upon the past.

Bucky opened his eyes as he felt a large warm body pressing up against his side, realising that Derpy was settling in close to him. A second later, Berry Punch was pressing in on the other side, and both mares were leaning on him.

âœStop looking sad,â whispered Derpy. âœOr I will squeeze the sadness right out of you.â

âœWhatever is bothering you, think about something else,â Berry Punch said helpfully. âœLike being a sandwich right now.â

âœDinky is about to open your gift,â Derpy said excitedly.

The box was nearly as large as Dinky was and covered in bright shiny paper. The foal ignored the paper, tearing it to shreds, using her teeth to savage the ribbon and tear free all of the paper, revealing the box inside. She had to tear tape off from the box, and then opened up the two flaps, standing up on her hind legs, resting her forelegs on the edge of the box, and peeked inside.

Dinky nearly fainted, falling face first into the box, her hind legs sticking up into the air. Sparkler gently fished her out, her mouth falling open when she looked into the box.

âœIs thatââ Sparkler began.

âœHow manyââ Dinky said, her voice trailing off.

PiÃa Colada carefully stood up and peered into the box, her face going slack with surprise. âœThatâs the entire Daring Do series I think,â she whispered.

Dinky fell over backward onto the lawn, never once even noticing that there was a doll in the box as well. She lay there, staring upward, her eyes blinking rapidly, unable to process what she had just seen, her little barrel heaving.

âœWhat did you do?â questioned Derpy.

âœWell you canât read just one,â explained Bucky in embarrassed tones.

âœDinky Doo, say something,â begged Sparkler, now worried.

âœBucky, what did you do?â repeated Derpy.

âœI bought a few books,â Bucky said, now worrying that perhaps he had done something wrong, feeling a painful twinge of panic stab into his heart. âœAnd a doll too,â he added sheepishly.

Berry Punch walked over to peer into the box and whistled loudly as she took a gander at the boxâs contents. âœYou are going to need a new bookshelf,â Berry announced matter of factly. âœAnd every single one of Dinkyâs friends are going to want to come over and read.â

Dinkyâs friends were now peering into the box themselves, all of them looking very surprised, little faces full of wonder.

Dinky rolled over onto her hooves and ran to Bucky, leaping up into the air, grabbing his neck and squeezing tight enough to nearly cut off his air supply. After a moment of stunned surprise, Bucky wrapped a foreleg around Dinky and squeezed back as hard as he dared, feeling the foal wiggling against him and crying âœthank youâ over and over.

âœI am confused,â Bucky admitted, his voice wavering. âœEven the salesfilly said this was a modest gift. I feel very awkward. I started to suspect something was wrong earlier.â

âœBucky,â Berry replied, âœthis was a very generous gift by any reasonable standard.â

A second later, all of the air in Buckyâs body was gone as Derpy squeezed him hard enough to make his bones bend in unnatural ways, pressing her face into his neck, her wings also wrapped around him, Dinky still hanging from his neck. He struggled to draw breath, unable to expand his barrel to draw any air in.

He suffocated for several pained seconds before Derpy finally eased off her grasp.

Far above them, two friends sat on a cloud, watching the events below, smiling at one another, sharing the same cloud, pressed together in a familiar way.

âœOh my gosh thatâs unbelievably sappy,â said Rainbow Dash.

âœYeah it is,â Twilight Sparkle agreed, wiping her eyes with a wing tip. âœAnd there is too much pollen or something in the air.â

âœI cannot believe he did that!â exclaimed Rainbow Dash. âœHe doesnât even know how generous that wasââ

âœJust like Rarity when she goes off on one of her generousity sprees. She doesnât even know sheâs doing it,â Twilight Sparkle mumbled, still wiping her eyes and sniffling.

âœCelestia is going to want to know about this,â Rainbow Dash stated, peering downward.

âœI think this qualifies as the necessary generousity. Now weâll have to wait and see how he does with kindness, loyalty, honesty, and laughter,â said Twilight.

âœWhat do you think heâll pull off next?â Rainbow asked, her voice extra raspy from the excessive pollen that seemed to be in the air.

âœI have no idea,â replied Twilight, shrugging, and then leaning over to hug her friend, pulling her close and squeezing the stuffing out of her, speaking a language that Rainbow Dash understood.

âœI feel like a spy,â Rainbow Dash mumbled.

âœWeâre not spying,â reasoned Twilight. âœI am working in my capacity as a Princess and youâ youâ right now you are my loyal pegasus guard,â explained Twilight Sparkle. âœTotally not spying.â

âœOkay,â Rainbow Dash agreed.

Chapter 11

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The sun was just starting to settle over the horizon, the sky now shades of purple, orange, and blue, and two little sleepy foals were upstairs, in a bathtub full of bubbles, under the attentive care of Sparkler, who loved them both. Dinky and PiÃa Colada could barely keep their eyes open and the hot bathwater did nothing to help.

Downstairs, a plum coloured earth pony, a tan unicorn, and a grey pegasus were sitting around a slightly battered kitchen table, drinking beverages of a slightly more adult nature, taking drinks, talking, and enjoying the remains of the day.

âœI wanted to thank you for inviting me,â Bucky stated, staring down at the bottle caps on the table. âœI had a grand time.â

âœI think everypony had a grand time,â Berry Punch added, smiling, and taking a long pull from her bottle. âœYou know Bucky, this ainât bad. Iâm glad you went home and fetched a sample.â

âœI like it,â Derpy agreed.

âœIt was one of my better attempts at a Hoofeweizen,â Bucky admitted.

âœAttempt nothing, this is good, even if it is oddly coloured. Iâd like to know what you did to it though,â Berry said, after swallowing the liquid she was swishing in her mouth. âœYou know, my mother would have loved this. She was more of a beer drinker.â

âœWould is never a good word,â replied Bucky. âœPast tense.â

âœMy mother, Pinot Noir, was standing a bit too close to a still when it decided to let go of a little pressure. The copper line busted. She didnât feel a thing,â explained Berry. âœSame still claimed daddy too. I had the whole thing scrapped and melted down. Upgraded to slightly more modern equipment with the life insurance money. Feel a lot safer.â

âœUgh,â grunted Bucky.

âœSo what is that unusual flavour and makes it as pink as a blushing filly?â Berry asked.

âœRaspberry essence,â replied Bucky. âœI decided to go with raspberry essence on a whim with this batch. The usual Hoofeweizen flavours, a bit of banana and some citrusy lemon, and healthy dollop of raspberry.â

âœItâs good,â Derpy said, licking her lips and setting down her now empty bottle. With a well-practiced gesture, she cracked off a cap from another bottle. âœBanana nut muffin beer,â she said, reading the scrawl on the label, winking one eye closed and staring at it with her good eye. âœOh, I like this one already,â she said excitedly.

âœMore banana than nut,â Bucky commented and then he took a swig.

âœNot a problem for most mares,â Berry deadpanned.

Bucky nearly spewed beer all over the table and struggled to keep everything in.

âœBerry, you are something else,â giggled Derpy.

âœI am not the one who did a full blown preening display in front of her foals,â replied Berry, causing Derpyâs mouth to drop open in horror.

âœOhâ I did that, didnât I?â Derpy asked quietly.

Berry Punch nodded, taking another swig, and swishing it around her mouth.

Derpy slumped down in her chair, her ears drooping, one foreleg resting on the table. The grey mare took a deep breath, held it in for a few moments, and then blew it out with a loud raspberry noise as her lips flapped together.

âœDonât worry Derpy, youâre still a good mother,â Berry Punch said in soothing tones.

âœAnd Bucky didnât even notice it,â Derpy said sadly, taking a long pull from her bottle when she was done speaking.

âœBut I sure did,â Berry said, raising an eyebrow.

âœI wouldnât mind seeing it,â Bucky said in a hushed voice.

âœSo about us, what are we going to do about us?â Derpy asked, blushing slightly.

âœWe become drinking buddies and do whatever comes unnaturally,â replied Berry, her smile wide and rather lewd. âœAnd you, you and I need to talk about a little partnership,â she added, looking at Bucky.

âœFriends?â asked Bucky, looking at the two mares.

âœYeah,â replied Derpy.

âœAyup,â agreed Berry.

âœSeriously though Bucky, you and I really do need to talk about becoming partners. I have equipment. Stills. A brewery. You have a talent that I want to exploit,â chuckled Berry.

âœSo are we chasing one another?â asked Derpy, her eyes darting to her two companions.

âœI donât see any reason why we canât,â replied Berry.

âœI need to try new things,â nodded Bucky.

âœIf you want me to chase you though, I demand another plumage display,â said Berry, taking a long drink and killing off the contents of her bottle. She belched loudly, causing Bucky to flinch in disgust.

âœExcuse me,â mumbled Berry, suddenly remembering unicorn sensibilities.

âœI have to know, how does an earth pony know so much about unicorns and pegasi?â Bucky said, setting his bottle down and turning his gaze upon Berry Punch, causing her to blush slightly as she realised she was being studied.

âœWell, funny that,â Berry began, âœmy mother was a unicorn, my father was a pegasus, my twin sister Berry Shine is a pegasus, and my whole family is mixed up as a cocktail. Beer goggles does a pony good. We all get sloshed off our plots and breed with anything we can catch, or that catches us,â she explained. âœAnd in a family that is as mixed as we are, communication is very important. Clan Pickled canât brag about much, but we make darn fine diplomats and consummate gamblers if the situation demands.â

âœI canât beat her when we play cards,â Derpy said sourly.

âœYou have too many tells,â replied Berry.

âœI remember Clan Pickled from my heraldry classes,â Bucky mentioned. âœUnicorns, at least to start, real rough sorts, exiled out to Shetland Isles up off the east coast in the north. Because of breeding practices.â

âœAyup,â agreed Berry. âœSome unicorn thought it would be a great idea to marry an earth pony. Love story of its age.â

âœWhat happened?â asked Derpy, looking interested.

âœSet off a bloody civil war, caused thousands to die. The survivors and the still married couple were exiled to the islands. All we had were peat bogs. We used those to make booze,â exclaimed Berry.

âœYou know Berry, we canât be friendsââ Bucky deadpanned.

âœWhy not?â replied Berry, looking concerned.

âœI am a Scion of the Platinum Lineage,â replied Bucky casually, staring at Berry.

Berry blanched and her ears drooped. She began to look very worried.

âœGotcha,â Bucky said, raising his bottle in salute, smiling, and trying to look friendly again, briefly feeling bad for making Berry worry.

âœI donât understand,â said Derpy, looking worried.

Berry heaved a sigh of relief, casting a cautious glance at Bucky.

âœClan Pickled went to war against the House of Avarice during that little civil war. House Avarice being the royal family of Princess Platinum,â Berry explained, raising a bottle and looking at Bucky. âœNo hard feelings?â Berry said, looking Bucky in the eye.

âœNone at all. I donât care what was done back then. Thatâs silly,â replied Bucky, crinkling his nose. âœLots of silly ponies that would though,â he muttered. âœLike my parents.â

âœOuch,â Berry grunted, taking a long drink.

âœMy family doesnât talk to me anymore, not after what happened with Dinky,â Derpy said, looking incredibly sad for a moment, and taking a long drink.

âœPegasi and their military codes and their love of lineage, almost as bad as unicorns. Too many pegasi try and show a bloodline back to Hurricane and Pansy,â Berry said in disgust.

âœFor some, lineage is all that matters. My parents tried to arrange a marriage for me. I told them no. Things deteriorated rapidly between us. I was still a colt when they sent me a letter while I was still in school, informing me that they had found the filly that I was going to marry,â Bucky said, clutching his bottle between his hooves and looking pensive. âœOne of the many reasons why my parents and I no longer acknowledge one another. She had good breeding and a fantastic bloodline. My parents were furious when I told them no.â

âœI donât understand how unicorns do that,â Derpy said. âœI could never force Sparkler to marry somepony. That would be wrong,â Derpy looked upset, her eyes darkening, her ears drooping. She scowled, her nostrils flaring deeply, and her wings fluttered in an agitated manner.

âœWoah mama bird,â Berry said, her eyes wide. âœNow Bucky, did you see that? That was a pegasi responding badly and gearing up to kick plot. You will notice that there are no enemies in the room, but her body was preparing to kick somepony anyway. You donât mess with a mama birdâs chicks.â

Bucky nodded, taking note of the display.

âœMost of a pegasusâ communication is nonverbal,â Berry said, belching lightly into her hoof, her own ears folding back. âœBody language is everything.â

âœWhat was that plumage display from earlier saying?â Bucky asked, his eyes widening.

âœThat sheâd make it real easy for you to catch her if you chased her,â Berry said with a wicked grin.

Derpy blushed fiercely, biting down on her bottom lip and closing her eyes. âœYeah,â she admitted, letting go of her own lip.

âœSo what do earth ponies do to communicate those kinds of thoughts?â Bucky asked, figuring the direct approach wouldnât hurt.

âœWell, depends on the earth pony, but for most of us, we take the simple and direct approach of lifting our tails and extending a verbal invitation of some sort, except there isnât much running or chasing involved. Pegasi value speed more than we do.â

âœOh gross! Oh gross gross gross!â

Berry Punch turned to look at Sparkler, who stood in the kitchen doorway.

âœLittle Dinky and PiÃa are in bed together, sound asleep,â Sparkler said sheepishly, still looking disgusted. She shuddered, causing her mane to whip around. âœI totally didnât need to hear that coming into the kitchen to get a rootbeer.â

âœI need to say that I am sorry Sparkler,â said Derpy.

âœFor what?â Sparkler said, kissing her mother as she passed and taking a moment to press her muzzle into her motherâs mane.

âœAbout my display earlier today. My plumage display,â Derpy said sheepishly. âœI wasnât paying attention. I uh, was strutting my stuff.â

âœOh, that?â Sparkler said, getting a cold bottle of rootbeer out of the icebox. âœMom, you have a right to strut your stuff. And trust me, you have stuff to strut.â Sparkler said, shuddering once again. âœI canât believe I just said that to make my mother feel better,â she murmured.

Derpy turned a dark shade of purple, her ears falling down to the sides of her face, her muzzle once again scrunching up, and finally she hid her face behind her wings.

Sparkler sat down at the table and cracked open her rootbeer, looking at Bucky directly. âœNext time my mother puts on a display, youâd better pay attention,â she demanded, and then took a long drink from her bottle.

Sparkler let go a thunderous belch, her mouth opening wide to get maximum resonance. Her lips flapped from the force of her gastric utterance and her tongue lolled out of her mouth. âœIâm hawt,â she muttered, giggling faintly.

Berry tittered when she saw Bucky cringe, his face crinkled with disgust.

âœBucky my uptight friend,â quipped Berry, looking at the still disgusted unicorn, âœwhat do you know about pegasi table manners?â

âœNothing, why?â replied Bucky, looking confused.

âœOh my, are we in for some fun,â replied Berry, looking around the table at Derpy and Sparkler, her grin going wide.

Derpyâs eyes went wide and she looked mortified.

Bucky, seeing Derpyâs reaction, looked very confused.

Berry, seeing both of their reactions, looked very amused.

Sparkler took another long drink and belched again, this time crossing her eyes and pronouncing all known vowel sounds as she burped.

Bucky looked at Sparkler, now confused and disgusted.

Derpy looked at Bucky, horrified and distraught.

Berry looked at everypony and threw her head back and laughed.

âœWhat?â asked Sparkler, finally sensing there was something wrong, her eyes traveling around the table.

Berry Punch fell from her chair, clutching her sides and laughing. She landed on the floor with a thump and a loud snort.

Derpy gave an embarrassed grin. âœSparkler honey, I think you might be disturbing our guest,â said Derpy in low worried tones.

âœBut mom, my manners are perfect.â Sparkler whined, looking a little confused.

âœI think I understand,â Bucky said in a low embarrassed voice. âœWhen in Pegasopolis, do as the pegasi.â Bucky threw his head back, cleared his throat, and let out a tiny halfhearted belch, looking completely mortified the moment he did so. He slumped in his chair, looking defeated.

âœNeeds work,â Sparkler grunted. âœI could give you lessons like I do for Dinky.â

âœOkay.â Bucky replied, unable to meet Sparklerâs gaze, his ears completely flat against the sides of his face.

Berry Punch was howling now, rolling back and forth on the floor, clutching her barrel.

âœBucky, you are so very sweet. I donât know what to do with you,â said Derpy, rubbing her hooves together nervously.

âœSo,â said Sparkler, looking around the room, âœwhen are you kids going to go on your first date? I can look after Dinky and PiÃa, those little brutes arenât too much trouble.â

Berry suddenly fell silent and went still, Derpy froze, unmoving, also silent, and Bucky seemed to check out.

âœWhatta bunch of foals,â replied Sparkler, throwing back her head and belching again, causing the bottle caps on the table to rattle and clatter.

Chapter 12

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A lone earth pony pulled a heavy wagon, loaded down with dry goods and supplies. In the wagon was an assortment of goods. Bags of sugar, crates of brewerâs yeast, cracked corn, and molasses aplenty.

The earth pony pulling the wagon was named Berry Punch, and she enjoyed her task. Pulling the wagon allowed her to sweat out her alcohol based indulgences. Also, being an earth pony, pulling a wagon allowed her to think. Berry Punch believed that between her hard work and drinking, that she was something of a philosopher.

It was an odd quirk of earth pony physiology, their minds seldom working to true capacity unless the body was physically stimulated. And while Berry Punch came from mixed tribal ancestry, she was an earth pony in every way that mattered. Berry Punch was fiercely proud of her ancestors, being able to trace a bloodline all the way back to Smart Cookie.

Berry Punch also liked to joke that she was a draught (as in beer!) pony going a long way back.

The wagon wheels creaked and squeaked, the axle needing to be greased.

Berry Punch thought about her current state of affairs, her newfound attraction to her best friend and her budding interest in her best friendâs new friend. Her mind did its best to wrap around this new situation. She had never been interested in a mare before, and yet something in her brain burned brightly for Derpy Hooves after her searingly hot plumage display. Berry tried to puzzle it out, why this had happened, and she thought about the fact that she could âœspeak pegasusâ and wondered if she would feel the same if she did not understand what was being said.

And then there was Bucky. Bucky who was handsome, no doubt about that, but Berry had never been particularly picky in that area, beer goggles being what they were. No, Bucky had something else, something Berry craved. Bucky was an excellent intellectual foil. Bucky had the potential to scratch an itch that hadnât been scratched in a while, and Berry Punch really needed to get laid intellectually.

Berry Punch was a slave to her physiology, shackled to a need for physical stimulation in order for her mind to function at peak ability. Derpy certainly had the physical end covered. Her end was fantastic. And Bucky had the potential to meet her intellectual needs.

What Berry Punch did not know, could not know, could not even begin to understand, was that biology was now working against her, conspiring for the greater good of ponykind.

Pheromones. Dreaded pheromones and their inevitable interaction with hormones.

Derpyâs preening display had released a flood of chemicals into the air, a last ditch effort to create the perfect breeding environment. Biology had sensed that conditions were near perfect, just the right ponies were present. Pheromones had battered down poor Buckyâs defenses, fooling him into thinking he was smelling some sweet perfume on the day of the birthday party, teasing and titillating his brain, and working him over. The pheromones had also worked a number on Berry Punch, battering down her psychological barriers, assaulting her brain, rewiring her thinking, and making her feel a powerful sense of attraction for her best friend, releasing what can be scientifically described as a metric ton of dopamines and oxytocin, along with subtle amounts of norepinephrine and serotonin, along with a near overdose of vasopressin that spiked her need to pair bond to new and previously unexperienced levels for Berry Punch. The vasopressin alone was enough to cause Berry Punch to pair bond with a statue, which is fortunate really, as unicorns tended to become statuesque as part of their mating ritual displays. Bucky had certainly been stony enough to allow pigeons to roost. Pheromones, and the hormones affected by pheromones, had had their say.

Biology was ruthless and played to win. It had delivered a master stroke in the case of Bucky, Derpy, and Berry Punch, finding what it believed to be a herd within a herd, an ideal family unit for the creation and raising of foals. Bucky had strong intellectual needs, Derpy had strong physical needs, and Berry Punch, being an earth pony, had dual conflicting needs that could not be satisfied unless both were satisfied.

To drive home its point, biology cruelly spiked poor Berryâs brain once again with a healthy dose of the chemicals responsible for love and pair bonding, causing her to stop pulling her wagon, wipe her brow, and grumble about how hot the day seemed to be getting.

Berry Punch paused, feeling a hot flash burn through her body, causing to break out in beads of sweat, making her plum coloured coat shine with a shimmering sheen in the sun, and made her raspberry coloured mane cling to her neck. She wiped her brow, took a deep breath, and then grumbled a bit about the hot sun and how it hated hard working earth ponies.

Suddenly, for reasons she could not explain, she really wanted to be talking to Bucky and sitting close to her friend Derpy Hooves. She shrugged off the thought and resumed her task, pulling the wagon loaded down with goods.

The pony in the mirror wasnât exactly who Sparkler wanted to be. While she was confident in herself, or tried to be, and while she believed that she was pretty, or tried to be, Sparkler had one little issue that drove her to distraction.

She really wanted wings for her own plumage display. She didnât mind having a horn, but she would trade it in a hot second to have wings. Sparkler really wanted to emulate her mother. Derpy was the ideal figure of what a mare should be for Sparkler, the example that she tried to live by. And Derpy had wings.

It caused a tiny bit of trouble for poor Sparkler, who did not have wings and could not engage in plumage displays. Not that she would engage in plumage displays. And she certainly wouldnât give Rising Star the satisfaction of a good show.

She stared at herself in the mirror, feeling flustered and a bit bothered. The creep had kissed her, he had even had the nerve to nibble on her lip. It had been her first kiss. She was angry, she was more than a little resentful, and she privately treasured the moment even though she would never confess this to anypony, certainly not Rising Star.

Sparkler felt a bit angry and a bit frustrated with herself because of her attraction. She didnât want to end up as a teenaged filly single momâ she had seen the consequences of that up close and personal and taking care of Dinky every day was all the reminder she needed to behave herself.

And yet, in spite of her efforts, she felt a powerful attraction to Rising Star, which scared her something awful. He had already kissed her. And while Sparkler knew that kisses were harmless, you couldnât have a foal just from just a kiss, something she had been foolish enough to believe in when she was younger, kissing led to other things, things Sparkler wanted no part of.

The pony in the mirror stared back at her, a strange horn sprouting from its forehead, a horn that didnât belong there. It should have been wings. Sparkler sighed, thinking that she would be just perfect if she had wings, but she could settle for being above average and having a horn.

âœIâm hawt,â Sparkler reminded herself, trying to convince the pony in the mirror that this was true. She was almost the total package, a good body, excellent table manners, she was almost the perfect pegasus. She just needed wings.

Diamond Tiara surveyed the playground, ruler of her domain. For a variety of reasons that she had very little knowledge of, or even understood, she was keenly aware of the herd dynamic. It was her place to rule, to guide the herd as she saw fit.

Diamond Tiara had no concept that her herding instincts had been perverted and corrupted by her fatherâs careless nurturing of all the wrong traits.

Rather than draw in the weak to protect them, surrounding them with the strong, Diamond Tiara drove the weak out, pushing them to the outer edges of the herd, leaving the strongest in the middle, allowing the weak to be picked off by the various factors of life, leaving the strong to prosper in the wake of intentionally sacrificing the weak. Her behaviours mirrored behaviours of those who had come before her, a long terrible lineage, the anomaly in the herd dynamic that created the strength needed for the herd to survive in a hostile world. The weak had been sacrificed, and undesirable traits had been weeded out.

Now, society had changed, and the weak continued to thrive, passing on undesirable traits to undesirable offspring, and the anomaly that existed within the herd dynamic was unable to be rid of such weakness, causing no end of grief to the biological relic of an earlier time when such an anomaly was necessary.

Diamond Tiara understood none of this, she simply behaved as her biology demanded, she continued to try and cull the herd for the sake of survival, forcing the weak away from the center so that the strong could thrive and leave behind viable offspring.

Her behaviour, once a valued asset to evolutionary biology, was now a social nuisance that caused her and all around her to suffer needlessly.

Diamond Tiara scanned the playground, her eyes carefully gazing over all she saw, determining who was fit for survival and who wasnât, her mind instantly taking in complex levels of social hierarchy, group interaction dynamics, and then performing the complex algebra of survival based on the factors she took in as input.

Not seeing any lone stragglers she could drive away, she turned her attention to her fellow anomaly Silver Spoon and felt a biologically driven sense of revulsion that caused her to feel intense hatred for her so called friend, something that Diamond Tiara repressed, causing untold psychological harm. Silver Spoon was the only other creature quite like her in her peer group, and both were locked into a paradoxical bond of attraction based on their mutual revulsion of one another, each one driven to drive the other out.

On some level, biology understood that sometimes anomalies became undesirable traits that needed to be culled.

A tan unicorn ran, his hooves thudding through the dirt, a plum coloured earth pony running close beside him, her eyes wide with excitement and her mane streaming out behind her, both of them being chased by a grinning grey pegasus mare that flew after them, all of them enjoying the chase.

Each of them had performed their tasks for the day and were enjoying a little time together, content to chase one another and put on a good show. The ponies watching this show all saw different things, each according to their conditioning and perspectives.

For the ponies chasing one another, the worry about what other ponies thought was temporarily gone, the only thing that mattered was the chase. They laughed together, sides heaving, lost in the moment, simply doing what felt good to them.

Bucky delighted in new friends, feeling something different for each of them, strong feelings that he didnât understand. He simply allowed the moment to happen, feeling an indescribable joy, finally feeling like a pony, running within a herd.

As the group tore through town, a purple pink filly joined them, finding a place between Bucky and Berry Punch, Sparkler joined into the chase, feeling a need to belong, but not understanding why. Chemicals rushed through her brain, rewarding her for her actions, making her feel good, giving her a rush of self-worth, driving her onward to continue in the chase.

Berry nosed Sparkler gently as they ran, the nose touch a simple gesture of affection, but a complex agent of biology, the momentary contact causing a complex mixture of chemical signals direct access to the brain through the nostrils, making Berry Punch feel even closer to Sparkler, causing their bond to strengthen. A nuzzle, a nosing, a snoot-bump, a kiss, all of these simple gestures of affection, all them complex agents of biology.

Above them, pegasi circled and lounged on clouds, watching over their ground bound flock members, watching the social display, observing the still forming herd developing beneath them.

Derpy swooped down, snatching up Sparkler, holding her close and squeezing the stuffing out of her, pressing her own muzzle into Sparkler, and planting a kiss on her head just between her ears, just behind her horn. Derpy flew with Sparkler for several minutes, squeezing her fiercely, and then gently set her down on the ground, allowing her to run free.

It was a lovely Monday afternoon, the perfect day to chase.

Chapter 13

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A headache was a terrible thing to labour under. Bucky was already terribly distracted, thinking about his coming date with Miss Derpy Hooves. Miss Berry Punch would be there as well, as both a friend and a translator. Panic was gnawing away at Buckyâs insides, making his mouth dry and his head throb even harder.

He was having a great deal of trouble studying the accounting ledger on the desk in front of him, between his headache, the thoughts of two mares that intrigued him, and his current thoughts about writing a resignation letter.

It went against everything he believed in. It was a rash spontaneous action, something he would never even consider under normal circumstances. And yet here he was, thinking about it. Berryâs offer had been a little too tempting. Cutie marks were all about destiny, and his destiny was a future in brewing. Not accounting.

But accounting paid the bills.

And Bucky had bills.

Having been disinherited from his family, he had no real finances available other than what he made himself, and he was barely keeping his head above water. The train rides and the charges on his credit card were going to damage his remaining available funds.

Despite the high cost of living, life remained popular.

He stared at the ledger, looking at the numbers, checking the receipts, checking over every jot and tittle. He blinked several times, realising he saw a huge oversight, an error that was costing Mister Rich a considerable amount of money.

âœMister Rich?â Bucky called out, looking at the stallion himself through the open door to his office.

Filthy Rich got up out his chair, left his office, and stood before Buckyâs desk. He stared at Bucky patiently, smiling slightly, Filthy Rich liked Buckminster. âœSomething you need?â asked Filthy Rich.

âœSir, Iâve spotted a place where we are bleeding money and I have a solution that will stop the hemorrhaging and save a lot of money I think,â Bucky replied, licking his lips out of nervousness.

âœTell me,â commanded Filthy Rich, now looking very concerned about the news, a little angry about the situation, and slightly pleased with Buckminster, one of his most faithful accountants, somehow able to express all of these emotions all at once. Buckminster had the most wonderful case of obsessive compulsive disorder according to the employee file, and an eye for detail that nopony that Filthy Rich employed could ever hope to match. Ponies with obsessive compulsive disorder made magnificent company assets.

âœThe train situation when we send our agents to Canterlot for business transactions. They hop a train, go to Canterlot, and then come home again. And a day or two later, they do it again. Weâre losing so much money on this. What we need to do is reschedule everything to one single day of the week, take a three AM train to Canterlot for the ten percent discount, arrive in Canterlot bright and early, attend to meetings, get everything done in one day, and then catch a post commuter ride home with a discounted fare. It would be a very long work day to be sure, but you could allow a day off or two for the business agents willing to follow the more efficient scheduling, something I am sure most of them would be willing to do to spend more time with their families,â explained Bucky.

âœHmm,â replied Filthy Rich, now looking pensive yet quite pleased.

âœWith the money we save on train fare, you could spend a small fraction of it on employee meal perks, offering to secure them breakfast, lunch, and dinner, preferably within the establishments of your business contacts at a steep discount because you would buy in bulk, and you could look very generous. With the show of generousity, many agents would agree to the long day, expenses would go down, and productivity would probably go up considerably,â Bucky patiently continued.

âœThatâs brilliant,â Filthy Rich said in a low voice. âœI could endear myself to my employees and probably increase employee loyalty as well. That damnable Fancy Pants would have a much harder time stealing away valuable company assets.â

Bucky nodded, knowing that the time for words was done, and it was time to allow Filthy Rich time to catch up, take everything in, and then find a way to take credit somehow for the idea.

The front door to the office banged open suddenly and one of Mister Richâs runners came running inside the office, panting, and looking panicked.

âœThereâs been an incident at the school!â he exclaimed, his breathing ragged, âœYou need to go right away! Diamond Tiara has been assaulted!â

Filthy Rich didnât bother replying other than a startled grunt, he simply took off out the door, running, his tie flapping in the breeze.

Bucky felt a surprisingly strong twinge of panic and then followed Filthy Rich out the door, feeling a terrible sense of worry.

Dinky Doo emerged from the schoolhouse, out into the playground, blinking her eyes as the sun blinded her. She had gone back inside to use the little filliesâ room, and now that her business had concluded, she was going back outside to play with PiÃa. She trotted along the side of the building, heading to the back, heading back to the seesaw where she had left PiÃa, hoping to enjoy the rest of recess.

As she came around the corner, she saw Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon backing PiÃa up against the slide, PiÃa looking quite panicked and afraid.

Something inside of Dinky boiled. Her horn felt itchy, something that had never happened before. Her legs stiffened and she puffed out her barrel, trying to make herself look larger, a characteristic she had learned from her mother, without actually knowing that she had learned it. She began to stride forward, in stiff legged walk that belonged to a pegasus, not a unicorn.

But Dinky was a unicorn.

Silver Spoon raised her hoof and gave PiÃa a shove, knocking her backwards into the metal ladder, PiÃa let out a pained cry, panicked and now hurt, and Diamond Tiara moved in swiftly sensing weakness, her lip curled into a sneer.

Dinky tried to speak, but no words came. Her throat felt hot and dry.

PiÃa let out another pained yelp as she was shoved again, and foals all over the playground were now watching, waiting to see what would happen next.

Cheerilee was inside, grading papers.

Diamond Tiara turned and glared at Dinky Doo. âœGet out of here you retard spawn,â she hissed, narrowing her eyes and lashing out with a swift kick using her hind leg, driving it into Pinaâs ribs, sending PiÃa sprawling.

Dinky felt an odd hot sensation, followed by a weird thrum coming from her horn. And then, the world went white.

Diamond Tiara froze, watching Dinky as Dinky rose up into the air, her horn glowing purple fire, her eyes now white. White and purple bolts of energy crackled up and down Dinkyâs body, and she heard a whimper of panic coming from Silver Spoon.

Dinky hovered, held aloft by invisible forces.

The air smelled like a thunderstorm, and energy crackled and popped. Diamond Tiara felt a painful crushing sensation in her bladder, and very nearly lost control of herself. The air was filled with an odd thrumming sound, it made everything vibrate painfully, and produced an odd sensation in the soft tissues of her eyes. It made the fillings in her teeth vibrate painfully. She could feel her horseshoes begin to tingle. Her tiara vibrated off of her head and fell into the dirt.

And then, the air was filled with an angry buzzing roar.

The sky above Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon went dark with a swirling seething mass, it made an odd vibrating roar as it moved, darting back and forth as one buzzing mass.

It was a cloud of bees.

Thousands of bees. They dove, as a single unified mass, swooping down towards Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. And they did the only thing two foals could do when confronted by an angry swarm of bees. They ran.

Diamond Tiara let out a pitiful cry as the first bee stung her, her bladder finally letting go, causing her to stream urine behind her as she ran, now braying pitifully like a donkey, running from the angry swarm, Silver Spoon right behind her.

Bees swarmed everywhere, and they were angry!

No other foals were stung, the swarm focused entirely on Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, who ran, running, trying to find someplace safe to run. There was no safe place, and the bees kept stinging.

Eventually, Silver Spoon was overcome, and she lay on the ground and covered her eyes with her forelegs, screaming madly for help, which did not come.

Cheerilee stood in the door, her mouth open wide in horror, unable to do anything. Several adult ponies from the surrounding town of Ponyville also stood around, panicking, dancing in place on their hooves, knowing that nothing could be done.

Finally, Diamond Tiara fell. She too, covered her face, trying to keep the angry bees from stinging her eyes. She bawled with terror, still sounding a bit like a donkey, her eyes covered and she rolled on the ground, trying to make the bees stop stinging.

But the bees did not stop stinging.

When Diamond Tiara rolled over, they began to sting her tender exposed belly and her now exposed delicate places, plunging their stingers into her soft unprotected flesh. They swarmed inside of her mouth as she howled, stinging her tongue and the inside of her cheeks.

Eventually, Diamond Tiaraâs howls ceased and became frantic whimpers, and then nothing at all. Silver Spoon suffered the same fate, stung into unconsciousness by the writhing mass of bees, who stung once and then vanished, popping out of existence.

Eventually, the bees ceased their relentless assault and the remainder blinked out of existence, leaving behind a schoolyard full of stunned foals and one very terrified teacher who stood frozen, still unable to move.

It was during this moment of shocked paralysis that two ponies arrived upon the scene.

Bucky, following Filthy Rich, arrived at the schoolyard just in time to see Dinky falling to the earth, released from invisible bonds, falling down with a thump and slumping over motionless. Filthy Rich ran to the side of his foal, bellowing wordlessly in panic, while Bucky went to Dinky.

Reacting swiftly, Bucky, rolled Dinky over and checked for breathing, placing his ear upon her barrel. It was difficult to hear over his own thudding heart beat and the sudden ringing in his ears. It took a moment, but Bucky finally heard faint sounds of breathing.

Other ponies began to arrive on the scene, Dr. Stable and Nurse Redheart showing up, their hooves pounding the earth as they ran to the schoolhouse from the hospital. After assessing the situation, Nurse Redheart began to gently try and lead Filthy Rich away from his foal, to give Dr. Stable room to work.

Many little fillies and colts had formed a circle around the two fallen bullies, all of them looking worried and solemn. Not a sound was made. Cheerilee began to pace back and forth, looking quite frantic.

PiÃa, terrified and unable to find comfort, had collapsed and curled into a fetal position, and was now crying hysterically.

Bucky settled back on his haunches and gently began to rub Dinkyâs barrel, trying to get a response from the now comatose foal. Magic surges were unpredictable and could cause any number of physical problems, and Bucky was terrified.

Panic had found its perfect moment, a weak place appearing in Buckyâs defenses. Something inside of his chest seized, forcing all of the wind out of his lungs, leaving him gasping.

âœYou little monster, what did you do?â Filthy Rich growled, now advancing on Bucky and Dinky, spittle flying from his lips, his eyes bloodshot with rage.

âœMister Rich, back off, now is not a good time, go calm down, this was an accident,â wheezed Bucky, feeling even more panic flooding in, trying to shore up his mental defenses, attempting to repair the levees before everything gave way completely.

Pegasi were landing now, many of them pegasi Bucky recognised. Some of them began to try and lead the terrified foals away.

âœThat little monster almost killed my foal,â Filthy Rich snarled, still advancing, now entirely too close to Bucky.

Another crack appeared in the levees, and the first trickle of failure began to manifest.

âœSTAY BACK!â Bucky commanded, reaching out with a tiny fraction of the force he was capable of and sending Filthy Rich flying backwards, tumbling through the air like a rag doll.

A large piece of the levees gave way, causing something truly awful to rush forth.

Knowing it was too late to hold back and bottle it up, Bucky reached out and extended his will, wrapping his magic around the slide. With a single jerk, he tore it free from the earth, ripping it free of its concrete anchors, holding it aloft in the air, and then struck it with several tons worth of force. A metallic screech echoed through Ponyville, causing quite a bit of alarm. Bucky struck it again, warping and bending the metal, causing it to become white hot from the applied force. And then, in a moment of rage, he applied multiple tons of crushing pressure from all sides, causing the whole slide to be compressed into a white hot glowing ball of metal not much larger than a foalâs ball. With a toss of his head, he sent it soaring into the lake quite some distance away, causing a pillar of steam to rise out of the lake and a torrent of bubbles.

âœI TOLD YOU TO STAY BACK!â Bucky screamed, his voice ragged with panic.

A charcoal grey pegasus stallion landed nearby, slowly and cautiously approached.

Bucky turned and glared at Thunderlane, his barrel heaving, one eye twitching in an alarming fashion.

âœCome on Bucky, let us take Dinky and go,â said Thunderlane in a calm soothing voice. âœWe need to go,â he repeated, his tone gentle and enticing.

Filthy Rich was now getting up on his hooves, cursing and spitting, quite irate.

âœBucky, I donât mean to pressure you, but really, right now, we need to go,â begged Thunderlane, still speaking in a low soothing voice.

Bucky nodded slowly, almost mechanically, forcing his legs to work. His movements were jerky and spastic. He let out a startled cry of alarm as two legs wrapped gently around his barrel and he found himself lifted into the air and being carried away by an unknown pegasus. Thunderlane had gently collected Dinky and was now airborne, trying to whisper soothing words into Dinkyâs ear. PiÃa was gently taken into the air by a third pegasus, and the group departed, fleeing the scene.

A large crowd had gathered, and Bucky could see it now from his airborne perspective. He felt his panic threatening to overwhelm him, promising torment if Bucky kept resisting. Bucky struggled to hold back, his horn now hot and itching, the air filled with the stench of ozone.

Halfway to Derpyâs home, Derpy had intercepted the group, looking terrified, Berry Punch running along on the ground behind her, looking very worried. Dinky had been gently transferred to Derpy, and now the group continued their retreat to Derpyâs home, Berry Punch being snatched into the air by yet another helpful pegasus, one of the many now circling overhead.

Berry Punch was dropped by the front door, and she opened it immediately, allowing Derpy to fly inside. Dinky was gently settled into an overstuffed chair, and Derpy landed, her wings still flapping with nervous energy.

Bucky found himself dropped at the door, and then shoved inside by Berry Punch, who grunted and swore loudly, saying words that no foal should hear, causing many adult ears to flicker and twitch with alarm from the blue streak inducing words streaming from her mouth.

Several steps into the room, Bucky collapsed, falling over to the hardwood floors with a loud âœthud.â The panic had him completely now, and he began his slow downward spiral into being consumed by panic.

âœI donât know what is going on!â shouted Derpy, now in a state of panic herself.

âœPanic attack most likely,â replied Berry, who was looking down at Bucky. âœHeâs too high strung and this has been too much,â she explained, now looking at Dinky.

âœNo no no no no!â cried Derpy, running around in circles, not knowing what to do, fear beginning to gnaw her insides.

âœHeâs seizing,â Thunderlane cautioned, gesturing at Bucky, who began to twitch frightfully, a line of white foam coming from his muzzle.

âœOh pony farts!â swore Berry, stomping her hoof into the floor.

Derpy, who could not think of anything better to do, pulled Bucky into her forelegs and began to hold him still as he twitched, his horn glowing with terrifying luminescence. She gently folded his forelegs over his barrel, wrestling them into place, and then began to squeeze gently, murmuring soothing sounds.

âœBad idea Derpy, heâs gonna blow, we should get him outside before something happens,â Berry warned, looking scared.

âœNo!â refused Derpy, holding ever tighter. âœHeâs scared. Heâs still in there, he needs to know that everything is okay!â she said.

Bucky began to flail, more foam dribbling out, his eyes rolled back completely into his head. Berry Punch watched this for a moment, and then lunged forward, grabbing Derpy and Bucky both, squeezing them tightly, pressing against Bucky.

âœA unicorn to light my way, a pegasus to watch over me, and an earth pony to shoulder my heavy burdens,â Berry Punch whispered, remembering something her mother had always said to comfort her, not really understanding what it meant, but knowing it was a quote from Smart Cookie. It comforted Berry a great deal to say it, and she pulled even tighter, leaving Bucky quite unable to thrash in between them.

âœI have Dinky,â announced Thunderlane, âœjust keep doing what you are doing, it seems to be working.â

The last parts of Buckyâs brain that still contained Bucky felt a soothing warmth coming from all sides, a gentle pressure, like being back in the womb. For a brief second, he felt safe, secure, a profound feeling that he did not have time to enjoy as the last string of consciousness snapped and his mind tore free from reality.

Chapter 14

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Bucky awoke, feeling something cold and damp laying over his face, a cool moistened cloth had been placed over his forehead and his eyes. There was a dull thudding ache from the marrow inside of his horn, and a pounding throbbing inferno in his brain.

He could hear voices, speaking in low tones, some of them frantic, all of them familiar, and he took comfort in hearing the voices of those he knew. His lip had a ragged gash in it and he supposed that at some point, he had bitten down upon it. He couldnât remember doing it.

âœHe is moving,â a voice said. A familiar voice, but Bucky could not place it, his mind too groggy to think. âœBuckminster, can you hear me?â the voice asked, the tone soothing and gentle, piercing the fog of his mind.

His heart thudded dully in his barrel, keeping time with the thudding in his head.

âœOh Bucky please say something,â said another voice. Bucky recognised this one. It was Derpy. He struggled to talk, his lips moving, causing the tear in his lip to open. He tasted blood and gagged.

Something pulled his lower lip away and something cool and damp was applied to the ragged gash. He felt the tingling warmth of magic tugging at his lip, pulling gently, applying pressure with the damp cloth.

âœDinky is fine,â Derpy said. âœBut I am worried about you.â

âœBuckminster, I know you can hear me, now please, just lay still. Maybe talking is not a good idea, just try to remain calm,â the voice said, filling him with an odd sense of calm.

âœPrincess, is he going to be alright?â a voice said. The voice belonged to Berry Punch and Bucky realised why the calming voice seemed so familiar.

âœNuh!â Bucky mumbled, his lip still held in the grasp of magic and the cloth applied to stop the flow of blood. He had tried to say no, but he found it was quite impossible.

He felt the hold on his lip released and Bucky felt once again the claws of panic slashing at his heart. His breathing began to increase. âœNo, you canât take her,â gurgled Bucky, his mouth a bit full of blood. âœAccident, accident, accident!â he repeated in panic, causing blood to dribble as he spoke. He felt something wipe his mouth carefully, cleaning the blood away.

âœI know,â replied Celestia sadly. âœIt was a tragic accident. Now calm down Buckminster, while we have discussed options, nothing has been decided yet.â

Bucky whipped his head around, flinging the damp cloth from his eyes. He looked up, seeing Celestia looking down at him. He looked at her pleadingly and shook his head no.

Bucky struggled to sit up, squirming, and Berry Punch pulled him up into a sitting position with one tug of her foreleg. She sat down beside him and gave him something to lean on, wrapping her foreleg around his shoulders. Bucky stared at Celestia.

âœI donât want her to go,â confessed Derpy, looking sad and climbing up on the couch to sit beside Bucky, sandwiching him in.

âœWe will need to figure something out. Dinky Doo has powerful magic. She conjured a physical swarm of bees,â replied Celestia. âœAnd she is going to have to learn control somehow, for the good of everypony.â

Derpy began dabbing at Buckyâs lip, having taken the cloth in hoof and gently wiping the blood away, which had slowed to a faint trickle.

Bucky gently pushed Derpyâs hoof away, and said; âœDonât tear Dinky away from her mother, there has to be another way.â

âœDinky manifested bees, that is not simple magic that can easily be held back. She is going to have to learn strict control measures,â replied Celestia, looking sad.

âœAnd Dinky hasnât had a lifetime of learning how to repress and hold back,â commented Bucky, slumping, realising the enormity of the situation. âœSheâs been raised as a pegasus foal might be raised.â

Derpy looked very confused and a little sad.

âœYes, and that complicates things,â agreed Celestia, now studying the three ponies on the couch. She stood in the center of the room, her wings folded to her sides, her head held high. She seemed regal, even standing in the small living room of one Derpy Doo Hooves.

âœManifesting of physical objects, thatâs a class three level of magic,â Bucky said, now looking defeated. He wrapped a leg around Derpy and pulled her closer.

âœI donât understand,â said Berry, leaning on Bucky.

âœMagical classifications,â replied Celestia. âœThere are different levels of ability for unicorns. Most unicorns are type ones. They have a little magic, usually related to their talent or ability. Some unicorns are type twos. They can perform two or more actions at once with their manipulation, like painting with two brushes at once. They have a little more magic than type ones, but not much. Rare unicorns are type threes, like Bucky here, Uncommon levels of magic, and the ability to cast a plethora of spells and call objects into reality, conjuring something from nothing. Skilled magicians. Commonly called wizards. Type fours are like Twilight Sparkle, Star Swirl the Bearded, and Clover the Clever. Archmage level abilities. And then there is alicorn class magic. Type five,â explained Celestia.

âœSo Dinky is gifted?â asked Derpy.

âœVery much so,â mumbled Bucky in reply.

âœWe need to figure out what is best for Dinky Doo and the other ponies around her,â said Celestia, turning to one side and starting to pace in the limited space. âœThese magical outbursts are going to continue and potentially get worse if not controlled.â

âœMaybe it would be best for Dinky to go to school,â Derpy admitted sadly, her ears drooping down to the sides of her face.

âœPonyville is ill equipped to deal with this type of magical education,â Celestia said, sighing as she did so. âœI have tried several times to start a school of magic here, but nopony wants to move here to teach and the city residents do not want potentially dangerous students in the town.â

âœIâll do it,â grumbled Bucky, wincing as he spoke, his head throbbing painfully.

âœAre you qualified?â asked Berry, turning her head and looking at Bucky, and then seeing how much pain he was in. She pursed her lips and rubbed his shoulders with her foreleg. âœAw, poor Bucky, you must be miserable.â

âœBucky, this is a very serious matter,â Celestia said, still pacing, taking a few steps in one direction and then turning to take a few steps in the other direction.

âœI know, I know, Iâm qualified right? I mean, that is what I was told when I graduated, you told me to look into teaching,â asked Bucky, his eyes still shut, an alarming ringing in his ears.

âœI did,â replied Celestia, âœbut you are one pony and Dinky would need supervision during her waking hours. And if her problem becomes bad enough, her sleeping hours as well. That makes for a very long day.â

âœHurts too much to be pulled away from parents, even bad ones,â Bucky retorted.

âœThe hurt is sometimes necessary,â Celestia admitted.

âœBucky, I canât ask you to do this,â Derpy said. âœAnd I canât pay you to do this either,â she added, a tear finally rolling down her cheek, the situation settling in and pressing on her motherly heart, wounding her emotions.

Bucky laughed, a manic laugh that threatened to cause his head to explode. âœI bet I lost my job,â he chucked, his head falling forwards and his chin pressing against his chest. âœI am going to have so much free time now.â

âœHow dedicated to this course of action would you be Buckminster?â Celestia asked solemnly, her pacing had stopped and she now stood still.

Bucky opened his eyes, causing searing pain to stab through his head, and lifted his head to look at Celestia. âœYou once called me a stubborn little pain in the plot your Majesty, and you said that I could give an earth pony a run for their bits on being steadfast. I remember it because you said âœplotâ and I couldnât stop giggling, being the obnoxious little colt that I was. You said my dedication to mayhem was second to none.â

âœI did say those things,â confessed Celestia, smiling faintly. âœBut this is a very serious issue. This is going to be a lot of work.â

âœI can teach her control and focus. Today I compressed a playground slide into a glowing white orb and not a single soul was injured because of my own magic surge,â replied Bucky, leaning his head on Derpy and closing his eyes again, his head still thudding.

âœI know what you did today Buckminster, Iâve spoken to several witnesses already. You also showed a remarkable level of restraint when dealing with Mister Rich. Iâve already informed him how lucky he was that you did not turn him into a pony boullion cube,â Celestia returned. âœTwilight Sparkle might be able to help you at times, but she has many duties. This will devour all of your time if you agree to do this,â she added.

Derpy lifted a forehoof and gently rubbed the side of Buckyâs head, causing him to melt slightly into her side, a low moan escaping his mouth.

âœHis head must really be hurting,â Berry said, mostly to herself, looking concerned.

âœHe canât,â Derpy said, looking up at Celestia, cradling Buckyâs head carefully. âœIf he spends all day with Dinky how will he support himself?â

âœI intend to pay him a teacherâs salary with a potential bonus based on levels of performance,â Celestia explained, her lips pursing together after she spoke.

âœYou would do that?â Derpy said in disbelief, her eyes wide and full of tears. âœWhy? Why do that just for Dinky?â

âœI do not like breaking up families unless absolutely necessary,â replied Celestia, her face overcome with sorrow. âœI regret that sometimes, it is necessary. Here I see a chance that I am willing to take. If this fails, we will discuss other options. Buckminster has remarkable abilities for control, but he is terrible about repressing things, furthering the need for more control. He needs to find a good healthy outlet for stress and his own emotions. Perhaps serving and helping another will be a good learning experience for our Buckminster.â

âœAnd what if Dinky has another surge?â Derpy asked, her brow furrowed in concern.

âœBuckminster should be able to handle almost anything that happens. Bucky, what will you do if there is another cloud of bees?â Celestia asked, her eyes focused on Bucky.

âœCast cloud of ice, freeze bees, and then dispose of them in whatever convenient method presents itself,â replied Bucky, with no hint of concern in his voice. âœI could do that right now if I had to, even with my headache.â

Berry Punch leaned on Bucky a little more, her face creased with worry.

Celestia could not help but notice all of these little signs and took copious amounts of mental notes to review later. The three ponies on the couch seemed awfully friendly.

âœWhat are the chances of another swarm of bees?â Bucky asked. âœI mean, this was a random occurrence. A surge.â

âœDinky Doo has a new cutie mark.â Derpy admitted.

âœThree little bumblebees,â finished Berry Punch.

âœAw nuts,â replied Bucky, opening his eyes in alarm. âœI hate bees. Where is Dinky now?â

âœUpstairs, in bed, with PiÃa Colada. Sparkler is up there too, watching over them,â Derpy answered, turning her head towards the stairs and then back towards Bucky.

âœI must have been out for hours,â Bucky said, voicing his thoughts.

âœYou were,â replied Berry Punch. âœIs your head getting any better?â she asked.

âœNot really,â groaned Bucky. âœI need a drink.â

âœI think we all do,â agreed Berry.

âœThank you,â Derpy said, her eyes wide and glistening with moisture, âœfor looking after my foal today and for helping us.â Derpy leaned in and pressed her lips against Buckyâs cheek, leaving them there for several moments, closing her eyes and squeezing a bit more.

âœI like this job already,â Bucky quipped. âœNice benefits.â

âœWe shall communicate soon, I need to be going,â Celestia announced. âœGood luck tomorrow. Try not to worry. I will try to find more help if it is needed. Do not give up.â

The three ponies on the couch all nodded, looking at Celestia, watching her turn and go, exiting out the front door, the guard visible as the front door hung open.

âœWell bother… Bucky, if you are going to teach Dinky the finer points of control, I am going to teach you how to let go a bit,â Berry said, looking very concerned, âœyou are a bit too tightly wound.â

Derpy nodded in agreement as the three ponies sat on the couch together, a strange new bond steadily forming.

Chapter 15

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Two little foals snuggled together in a bed. One of them awake, the other still asleep in the pre-dawn, birds beginning to chirp outside, the sky visible through the window a delightful shade of faint pink tinted with orange. Dinky was awake, and clung to her best friend, PiÃa Colada. Dinky was frightened, worried, still scared. She had awoke this way. She still had no memory of what had taken place yesterday, she just remembered PiÃa crying and then everything went white. But she had done something awful yesterday, something so bad that Princess Celestia herself had come to Ponyville, and Dinky lay terrified, worried, worried that she would be sent away and she would lose her mommy.

Dinky buried her face against PiÃa and tried not to cry, determined to be brave and face this with all of the courage her pegasus mother had taught her.

Dinkyâs bad behaviour had hurt a lot of ponies, and she knew this. Bucky had fallen ill, she understood that she had hurt Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon quite badly, and poor Dinky realised that her mother was probably sick with worry.

As she lay there, feeling all of these conflicting emotions, her horn began to tingle strangely and she could feel an odd vibration along the front of her skull.

Filthy Rich paced the floor of the hospital room. It had been a long night. The dawn approached. He was exhausted, physically and mentally, drained from his bedside vigil.

At some point during his long night, an unsettling truth settled into his mind, an unpleasant truth that he did not wish to acknowledge, yet it had settled there and stayed, an unwelcome visitor, a guest that would not leave.

His filly was a monster.

For the longest time, he had convinced himself that it was merely sour grapes, talk, gossip, common ponies trying to drag his filly down, all of this talk of her being bad, being a bully, all of this troubling talk from Cheerilee about how his filly was heading down a bad path and needed help.

And he had been told the same thing by Princess Celestia herself, and Celestiaâs words had been blunt and brutal. Celestia had spared no comfort and had not minced words. She offered nothing candy coated, only the bitter medicine of truth.

This had happened yesterday, and nopony had stepped in to make it stop. Nopony had tried to save her. Filthy Rich suffered a painful realisation that he had failed. He hadnât tried to save her either. Had he listened, had he done something rather than refuse to believe there was a problem, this whole incident might not have happened.

He took a deep breath and sighed. In an agonising moment of clarity, he resolved to make this situation right somehow, but he had no idea what to do or how to do it. He supposed that he needed a lesson in humility just as much as Diamond Tiara did.

His brain full of thoughts impossible to ignore, Filthy Rich settled into a chair and watched the coming dawn, thinking of Celestiaâs harsh words. He felt a faint rush of hope, hearing the song of the morning birds, and took a brief moment of solace in knowing that things could still be made right somehow.

âœThunderlane, I need to know what happened, Iâve heard some disturbing things!â

Thunderlane focused his eyes on Rainbow Dash, establishing eye contact. She stood on a cloud before him, looking agitated, her wings halfway unfurled in the cool rosy light of dawn. Cloudbusting had begun early today.

âœDisturbing things took place,â confessed Thunderlane, sitting back upon his haunches, settling in and awaiting what may come from his flockmate. All around them birds were chirping, the dawn brigade had worked up an impressive number this morning. It was a hopeful sound. After the events of yesterday, Ponyville needed hope. The pegasi responsible for the orchestration of dawn had certainly done their best this morning. How ponies woke up shaped the sort of day they had, and all aspects of life had to be managed. The dawn was especially important, and getting the birds to sing just the right songs could make or break a day. It was a solemn duty that the pegasi took very seriously, and Fluttershy had outdone herself this morning, getting the birds to announce that it was a fresh new day, full of hope. There were many ponies that needed hope this morning, Thunderlane among them.

âœYou were there, I want you to tell me what happened,â commanded Rainbow Dash, her tail twitching from agitation, her ears pointed forward aggressively, her body posture one of dominance.

She was much higher up in the pecking order than Thunderlane, and she was taking every opportunity to rub that in, much to Thunderlaneâs annoyance. She was a strutting bird out on a fabulous display, and Thunderlane was surprised that she had not yet begun to preen.

âœIt started off like it usually does. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were being bullies,â started Thunderlane, his lip curled back in annoyance as Rainbow Dash continued to diminish him. âœOnly things went badly for them. Dinky Doo started floating and the air filled with electricity, and Iâve seen just enough magic to know a wild surge when I see one,â he continued. He spread his own wings a bit, just enough to tweak Rainbow Dashâs nose, letting her know that he wasnât going to take this lying down. He flared a nostril defiantly at her display, causing her to snort in annoyance. âœWhen I saw Dinky rising up into the air, I sent a nearby pegasus off to find one of Filthy Richâs runners and tell him that Diamond Tiara had been hurt in school. I sent another pegasus off to the hospital to fetch help, and I told both of them to hurry, spare no speed, priority dispatch.â

âœOkay, so far, so good, so you mobilised help before it started then,â said Rainbow, summarising everything, trying to make sense of the events. âœAnd then what happened?â

âœI sat back, I waited, and I watched,â Thunderlane replied.

There was a blinding flash of blue followed by a sharp pain in Thunderlaneâs nose. He blinked several times in surprise, his ears falling back against his skull. There was another blurry flash of blue and another blow landed on his tender snoot.

âœYou dunderhead, you sat back and did nothing? How could you?â demanded Rainbow Dash, her hoof still raised to deliver more blows.

Thunderlane felt mildly annoyed by the swats. They stung, but he supposed that he might deserve them. He knew consequences were coming. He glared at Rainbow Dash defiantly. âœWhen the bees came exploding out I did not feel a pressing need to rescue those spoiled brats. While I donât know anything about magic, I do know about Dinky, and I didnât think that Dinky would kill them. So I sat back and watched, waiting, knowing that help would arrive soon,â he said.

There was a flurry of blows rained down upon his face, knocking him backwards, many of them borderlining between a swat and a punch, causing Thunderlane to cry out in surprise.

âœYOU MORON!â shouted Rainbow Dash. âœDinky had a wild surge. She didnât have any control! This could have been fatal! Fatal!â

âœThose brats needed a comeuppance,â muttered Thunderlane, rubbing his muzzle. âœI figured that Dinky was still in there somewhere. Dinky is a good foalââ

Rainbow Dash launched one punch, which connected solidly with Thunderlaneâs cheek, knocking him sideways and leaving him lying prone on the cloud, his words knocked out of his mouth. âœOur job is to keep the peace, not make moral judgments!â she shouted, standing over Thunderlane as he rubbed his cheek, his face already beginning to swell. âœThe flock looks after its own! Youâve screwed Dinky over! Sheâs probably going to be taken from Derpy because of this! Do you know what that will do?â Rainbow screamed, leaning down snoot to snoot with Thunderlane. âœDo you know what that will do to our flockmate? And Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, while they are horrible little snots, nopony deserved what happened to them. Iâve heard stories Thunderlane, really bad stories!â

Thunderlane nodded, his eyes wide with fear, knowing that he deserved whatever was coming, however bad it might be. âœCelestia said there would be consequences for me after I gave her my report!â he blurted. âœShe was angry too, but she said we would talk again once the situation cooled offââ

Thunderlane could feel a molar had been worked loose, it wiggled slightly. Heâd need to see a dentist. He poked at it with his tongue, causing his cheek to bulge.

âœYouâ youâ you dimwitted featherbrained nincompoop!â Rainbow sputtered, grabbing Thunderlane and squeezing him violently to let him know that they were still flockmates. After a moment, Thunderlane squeezed back, feeling a conflicting flood of emotions, glad to still have a friend. âœYou ever pull anything like this ever again and I will break your jaw,â promised Rainbow, still squeezing, the time for punishment over and the time for reestablishing trust beginning.

âœI never claimed I was smart,â Thunderlane mumbled, glad this dressing down was over.

âœWhatever Celestia decides to do to you, weâll be there with you,â promised Rainbow, slowly letting go and looking Thunderlane in the eye. âœThe flock looks after its own.â

Derpy awoke to birdsong, as she usually did, feeling oddly hopeful. Her bed was warm and full of Berry Punch, as it had often been in the past. It was difficult to deal with loneliness and it was nice having a close friend. Derpyâs thoughts turned to Bucky, whom she had carried home last night, as he was in no condition to walk. Berry had stayed because PiÃa had stayed, and neither Derpy nor Berry had the heart to pull PiÃa away from the distraught Dinky Doo.

As Derpy yawned, she realised there was another occupant in the bed. Sparkler. She didnât remember Sparkler crawling into the bed last night, but she had, poor Sparkler was taking all of this terribly. Sometimes, all you could do was form a pony pile with those you love and wait the bad times out.

Derpy realised with the knowledge that she had learned yesterday that Sparkler was a type two. It was a strange unsettling thought, almost an unwelcome knowledge. She would be a lot more comfortable if her foals had no magic at all. She felt a pang of confusion and resentment, followed by a rush of gratitude. Bucky would help. And would probably be here soon. Derpy felt a brief moment of joy knowing that she would see him before going to work.

Derpy raised her head, only to see that Berry had her forelegs around Sparkler and was holding her close, Berryâs face blissful and lost in sleep. Berry and Sparkler had been close for a long, long time and it warmed her heart to see them like this.

The dawn brigade certainly seemed busy this morningâ

Derpy slid out of bed to go take a shower and get cleaned up, knowing that she had to make breakfast soon. She stumbled through the room, her legs not yet awake, opened the door, stumbled out into the hall, and saw Dinky, standing there, looking at her.

âœHiya Dinks,â Derpy said, yawning.

âœCan I ever go back to school?â Dinky asked in a hushed whisper.

Derpy deflated, her wings sagging. âœUh, I donât know Dinky. Weâre still trying to sort everything out. Bucky is going to be by soon, he is going to become your tutor and help you become a good student,â explained Derpy. She snatched her foal up in a hug and made it extra squeezy, causing Dinky to squeal. âœAnd you are going to listen to every word that Bucky says and you are going to try extra hard to do your best, right?â asked Derpy, still squeezing.

Dinky nodded silently, her cheek rubbing against her motherâs.

âœYour friends from school can still stop by,â Derpy said, her voice full of warmth. âœYou are not in trouble.â

Dinky began to cry in relief, she had been waiting since she had woken up to hear those words, and the wait had been impossibly long and painful.

âœCome on Dinks, weâll go take a shower together and get the hot water before anypony else does, like your sister, the shower stealer,â Derpy invited, setting Dinky down and scooting her along the hallway.

Chapter 16

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Hearing a knock upon the door, Derpy opened it up and saw Bucky. He looked a little bleary and his eyes were still bloodshot, but he looked much better than he had the night before. She leaned forward and shyly kissed him on the cheek, causing him to blush.

âœHello handsome,â Derpy said, causing Bucky to sputter. âœBerry is going to be here all day with PiÃa, she is keeping her out of school for a day or two. So you will have some help with Dinky today. I think we are all still a little worn out from yesterday. Let Berry help you or else Iâll hear about it when I come home. And I will be coming home as soon as I am done with my deliveries,â she added, smiling, enjoying that she could make Bucky so flustered so easily. âœAnd I want you to take regular breaks too. Or else. Donât make Berry and I gang up on you.â

Bucky nodded and stumbled inside.

Once indoors, he was shoved into a chair and Berry Punch gave him a comically oversized cup that was full of coffee, cream, and sugar, which he gratefully accepted as he settled into the chair. He took a sip and sighed, settling into the chair and getting comfortable.

PiÃa Colada climbed up into Buckyâs chair and settled in beside him. âœIt is awfully nice of you to help my friend Dinky,â she said bashfully, leaning into Bucky and smiling sweetly up at him, and then pressing her head into his side.

Dinky, being tiny, and determined to get in on valuable snuggle time, also climbed up into the chair, squeezing and stuffing herself in between Bucky and the arm of the chair, sitting opposite of PiÃa.

Bucky was somewhat squished in the chair, and found that he did not mind. He continued to sip his coffee, which was strong and quite good.

âœI have a geology exam today. I didnât study last night,â said Sparkler, panicking as she came down the stairs. âœOh hi Bucky,â she said, seeing him in the chair. âœSomepony needs to take a picture of that.â

âœAlready on it Sparkler,â replied Derpy, stepping out the kitchen and snapping a photo of the three ponies stuffed into a chair. âœAw, thatâs adorable.â She disappeared back into the kitchen to put the camera away.

âœSparkler, geology is your talent honey, just donât panic, listen to your gut instincts, and you will be just fine,â Berry said dismissively, settling down upon the couch.

âœStill scared,â Sparkler said. âœTalent or no, this test is going to be tough. And I am so distracted because of everything that happened.â

âœGeology?â asked Bucky.

âœYeah, my diamonds showed up when I cracked open my secondary school geology textbook and read the introduction,â explained Sparkler.

âœA study of pressure,â commented Bucky.

âœOh my gosh, Iâve never thought of it that way,â replied Sparkler, looking surprised. âœWhich explains why I feel metamorphic.â

âœWhat an igneous line of thinking,â Bucky agreed.

âœGeologists do it to get stoned,â Sparkler said, smiling, causing Berry and Derpy to cringe.

âœYou monster!â exclaimed Derpy. âœStop!â

Sparkler trotted into the kitchen, disappearing through the doorway. After a few moments, there was grunting and stomping.

âœPegasi and their need to put peanut butter jar lids on so darn tight!â cursed Sparkler from inside the kitchen, causing Derpy to blush.

âœYou know, you could call the test for type two unicorns the peanut butter test,â Berry said, thinking out loud. âœThey have to turn the jar one direction and the lid in a different direction. I donât think a type one unicorn could do that.â

âœNope,â replied Bucky, sipping coffee and resigning himself to being squeezed by PiÃa and Dinky, who were both squeezing him tightly now. âœMy horn hasnât hurt this bad since I affixed Celestiaâs desk in the headmistressâ office to the ceiling along with everything else in the room, turning everything upside down. Even the big decorative water clock was dripping upwards and keeping perfect time.â

âœWhat happened?â asked Berry, giggling.

âœI was called into Celestiaâs office, and she was sitting at her desk. On the ceiling. She told me to take a seat in the chair, which I could not do, because it was upside down. I was in the throes of my mischievous stage,â Bucky explained with a chuckle.

âœBad pony!â PiÃa scolded, pulling away from Bucky and waving a hoof.

âœYou have no idea,â Bucky said, smiling down at her.

âœI bet she looked funny sitting upside down,â Derpy said, smiling broadly.

âœShe was furious with me for rearranging her office. And popping a well-protected magical lock. And forever causing her water clock to drip upwards, no matter what anypony did with it. Itâs broke,â Bucky replied, wrapping a foreleg around PiÃa absentmindedly and squeezing her close, not really thinking about what it was he was doing.

âœIf you can do that, why work as an accountant?â Berry asked.

âœI like keeping order,â Bucky answered. âœI donât know. I didnât know what I wanted to do, and my cutie mark didnât show up until only recently. I was directionless.â

âœCan you show me how to stick things to the ceiling?â asked Dinky Doo, looking up at Bucky with big innocent eyes.

Bucky looked down at Dinky and then at Derpy, and the look on Derpyâs face was one that promised pain. As in a detailed explanation as to the reasons and specifics that pegasi are brutes kind of pain. âœProbably not,â replied Bucky, looking down at Dinky and then back at Derpy, who was still glaring at him, as if just daring him to do it while she was away from home.

âœI donât think I need to translate that,â Berry said, yawning.

âœI gotta go!â Sparkler shouted, tearing through the living room, snatching up her schoolbag, kissing her mother, and then flying out the door. She came back in a moment later, skittering through the living room, kissed Dinky, kissed PiÃa, poked Bucky playfully with her hoof, and then blew a raspberry on Berry Punchâs neck, causing Berry Punch to collapse with laughter on the couch.

And then, she was gone, leaving Derpy to close the door that had been left open.

âœTeenage fillies,â Derpy muttered, shaking her head.

âœSo, uh, about our date tonightââ asked Berry. âœHow is that going to work if Bucky needs to keep an eye on Dinky?â

âœI have no idea,â Bucky admitted, finishing off his coffee.

âœI suppose leaving her with Sparkler is no longer a good option,â Derpy said.

âœIt might be okay if Dinky is kept calm and quiet. Once the magic manifests and starts, it tends to come out in spurts. Happens in early foal hood too,â Bucky said.

âœDinky put me through some trying times when she was very little,â Derpy admitted. âœShe once sprouted wings.â

âœOh myââ Bucky gasped, his mouth left hanging open.

âœShe flew out the window,â Berry said.

Derpy nodded and gave Dinky the stinkeye. âœYou scared mommy so badly.â

Dinky buried her face into Buckyâs side, hiding from her motherâs gaze.

âœCome here Dinky, hug me, I have to go,â begged Derpy, unable to bear the sight of Dinky hiding, holding out her forelegs as she balanced on her haunches.

Dinky burst free from the chair, along with PiÃa, both of them running for a hug, squeezing madly, Derpy squishing them both back, wrapping them in her wings. âœI should be home sometime after noon if all goes well,â Derpy said. âœBucky, Berry, we might have to settle for a nice meal around the table together, foals and all.â

âœI like the sound of that,â Berry said. âœIâll even get off my lazy plot and cook.â

âœUh, I think I might prefer that actually. I really donât like going into places crowded with strange ponies. Sometimes I get a bit panicky,â Bucky said slowly and carefully, aware of the fact that Derpy and Berry had both been witnesses to his panic attacks.

âœI gotta go,â Derpy said, tugging herself free from the embrace of two foals. She smiled at everypony in the room and then was gone, out the door.

âœWe are going to get started very soon,â promised Bucky, looking at Dinky. âœAre you ready to learn a bit of magic?â

Dinky nodded. âœMy horn has been tingling and feeling funny,â the foal confessed.

âœThatâs normal,â Bucky explained in a careful friendly and warm voice. âœOnce you have your first big surge, and I mean your first real grown up surge, it is like taking a cap off of a soda bottle. You cannot put the cap back on very well and soda just keeps leaking out. Do you understand?â he asked, saying each word slowly and carefully,

Dinky nodded again. âœI think so. So the magic is going to keep coming?â she asked, her head tilting to the side, and looking very curious.

âœYes Dinky Doo. The magic must be released or the pressure will build up and eventually, you will have a magical accident. But you donât want the magic to keep leaking either. You have to hold it in until it is safe to release it in a big burst,â Bucky explained, making gestures with his hooves and smiling.

âœSo it is like potty training.â Dinky said, her muzzle scrunching. âœMama said I caught on to potty training real quick,â the adorable little foal said, scratching her chin with a hoof. âœWill it feel good if I hold it in a while and let it out in a big flood?â she asked, causing Berry Punch to explode with laughter.

âœUh, um, yeah, actually. It will feel really good. The body has a way to reward you for careful control and release,â Bucky replied in very embarrassed tones. âœHolding back a lot of magic and letting it go can be a very pleasant experience.â

Berry Punch stopped laughing, stared at Bucky, and then at Dinky. She had a very confused look on her face. She returned her gaze to Bucky, her eyes piercing.

Bucky nodded faintly at Berry Punch, saying nothing.

âœOh,â gasped Berry Punch. âœI suppose Derpy will needing to have a chat with our wee Dinky Doo at some point about being a big grown up fillyâ And that book is going to come in real handy sooner than we thought. Come on PiÃa, we need to let these two go to work. Iâll read you some Daring Do or something.â

Popcorn. The table was covered in tiny golden brown popcorn kernels. A few had been placed in various spots around the table, and a jar full of popcorn kernels stood at the other end of the table.

âœPopcorn?â asked Dinky. âœI can have popcorn?â she asked, excitedly. âœI love popcorn!â

âœYes, but you first must pop the popcorn. This is a proud unicorn tradition that any unicorn can do. Are you ready to learn the ancient art of unicorn popcorn popping?â Bucky asked, a slight smile on his face.

âœAm I ever!â Dinky replied, bouncing up and down in her chair.

âœAlright then Dinky, I need you to calm down, begin taking deep breaths. and then I want you to picture in your mind reaching out and touching he popcorn kernel with an invisible touch. Imagine a big invisible hoof coming down and touching it, lightly, and then think about warm thoughts. Just a little bit of warm, not too much. Got that?â Bucky explained.

Dinky nodded. âœBut keep âsplaininâ I learn better when somepony repeats stuff,â she asked.

âœAlright then Dinky. Deep breaths, and then imagine reaching out and touching them with something invisible. It can be a hoofâ Or a feather, if you want to pretend you are a pegasus and you have wings. Just reach out, gently prod the popcorn, and think warm thoughts. This is called extending your will, and learning how to do this will allow you to do anything you set your mind to doing. We arenât type fours, but our types once raised the sun together,â Bucky said, talking slowly and trying to make sure he could see Dinkyâs face lighting up with some degree of understanding.

âœCan Sparkler do this?â asked Dinky.

âœAny unicorn should be able to do this,â Bucky answered. âœAnd if youâd like, I will sit down with you and we will teach Sparkler together how to make popcorn, but only after you show that you can.â

Dinky began to concentrate, her tongue sticking out of the corner of her mouth, her eyes narrowing, her horn began to glow with purple light.

It was a good sign. Near instant horn ignition was always a good sign, except when it was a bad sign. Bucky could feel raw magic building in the air, and he sat ready to react at a momentâs notice. The air began to thrum slightly.

A single popcorn kernel began to wobble back and forth, rolling around slightly on the table. But nothing else happened.

âœMy horn feels itchy and hot,â complained Dinky, pressing her hooves against the table.

âœYou are doing fine, keep focus Dinky,â urged Bucky, now leaning against the table and wanting Dinky to succeed.

A new chase had begun.

For a moment, Dinky felt real power, and control, which she had not felt yesterday.

The popcorn kernel made an odd sound, rocking back forth on the table, and then, suddenly, there was a POP!

Bucky caught the popcorn before it could fly across the room and set it down gently on the table. âœLesson two. You must now levitate the popcorn to your mouth if you want to eat it. No hooves,â he said in a commanding but gentle voice. âœAnd, eventually, you will learn to catch the popcorn before it takes off.â

âœI can float one of mamaâs feathers,â Dinky said, looking at the popcorn greedily.

âœThen this will be a piece of cake,â Bucky said.

With a crow of triumph, Dinky levitated the popcorn into the air, made it zig zag a few times, and then gobbled it. She beamed, looking very pleased with herself. âœMy horn feels better,â she mentioned, reaching up and rubbing at the side of her head.

âœVery good, now try again,â Bucky urged, wanting to strike while the iron was hot.

Dinky focused, staring at a kernel, which popped almost instantly. She caught it too, before Bucky had a chance to grab it, pulling it in to gobble it down. âœThis is easy!â she cried as she chewed. âœIâll never go hungry ever, I can make popcorn!â

Dinky focused on another kernel without being told, popped it, snatched it, and ate it, all in a smooth sequence.

As Dinky focused on another kernel, purple sparks flew from her horn. âœOw ow ow!â Dinky cried, holding her head in her hooves. Her horn glowed brightly, more sparks spilling forth.

The jar full of popcorn exploded, Bucky seizing the glass as it detonated, but the kernels were not contained. The kitchen filled with a cacophony of pops, and was filled with popcorn, which covered the table in a deep pile, and the floor around the table was completely covered.

âœBerry, bring PiÃa quick! Thereâs popcorn!â Bucky cried, fusing the glass jar back together and helping himself to the fresh hot popcorn,

Berry burst into the kitchen a moment later, her little sister PiÃa hot on her heels, and Berryâs eyes went wide with the sight of all the popcorn.

âœNummy!â PiÃa shouted, climbing up into a chair at the table.

âœDinky Doo, what did you do?â Berry asked.

âœI made popcorn!â Dinky said, beaming proudly.

Chapter 17

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There was a knock upon the door. It was nearly noon, and the knock was a sturdy and commanding knock. Berry Punch stood near the door, nervous. Bucky glanced at out the window, and saw the one pony he didnât want to see right now.

His magic ready, he pulled open the door and stared at Filthy Rich.

The two of them stared at one another for a while, Filthy Rich looking absolutely awful. He clearly had not slept. Bucky had a few odd bits of popcorn in his mane. There was a difficult silence that had built between them.

âœLook, I wanted to say a few things, please, let me speak before you magic me away or slam the door,â asked Filthy Rich.

âœI can be reasonable,â Bucky replied, his horn glowing, saying everything that really needed to be said. Bucky didnât need to make threats. He merely needed to apply several thousand tons of force to a small singular area or fuse a couple of hydrogen atoms in the general vicinity of something he didnât like.

âœI am really sorry about yesterday, I said things, I said bad things, things I am not proud of right now, things that are keeping me from sleeping along with all of my other worries. I want to know, is Dinky okay? I donât really know about magic, but I do know that surges can hurtââ Filthy Rich trailed off, not knowing what else to say.

âœDinky is fine,â replied Bucky.

âœYou donât need to quit your job, but I understand if you do,â mumbled Filthy Rich, his exhaustion garbling his words.

âœI have agreed to become Dinkyâs tutor, to teach her control, to make sure that this doesnât happen again, because it seems that there are some ponies around that like to antagonise other ponies, causing them to have severe magical-emotional outbursts,â Bucky replied.

Filthy Rich trembled for a moment, shook his head to clear it, and then looked at Bucky. âœHow are you going to pay your bills?â he asked, real concern on his face.

âœI am being paid by the Crown to be a tutor so this foal doesnât have to be forcibly taken from her mother,â Bucky replied, taking some private satisfaction in watching Filthy Rich flinch.

Filthy Rich licked his dry lips nervously, his ears drooping downwards, his back slumping, and his head dropped a bit. He no longer looked so proud. âœWhatever the crown is paying you, I will pay for half of it. I will speak to Princess Celestia the first chance I get and try to make arrangements. Amends need to be made on my end. This should have never have happened. I, I donât know what else to say, Iâm sorry,â he said, his voice cracking several times from nervousness.

Bucky nodded, and slowly extended a hoof, looking Filthy Rich directly in the eye.

Filthy Rich looked down at Buckyâs hoof, staring at it for a moment, considering the gesture being made, and relief flooded over his contorted and stressed out features. He slowly raised his own hoof and knocked it against Buckyâs.

âœAnd if there is anything you need for her studies, anything at all, donât take the long trip into Canterlot, it is time consuming and expensive. Come and talk to me, I will have my agents procure anything you need at no expense to yourself. Please, keep her safe and at home with her mother. Iâve seen what losing a mother has done to Diamond Tiara, nopony deserves that,â Filthy Rich said, no longer able to meet Buckyâs gaze, his voice full of shame.

âœI will take that into consideration,â Bucky said, nodding slightly.

âœI must be going,â Filthy Rich said, unable to raise his eyes from the ground, turning tail, and then leaving in a slow exhausted shuffle.

âœI was not expecting that,â Berry said in a tone thick with disbelief.

âœNeither was I,â replied Bucky, shutting the door.

âœSparkler, I heard what happened with Dinky, is there anything I can do to help?â

Sparkler heaved what she felt was an obligatory groan and hung her head, doing her best not to look at Rising Star. She was feeling particularly emotionally vulnerable, and she might be tempted to allow him to comfort her.

âœSparkler, really, I just want to talk to you, I want to help. Look, I know all about your fear about being a single momâ your mother told me a few things and a gang of pegasi hung around to give me meaningful looks and I, uh, well, Iâd like to keep living with all of my limbs still connected to my body, and, uhââ

âœOoh I cannot believe she would do that!â Sparkler interrupted.

âœLook your mother really loves you andââ

âœUgh, I could die from embarrassment right now,â she said, cutting Rising Star off again.

âœSparkler Doo Hooves, will you please let me talk to you!â Rising Star snapped.

Sparkler froze, silent, now looking up at Rising Star, who was wearing dark glasses. His black mane stood out in all directions, completely mussed up from the wind. She sat down, meekly, completely cowed, her entirely carefully constructed facade completely dismantled. Rising Star was looking at her, his blue eyes barely visible over the top edges of his dark glasses, his face composed and serious.

âœLook, I made one mistake already, and I learned from it, and Iâve learned that you are the most amazing filly ever and that you are somepony worth knowing, and I am not going to screw that up. I want to get to know what is behind your horn and in between your ears. I am worried about your younger sister. My parents are worried sick about your younger sister, and all three of us are willing to help. Weâre not particularly magical, but weâve learned something living here in Ponyville and that is to be good neighbors. I am also worried about you and I know I am a bit of a creep for sneaking up on you and kissing you, and I would tell you I am sorry but I wouldnât mean it, and goshâ Sparkler, are you alright? I know everybody is worried about Dinky, but how are you holding together? Somepony has to worry about you, you do all of the worrying for everypony else, looking after your sister, helping your mother, looking after PiÃa, and helping Berry pull wagonsââ Rising Star said, a long string of words pouring out of his mouth, his nerves causing his ears to flicker wildly.

Sparkler continued to sit in stunned silence, her eyes blinking rapidly, her ears perked straight up.

âœYouâre like the only pony around my age that thinks at my level. Apple Cobbler was a vacuous airhead. You are way out of my league, but I am stupid enough to keep trying anyway,â Rising Star added, his glasses slipping further down his nose.

âœDonât stop trying,â gasped Sparkler, just barely able to get the words out. She could hear Rising Starâs gulp after she spoke. She felt uncomfortably hot and her frogs felt sweaty.

âœI came to the conclusion that you and I donât speak the same language,â confessed Rising Star. âœI had to really think about our differences. Iâm a colt, youâre a filly, I am a unicorn raised by unicorns, and you are a unicorn that acts just like a pegasus because you were raised by one. And we have communication issues. I aim to remedy that,â he added, his voice suffering from adolescent pitch changes and cracks.

Sparkler nodded.

Rising Star took one hesitant step closer to Sparkler, his movements slow and jerky, his lower lip quivering. He took another step and froze, looking terrified. He hiked his glasses up his nose with his magic, pressed his lips together, and then took another step.

Closing his eyes behind his glasses, he leaned forward and snoot-bumped Sparkler, he then raised one trembling foreleg, rubbed his fetlock against her cheek, and, without saying a word, he took off running.

Sparkler sat there in stunned silence.

âœDonât just sit there you eggheaded dweeb!â Rainbow Dash called down from her cloud. âœGo after him! Are you stupid?â

Sparkler took a moment to process the events taking place, and then took off running once again after Rising Star, this time not angry, but something elseâ

Something pleasant.

Sparkler was chasing something worth having.

As she took off running, for a brief moment, Sparkler felt comfortable in her own skin, an odd sensation that she couldnât make sense of.

What she did not know was that Rising Starâs words about wanting to get to know what was behind her horn and between her ears had resonated deep within her psyche, cutting past all of the body image issues that she had, a burden that so many teenage fillies had to bear, but was particularly bad for Sparkler because she had a hard time accepting her tribal identity. Her mind had taken hold of the notion that somepony was willing to look past what she felt was a flaw and it filled her with hope.

There was also the double whammy that Rising Star had just spoken pegasi to her, and it had inflamed her inner being that knew perfectly well what it was, even if the outside body didnât agree with it, and her conscious mind sometimes doubted it.

She was a pegasus with earth pony sensibilities, trapped in the body of a unicorn, and her name was Sparkler Doo Hooves.

Berry Punch watched her sister PiÃa Colada use rubber mucilage to stick bits of macaroni to paper, sprawled out on the floor, bits of macaroni everywhere. PiÃa was having a quiet reflective moment, being a good earth pony, keeping her legs and body busy so her mind could do some serious thinking.

Berry Punch could read all of the signs.

In her many long musings, sometimes a bit pickled, Berry Punch had come to a conclusion about earth ponies. Not only did they have a connection to the earth, which she knew she had, quite a few had much higher senses of situational awareness, because reading other ponies really wasnât all that different than reading seasons and the signs of nature. The pegasi had lost this ability for deep subconscious understanding at some point, after they had wings and flew away, sundering their connection to the earth, and they had created a highly physical language to replace it. Nonverbal communication was just a part of nature, something that Berry was deeply in touch with, a vital part of her pony essence, something she valued to no end. She was perfectly happy being an earth pony and she treasured her connection to the earth. Sensing the subtle communications within the herd was just as easy as always knowing which was north for her, something Berry treasured, knowing that no matter how confused or befuddled she might become while on a philosophical bender assisted by Liquid Learning, she could never become lost, being a living, walking compass.

She could feel the subtle vibrations that moved through a herd just as easily as she could feel the subtle vibrations of the earth communicating with her through her hooves.

Berryâs thoughts were interrupted by Dinky Doo letting out an exclamation of surprise. After smiling for a moment, she resumed her knitting, allowing her body to put forth effort so her brain could concentrate. One of Berryâs wisest decisions was making friends with Fluttershy and learning how to knit from the shy buttery yellow pegasus.

She thought once again of her words yesterday, the Founderâs Prayer. A unicorn to light my way, a pegasus to watch over me, and an earth pony to shoulder my heavy burdens.

She nearly dropped her knitting needles as she pondered these words, thinking about Bucky in the kitchen, lighting the way for Dinky Doo, her own efforts at trying to shoulder all of this and help Derpy carry this burden, and Derpy herself, watching over all of them, messed up eyes or no.

The words took on strange new meanings as she pondered them. She began to knit fiercely, getting her forelegs working, her tongue poking out from the corner of her mouth and curling upward, her brows furrowing and her ears falling forward and covering her eyes like a visor.

Perhaps ponies were incomplete when separated into tribes. One third of a solid whole. It was an intriguing thought for Berry. Earth ponies were the solid muscle and earthy wisdom of the whole pony, the natural go between for the staunch unicorns and the flighty pegasi. Unicorns could perhaps be compared to the mind of the whole pony, while pegasi were the sensory organs.

Which made earth ponies what exactly? thought Berry to herself. The central nervous system?

Her needles clicked and tinked purposefully, a long mass of knitted yellow yarn now extending from her needles. She understood that her analogy needed work, but the nebulous concept was forming in her mind, taking root, and finding substance.

As Berry savagely subdued her enemy yarn, she pondered the forming bond between Bucky, Derpy, and herself.

Chapter 18

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A troubled mind lay dreaming.

It did not matter that it was the day, and that she was asleep. Lunaâs mind eagerly seized upon this opportunity as this was a mind she had been working on wearing down for a long, long while. Luna could sense his troubled thoughts slowly drifting into her dreamscape, slowly settling into the realm that was her domain, she could sense his worries, his fears, and his weakness.

Princess Luna had been chasing this one for a very long time, slowly wearing down his strong will, his stubborn earth pony nature, and his unflappable sense that he was always correct, a feeling that Luna herself was a bit too familiar with and sometimes had some occasional troubles with. Luna was also a little bit earth pony, and she understood his stubborn nature.

Only now, she sensed something had broken in his will. She also sensed regret and a freshly created sense of humility. She sensed a powerful desire to restore his place within the herd, his understanding and his belief in the greater herd structure badly damaged, weakened, perhaps believing himself now outside the herd, alone, vulnerable, and exposed.

No matter, the hunt was on. And her prey was weakened. He was alone, vulnerable, and exposed, and Luna was the consummate hunter that was about to pick him off from the fringes of the herd. It was time to educate him on why you did not stray from the herd as a group. Luna, being the loving benevolent pony herd-keeper that she was, intended to make sure he never strayed from the herd again, for his own good.

Filthy Rich had fallen into Lunaâs clutches, and Luna favoured a tough love approach.

Filthy Rich found himself in the Ponyville schoolyard. The sky was grey and the air felt hot and strange. Swings creaked in the breeze, the chains needing oiling, the seesaw sat unmoving, and he realised that he was utterly alone. There was nopony around at all. Being alone was a terrible thing for a pony. Alone meant no herd.

The playground was empty. And more than a little creepy.

Filthy Rich moved quickly, moving at a brisk trot, running to the schoolhouse. He tried the door, but it was locked. He checked the window, and saw that there was nopony inside. Nopony at all. As his gaze lingered in the window, he saw the blackboard indoors, and upon it, written in chalk, was the word âœfailure.â Seeing the word filled him with dread. Is that what he was?

Filthy Rich gulped, and pulled his gaze away from the window, not wanting to look inside any longer. He turned and instead continued to study the empty yard.

He was alone. He had no helpers, no assistants, no secretaries, he had no assets.

Filthy Rich was a pony whose entire life was built around exploiting said assets and suddenly having none to fall back upon was quite unnerving. The herd was an extension of himself, and, with no herd present, a large part of what he was was now gone, leaving behind an empty void that could not be filled. He was a pony without power.

Filthy Rich had a terrible fear of being alone, ever since his wife had left him all those years ago, a fear that his daughter Diamond Tiara ruthlessly exploited to always make sure she had her way, bullying her father into doing her whims.

And right now, that fear was gnawing away at Filthy Richâs mind.

âœHello?â he cried, hoping for some sort of answer, a voice, any voice would do.

There was no answer. No voice. There was nothing. Nothing had answered Filthy Rich, and nothing made terrible company.

The nothing was replaced by a distant hum. A faint humming noise filled the air, a vibration more than anything, and Filthy Rich could sense it in his hooves, being an earth pony. Something felt offâ something felt wrong.

Suddenly, nothing seemed to be much better company than something. Filthy Rich wished for nothingâs return.

The nameless dread now called something intensified, and a low terrified moan struggled its way free from Filthy Richâs throat. Filthy Rich suddenly had the most peculiar want, a strange desire, a powerful aching need that manifested into one tangible thought.

He suddenly wished that he had a pegasus and a unicorn with him right now, powerful protectors that could guard him against the seen and the unseen. It was a strange thought that lingered in his rapidly flooding with terror brain, a strong notion that a herd was not complete without his fellow tribesponies. Terror flowed like water, and Filthy Rich felt as though his thoughts would drown him. He could feel his consciousness being swept away by the raging torrent that cascaded through his mind.

Filthy Richâs brain flooded with a confusing jumble of images, six ponies trapped in a cave, the entrance blocked with ice, some of them had already succumbed to the cold, the rest grouped together in terror, terror very much like he was feeling right now, threatened by the Unknown Something that lurked within the shadows.

An earth pony lay on the floor, falling prey to the freezing cold and the Unknown Something. A pegasus stood over the earth pony, wings flared, teeth bared, a long string of slavering drool dangling down from pulled back lips, nostrils flaring, a protective stance, not able to see what was threatening all of them, but ready to fight to the death anyway, because that is what pegasi do. Even at the end of its life, the pegasus would follow its instincts, blindly going from this life into whatever lie ahead in the great beyond, fighting every step of the way, because that is what pegasi were made to do. Beside the pegasus, standing under its wing stood a unicorn, horn igniting with much welcomed luminescence. Light brought understanding. Light drove back the darkness.

The unicorn snorted defiantly, every bit as protective as the pegasus, ears splayed out sideways away from its ignited horn, teeth also bared, it whinnied and nickered at the Unknown Something, able to sense and detect what the pegasus could not.

And then, the unicornâs horn flared brightly, covering the three of them in burning pink fire, driving back the cold and the darkness, sending the Unknown Something back into the shadows, the earth pony slowly struggling to rise up to its hooves, standing under the other wing of the pegasus, a united tribe, burning with protective fire. The earth pony, now standing, leaned up against the pegasusâ side, filling the empty space left under the protective wing. Together, they were an unstoppable force, something to be reckoned with.

And then, Filthy Richâs mind went blank. He blinked, now only having memories of the confusing and jumbled images. He was still alone on the playground, and the air was filled with a terrible sound. He turnedâ

And saw the sky was filled with a swarm of bees, bearing down upon him with alarming speed. He ran, really the only thing a lone earth pony can do to save themselves, He ran, knowing full well that running was not enough, there was no cover, and the schoolhouse door was locked.

He ran, knowing that the inevitable outcome would happen anyway, he ran, knowing that there was no pegasus or unicorn to save him, he ran, because he had seen a glimpse of what the bees were.

Little Diamond Tiaras, flying on gossamer wings, tails replaced with stingers, little queen bees coming to bully him and sting him into submission.

The first few stings weakened him considerably, making his legs feel numb and strangely long, unable to function right. He slowed, and more stings lanced into his flesh, Diamond Tiaraâs cruel words ringing and echoing into his ears, saying such unspeakable things, blaming him for her mother leaving, accusing him of not loving her, all of the terrible and hurtful things she knew all of the right words to say to make it hurt the most.

His legs collapsed underneath him and he tumbled down into the dirt, slamming his chin into the hard ground with a grunt. More stings came, the little queen bees now swarming all over his body. Filthy Richâs flesh burned with white hot lancets of pain.

He begged for them to stop, but they did not listen. Diamond Tiara never listened.

âœGood job Dinky, try to stay inside the lines,â praised Bucky.

Dinky concentrated, her horn glowing with faint purple light, the tip of her tongue sticking out from between her pursed lips as she concentrated on moving the crayon inside of the picture she was trying to colour.

The kitchen was still filled with popcorn, most of it now on the floor, a few pieces stuck to the ceiling, spelling out the words âœI luv u mommyâ in oddly shapen letters.

âœThis is a lot like kindergarten,â Dinky said, still concentrating, the crayon still moving carefully. âœAll weâve done today is fun stuff.â

âœWell, Dinky, in a way, this is kindergarten… magical kindergarten. You are learning control and a few basic magical principles in a way that is enjoyable and fun,â Bucky answered, studying Dinkyâs efforts with a careful eye. âœToday I wanted to find out what you are capable of, so I can see what we need to work on. Tomorrow, we will work on other things. In time, I am going to teach you how to write using your magic, how to use silverware, and, I think at some point, weâll pull out your Daring Do doll and Iâll have you change her clothing so you can learn magical dexterity and manipulation.â

âœThat sounds like fun!â cried Dinky.

âœMake no mistake little Dinky, there will be a lot of hard work,â Bucky said with a smile, looking down at his student. Bucky realised that while his cutie mark may indeed be a hops plant, he was getting an immense amount of satisfaction from his task.

âœSo I get to make art?â Dinky asked.

âœYes,â replied Bucky. âœDinky, it is very important that you take up a hobbyâ a practice. Something that you do that uses your magic regularly, something creative. Unicorns have much to contribute to society. Someday, maybe someday soon, I will take you to Canterlot, the city of unicorns, and I will show you what you are capable of, what great gifts you have to contribute, the great things you can offer society if you can learn control and focus your magic into a steady stable output of creativity and production. Not only will staying creative and productive keep you happy and healthy, but what you create will make other ponies happyâ this is our task, this is our duty as unicorns. We must not use our great powers for destruction but for creation, for the benefit of ponykind,â explained Bucky, speaking very slowly and carefully.

âœIâ I donât know what to say,â replied Dinky, her eyes wide, still managing to colour. âœSo I have a duty to make art? To make the world pretty? To make other ponies happy?â she asked, her brow furrowing, her ears falling to the sides of her head.

âœJust think about it now and then,â Bucky answered, smiling. âœThe magic has to go somewhere. If channeled into creation, it makes other ponies happy. Otherwise, bees.â

âœI donât want more bees!â Dinky cried.

âœI know Dinky, which is why I am trying to help you,â soothed Bucky.

âœIâm getting tired and my horn kinda aches,â Dinky said, still trying to colour with her crayon held aloft in a purple aura. âœWhy does a unicornâs horn feel things?â

âœThe horn is hollow, filled with many nerves, and marrow. The casing is flexible so it doesnât break if something bumps it. It is connected directly to the brain. It focuses thoughts and will, condensing them into magical energy. Make sense?â asked Bucky.

âœNo,â replied Dinky, shaking her head.

âœSometime soon, I will draw you a diagram of your standard issue magic zapper and try to explain it better,â Bucky offered.

The crayon fell, Dinky cried out, and then began to rub her head. âœI need a break,â she said, her eyes closing and her muzzle scrunching up.

âœWeâll take a break for a while. Go play with PiÃa and have some fun,â Bucky said, gently patting Dinkyâs shoulders.

Dinky fled the table, stumbled through the kitchen door, and escaped into the living room.

As Bucky sat at the table, he had a profound realisation. All of his usual sense of agitation that he had felt lately was gone. He felt strangely calm. Fulfilled. A strange sense of peace had settled into his mind. The painful ache of loneliness that he had fallen prey to recently seemed to have vanished.

Panic, his ever present companion, gave him a violent mental prodding to remind him of its presence, and, as the panic made its presence known, Bucky thought of Derpy and Berry both squeezing him. It was a faint memory, almost dreamlike, but it rose up in his mind like an invisible shield, reminding Buckyâs panic who was really in control here.

A pegasus now patrolled and panic was not a welcome visitor.

Panic had become a threat, and pegasi had only one singular response to threats.

Chapter 19

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Home. Home again. Another day full of deliveries. Derpy stood at her own door, taking a deep breath, thankful to be home. She gently hoofed the latch, pushing the door open, and then peered inside, winking one eye shut so her good eye could see.

Derpy saw what could only be described as the aftermath.

On the couch, Bucky was sprawled out asleep, laying on his belly, his head squashed against the arm of the couch. On his back Dinky had sprawled out, laying on her back, her forelegs folded over her barrel, her mouth open, her barrel rising and falling with her breathing. Derpy took a step inside, and macaroni crunched underhoof. She looked down. There was macaroni and popcorn all over the floor.

Standing inside the door, she turned and saw Berry Punch, sprawled out in the chair, a tangle of yarn beside her on the floor in a basket, and two knitting needles sticking out of a yarn ball. PiÃa was stuffed in beside Berry in the chair, both were sound asleep, Berry Punch snoring faintly, drooling slightly.

Derpy followed the trail of popcorn into the kitchen, and stood aghast at what she saw when she went through the kitchen door. Popcorn. Everywhere. Some still remained on the table, quite a bit was on the floor, crayons and papers cluttered the table. There was popcorn on the ceiling, it formed words, a message letting her know that she was loved.

She was going to have to kill Bucky for teaching Dinky how to stick things on the ceiling, but she was also fiercely proud that Dinky could stick things on the ceiling. She backed out of the kitchen, stepping on popcorn and macaroni noodles, and looked at the sleeping ponies in her living room.

It was almost too adorable to stand.

Stepping quietly, Derpy went back into the kitchen, fetching the camera from the cupboard over the root vegetable bin, and then returned to the living room holding the camera in her wingtips. She snapped a picture of the two sleeping ponies on the couch, the click and the flash from the camera causing everypony to awaken with a snort or a twitch. She returned the camera to the kitchen, popcorn and macaroni still crunching underhoof, and then went back into the living room to confront Bucky about the popcorn on the ceiling.

âœThere is popcorn on my ceiling,â Derpy said, tapping her hoof and giving the stinkeye to the tan unicorn still sprawled on the couch, Dinky still lying on his back.

Bucky grinned sheepishly, his eyes still half open, his ears limp and hanging downward, framing his face.

âœPopcorn. On my ceiling,â Derpy repeated. âœI donât know how to begin,â she finished, still tapping her hoof.

âœUh oh,â groaned Berry, rubbing her eyes.

âœDinky learned the minor sticky cantrip, she canât stick things like couches or tables on the ceiling,â explained Bucky, his voice containing faint laughter, Dinky now giggling on his back, covering her mouth with her hooves.

âœYet,â added Berry Punch, grinning wickedly.

âœOh you are so not helping Berry,â Bucky said, covering his eyes with his ears as he did so. âœIt is an important spell for unicorns. It allows us to stick things to walls, like notes, maps, flow charts, graphs, papers, posters, small things with very little weight,â Bucky explained slowly, not liking the last look he had seen from Derpy before he had covered his eyes and tried to look as pathetic as possible.

âœDinky can pop popcorn,â PiÃa said helpfully, smiling the innocent smile of a foal that doesnât know trouble when they see it.

âœI can see that,â Derpy said patiently to PiÃa, still tapping her hoof. Her wings fluttered slightly and her breathing quickened.

âœDerpy Doo, all of this mess can be cleaned up, we were tired, donât be angry,â Berry said soothingly. Derpyâs body language said many things, none of it appropriate for translation before foals.

âœCeiling!â Derpy said slowly.

âœLook, we know you made your feelings clear, but it is harmless, really,â Berry said.

Derpyâs scowl melted a bit. âœDinky learned that on her first dayââ she said slowly.

âœI made him teach me, I used the big sad eyes on him mommy,â Dinky confessed, rolling over on her side, looking at her mother, using the said sad eyes to full effect.

âœIt was well managed mischief,â Bucky said slowly. âœAll little unicorns, no matter what type go through a mischievous stage. It is better to focus it into funny little pranks than to wait for big troublesome outbursts,â he stated, still hiding his eyes behind his ears, and trying not to laugh and send the wrong message about his feelings as Dinky squirmed on his back. Dinky tickled something awful.

âœI see,â said the grey pegasus mare, her hoof no longer tapping. Derpy opened both of her eyes and banished her scowl. âœBeen a long day. I had to deal with giant spiders when I was out delivering mail to Zecora.â

âœAnd this is why they hire pegasi at the post office and frown upon earth pony applicants,â Berry Punch said with a chuckle.

âœWhat?â Bucky said with more than a hint of worry, lifting his ears away from his eyes and looking at Derpy with a great deal of concern.

âœSpiders. Big ones. Potentially pony eating spiders. Not an uncommon hazard when delivering the mail,â she answered, moving forward towards Bucky. After several steps, she reached the couch. She lowered her head and snoot-bumped Bucky, touching nose tips briefly, and then turned towards the chair where Berry sat. âœIt isnât easy delivering the mail,â Derpy said as she moved towards Berry, crossing the room in a moment, and then snoot-bumping her friend. Berry leaned into it with a smile. Derpy backed away from the chair and sat down on her haunches, waiting patiently.

It wasnât long until she was mobbed by two foals. She allowed herself to be bowled over and wrestled down to the floor, engaging in a snuggle-huggle-fight-fest.

Bucky decided in a single hot second that a mare being wrestled by foals was rather attractive. He swallowed, and his neurotic mind told him that his swallow was loud enough to be heard by everypony in the room. His mindâs accusations were confirmed when Berry Punch shot him a knowing smirk.

Feeling guilty, Bucky continued to feel attracted to this display of motherhood. He watched intently, making no effort to hide it. His own mother had never done anything like this, rolling around on the floor being playful.

He became aware that Berry was staring at him intently, in much the same way he had been staring at Derpy intently. There was something vaguely predatory about Berryâs gaze. She blinked once, then twice, and then she blinked and left her eyes half closed, gazing at him warmly, looking at him with an almost drowsy looking stare of arousal. Ardrowsal? The sort of look a mare might give when she is thinking about going to bed, but not sleeping.

There was a painful spike of attraction at that moment for Berry.

The room suddenly felt rather warm.

âœSo about our date tonight,â Bucky said slowly, âœor am I in trouble for the popcorn on the ceiling?â

âœOh, we are doing something tonight,â Derpy answered, having her ear tugged on by an aggressive Dinky, who had her motherâs ear in her teeth, and her motherâs head in her forelegs. Derpy had PiÃa squished to her barrel in one foreleg, and the grey mare was on her back, her wings spread slightly on the floor.

âœI could fix us a meal,â Berry offered, repeating her offer from earlier. âœOr we could go out maybe. Take the foals with us. I know a place that has bean curd curry that is as hot as the blazes.â

âœMmm,â said Derpy, licking her lips as PiÃa was drumming away on her barrel, causing Derpyâs âœmmmâ to sound a little funny.

âœI like curry,â Bucky confessed. âœIt is so delicious it is almost worth the embarrassing social consequences.â

âœEmbarrassing?â Berry asked.

âœYeah, embarrassing,â Bucky stated.

âœMore like fun,â Berry retorted, leaning over in her chair and farting loudly, getting near perfect resonance and vibration amplification from the cushion, the entire chair working to amplify the sound.

Derpy and the two foals collapsed into peals of laughter, while Bucky just sat there, eyes wide in shock, blinking several times, trying to take in what he had just seen and heard.

âœHow about curry and then we come home, wait for the foals to go to bed, and then we have a few drinks and play Twister together?â Berry asked.

âœTwister and embarrassing social consequences,â Bucky replied, his nose crinkling.

âœOh donât be such a snob. Someday, when weâre very close friends, Iâll show you a neat trick I know that youâll like where I make my plot vibrate,â Berry promised.

Derpy guffawed with laughter as the two foals giggled, not understanding the joke, but Derpy laughing was pretty funny on its own.

Bucky found he could not reply. His mouth opened and closed a few times, and nothing came out. Nothing at all. The worst thing was, he was intrigued. He would never admit it, but Berryâs offer had him curious. He quickly shoved the thought away from his mind, feeling somewhat sullied and still strangely attracted to Berry Punch.

Derpy now had PiÃa and Dinky pinned, and was using her wings to extract terrible revenge on the foals, tickling them mercilessly and causing them to squeal and kick, pleading for mercy.

Pegasi werenât known for mercy.

Berry Punch moved out of her chair and seized upon the golden opportunity to get some revenge of her own, planting her muzzle into PiÃaâs belly and blowing a loud raspberry that filled the living room with embarrassing flatulent noises.

Bucky rubbed his head with his hoof. These displays of affection were embarrassing.

Berry, noticing Buckyâs apparent distress, leaned over and whispered something in her friendâs ear, which Bucky did not notice, because his eyes were closed and he was rubbing his head with his hoof.

He did not see the pegasus moving quickly to her hooves or the wily earth pony tensing up. He didnât pay attention to the sounds of little hooves moving clear of the coming carnage. Bucky made a lot of mistakes in a span of just a few moments.

Bucky suffered a very pronounced feeling of total confusion as he was pulled from the couch and pinned to the floor, completely overpowered by the much stronger mares. A giggling shriek escaped his lips, something he immediately regretted, knowing that he would privately reflect and cringe in embarrassment about it for days, focusing upon the event, driving himself to distraction. He felt his forelegs and hindlegs being pinned.

Somepony, who could not tell who, pressed her muzzle into his barrel and blew a very loud, very wet, and very ticklish raspberry, something which worried Bucky a great deal, as he was suddenly feeling more than a little arousal. He became painfully aware that in this position, parts of him were exposed and visible.

Embarrassingly visible.

Another muzzle pressed in, inhaled sharply, and then blew outwards, making wet sloppy flatulent noises against his pelt. Bucky gasped, his breath now gone, he could no longer laugh, squirming in their grasp.

And then, two muzzles pressed in together, working in unison, mark ludicrous fart sounds in harmonised stereo. Bucky heard a loud squeal and realised that it was him, and he heard two foals giggling madly.

And then, he was let go of, and he quickly rolled over, trying to regain his composure, worried that he was going to make a public display at any moment.

He looked up at the two mares staring at him, both smiling, and felt a strange feeling. A warm feeling. A pleasantly warm feeling. And part of him wished that they hadnât stopped.

What he had just experienced was entirely unlike anything else he had experienced in his whole life. A total loss of control. And it was strangely enjoyable.

His eyes locked for a moment with Derpyâs, her amber orbs straight for a moment, just long enough to meet his gaze. Her wings were half unfurled, quivering slightly.

She stood over him, her head lowering, her face inches from his own, Berry Punch beside her, who even now, was smiling a secret smile, her eyes flashing with unspoken mayhem, filled with terrible promises of things to come, and Buckyâs vision was suddenly overtaken by a grey mare with a wheat coloured mane, her nose inches from his own.

Bucky felt his heart seizing, but not from panic. Not the usual type of panic anyway.

He was against the couch, no room to retreat, nowhere to run.

There was no room to have a chase, and Bucky wasnât sure if he wanted to run from the pegasus right now anyway. She looked predatory. Running would certainly have consequences at this point.

Their snoots bumped, and Bucky felt his head pushed backwards against the couch, and he could feel hot breath against his lips. All he could see was grey now, and a few wheat coloured strandsâ Derpyâs eyes were closed. He could see her eyelashes. And a tiny scar just below one eye. Her every detail stood out in high contrast. She was astoundingly beautiful.

There was pair of giggles from somewhere that distracted him for a fraction of a second as Derpy continued to press her advantage and her snoot against his.

And then, with his head pinned to the couch, Bucky felt two lips press against his, gentle at first, and then with frightful savage intensity, suction increasing to violent levels, almost painful, Buckyâs mind recalled stories of tough pegasi that could crack nuts with their lips alone, you needed tough strong lips to fly at high speeds and not have them torn off from flapping in the wind.

Bucky could not breathe. At all. His nostrils were closed off from the crushing snoot to snoot contact, and his lips were thoroughly locked onto those of another. He became light headed, and then dizzy, and then he felt his body going limp.

Just when he thought his head was going to explode, Derpy pulled away with a gasp.

âœOh wow, itâs been years since Iâve been kissed like that," Derpy said, gasping, her sides heaving. âœI feel like a mare again.â She fluttered her wings a bit, her tail twitching, her ears reorienting rapidly as she backed away. Her barrel expanded and contracted greatly. She licked her lips and heaved a sigh of satisfaction.

Bucky struggled to breathe, sucking in big gulps of air, his own barrel heaving, a really weird prickling feeling in his horn that had never felt before in his life, his head thunking to the floor limply as he no longer had the strength to hold it up.

âœEw, mommy has colt cooties,â Dinky said in disgust, running from the room, still giggling, PiÃa chasing after her.

âœGross!â PiÃa cried as she fled the room with Dinky.

Buckyâs lips were covered in a waxy oily residue, Derpyâs saliva thick upon them.

Derpy wobbled towards the stairs. âœI need a bath. Itâs been a long day. I need bubbles and hot water,â she said as she mounted the first few stairs. She turned and gave a final glance at Berry Punch and Bucky. âœHeâs weak and exposed Berry, youâre not going to get a better chance.â

Bucky struggled and wiggled, trying to will his limbs to work, to no avail. Berry planted one hoof on his barrel, pressed down to make him lie still, and then gently planted a soft kiss on his lips, smacking lightly as she pulled away.

âœJust so we can get acquainted,â she explained as she pulled away. âœYou donât mind do you?â

Bucky shook his head, looking up at Berry, who was looking down at him.

âœDerpy really needed that, thanks for making it easy for her,â Berry said, smiling.

Bucky nodded, his head still on the floor.

âœJust so we are all on the same page, you do realise that Derpy is the alpha in our little budding relationship, right? Or will I need to explain this to you?â Berry asked, her face now serious and full of concern.

âœI-I donât understand,â Bucky admitted.

âœYou like Derpy. I like Derpy. Iâve been her friend for a very, very long time. What you and I have in common is that we both like Derpy. And that she likes us. Sheâs kissed you, sheâs dictated the terms of our slowly forming relationship, Iâve kissed you to get to know you a little better, and, after you and I have chatted a bit, I am going to go upstairs and go smooch her while she is in the bath. If this has any chance of working, we need to communicate. I understand Derpy, I understand you, I doubt that you understand either one of us though, am I right?â Berry said in a slow careful explanation followed by a question.

Bucky nodded. âœI am having some trouble keeping up,â he confessed.

âœWell then, you and I will keep talking as time goes on. And I am going to teach you a few things. Like how to relax. How to enjoy wine. How to speak pegasus. I am going to unwind you if is the last thing I do. And we are all going to take this slowly and carefully and see where this goes and nopony is going to do anything that hurts anypony else. If you are really uncomfortable with this arrangement and you do not want me sticking my muzzle into this any further, you need to tell me now so I can figure out what to do about the situation we are currently in,â Berry replied.

Bucky was silent for a moment, which made Berry Punch look a little worried. He gazed up at her. She was pretty, in a very different way than Derpy.

Bucky pressed his nose against Berry Punchâs leg, inhaling deeply, taking in her scent. Also different from Derpy. There was something appealing about her though. He made a gesture, beckoning her down to him, and she lowered her head, coming almost nose to nose with Bucky.

âœI am a very repressed and uptight unicorn. I need somepony to show me how to have a good time,â he whispered.

Berry snoot-bumped him in reply, and then kissed him a second time, another quick peck, smiling down at him. âœI can show you how to have a good time if youâll let me,â she said, her smile warm and inviting. âœAnd right now, I am going to go steal me a kiss from a hotâ wetâ soapy mare in a bathtub,â she added, taking a great deal of pleasure in watching Bucky squirm as she placed emphasis on each word in her description. âœTonight, weâre going to have a nice meal. Iâm paying. Donât make a scene or you and I will have some hoof-fu fighting between us. Let us take care of you while you take care of Dinky. Now, keep an eye on Dinky and PiÃa while I go upstairs. The little rascals are in the kitchen and there is no telling what they are up to.â

Bucky nodded, reached up, and gently stroked Berryâs face. âœCan things actually work out between the three of us? Herds were abolished because of the disharmony and the fighting they caused.â Bucky queried.

For a moment, Berry Punch looked very serious. âœThat might be jumping ahead a little in our relationship, but yes, there are still herds even if the Crown doesnât recognise them as legally binding marriages. And they do work sometimes, but they take a lot of effort, work, and communication. There is bound to be squabbling. And you have to take steps to correct the problems that happen when they are little and easily managed, and you canât let them spiral out of control. Derpy trusts you with her foal and I trust you with my little sister, who is, for all intents and purposes, my foal. So Iâd say we are off to a good start. You just keep looking after Dinky, weâll look after you, and no doubt that Sparkler will look after all of us because that is what Sparkler does.â

Bucky nodded.

There was a crash from the kitchen.

Chapter 20 (with zesty sauciness)

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âœHow do I know that he actually likes me, I mean, heâs different, how can I tell that he really likes me?â Derpy asked, staring at Berry Punch who reclined at the other end of the tub, her eyes almost closed, her head resting on the tubâs edge.

This was not the first bath they had taken together, but this was the first bath they had taken together after one very sultry kiss that left them both a little steamy.

âœDerpyâ you know what, fine. Since you seem so insecure, Iâll help you rather than tease you. If you want to see if somepony really likes you, if they are really attracted to you, do something that makes them laugh or do something that might be embarrassing to yourself. If they maintain eye contact, then they like you. And are attracted to you. If you are ever in a crowd of ponies, make them laugh and carefully watch who keeps eye contact if you ever want to find out who likes you,â Berry explained. âœIn the event of embarrassment, ponies that look away will feel mutual embarrassment, those who keep eye contact will do so out of deep concern for your well-being, ignoring the socially awkward moment out of a desire to know you are okay.â

âœHow do you know this stuff?â Derpy asked.

âœIt is an earth pony thing,â Berry said, explaining nothing.

âœBut I know lots of earth ponies, and not all of them know stuff like you do,â Derpy protested, wiggling a bit as she felt Berryâs hoof teasing her thigh. Berry never broke eye contact as Derpy squirmed.

âœOh, they know it, even if they canât express it. I can express it because I went to university and took classes in psychology while I was learning about brewing and distilling. I have the vocabulary to give words to what I already know,â Berry said, enjoying Derpyâs squirming as she teased Derpyâs thigh and gently moved her hoof up just a smidge higher.

âœYouâre smart,â Derpy said, feeling the hoof traveling up her thigh slowly, curious about its destination.

âœIâm a philosopher. Or at least I sometimes try to drink like one,â Berry giggled. âœAnd Derpy, you are no mental slouch. Consider this a pre-emptive strike against your coming self-depreciation.â Berry wiggled her hoof slightly.

âœDâaw,â Derpy sighed, blushing, feeling a wiggle along her inner thigh, a very sensitive place that hadnât been played with in a long while.

âœSo what do we do about Bucky?â Berry asked, retracting her hoof, having gone far enough. For now.

âœSo we have reached the stage of the relationship where we plot against him?â Derpy replied, rubbing her belly with a hoof, working the soapy water into her pelt, which was made to repel water.

âœWell, we did just pin him down and violate his sensibilities quite thoroughly. Heâs going to be brooding over that for days. Weâve taken away his fine unicorn sense of control and now he is probably feeling a bit of a complex because he likes it, and he is going to feel bad about liking it, so we are going to have to plot against him and keep doing little things because he likes it but would never admit to it and never wants to engage us to satisfy his own desires, because admission that he likes it and he wants us to keep doing it would be painfully uncomfortable for him. So we have no choice to plot against him,â Berry patiently explained, rubbing a soapy hoof against her neck. âœYou know, when I offered to show him my plot vibrating trick, he never broke eye contact with me. He was interested. Curious. He was shocked and embarrassed, but he wanted to know more.â

Derpy giggled girlishly, making a few snorts as she did so.

âœCome here, turn around, Iâll scrub your back if you scrub mine. Having a friend means never having to scrub your own back,â Berry said, pulling herself up and sitting upright.

Derpy rose, wiggling and turning around in the enormous claw footed tub. She leaned back into Berry, feeling the warm wet mare against her. âœI wish we had done this sooner. Moving past just being friends I mean,â Derpy said quietly.

âœWasnât the right time,â Berry replied, wrapping her forelegs around Derpy, squeezing her tightly, and kissing the top of Derpyâs head. âœI remember Amethyst Star, Sparklerâs mother, tossing us in the tub together and scrubbing us. We used to be embarrassed about it.â

âœYeah,â Derpy admitted, leaning even more into Berry.

âœWeâve had some very intimate moments together as friends,â Berry said. âœStuff that regular friends donât usually do.â

âœI know,â the grey mare said, rubbing her fetlock on Berryâs foreleg.

âœI held you and comforted you when you gave birth to Dinky,â Berry recalled, her voice now raspy with emotion. âœI helped Star clean you up. Star had to show me how to massage you to help get your milk started, those were rough times. You were so young then.â

Derpy did not reply, she merely hugged Berryâs foreleg to her barrel.

âœAnd I suppose at some point in the future, we are going to have another very intimate moment together,â Berry said in a hushed whisper.

âœWhat do you mean?â Derpy asked, her voice low and soft, her breathing somewhat heavy, her emotions flooding through her body.

âœAt some point, you and I are going to have to figure out how we share Bucky, if we go at it apart, or together, what our boundaries are with each other,â Berry replied, her lips brushing up against Derpyâs ear, causing it to wiggle, making Derpy squirm a bit in Berryâs embrace.

âœOhâ yeah,â Derpy said, feeling Berry breathing on the back of her head and making an ear tickle. âœYou are talking about a threesome, right?â

âœYes you silly mare,â Berry answered, tittering.

âœI havenât thought about it. Well, I did think about it once, when I was laying in bed, but I thought that maybe weâd just share one another and take turns with each other,â Derpy confessed.

Berry gently pushed Derpy away and began to scrub her back, rubbing slowly in between Derpyâs wings, where the muscles were always sore after a day of delivering the mail. The muscles, as always, were knotted heavily. âœWhile taking turns with each other is fine and good, somepony is always left out when you take turns,â Berry said, voicing her concerns. âœEven if it is good fun to watch two ponies canoodling one another.â

Derpy moaned as Berryâs hoof slowly worked out the many knots in between her wing joints, rubbing in a small circular motion. âœIâve only ever been with one pony,â she confessed, her voice embarrassed.

âœI know,â said Berry, âœDinkyâs father. And then after that, you were hurt, and you climbed up on your cloud and refused to let anypony else share that cloud with you. The hurt caused you so much pain that you flew from anything that might hurt you. And then, without meaning to, you hurt yourself, because you believed that hurting yourself was a wise reminder of what lay in store for you if you ever allowed another pony to share your cloud.â As Berry spoke, she squeezed, prodded, nudged, nosed, and nuzzled, emphasising her words with appropriate punctuation, making sure the pegasus understood what was really being said. As a final gesture, Berry reached around Derpy and gently ran a hoof along Derpyâs jawline, gently drawing upwards towards a grey ear, a powerfully affectionate gesture that Berry knew would reach Derpyâs mind.

âœIâm scared,â the mare being prodded by Berryâs hooves confessed.

âœI know,â Berry said soothingly. âœBut you chased Bucky.â

âœI know,â Derpy said, slightly panicked. âœI saw something so kind in his eyes. He was lonesome just like me. I think I saw that tooâ or maybe I wanted to see it.â

âœAnd then all of this happened,â Berry finished, referring to the recent events.

âœYeah. All of this. And I really want to love him so much and you too, but I am still thinking about how much it hurt,â Derpy admitted, now starting to cry just a little bit, her waterlogged wings hitching slightly. âœI am so tired of being alone and keeping ponies at a distance.â

âœThen let us in,â Berry soothed, once again pulling her friend to her and squeezing. âœI am strong enough to carry both of you, let me be the earth pony that shoulders your heavy burdens,â Berry offered.

âœThat is part of what you said when Bucky had his panic attack,â Derpy said, her face scrunching up in memory, her eyes still wet with tears. âœDoes this mean I get to watch over you?â

âœYes Derpy, if you are willing. Now we just need to figure out how to make Bucky shine. Heâs just as hurt as you are I think,â Berry whispered, clinging to her friend.

âœBucky confuses me badly,â Derpy admitted.

âœI know. Bucky keeps himself confused so he has an excuse not to deal with the world at large. Easier to hold that much magic in I suppose if things arenât constantly distracting you and engaging your emotions. Must be hard to hold that much magic back,â Berry said, thinking out loud.

âœWe pegasi had have to be mindful of our emotions too,â Derpy said. âœOtherwise, our moods affect the clouds which causes the weather go all crazy and then it causes all kinds of problems.â

âœHuh,â Berry Punch mumbled, learning something new and taking note of it. âœSo is this why it always rains at funerals?â she asked.

âœMaybe,â Derpy confessed, looking thoughtful.

âœYou know Derpy, this house is a little small. Iâm thinking that I need to spend a little bit of the leftover insurance money and fix up the family farmhouse. There is a much bigger bathtub there,â Berry said, her voice wistful. âœIâve let the place get run down. I guess Iâm hurt too. After everypony died in some way or another, it has never felt like home. And thatâs just wrong for an earth pony. It would be like the Apple family walking away from Sweet Apple Acres. Iâve walked off from the place and rented a house in town. Iâm a disgrace. Iâm a numbskull.â

âœAw, donât say that Berry. All of our families are broken up in some way or another,â Derpy admitted. âœI never see mine, I donât think Bucky sees much of his, and yours is mostly gone. What if something happens to me? Who looks after Dinky?â

âœSparkler would. I would,â Berry said. âœNow, enough of that sniffling. We have to get pretty for our date tonight.â

With a simple mental gesture, Bucky cleared away all of the popcorn and macaroni bits, placing them into the trashcan. He cleaned the kitchen and the living room effortlessly, both foals clapping their hooves together as they watched.

He lifted the couch, holding it aloft, checking underneath it for debris, and then he lifted the chair. He completely untangled Berryâs yarn, re-rolling it into a ball, doing everything slowly and deliberately so that Dinky could watch and see the potential for what she was capable of.

âœSee Dinky, when you learn control, you can help out your mommy and make her life easier. Sheâll have more time to play with you if she doesnât have to clean house. And look how easy it is,â Bucky said, realising that this was an important lesson for little Dinky.

âœSometimes I want magic and sometimes I donât,â confessed PiÃa.

âœWhy is that PiÃa?â Bucky asked the pale pink little foal.

âœSeems like a lot of grown up worries and chores,â she answered, hugging Dinky.

âœYes, there is much responsibility to be taken and much work to be done,â Bucky answered, eyeing Dinkyâs response to all of this. The little pale purple-grey foal was being squeezed mercilessly by PiÃa. Dinkyâs eyes were wide.

Bucky gently set the couch with the two foals sitting on it back down on the floor where it belonged. They let go of one another and took deep breaths.

âœYou made everything in the living room float,â PiÃa said breathlessly.

âœCan I do that?â Dinky asked, blinking, her voice wavering slightly.

Bucky nodded. âœWith time you will be able to, if you work hard and pay attention. This will be easy for you to do Dinky. Now pay attention, if you ever let your emotions get away from you, you could just as easily lift everything, all of these heavy things, and throw them at somepony that is hurting you or making you angry.â

Dinkyâs eyes closed and she buried her face into PiÃaâs neck, letting out a terrified cry. She trembled for several minutes, and Bucky said nothing, letting the lesson settle in. After a few minutes, Bucky went over to the couch and sat down, where he was immediately mobbed by two foals. He held them both, enjoying their warmth and their affection, feeling two little snoots nuzzling him.

It was oddly calming.

As he was sitting there on the couch with the foals, the door opened and in walked Sparkler, who giggled when she saw the scene on the couch.

âœSparkler!â Dinky cried, letting go of Bucky and running to her sister, PiÃa also disengaging and moving to mob Sparkler.

The two foals tackled her, and she allowed herself to be taken down, in much the same way Derpy had. They rolled and wrestled on the floor, exchanging hoof noogies and odd gestures of affection that Bucky simply did not understand.

âœI think weâre going out to dinner,â Bucky announced to Sparkler.

âœCool,â Sparkler said. âœAny idea what?â

âœSpicy bean curd,â Bucky said.

âœOh, that place,â Sparkler said, her head being hammered on by Dinky. âœBe ready to sit in a bucket of water!â

Bucky gulped, realising there might be trouble later.

Chapter 21

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There was something very different about the two mares that came down the stairs. They moved together, or at least that is how it appeared to Bucky and Sparkler both, both of whom observed the changes in the two mares.

And, they were beautiful.

Derpyâs mane had been carefully combed, and it spilled all around her ears, framing her face beautifully. Berry Punchâs mane seemed to have some extra bounce, and her eyes peeked out from carefully combed bangs.

Every feather on Derpyâs wings stood out in high detail.

âœGo mom!â Sparkler said. She turned towards Bucky. âœYou realise you donât have a chance, right? I mean, you have to know by now. My mom is hawt. I mean she is hawt.â

Bucky nodded, unable to respond verbally.

Derpy stumbled slightly on the last stair, landing roughly on her hooves. She had her good eye on Bucky as she did so, and with a great deal of personal satisfaction, she noticed that he never took his eyes off of her as she stumbled and nearly suffered a pratfall. The stumble was intentional.

âœHello handsome,â Berry said, looking at the slack jawed unicorn sitting on the couch, batting her eyelashes.

âœSee something you like?â Derpy asked, her voice a low growl that only a pegasus could make.

âœSo have you two been making out?â Sparkler asked, tilting to her head to the side and staring at the two maternal forces in her life. âœBecause I really hope so. Otherwise, dinner is going to be awkward after what I heard mom saying in her sleep last night.â

âœSparkler!â Derpy cried, her eyes going wide. Berry Punch giggled and winked at Sparkler, then walked through the room and planted a kiss on the head of PiÃa, her younger sister.

âœEew, something is going onââ Dinky stated, looking disgusted.

âœYeah, gross!â PiÃa Colada agreed, having just been kissed. âœMy sisterâs lips are waxy and oily just like Derpyâs.â

âœOoooh, you had to help mom preen her wingsâ she had to swap some spit with you so you could do the job right,â Sparkler said, her eyes wide glittering with mirth. She bounced up on her hooves and began to dance around excitedly.

âœGROSS!â Dinky cried.

âœGross!â PiÃa echoed.

Bucky smacked his lips, they were still oddly flavoured and somewhat waxy.

âœSparkler, do you mind washing those two?â Derpy asked.

âœCan do mom,â Sparkler agreed.

âœAnd Bucky, if you want a shower, you can take one here or go home for a quick refresher. I think weâll be alright. Just hurry back, Iâm hungry,â Berry Punch said, watching Sparkler dance in place.

Dinky raced PiÃa up the stairs, glad to be away from the icky adults and all of the random exchanges of cooties that seemed to be rampant today.

âœIâll be back soonish,â Bucky said, nodding his head and stepping out the front door.

Berry and Derpy stood alone in the living room of Derpy Doo Hooves.

Twilight Sparkle sat looking at the plaster casts of former students on a shelf in Celestiaâs quarters. She remembered making her own cast as she gazed upon it, filling a pie pan with a little bit of plaster, stomping a hoof down inside of the plaster, waiting a moment for the plaster to set just a tiny bit, and then pulling a hoof free leaving the plaster to harden. A note secured to the casting read the words âœSmarty Pants Incidentâ in bold letters. Twilight blushed at the memory. She was such a late bloomer that even her mischievous stage had lingered until much later in life, manifesting, coming and going, constantly coming back after a long absence.

The wall was full of Celestiaâs personal hoof picked students and the students she considered âspecialâ in some way. Sunset Shimmer was there, Trixie Lulamoon, Raven, Lyra Heartstrings, and off to one side, in the corner, Buckminster Bitters. A note stuck to the bottom of his plaster hoof print said âœWater Clockâ and nothing else.

âœCelestia, what does âœWater Clockâ mean?â asked Twilight, a bit confused.

âœBuckminster broke my water clock. The clock that was created by Star Swirl. Now, no matter which way it is orientated, it drips forever upwards, the water completely ignores gravity,â Celestia explained, smiling faintly.

âœThatâs awful! Star Swirl made that for you!â Twilight protested.

âœThe grouchy old bearded weirdo would truly appreciate the work of art the clock has become. It keeps perfect time and will always let you know which way is up,â Celestia responded, laughing warmly.

âœUp is just a vector without force,â Twilight said, looking very confused, clearly not understanding what was so funny. âœYou wanted to talk to me?â

âœYes I did Twilight. About the Ponyville Project,â Celestia said.

Twilight immediately focused her attention, turning away from the plaster castings and turning to look at Celestia instead. Twilightâs eyes went wide, became focused, and she was ready to report on almost anything Celestia required.

âœBefore we begin, any reports on the Crusader Project?â Celestia said, settling into her wide bowl shaped chair and getting comfortable, her large body spilling from one side of the bowl shaped chair to the other.

âœNot much to report Princess, the Crusaders continue to have a strong friendship, they arrive for âTwilight Timeâ and perform admirably, and they continue to learn together quite readily. No signs of odd magic or unusual abilities manifesting from them and all of the time they spend together,â Twilight reported, causing Celestia to look disappointed. Twilight slumped slightly from seeing Celestiaâs let down appearance.

âœI have such high hopes. Luna does as well, she continues to guide them in dreams, keeping them together and pushing them towards greater things,â Celestia confided. âœAnd then there is the matter of Bucky and his own friendship studies. Twilight, tell me, what do you know about the various herds in Ponyville?â

âœWell, there are two major pegasi flocks, a whole host of earth pony clans, andââ

âœNo, Twilight, not the greater herd structures. Herds. Plural marriage. Polyamory,â Celestia interrupted.

Twilight blushed, a conflagration upon her cheeks. âœOh no Princess, I donât swing that way, and no matter what the rumours are, my friends and I arenât, well, doing unseemly things to one another,â Twilight assured Celestia, her eyes darting back and forth, her hooves prancing in place, her wings fluttering.

âœTwilight, I am not worried about what you might do with your friends. I want to know more about the herd structures in Ponyville. See what you can dig up. Iâve seen thingsâ signs from our mutual interest Buckminster Bitters and his emerging friendships with one Berry Punch and one Derpy Doo Hooves. I saw them on the couch together, and they were very friendly with one another if you understand my meaning. I saw signs that trouble me somewhat,â Celestia admitted. âœI personally abolished herds a long time ago because of the disharmony they caused, the fighting, and sometimes I wonder if I have made a mistake. Anyway,â said Celestia distractedly, âœI started thinking about the Crusader Project. I cannot help but notice that Buckminster, Derpy Doo, and Berry Punch are a unicorn, a pegasus, and an earth pony. And they are becoming very, very friendly with one another. I think our plans may have changed,â Celestia finished.

âœOkay Celestia,â Twilight huffed, feeling very squirmy and uncomfortable.

âœI want to talk with Princess Cadance about her feelings about herd structures, and then we are going to follow the Friendship Project through, only as a potentially emerging family structure, as I strongly suspect it will be. Buckminster made the most noble gesture to tutor Dinky Doo after the incident at the Ponyville primary school,â Celestia explained.

âœWhat are you saying?â asked Twilight, her face beet red, beads of sweat pouring from her brow, and the corner of her eye twitching.

âœI may consider officially sanctioning herd marriage again in Ponyville depending on how this study turns out. I want them watched as much as possible, observed in public as much as possible, without interrupting their privacy too much. Enlist as many pegasi as you need, get your friends, and keep a weather eye open for changes or warning signs,â Celestia commanded. âœI want public courtship documented. I want behaviours studied. I want details. I want to understand the process. And I want you to study the other herds that I know are in Ponyville as well. Thunderlane and those two sisters, Flitter and Cloudchaser. Now, I know that the two sisters arenât engaging each other in anything unseemly, Luna keeps an eye on that in dreams, but they are sharing Thunderlane. I want you to use his recent spot of trouble as leverage to get him to spill information, details, specifics, and to enlist his help in watching over Buckminster and his two mares. Is all of this clear?â Celestia asked. âœThis emerging relationship is a unification of the three tribes. I want to see some kind of results after one thousand years of studying Cloverâs notes. You finished up Star Swirlâs work beautifully, just as I had hoped you would. Clover was certain that something would come about if the tribes united and bonded together. There has been hopeful signs, but that isnât enough to satisfy me.â

Twilight stood agape under the onslaught of Celestiaâs words.

âœAnd keep watching the Crusaders. I still have hope for them,â Celestia added.

Twilight nodded, still standing in stunned silence. One ear twitched fitfully.

âœCome here Twilight, you look disturbed, climb up into my chair and sit with me until you feel better, like you did when you were little. I still worry that you are in the throes of some kind of alicorn mischievous stage and seeing you like that frightens me so,â Celestia said, her voice full of worry. She patted the chair with her wing.

Saying nothing, Twilight crawled up into the chair with Celestia and snuggled against her side, Celestia wrapping her wing around the smaller alicorn.

âœIâve never had anything quite like this before,â Bucky admitted, looking over the menu. They had arrived early, before the evening rush, and the restaurant was surprisingly empty.

âœYou like spicy food?â Berry asked, sitting on one side of Bucky.

âœAre you brave Mister Bitters?â Derpy teased, sitting on the other side.

âœI donât need bravery, I have fusion. And sometimes I eat some spicy things, but I do not have a lot of experience with them,â Bucky answered.

âœWhat is fusion?â Derpy asked.

âœUnicorn bravery,â Berry replied.

Derpy rolled her good eye, her bad eye continued to disobey as it always had.

âœIâm brave,â Dinky reassured her mother, her eyes wide and bright.

âœI know Dinks,â Derpy replied, looking at Dinky sitting on the other side of the table on one side of Sparkler, PiÃa sitting on the other side.

âœIâm brave too,â Berry said, licking her teeth and smiling broadly, only one hoof visible above the table. The other was exploring below the table.

Bucky squirmed, shifting in his seat, Berry Punchâs hoof rubbing a circle just above his knee. He gulped.

âœSomething wrong Bucky?â Derpy asked, turning towards him and smiling broadly, one eyebrow raised.

âœOh, nothing,â Bucky squeaked, as Berryâs hoof traveled halfway up his leg. âœNothing at all!â he repeated. Bucky floundered, not sure of the proper rules to this social interaction. But he was not about be shown up by a numbskull. First, he cast a spell to dim his horn, a spell he had learned from Luna herself, when Luna had acted as a substitute teacher one day and taught practical subversion magicks. The spell made his horn flash for only a brief second. And then, Bucky focused his will, shoving the distracting thoughts of Berry and her frisky hoof out of his mind. He waited, his telekinesis ready.

Bucky sat quietly, perfectly composed, both hooves folded politely before him on the table, one fetlock resting over another.

Berry, not getting any satisfaction, boldly moved her hoof up to the webbing of his inner thigh, where it connected with his torso. That almost broke his concentration completely. He turned and smiled at Derpy, ignoring the lewd and lascivious equine next to him. âœYou look lovely tonight Derpy,â he stated, his tone gracious and warm, causing Derpy to melt slightly, her cheeks blushing brightly through her grey pelt.

There was a loud squeak from Berry Punch a moment later as she almost leapt out of her seat, giggling loudly, both hooves now under the table, trying to make the invisible force tickling her navel go away.

âœBerry?â Sparkler said in alarm, looking worried.

âœNothingâ HRRK! Sparkler honey, Iâm okay, I-I, uh, oh OH heh hah HOO!â Berry stammered, squirming, giggling, and sometimes snorting.

Berry wickered as she threw her head back and writhed.

Derpy began to chortle faintly. âœBucky, are you doing something unseemly?â

âœNo,â Bucky replied innocently. âœDo you see my horn glowing?â

Derpy peered up at his horn with her one good eye. âœBerry, stop being a spaz,â she said, now laughing.

âœBucky!â Berry begged breathlessly. âœClan Pickled surrenders!â

Bucky ceased his assault, at least for now, struggling not to laugh. It was quite difficult. Sparkler was looking directly at him, her lips pressed together.

âœI know you did something somehow,â Sparkler said, âœYou canât fool me!â

âœYou alright Berry?â PiÃa asked.

âœOh, I was just getting what I deserved,â Berry said breathlessly, her barrel heaving, both hooves now on the table. âœAnd somepony will get what they deserve later I am sure,â she added.

Berry squealed loudly as there was a pinch along the graceful curve of her backside, a squeezing of her cheeks.

âœBucky!â Derpy said, poking him with her hoof. âœI want to know what is going on!â she demanded.

Bucky obliged the only way he knew how, thinking about the raspberry assault earlier, a faint smile upon his lips, his hooves never moving. He turned the vibrating assault upon Derpy, moving along her navel.

âœBerry! Help me!â Derpy said, her hooves sliding down rapidly to her belly.

Dinky looked at her mother curiously, the grey mare was acting silly. She turned at looked at PiÃa. âœAdults are weird,â mumbled Dinky.

Berry, seeing her friend in dire trouble, and knowing how ticklish Derpy could be, did the only thing she could do. She took Buckyâs head in her two hooves and planted a wet kiss on his lips, tickling his lips with her tongue.

Buckyâs ability to cast spells died and his horn made an audible fizzle.

Berry Punch pulled away as both PiÃa and Dinky were making âœeewâ noises and protesting the display of adult affection.

âœBucky, I am going to destroy you when we get home!â Derpy promised. âœDestroy!â

Bucky sat there, trapped between two mares, breathless, and having the time of his life. He smiled at Sparkler, who was smiling at him.

âœYou did something pervy to my mother,â Sparkler accused. âœGood job!â

A unicorn waiter stood near the table, gently clearing his throat and waiting to take an order. He smiled a warm smile, glad to see the group having a good time. His bright blue mane was impeccably styled and he wore glasses perched on his muzzle.

âœThe sautéed sprout assortment for all, with spicy bean curd. Tens for Derpy, Sparkler and I, and fives for the foals and Bucky here, heâs a foal too,â Berry said to the waiter, smiling a crazy smile. âœAnd Iâll take a bottle of Clan Pickled red, whatever vintage you might have. Fruit punch sodas for everybody as well.â

âœWe have a few bottles left of a lovely ten year old red that was quite sweet and fragrant,â the waiter offered.

âœYeah, that. Two bottles,â Berry requested, determined to have a good time.

The waiter nodded, and then moved off swiftly to the kitchens.

âœI bet I could take a ten,â Dinky pouted.

âœThe five is fine,â PiÃa mentioned, looking a little worried already. She looked up at her big sister, her eyes wide.

âœPiÃa, if you have trouble, donât worry, weâll take you somewhere and get you full on ice cream so you can cool off,â Berry promised.

PiÃa heaved a sigh of relief and leaned into Sparklerâs side, and Sparkler, being a good filly, wrapped a leg around PiÃa and pulled her closer. After a moment, she reached out and grabbed Dinky Doo as well, keeping them both close. She smiled a knowing smile at the adults on the other side of the table.

The waiter returned with drinks, gently floating the glasses to the table. âœThe wine will be out shortly maâam,â he promised. He then departed, still smiling.

Derpy, seeing the two foals, followed their example and leaned on Bucky. Bucky couldnât help but notice that Derpy was very, very warm, and she smelled strongly of perfume.

And something else.

Bucky couldnât put a hoof on what he was smelling, but it made him feel heady and relaxed. Berry was wearing it too. They must have put it on one another when they were getting ready earlier.

It was almost a little too pleasant. It made him feel kinda sleepy.

Berry leaned in as well, propping up Bucky from the other side. Bucky took another deep breath, taking in the most wonderful smell through his nose.

Pheromones? he thought to himself. No, this was a different smell entirely. Musky. Pleasant. Must be perfume.

âœThe three of you look really happy,â Sparkler observed.

âœI am,â Derpy answered.

âœSo am I,â Berry said.

Bucky said nothing, he sat there breathing through his nose and smiling.

âœI think heâs happy,â Berry guessed.

âœHe looks drunk,â Sparkler announced.

âœHeâs probably a little worn out,â Derpy said, wrapping a foreleg around Buckyâs withers and giving a gentle squeeze. âœBeen some rough days,â she added.

âœI hope all three of you stay happy,â Sparkler said, her face suddenly very serious.

âœThank you Sparkler,â Derpy said.

The group of ponies sat together, exchanging glances. The foals were aware something was up, something was happening. Something had changed. Sparkler was aware of things happening as well, and was old enough to understand what they were. She wanted her mother happy, and she wanted Berry happy, and she wanted them both happy together. It was something she had wished for, for a very long time, practically since she had come into Derpyâs care. Berry was almost a mother to her already, the vessel of her real motherâs memories. Berry belonged in this family, however weird it might be. This family was a collection of cast offs, discards, and throw aways, a collection of strays.

The adults of the group also understood on some deep level that something important had happened, causing change. An acknowledgement had been made, and the first few brave steps forward had been taken.

The first date together had been done so as a whole family, an unusual step at best during these troubled and trying times.

Chapter 22

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The couch was surprisingly comfortable all things considered. Bucky awoke, his mind full of the hazy recollections of the night before. The bean curd and spout dinner had been spicy, but he had enjoyed himself, social consequences and all. The wine had been fantastic, even though he had always been a beer drinker, more or less.

He had stayed late, having a wonderful time, and Derpy and Berry had invited him to stay. Derpy had reasoned that they could all sleep in the same bed without any funny business, but Bucky had balked at the idea. Berry had been drinking, and was full of funny business.

The simple truth was, Bucky had never been with a mare. Or a filly when he had been a colt. Or anypony for that matter. There had been a few awkward kisses at various social mixers and dances and that was it. Derpy was a mother, which means she had been with at least one pony. Bucky had no doubts about Berryâs status. He lived with a real fear of disappointing both of them. This was troubling, as he didnât really have anypony he could talk to, and he certainly wasnât about to go to Celestia about this.

Not unless he absolutely had to.

The very thought of him doing so caused Bucky to cringe, feeling horrible pangs of embarrassment, playing the scenario out in his brain. Celestia and that knowing smile of hers, looking at him, patiently explaining the birds and bees. Nope. He knew about birds, he knew about bees, he had an understanding about how it worked, he just didnât have it in him to face up to the painful shame and humiliation of that bound to be awkward first time.

The dawn brought a distinct feeling of calm, the birdsong happy and soothing.

There was a rapping at the door and female voice shouting âœhelloâ could be heard as the knocking continued. Bucky heard thumps upstairs. Ponies were waking.

Bucky rolled from the couch, landed on his hooves, and moved to answer the door. Somepony was certainly knocking at an early hour. Bucky crossed the immaculately clean living room, stood at the door, and opened it slowly, ready for anything.

Cheerilee stood at the door, peering at Bucky with a faint smile, her eyes wide and bright. âœHi there,â she greeted. âœI wanted to come by before school starts. I needed to speak to you and Miss Hooves. I know she heads off to work early.â

âœMe?â asked Bucky, blinking a few times, still trying to clear the sleepy from his head. Cheerilee was a morning pony. Bucky didnât much care for morning ponies.

âœYes, you,â answered Cheerilee, âœI wanted to thank you for the other day. Keeping Dinky safe.â

âœI destroyed the slide,â Bucky said sheepishly.

âœI know, thatâs alright, weâll be getting a new one,â Cheerilee said cheerfully. âœAnd Celestia plans to deduct the cost of the slide from your salary.â

âœWait, how do you know about that?â Bucky demanded, concern creeping into his voice. Derpy had come down the stairs, and now stood beside him, he felt her snoot pressing into his side briefly.

âœIâve had some messages delivered explaining the situation and Iâve been in contact with Princess Celestia and Princess Twilight Sparkle. Weâve discussed the situation, we all want Dinky back in school as soon as you both feel comfortable with allowing her return, on the condition that Bucky attends the school as well, to both monitor Dinky and to possibly assist with a little magical instruction for the other little unicorn foals in class,â Cheerilee said, still smiling, still impossibly cheerful for this hour of the morning. âœPrincess Celestia agrees with my assertions that you deserve a higher pay grade, being an educator of any stripe is tough, but she wants greater returns for her financial investment. Also, Mister Rich is matching her bit for bit. He also expresses an interest in magical education.â

âœDinky can go back to school?â Derpy said, blinking her eyes slowly, still only half awake. She smacked her lips a few times, obviously a bit hung over.

âœAs long as the conditions are met, yes,â Cheerilee replied.

âœI want Dinky to have a normal foalhoodâ Bucky, I really, really want this, but I donât want you to feel obligated. You can continue to tutor Dinky at home,â Derpy said.

Bucky felt Derpy pressing up against him, leaning on him, her wing now resting on his withers. She was warm and soft, her pelt and mane still messed up from being in bed. She still had lingering traces of the perfume from the night before. It fogged his mind, leaving him feeling a bit confused and light headed, making it a little hard to think.

âœI suppose we can try it and see how it goes,â Bucky said. âœHowever, a one room schoolhouse is not the place for real magical instruction. There can be accidents. Problems. The other students might be at risk.â

âœOh, I know, trust me,â Cheerilee said exuberantly. âœWeâre working on a solution,â she added.

âœOh?â questioned Bucky, raising an eyebrow.

âœNothing confirmed yet, but great minds are meeting together and one investor is willing to throw money at the problem until it is no longer a problem,â Cheerilee chirped, grating on Buckyâs troubled morning nerves.

âœI suppose I can teach a few minor cantrips and mostly just stick to basic magical theory, which is all lecture and no spellcraft,â Bucky said, thinking his thoughts out loud. âœI take it Mister Rich is that investor?â

Cheerilee nodded, bouncing in place, looking very pleased with herself.

âœMiss Cheerilee, I donât mean to be rude or anything, but there are things to do this morning, especially if I am going to send Dinky off to school,â Derpy said, her voice wavering with unbridled happiness and an odd heavy breathing.

The smell of perfume was almost cloying in the air.

âœI understand, and I must also prepare for the day,â replied Cheerilee, turning to leave, her smile broad and bright.

Derpy, unable to contain herself any longer, pulled Bucky in and slammed the door.

A second later, Bucky found himself thrown to the floor and pinned by the much stronger pegasus. âœYou keep looking after my foal,â she said breathlessly, planting a wet smooch on his lips. âœYou just keep doing all of the right things,â she murmured, now kissing him with more traditional pegasi violence, forcing his lips open and invading with her tongue, the tip of it briefly flicking over the roof of his mouth.

Bucky squirmed, his own breath completely stolen away, and he found he was quite powerless to resist the pegasusâ affections. His head slammed painfully into the floor as she pressed her advantage for another kiss, her forelegs wrapped painfully tight around his body, pinning his own forelegs to his sides, the joints crackling and popping.

For a brief moment, Bucky wondered if he could physically survive the overly affectionate pegasus, as his head was being ground into the floor as she kissed him, her powerful suction actually forcing his tongue from his own mouth, and he had no idea what was going on in the complicated oral interactions taking place.

But he liked it.

After several minutes of abusing the poor defenseless unicorn, Derpy rose to her hooves, wobbling unsteadily, her wings half flared, and she staggered off towards the stairs. âœWhew!â she shouted, fanning herself with a somewhat stiffened wing. âœI am going to go tell Dinky the good news,â she said, now going up the stairs.

Battered Bucky continued to lay on the floor, his barrel heaving, fearing for his life. He didnât speak pegasus, but it wasnât hard to figure out the meaning of what Derpy was communicating.

A terrifying thought occurred to Bucky. There was two of them. Both of them a great deal stronger than he was. He sniffed, sniffed again, and then noticed that Derpyâs perfume had been left behind all over his pelt. His lips felt waxy and oily, and his tongue felt numb and peculiar.

âœOw,â Bucky groaned, trying to get up on his hooves, his whole body aching. âœOh bother,â he hissed, his shoulder popping painfully as he placed weight on his front leg.

He needed a shower. He peered at the stairs, knowing that he was welcomed to shower here if he needed one. He took a deep shuddering breath, feeling more than a little aroused, and silently made note to continue to look after Derpy and Berryâs foals. He took a few cautious steps towards the stairs, his mind flashing memories of the torrid tongue probing kiss.

The shower was hot and soothed his battered body. Bucky stood under the shower head, his eyes closed, his mind wandering. He didnât mind following Dinky to school. Bucky took a deep breath and inhaled the steam. The shower was in the second bathroom upstairs, the other had a tub.

Buckyâs shower was suddenly interrupted by a plum coloured mare shoving her way into the now crowded shower stall, pressing up against him, smiling broadly.

âœHi Bucky, howdja sleep?â Berry asked.

âœBerry!â Bucky shouted.

âœNot so loud,â Berry said, leaning up against him and rubbing, causing suds to lather from Buckyâs soapy hide.

âœPrivacy?â Bucky asked.

âœOh come on, we donât wear any clothes, not like minotaurs do. How is this any different than standing outside together in a rainstorm?â Berry replied with her own question.

âœI uh, well, this is awkward, and uhââ he trailed off, his voice dying.

âœI needed a quick shower, I woke up feeling a littleâ sticky thinking about you tickling me last night, and wondering what other things you might be able to do with your magic,â Berry confessed, causing Bucky to stammer and splutter as he stood beside her under the shower head. âœAnd then Derpy told me about Cheerileeâs visit and how sweet you were,â Berry continued. âœAnd you really need to relax Bucky. This isnât that awkward, but I could make it awkward if you would like,â Berry offered.

âœMore awkward?â Bucky replied in a terrified voice.

âœWell, there would be a lot more room in here if we were stacked atop one another,â Berry explained, yawning.

âœNo no no,â Bucky said, trying to get away and finding no room. Berry was blocking the exit. Bucky considered a quick wink, teleporting would fix this problem,

âœBucky, look, I know youâve never been with a mare before. So stop worrying so much. Just allow these little interactions to happen. Derpy and I arenât going to molest you too much, but we are going to batter down your defenses slowly until you trust us. And then we are going to molest you. A lot,â Berry said, having turned around awkwardly and was now rubbing her other side up against Bucky to get it soapy.

Bucky froze. Any magic he was about to summon was now completely gone.

Berry nuzzled his neck gently, her body wet and warm against his. âœIt breaks my heart that youâve been so neglected,â she said, all traces of her teasing tones gone. âœYou shy away from contact, you flinch when touched, you cringe sometimes when you see other ponies touching, and you live under constant fear of embarrassment. Even if it isnât intimate sexy type contact, just simple pony on pony contact, you hold back. It hurts me to watch it. Herd interactions require regular contact. We were never meant to be individuals dear Bucky. We are a social animal.â

Bucky swallowed, gritted his teeth, and lifted the bottle of liquid soap slowly with his magic, straining to perform the simple act of levitation. He tilted the bottle over Berryâs back, squeezed, and then cringed painfully as the bottle made a terrible flatulent sound that echoed in the shower stall as it was squeezed.

âœOoh thatâs cold!â Berry gasped, arching her back and prancing in place, her hooves clattering on the tile. âœCold cold cold! Cold soap!â

âœI donât always know how to act around other ponies,â Bucky confessed, using his magic to lift up a scrub brush. He went to work scrubbing, almost feeling as though he was going to throw up at any moment.

âœRough being a type three, I guess,â Berry said.

âœThatâs part of it. Magic is so strongly tied to emotion,â Bucky admitted.

âœSo I guess it is easier to deal with objects that have no emotions, like telescopes and books,â Berry answered.

âœYeah,â Bucky said, still scrubbing.

âœSpeaking as a numbskull to a snob, you have to know something important. I am stubborn, and you canât out stubborn an earth pony. I am going to make you feel emotion even if it kills us both. I am going to wear you down, batter down your defenses, and I will get to know you, the you deep down inside, the one you keep hidden away, safe and secure in your little mental fortress,â Berry turned to look at Bucky as she spoke, her eyes wide, her mane wet and clinging to her shapely neck. âœI will drag you back into the herd kicking and screaming if I have to, and I have help. I understand the need for caution, I understand that you must remain ever vigilant to hold back what could harm us all, but you donât have to do it alone. It isnât fair to you.â

Bucky nodded, now moving invisible forces to scrub Berryâs neck. She raised her neck, tilting her head, her eyes wide with pleasure as something she could not see washed her mane.

âœOh that has to be the best feeling ever,â she gasped, her eyes now closing. âœChannel your magic doing this all day, Iâll sacrifice myself for the greater good,â Berry offered.

Bucky laughed, a nervous laugh.

His laughter was cut short by another pair of lips pressing into his own, the hot water running rivulets around two mouths pressed together. Berry nibbled on his lip, biting down and pulling away his lower lip away from his teeth, stretching it out before letting it go, opening her eyes and looking into his as she did so.

âœSee, just a friendly shower, nothing to worry about,â she said in reassuring tones.

âœSo, uh, after I went to bed on the couch last night, did uh, you and Derpy, well, you know, get to know one another?â Bucky asked.

âœNo, well, there was a little kissing, and maybe bit a more spooning than usual, but she and I agreed that nopony is doing anything to anypony until we are all in a place we can take that first big step in our relationship together. Just come to us when you are ready Bucky. It really is that simple,â Berry said, punctuating her words with a gentle peck on the cheek.

Both of them stood, allowing the water to rinse soap from their coats. Berry resumed her teasing mood, picking up the shower brush in hoof and giving more delicate parts of her anatomy a good scrubbing.

âœI suppose it would be too much to ask for you to scrub these hard to reach places,â she said, sticking her tongue out.

Chapter 23

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The road out of town was long and dusty. Little puffs of dust rose up off the earth as Berry Punch walked out towards the ancestral farmhouse. The farmhouse was run down, dilapidated, and in desperate need of attention. There was a vineyard that had overgrown a long, long time ago, a now wild strawberry patch, and various berry thickets, both raspberry and blackberry.

There was also the old distillery, a massive brick structure that was in dire need of repair. The brick walls were still as sturdy as ever, but the windows were gone and the roof had long since crumbled.

As she walked, she thought of dinner the night before, laying in bed with her friend long into the night, spooning and discussing the future, and the rather steamy shower she had shared with Bucky.

The memory of the shower made her breath quicken.

Dinner had been an event. Bucky was a slow and careful eater, well mannered, even by unicorn standards. He stopped to wipe his mouth after almost every bite, dirty or not, ate tiny bites with silverware, and never spoke with his mouth full.

Eating dinner at a table with Derpy and family had nearly destroyed him. It had not been anything like the birthday party, where they had eaten a few sandwiches, cake, and icecream in a very casual setting.

Sparkler, true to form, had displayed her best table manners, being in a public space, and Bucky had nearly expired from mortification. Sparklerâs roaring belch had managed to rouse the chef from the kitchen, who had come out to personally thank her for her compliments. The chef was, of course, a pegasus, which had caused Bucky some alarm. Bucky had been expecting a unicorn for some odd reason.

Derpy and family were boisterous eaters, there was great deal of slurping, chop licking, mutual face licking to clean each otherâs faces, and poor Bucky was at a total loss to understand just what was going on.

Ahead, the farmhouse began to rise up into view.

Bucky had dealt well enough with the heat from the spicy food, but began to become quite distressed when his nose had begun to dribble near the end of the meal. He had hidden himself behind his napkin, carefully wiping his nose.

Dinky had innocently asked if magic could be used to pull boogers out of her booger bunker, which made Sparkler nearly choke on her food with laughter. Bucky had been completely unable to reply, merely displaying the proper technique with a napkin.

Berry Punch giggled to herself when she thought about her wandering hooves and Buckyâs clever response. She took a secret satisfaction in knowing that Bucky could be provoked into response, that the repressed and stuffy unicorn still had an impressive mischievous streak.

There was a warm and somewhat damp feminine physiological response when thinking about the mischievous streak and the air took on a smell that Bucky would easily confuse for perfume, had he been here to smell the now heavily scented air.

The only sounds were a heaving contented sigh and hoofbeats tapping upon the dirt road. Berry walked in silence, her tail waving from side to side, moving air over her overly warm and somewhat damp nethers, cooling off her body as she walked, fanning what one very confused unicorn would mistake for perfume.

Berry Punch stood at the entrance to the homestead, looking at the old farmhouse, and then her gaze fell upon the massive brick distillery. She stared at it for several minutes, blinking as she did so, taking note of the size and solidity of the structure. She had moved everything into Ponyville, getting thoroughly modern equipment and a matching workspace. But this structure, this structure was still useful, and Berry had the most wonderful idea.

This would be an ideal space for Dinky and other foals to learn magic.

The mailbag was especially heavy today, full of mail and several smaller packages. The larger packages required a different delivery service. With every flap of her wings, with every tug of the strap, Derpy quietly reminded herself of why she did what she did. Her foals. She had taken this job, and many other odd jobs when the situation presented itself, all in an attempt to keep her family together, fed, and happy. And no effort was too great. Family was the only thing that mattered. The flock helped, offering assistance, food, even bits sometimes, but Derpy was fiercely proud and resisted help. She had made her way on her own for the most part. All that mattered was Dinky and Sparkerâs happiness, and she placed her own needs second.

And Dinky in particular certainly seemed happy with Bucky.

There was a hot warm flash in Derpyâs navel, the warmth spreading and blossoming through her hips as she flew. The day seemed entirely too warm suddenly, and the air became perfumed.

Sparkler was also quite taken with Bucky, and had given her approval. Not that Derpy needed Sparklerâs approval, but it was nice. Sparkler and Bucky were total opposites as far as unicorns go, and Derpy had witnessed that during last nightâs dinner.

Dinner had been a bit confusing for the grey mailmare. Her children had been on their best manners, and, well, Derpy couldnât understand Buckyâs manners. By pegasus standards, Buckyâs manners were appalling. Not once did he stop to help lick her face clean. She had been a little tearful about it later to Berry, when they were both lying in the bed, and Berry had consoled her, reminding her that Bucky simply did not know any better. Unicorns had magic and napkins, and no longer needed a friendly helpful lick to keep their muzzles immaculately clean. Unicorns and their magic removed a lot of the social interactions that kept a herd together, the common societal bonds of equine interaction.

Derpy steeled her resolve to teach Bucky better table manners. His were downright embarrassing and shameful, and had left behind some hurt feelings. Berry was right of course, it wasnât Buckyâs fault, but it was never too late to learn better manners. A few meals at home perhaps, with Bucky firmly planted between her and Sparkler, and maybe a few quick swats to straighten him out should set everything straight.

Derpy had a very real fear that Dinky would pick up on Buckyâs manners, and that caused no end of stress and worry. This was a situation that needed correcting and soon, before it became a problem. Derpy did not want Dinkyâs connections to the flock severed. Dinky was already ground bound, and that was trying enough. Bad manners would have Dinky shunned.

The mailmare had worked herself into a frightful state of worry as she traveled up the lane, gently placing mail into boxes, and occasionally leaving small packages on porches, stoops, and stairs.

The grey mare had strong feeling of affection for the now tutor of her foal, but he was going to be a work in progress for a very long time.

The classroom was filled with constant whispering and giggling, causing Cheerilee to turn around constantly and give a reproachful glare. Bucky sat in the corner, sitting in a chair, reading a book, occasionally looking up to watch Dinky.

And Dinky was miserable.

The class would not stop talking about what had happened, teasing about the situation with Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon to no end, and celebrating what Dinky had done. It was causing Dinky no end of emotional distress. Dinky had held it in though, even though she was on the verge of tears, and had been for almost an hour.

âœI heard that Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon are still lumpier than my motherâs oatmeal,â a young earth pony colt whispered to a young pegasus filly.

Dinky felt something boil up inside of her, and finally, the tears begin to spill. âœSTOP IT!â Dinky shrieked. âœSTOP MAKING FUN OF THEM! ITâS WRONG! JUST LIKE MAKING FUN OF MY MOMMY IS WRONG! STOP STOP STOP!â Dinky cried, sparks now spurting from her horn alarmingly.

Bucky looked up with some concern. âœCome here Dinky,â Bucky beckoned, his tone commanding but gentle.

Dinky fled crying from her seat and ran to Bucky, leaping up into his forelegs and hugging him around his neck. He squeezed her back, trying to soothe her, the worrying sparks increasing in size and intensity.

Cheerilee looked very concerned. âœClass, I want this talk to stop. Everypony can stay after school and think about Dinkyâs example, feeling compassion for those who have wronged you,â Cheerilee said, her eyes narrowed with discontent.

âœI wanna go!â Dinky wailed, her voice a high pitched screech.

âœAlright Dinks, weâll be going, just try to calm down. You must calm down,â Bucky said, still hugging the little foal and stroking her back.

âœIâm coming too!â cried PiÃa, looking at her classmates on either side of her. âœYouâre both mean. Shame on you!â

âœCan PiÃa be excused with us Miss Cheerilee?â Bucky asked. âœI think PiÃa will help Dinky calm down once we are out of here,â he added.

Cheerilee nodded, saying nothing. She continued to glare at her class.

Bucky gently set Dinky down, still sobbing, patting her one last time, and then began to herd the two small foals out the door, whispering soothing words to Dinky the whole time, his head low, his mouth inches from Dinkyâs ear.

âœAll of you should be ashamed,â Cheerilee said. âœYou put her through this after she had endured such a traumatic event.â

Dinky dragged her hooves as she walked, leaning on PiÃa for comfort, tears flooding down her cheeks as she exited the door.

Bucky turned and gave one final icy glare to the classroom, raising his eyebrow and pointing his ears forward. Many foals flinched, and Cheerilee took note of the withering gaze and the devastating effect it had upon the foals.

She saw a pony who had all the makings of being a fine teacher.

âœDinky Doo Hooves, are you going to be alright?â Bucky asked, as they walked down the road together, not really knowing where they were going, just walking.

The foal did not respond, still walking with her face buried in PiÃaâs shoulder.

âœDinky Doofus, please say somethingââ PiÃa begged.

Dinky stopped suddenly, pulling her face away and lifting her head. âœI want to go see them,â she sniffed, her barrel still hitching.

âœOh no, thatâs a bad idea,â Bucky said, his eyes going wide with concern.

âœI need to see them, I need to say I am sorry,â Dinky said. âœIf I donât, Iâm gonna burst and make a mess.â

âœThis is a bad idea Dinks,â Bucky said, shaking his head.

âœIâll be good. Iâll behave. But I need to make this right,â Dinky begged.

Bucky rubbed his face with a fetlock and puffed out his cheeks, taking a deep breath. He muttered quietly to himself. This was a terrible idea.

âœIt is better if I do this with you, if you donât take me, Iâll ask mommy, and I know sheâll take me,â Dinky said.

Bucky groaned. He stood there, his mind coming up with all kinds of nightmarish scenarios, including a hospital full of bees. This was terrible idea, and he was a terrible pony for even considering it.

âœPlease?â PiÃa begged, speaking up in support of Dinky.

âœAlright. One very short visit. But if I say we need to leave, we leave. No arguing. My word is final,â Bucky explained, his worry and his panic increasing even as he spoke. Even though he felt this was a terrible idea, he felt a fierce sense of pride knowing Dinky. Derpy had raised a good foal.

Dinky said nothing in reply, but merely sniffled. PiÃa threw a leg over Dinkyâs withers and hugged. The two were clearly as close as sisters.

Bucky took off at a trot, the foals moving quickly to keep up.

âœThe hospital is back that way!â PiÃa cried.

âœBut the flower stands are over this way,â Bucky argued good naturedly.

âœOoh, you're so sweet,â PiÃa said, âœthis is why my sister keeps talking about you.â

Bucky felt a hot blush sear his cheeks at the foalâs words. âœWeâll grab a bite to eat, get some flowers, and then we will stop in and see Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon if we are allowed to visit them,â Bucky explained.

Chapter 24

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âœTo be honest, you are the last ponies I expected to see here,â said Filthy Rich, his eyes bleary and bloodshot. Filthy Rich looked like he had aged several years in the span of a few days, his lips were cracked and dry, and there were crusts in the corners of his eyes.

âœDinky wanted to make things right, I thought this was a bad idea,â Bucky said, looking down at Dinky, his face concerned, and then he brought his gaze back up to Filthy Rich, who now looked old. âœSilver Spoon is apparently not taking visitors,â Bucky added.

âœTo be perfectly honest, nopony has been by to visit other than Cheerilee. Not one of Diamond Tiaraâs classmates have been by to see her or comfort her. Silver Spoonâs parents stopped by to see me earlier today. Theyâre moving. Tea Spoon said, well, never mind what she said, what she said was wrong, I will not repeat her horrid words. But they are all moving as soon as Silver Spoon gets better,â Filthy Rich explained.

Dinky quietly began to sniffle, wrapping one foreleg around Buckyâs own foreleg, rubbing her face just below his knee. PiÃa, good little PiÃa, the earth pony that carried Dinkyâs burdens, pressed her muzzle into Dinkyâs neck, just behind Dinkyâs ear and gave a gentle snort of affection.

âœDoes Dinky have your permission to visit Mister Rich?â Bucky asked, his voice low and soft, and very very full of worry.

âœI want things to get better,â Filthy Rich said, looking down at Dinky. âœDinky, I said terrible things about youâ I-I was wrong. You are a very good pony and you are very brave to come here,â he said, his eyes going misty, the crusts in the corners softening from moisture.

âœDonât cry Mister Rich, I canât look when adults cry,â begged Dinky, looking upward once and then hiding her face again. With a gasp, Dinky pulled away from Bucky and PiÃa and went to Filthy Rich, throwing her forelegs around one of his forelegs and hugging tightly. âœYou need a hug,â she sobbed.

Filthy Rich froze.

He did not move, could not move, his face frozen in shock, his body as still as a statue.

Bucky felt incredibly awkward, but he also felt a fierce pride for a foal not his own. He made a mental note to pull Dinky aside privately and praise her, letting her know that she was a good foal and that she had her head screwed on right.

Filthy Rich seemed to thaw a bit, lifting up one foreleg not being hugged to gently rub Dinky on her side, his eyes rapidly flooding. âœI donât know how Diamond Tiara will feel about you being here, ✠Filthy Rich said. âœCome on, her room is down the hall.â

Filthy Rich was forced to walk with Dinky clinging to his leg, which he didnât seem to mind. Bucky sensed the confusion coming from the earth pony, Diamond Tiara probably wasnât very affectionate he guessed.

âœIâm sad and I donât know what to do,â PiÃa said, looking up at Bucky, who looked back down at her. âœEverything is confusing. I really wanted to hate Diamond Tiara. Nothing makes sense,â the foal sniffled, lisping slightly from the nervousness that was making her lips quiver.

Bucky quietly resolved to spend more time with PiÃa, helping shape her moral compass, sensing a noble spirit. He said nothing, instead, he lowered his head and nuzzled her, causing himself a strange sensation as he did so. It was not the first time he had done this, but something about this particular time was different. Something felt different.

Filthy Rich carefully pushed open the door. âœDiamond Tiara, you have visitors,â he said, stepping through the doorway, pulling Dinky along.

Bucky saw for the first time up close the extent of the damage. He could not recognise the foal in the bed. Her eyes were barely able to open, her face was lumpy and deformed. Her mouth could not close due to the swelling and deformation of her lips. Her ears looked like potatoes because they were so swollen.

And then, she began to squeal with alarm when she saw Dinky.

âœDiamond Tiara, calm down, it is okay, she came here to apologise, to talk to you,â Filthy Rich said in a calming voice.

Diamond Tiara continued to squeal in panic, causing a nurse to come over and check on them all. The nurse stood watching, waiting, assessing the situation. She finally gave a nod, and then walked away, Diamond Tiara still squealing in panic.

Dinky slowly pulled away from Filthy Rich, approaching the bedside, Diamond Tiara falling silent, her barrel heaving with fear, the blanket covering her rising and falling rapidly.

Dinky stood, tears streaming, splashing on the floor in large flooding drops, looking pitiful in ways that only foals can look pitiful.

Bucky gently lifted the pink and yellow carnations out of his saddle bag and moved them to a vase sitting on the window sill. It remained empty. Nopony had brought flowers. Diamond Tiaraâs eyes momentarily left Dinky and watched the flowers as they floated past. Bucky then filled the vase with water from a pitcher left sitting on the counter, carefully moving the flowers aside as he poured in the water.

âœIâm so sorry,â Dinky said, her voice cracking with emotion, the last word coming out in a squeaky squeal.

The room remained silent, nopony spoke, nopony moved. Diamond Tiara lay silent.

The resiliency of herds and foals are funny things. Both can take a lot of injury and then recover, given the right circumstances. Diamond Tiara had recently had plenty of time to think about life, not having anything else to do, and she had noticed that nopony had come to see her other than Cheerilee, and she had not expected Cheerilee to come and comfort her. And she certainly hadnât expected Dinky and PiÃa to arrive.

She lay there, still, quiet, even now trying to figure out why Dinky and PiÃa had come, feeling a peculiar sensation amidst all of her pain in her body.

She did not understand that these were ponies that cared about her well-being, that these were herd mates that were concerned about her and were desperately trying to reestablish a broken connection. She could not comprehend any of these things, her mind lacked the knowledge of what was taking place.

All she felt was a profound sense of relief that somepony cared enough about her to stop and offer comfort. Something inside broke, a perilously fragile barrier that could no longer hold. She began to sob, making great sucking snorting sounds through badly swollen nostrils that allowed her little air.

Dinky moved slowly to the bed, PiÃa now right behind her, both of them also crying, leaving a trail of droplets behind them as they moved together, until Dinky reached the bedside of Diamond Tiara. Dinky Doo carefully stood up on her hindhooves, balancing on the bed, and rested her forelegs on the bed for support. Knowing that Diamond Tiara was far too tender to touch, she shyly extended one hoof outwards towards Diamond Tiara, who turned away from her and buried her face into the pillow, still bawling. The hoof remained extended but moved no further.

Bucky felt himself growing a bit teary eyed, and wished Derpy and Berry were here to see this. The pegasus would be proud, and so would Berry.

Filthy Rich could no longer bear to watch and fled the room, making terrible whimpering sounds as he did so, Bucky watched him leave, wondering if it was grief or trust that moved him from his fillyâs bedside.

Bucky hoped it was trust.

Two foals now stood at Diamond Tiaraâs bedside, PiÃa Colada following Dinky Dooâs example, rising up and standing, allowing Dinky to lean on her slightly.

With agonising slowness, Diamond Tiara raised her hoof, the only thing not covered in stings, and extended it towards Dinky, never lifting her face from her pillow, still hiding, still sobbing, her hitching body making the entire bed shake.

Dinky moved her hoof, carefully touching the hoof extended to her, and PiÃa followed Dinkyâs example, also gently touching the extended hoof, taking part in a moment that was clearly creating some kind of bond.

Bucky patiently waited, not daring to say anything, giving the foals the time they needed for this situation to correct itself and the forming bond to establish itself.

The herd had its own way of making repairs. It was a powerful force of nature that always managed to reassert itself in some way. Even now, it worked to fix the broken bonds between the foals, it worked to fix the broken bonds that Bucky had, it was a relentless force that allowed equines to become one of the dominant life forms on a planet also inhabited by dragons. It guided family structures that created foals fit for survival, pushing the equine race ever forward.

Bucky watched the act of forgiveness he was witnessing, thankful to be witnessing it.

Forgiveness was a powerful act, and it made Bucky think about his parents.

Berry Punch had returned to Ponyville, leaving a perfumed wake behind her, her head high, her mane streaming out behind her, her tail billowing in the breeze as she cantered forward. She had had the most wonderful idea and she felt like a million bits. She turned an eye skyward, looking for a grey mare, wanting to tell somepony about her brilliant idea.

Not only was she going to fix up the farmhouse, she was going to see if she could get help fixing up the old distillery and turn it into a school. Sure, it was a mess now, but it could be fixed. And, if things continued to go well, a certain pair of special someponies could potentially live in the house, one could maybe teach a bit of magic, and help Berry brew her lovely elixirs of happiness, and life would be perfect. Derpy could quit her job as a mailmare, and chase her own destiny, bubble baths. Preferably bubble baths with two other ponies as often as the situation allowed. Berry had carefully ventured into the old farmhouse, nearly falling through the floor in one spot, cursing in a crazy language no foal should hear. The tub was still in remarkably good condition, it needed a scrubbing more than anything, and it was large enough to fit four ponies. The wood burning water heater in the bathroom probably needed to be replaced with something a bit more modern.

Berry was quite shocked to see Thunderlane suddenly landing before her, his face stern. âœBerry Punch, Bucky has taken Dinky Doo and PiÃa Colada to the hospital,â he said.

Berry did not give Thunderlane time to explain anything else in further detail as she took off at a full gallop for the hospital. Thunderlane spread his wings, taking off after her, hoping to find his flockmate Derpy Doo Hooves along the way. Flitter and Cloudchaser fell into formation with him, one on each wing. Berry was fast for an earth pony, athletic and in near perfect physical condition from all the wagon pulling she did. He flew, chasing after Berry Punch.

Berry raced onwards, her heart in her throat, terror welling up inside her.

A lone unicorn stood vigil in the doorway, solemnly standing watch over three foals, witnessing a new bond being formed, a bond formed in mutual grief and sorrow, forged through the understanding of pain, and the desire to no longer be alone.

Behind him, he heard a clatter of many hooves striking tile, but doing so quietly, or at least trying to do so.

He turned, seeing a sizable herd of his fellow equines approaching. Filthy Rich led the way, still looking profoundly sad, Thunderlane walking at his side looking serious and stern. Behind them, four mares walked. Derpy and Berry Punch, and two pegasus mares that Bucky did not know, but knew that he was about to meet. Derpy and Berry Punch both broke away from the group and hurried forward. Derpy still had her mailbag.

They joined Bucky, one standing on each side, still silent, looking through the door, their breathing heavy. Bucky looked at each of them, nodding slightly as he did so, and then turned his attention back to the foals. He heard faint sobbing coming from each side of him, and then two muzzles pressed into his neck, one on each side, he could feel two wet faces pressing against his pelt.

Behind him, he heard a voice.

âœThunderlane, youâre a chowderhead for telling her that her foal was taken to the hospital, you never tell a mother something like that, not in that context you big dummy.â

Chapter 25

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To my friend, Celestia,

Today, I witnessed a powerful act of forgiveness and it has left me humbled. I am still in awe of what I have witnessed, I will try to write more about it later when I get the chance. Against my own better judgment, I took Dinky Doo to the hospital to visit Diamond Tiara. I worried a great deal over what might happen, I never expected the outcome I witnessed.

I am humbled by my student.

Dinky and PiÃa both forgave Diamond Tiara, and then spent some time comforting her. When we left the hospital today, Dinky and PiÃa both promised to return and visit. I think I witnessed the first moments of a new friendship.

I am more than willing to pay for the slide, Miss Cheerilee told me about the salary deduction, I suppose I should be responsible. I am willing to teach a little magic to Dinkyâs fellow students, but not inside of the schoolhouse, for reasons I am sure you know.

I wish I could write more, but I am jotting this down as I am walking with Berry to her brewery. This afternoon, I am going to help her brew beer and get to know her better. Dinky is coming with us, I think I might have a chance to give Dinky a practical lesson about the use of magic in day to day tasks.

Berry wants to talk to you about opening a magic school in Ponyville, you should listen to her. Oh look, a mailbox!

Your friend, Buckminster.

The brewery smelled fantastic. After the emotional events at the hospital, it was good to have a release. Derpy sat with the two foals as Berry showed Bucky what to do with everything on a large scale.

Ahead of them lay alchemy; barley, malt, water, yeast, and hops. A little molasses, some honey, and a few other extracts also lay ready. Bucky tensed, feeling excited, feeling an odd tingle in his backside where his cutie marks were.

âœOkay, the water is hot, those ingredients on the table in the burlap bags all need to go into the mash tun, a little at a time, while the mash tun is stirred ever so often, it is a slow careful process that takes a lot of work!â Berry shouted over the roar of the flames heating the water tank.

The mash tun was enormous. The size of a small swimming pool. A flight of stairs stood beside it. Berry stood at the table, and began to pull a bag upon her back, struggling to pull the corner edge of the bag with her teeth. The bag weighed forty pounds, and there were many bags.

Bucky laughed, Berry was doing this the hard way.

Grinning a manic grin, Bucky extended his will, pulling the bag free from Berry, who looked quite surprised. He lifted the other bags on the table, hoisting all of them effortlessly, he also began to power the large wooden paddle that stirred the grains and ingredients going into the mash tun. With a toss of his head, he threw open the spigot, sending boiling water into the mash tun.

Berry began to head for the stairs, she had one hoof placed on the bottom stair when Bucky lifted her as well, sending her flying through the air, giving her an airborne view so she could supervise.

âœBucky! I am an earth pony! Put me down this instant, my hooves belong on the gro-oh oh OH NO NO NO HAHAHAHAH! STOP TICKLING ME YOU HORSESHOE HEAD!â Berry cried as she whirled through the air with everything else, held aloft in swirling vortex.

PiÃa Colada clapped her hooves as she watched her sister flying through the room, Berry guffawing riotously. Dinky sat in awe, understanding that she could probably do this someday. Derpy sat back and enjoyed the show. Berry had it coming. She was a tickle tease.

Bucky also began to rise as gravityâs hold upon the room relaxed just a little, he hovered, now focused in the center of everything, in the calm of the swirling magic storm, ripping open the bags and floating each grain individually, making them dance and form shapes, each grain flowing through the air like liquid.

âœWe need to create the cereal mash!â Berry cried, still giggling, rubbing her forehooves over her body, trying to be rid of the invisible forces tickling her as she flew. Invisible feathers were creeping up her inner thighs, working into very intimate places. Bucky was so going to pay for this later. Even worse, the invisible feathers stopped at a certain point, leaving Berry horribly frustrated and teased. She resolved to have a word with Derpy about revenge as a team effort.

âœI wanna see!â Dinky cried, moving forward from her mother.

With a careful jerk, Dinky Doo rose up into the air as well, now joining the swirling masses, her eyes wide as her mane and tail streamed out behind her as she soared through the air. âœIâm flying!â she cried.

âœNot me!â PiÃa cried, pressing herself into Derpy. âœNuh-huh!â

The barley began to slowly stream into the mash tun, being stirred, more boiling water being added, everything meeting Berry Punchâs approval as she circled over the steaming vat. âœThis has to soak for about thirty to fifty hours!â she cried as she whirled through the air. Bucky had done in just a few minutes what would have taken her hours to do alone or even with some help from her fellow earth ponies or Derpy. Berry was impressed.

And flustered. All the tickling filled the air with fragrant perfume that blended with the scents of malt barley and burning wood, filling the room with a scent that Bucky found most pleasing.

âœAfter this has cooked, we do the lautering process, and then it goes into the big copper kettle so the wort can boil, we add the molasses, honey, and a few other ingredients, secret stuff,â Berry said as she flew around the room, watching everything slowly go into the mash tun and become blended with near perfection. âœAnd hops!â she added, breathless, and feeling like she needed to pee.

âœNo more!â she begged. âœI need to go to the little fillyâs room!â

Bucky gently set her down with a final tickle just above her dock, which made her hind legs wobble. Berry bleated, making an almost sheep-like noise, and then took off running for the little fillyâs room.

âœThis is neat!â Dinky cried, still floating.

âœAll this work done in minutes,â Derpy said in awe, her eyes wide and her face full of wonder. âœIâve helped Berry do this before, flying bags up to her at the top of the stairs while she pours them in. It is exhausting work.

âœIâve probably burned thousands and thousands of mana-calories doing this, if I donât eat a big meal soonish, Iâm going to have some problems. It takes a lot of food to power a unicorn for even a small amount of time,â Bucky said, looking at Dinky meaningfully as he did so, gently lowering them both to the ground. âœMagic comes at the cost of burning up energy reserves in the body. Higher functioning unicorns, type twos and higher, have to eat a lot of food to keep their magic going, we require a lot of starches, grains, sugars, and carbohydrates to keep functioning. We can out-eat hungry earth ponies and pegasi after an intense bit of spell casting. As we eat food, energies channeled by our horns convert the food in our stomachs into magical energies to replenish our reserves, before our bodies have a chance to digest it into fuel for the body. So after intense spell casting, we have to keep eating and eating, waiting for the feeling of food actually staying in our bellies. Otherwise, we can starve to death even with what seems to be plentiful food. Some unicorns have even taken to eating during intense spell casting, but that can break our concentration. Remember this Dinky, or else you could get very sick. This little display lasting only a few minutes is going to require me to eat for hours.â Bucky explained, saying each word carefully and looking Dinky directly in the eyes. âœDo you understand?â Bucky asked, looking concerned.

âœI think so,â Dinky said, nodding. âœMagic makes the food go away before it gets turned into poop.â

âœYeah,â Bucky replied, grinning sheepishly.

âœOh my,â Derpy said. âœI guess Iâll have to do more grocery shopping, I didnât know anything about this. Explains Sparklerâs appetite. Is this part of the reason you passed out that night?â Derpy asked.

âœIâm sure it contributed,â Bucky replied. âœI went home and devoured most of the contents of my pantry.â

âœIs this why I ate so much popcorn?â Dinky asked, recalling that she ate more popcorn than she had ever done so before.

Bucky nodded, pleased to see Dinky catching on.

âœWeâll then, Iâll fix my famous vegetable stew and dumplings tonight, I can make a few gallons of soup, it is the least I can do,â Berry said, coming through the door and entering the room, her eyes flashing with promised mischief for all the tickling. âœThe dumplings are starchy and there are lots of potatoes,â she mentioned, her eyebrows raising and her mouth forming a wide grin.

âœThat sounds really good,â Bucky said, licking his lips and feeling the first stabs of hunger. He felt a little light headed suddenly, a pleasant rush of warmth flowing through his body and making his horn feel tingly.

âœWell, this explains why unicorns donât rule the world just yet, takes a lot of food to fuel magical efforts. Explains Barley OâBlivionâs ability to win eating and drinking contests,â Berry said, looking thoughtful.

âœBarley OâBlivion?â Derpy asked.

âœMy uncle. Heâs the old fart that used to get Dinky to pull his hoof,â Berry replied.

âœOhâ oh him! The obnoxious old unicorn stinker that always made me bean and barley soup when I was nursing Dinky, he said it was good for my milk,â Derpy said, recalling a pleasant memory. âœHow is he?â Derpy asked.

âœComing to town,â Berry replied, heaving a lusty sigh as she looked at Bucky, her eyes sparkling with attraction. âœHeâs sick of Vanhoover, heâs coming back to Ponyville, says there is not enough Clan Pickled left in Ponyville after the string of tragedies.â She turned her gaze to Derpy, licking her teeth seductively, and gave the grey mare a wink.

âœI wanna see Barley,â PiÃa said. âœI miss him.â

âœSo do I,â Dinky said. âœI barely remember him, but he was funny.â

âœI barely remember him. He looked after you sometimes Dinky, when mommy had to work. Will be nice to see him again I suppose,â Derpy said absentmindedly.

âœDerpy, we might need to discuss living arrangements, I was planning on letting him stay in my place,â Berry said.

âœOf course,â The grey mare replied, looking pleased. âœI want you with me, Iâve tried to get you to move in for a long time.â

âœSo we just walk away and let this boil?â Bucky asked.

âœWeâll, I have to come back ever so often and make sure there is fuel for the fire under the mash tun,â Berry replied. âœIâd like to upgrade to a gas line, but thatâs really expensive.â

âœOnce I get the hang of things, what if we doubled or tripled our output? Could you afford it then?â Bucky asked.

âœMaybe,â Berry said, shrugging. âœI might even be able to afford it now, I just keep expenses down so I can live comfortably and not have to dip into the life insurance money I have in the bank.â

âœI see,â Bucky said, rubbing his chin. âœYou know, the gas line might not be needed, if I could get my hooves on the materials and took some time to study, I might be able to make a sunstone. Iâve never done it before, and they are fiendishly complicated to create, but they generate a lot of heat, and, well, actually, for a vat this size it might take several sunstones to make enough heat to make everything boil. They do have to be recharged in sunlight though.â

âœI have no idea what you are talking about, but I am curious about the idea. Weâll talk about it later. Letâs go home and get to fixing food,â Berry suggested.

Berry put Bucky to work again, chopping vegetables for stew while she went to work making dough for dumplings. Bucky could have just as easily done both, but Berry insisted on making the dough herself, claiming it was therapeutic. Dinky sat alone with a small knife and a carrot, trying to make slices while Bucky gently offered words of encouragement.

PiÃa, content to watch everything, sat at the kitchen table sipping juice from a small glass through a straw, doing what PiÃa was exceptionally good at, looking adorable and trying to stay out of the way.

Derpy had sprawled on the couch in the living room, her body aching from her deliveries. She stretched out one wing, and then the other, slowly flexing them and rotating them in their sockets, groaning as she did so. She was starting to get carriersâ wing in both sockets, from carrying heavy loads in her bag that always pulled on one side of her body or another, causing one wing to work harder than the other to compensate. She switched sides regularly, which seemed to have caused the problem to spread to both joints equally. She needed time in a tub to soak and relieve the swelling. She watched Bucky sitting at the kitchen table with the two foals, peering through the kitchen doorway, feeling a heightened sense of arousal as she observed him interacting with Dinky and PiÃa.

Biology worked overtime to reward her for finding a potential mate.

On the stove, a massive stockpot stood ready, vegetable bouillon cubes tossed into the water, the veggies and the potatoes would all be seared and sauteed lightly in big cast iron skillet (this step would have to be repeated a few times for gallons of soup) and then deposited into the stockpot. Then, when the time was right, the dough would be rolled out like a long snake and then sections of it would be cut off and tossed into the pot and allowed to cook until fluffy.

Bucky, seeing Derpy trying to stretch out and get comfortable on the couch, gently reached out and began kneading her flesh around and along her wings invisibly, which was a terrible, horrible, no good, awful mistake.

The grey mare made orgasmic moans that filled the house with sound and fury.

The two foals froze, eyes wide, mouths open, not sure what to say or do. Berry stood frozen by the stove, looking awfully aroused. Bucky sat in his chair, not sure what he had just done wrong exactly. He knew very little about pegasus anatomy and had merely tried to be helpful. Instead, he had caused the grey pegasus mareâs eyes to roll back into her head and her ears to droop, completely limp, as she squirmed on the couch with her orange tongue hanging out, panting and moaning, her back arched, her backside raised up into the air invitingly, trying to get the maximum effect from the invisible forces at work on her wing joints and her wings.

âœOh-ooh- oooohâ OOH!â the mare on the couch began, punctuating her pleading cries with loud snorts and whickers.

Berryâs jaw dropped open, not believing what she was hearing.

Buckyâs magic died completely, the knife he was chopping with clattering to the table.

âœOH IT STOPPED! WHY?â Derpy demanded, still squirming, one hind leg twitching, her eyes rolling around in her head crazily. She blinked a few times, and then began to look around sheepishly, seeing the two stunned foals through the kitchen door and one very embarrassed looking Bucky. âœMommy was getting the nicest back rub,â Derpy explained in a shuddering voice, completely unable to meet the gaze of the two foals who stared at her.

âœI think Derpy was having a snoregasm or something like that,â PiÃa said in a hushed and very embarrassed whisper. âœIâve heard my sister Berry talking with Derpy about how she wants to see Buckyâs face when he has one,â she added. âœIt isnât easy being Berryâs little sister.â

Berry facehoofed, and then fled from the kitchen, running out the door giggling fiendishly, trailing flour behind her as she ran.

Repression is the better part of valour Bucky thought to himself as he heard Berryâs hooves on the stairs, the mare laughing insanely as soon as she cleared the kitchen door. She was heading upstairs for whatever reason. He calmed his emotions, took a deep breath, smiled gamely at the two foals, and then resumed chopping the vegetables.

âœYou did something to mommy,â Dinky accused. âœMade her snoregasm.â

The knife clattered to the table once again, and Bucky took a deep breath, saying absolutely nothing. The corners of his mouth twitched slightly.

âœThat was awkward,â PiÃa said, unable to look at Bucky any longer, her eyes staring down at her juice glass. Dinky nodded, her cheeks pink.

âœI am not mad or anything,â Derpy said, âœWell, actually I am mad to be honest,â she quipped. âœIt stopped.â

Bucky snerked loudly, making a nasal grunt through his muzzle. Note to self, do detailed study of pegasus wing anatomy before attempting to be friendly.

Berryâs fit of laughter could be heard upstairs and there was thumping on the floor.

âœYou shouldnât be all âbarrassed about making mommy feel good, sheâs a good mommy, and she needs to feel good sometimes,â Dinky said slowly, her voice raspy and halting, trying her very best to be grown up about what had just taken place. Her cheeks blazed crimson after she spoke, and her ears folded down against her skull.

âœMommy needs a cold shower,â Derpy said, rising up off the couch, her legs unsteady. âœWhew!â she gasped, staggering around the living room.

And it was during this moment that Sparkler walked through the front door with Rising Star, seeing her mother in an obvious state of arousal, feeling embarrassed, and then shrieking loudly as she looked at her coltfriend standing beside her, noticing that he had noticed.

âœMommy had a snoregasm,â Dinky said helpfully, hearing her sister in the living room. âœBucky used magic on her wings.â

Derpy fled up the stairs, her wings rather stiff and unmoving, muttering wordlessly and giggling uncontrollably, leaving poor Sparkler to expire from embarrassment.

âœWhy does everything have to be so weird!â Sparkler screamed, stomping her hoof and snorting loudly.

âœShould I come back at another time?â Rising Star said sheepishly. âœI think I should come back at another time,â he repeated nervously.

âœI have no idea what I just walked in on,â Sparkler said, suffering every teenaged fillyâs nightmare. âœAnd you, you are not going anywhere, you want me, you get my family as well. All of us. Even my crazy mother running around with a half-stiffy wingboner,â she said to Rising Star, who said nothing in reply.

Rising Star thoughtfully shut the front door.

Bucky made another loud snerking sound, nearly choking, now thumping his own barrel with a forehoof trying to gain control over himself.

âœDinky, you ever get the feeling that you and I are going to need therapy?â PiÃa asked.

Dinky said nothing in reply, but nodded vigorously.

âœSee what cooties do? They make you craaaay-zeee,â PiÃa said in a conspiratorial whisper. âœThis is why I donât play with colts.â

With a supreme act of will, Bucky summoned his magic and began to chop vegetables again, slowly and methodically, each stroke offering some small comfort to his frazzled and overloaded mind, thinking that he was going to need some therapy before this was over.

There were hooves on the stairs as Berry Punch returned. She kissed Sparkler on the cheek as she passed, nodded at Rising Star, and kept moving through the living room. She strolled through the kitchen door, it was clear she had been crying, but not from being sad. She was still giggling and could not directly look at anypony, least of all PiÃa.

âœAre you going to make my big sister snoregasm?â PiÃa asked, turning and looking sternly at Bucky, who dropped the knife yet again, this time with a pained groan.

Berry sniggered as she resumed making the dough, and in the living room, Sparkler let out a pained cry of teenaged angst.

âœPiÃa, the word is âorgasmâ -OW-â Rising Star tried to say helpfully, cut off by a cuff on the shoulder by Sparkler.

âœNo no no!â Sparkler scolded, delivering another swat. âœWe just started going out, donât make me end you!â Sparkler threatened.

Rising Star fell silent, worried about what it was he was getting into.

âœI donât even know what it is but it must be really bad,â Dinky said, looking around and seeing the chaos.

âœI cannot chop these veggies under these conditions,â Bucky protested, his breathing laboured, the corners of his mouth still twitching. âœBerry, I am so totally going to get even with you if it is the last thing I ever doââ

âœI hope so,â Berry said breathlessly, âœand soon.â

The small herd of ponies gathered around the table, ready for a meal, all of them still having some small trouble looking one another in the eye without getting a case of the giggles. There were mismatched bowls of veggies and dumpling soup, bread, and glasses of soft cider to drink.

And Bucky noted that no silverware had been set on the table. He turned and looked at Sparkler. âœYou forgot something,â he said to her, not able to meet her eyes directly, just glancing in her general direction.

âœNo I didnât, mom said no silverware tonight,â Sparkler returned.

Derpy nudged Bucky, smiling sweetly at him, and then shot a knowing glance at Sparkler, who in turn, shot a glance at Rising Star, who also seemed concerned about the silverware. There were also an alarming lack of napkins the two unicorns noticed.

âœUh, alright then, I can use my magic to mimic a spoon,â Bucky said slowly.

âœNo, no magic, not tonight. You eat like us,â Derpy said, poking Bucky roughly with a hoof, rocking him in his chair. âœDig in!â The mare commanded, and then stuck her own muzzle down into soup carefully, as it was still warm.

Bucky realised he had been taken for a ride. No napkins, no silverware, and the thoughts of last nightâs meal fresh in his memory. He whimpered.

âœOh, just do it and get it over with,â Berry said in consolation before plunging her own muzzle into the bowl of soup and slurping in a dumpling loudly.

âœIâm cool with this,â Rising Star said, shrugging, and stuffing his snoot into his soup, trying to fish out an oversized carrot slice that Dinky recognised as one of her own efforts.

One very stuffy unicorn struggled with the concept of sticking his face into his soup. Bucky lowered his head, and then tried to scoop up a potato with his tongue. He failed. He tried again, and the potato frustratingly slid out of reach, sinking down into his soup bowl, hiding under a dumping. Finally, in frustration, he slurped up the dumpling, covering his face in soup. He sat up, feeling sullied and embarrassed, his muzzle covered in thick broth.

âœLet me get that for you,â Derpy offered, wrapping a foreleg around his neck and pulling him in, licking his muzzle with her tongue. Bucky squirmed, trying to get away, but to no avail. Derpy was much, much stronger than he was.

âœYou missed something,â Berry said, moving in from the other side and giving a helpful lick, for a moment, Bucky could feel her hot breath on his ear. He shivered.

Derpy and Berry went back to eating their soup, and Bucky watched as PiÃa and Dinky cleaned one anotherâs faces. Between the foals, it seemed innocent. Berry and Derpy were certainly up to mayhem. Or were they? He didnât know. He resumed eating his soup, trying to not get his muzzle dirty.

Sparkler had already finished most of her first bowl, and had raised her head up. She curled back her lips, took a deep breath, and then let fly with a horrendous belch, the sort of belch that would make a dragon hang their head in shame had they witnessed it coming from such a tiny herbivorous animal. Sparkler looked extremely pleased with herself, and Rising Star sat there, slack jawed, dribbling soup.

âœThatâs kinda attractive,â Rising Star said slowly, raising an eyebrow.

âœI have something on my muzzle,â Sparkler said, leaning over towards Rising Star.

Rising Star shot a glance at Derpy, then Bucky, and then Berry, not knowing what to do. Finally, he screwed his courage to the sticking place, leaned over, and gave a tentative lick to Sparklerâs muzzle, and then another, and then finally relaxed and went with the flow of things. âœYou had a bit of parsnip on your face Sparkler,â Rising Star said, chewing on said parsnip.

âœThis is madness,â Bucky confessed, pressing his snoot into his soup and hunting down the elusive potato in the depths.

âœWhen in Pegasopolis, do as the pegasi,â Rising Star said, plunging his face down into his bowl.

âœOh look, I dribbled soup all the way down my barrel and then some,â Berry said, grinning evilly.

Bucky whimpered as Berry nudged, him, knowing that she had done this on purpose.

It was going to be a long meal, as Bucky had to do a lot of eating to make up for the magic cast earlier. He settled in, hoping to endure.

Chapter 26

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A group of sociable equines, plus one not so sociable but getting better, sat within the cozy confines of a small living room, Rising Star sitting in the overstuffed chair, Bucky sprawled out on the couch, sitting back into the cushion and leaning on the arm, Berry Punch beside him, reclining on her side, her head inches from Buckyâs cutie mark, and Sparkler, sprawled on the floor, laying splay legged on her belly.

They were all drinking, a highly sociable activity, something Bucky hadnât expected. Among his social peer groups, drinking was done by adults. In this peer group, drinking was done by those responsible, and Rising Star and Sparkler both were sipping wine made by Berry from jelly jars used as glasses.

It was another social barrier eroded away for Bucky.

Derpy was upstairs, reading a book to Dinky and PiÃa, putting them to bed. Reading was a very difficult activity for the mare, but she loved to do it, even if she made silly faces closing one eye so her good eye could read. When two little heads finally gave up the struggle and nodded off, Derpy kissed them both gently, turned off the light, and carefully came down the stairs to join the others.

âœSoâ what is earth pony courtship like?â Rising Star asked, the sort of question a young unicorn in the throes of first love might ask, his question gently drifting through the room towards the reclining Berry Punch, who lifted her head for a moment and took a drink of wine from a large mason jar, which she sat back down upon the floor and then rested her head again near Bucky.

âœDepends on the earth ponies,â Berry said, belching lightly. âœSometimes, the two clans go to war or have themselves a scuffle, sometimes no. But between the couple themselves, usually they see if they can work together. Stuff like pulling a wagon in tandem, carrying a heavy load on their backs together, and in the latter parts of the courtship, a really lucky mare has a stallion willing to play âœhunt the radishâ before marriage, so she knows what she is getting.â

âœHunt the radish?â asked Rising Star, looking confused. Sparkler began to titter as Derpy stepped over her and claimed a spot on the couch, gently squashing Berry Punch, using Berryâs backside as a pillow to prop up her barrel.

âœWell, down yonder south on a mare, or a responsibly aged filly, there is a patch of fertile earth a brave colt or stallion can go exploring, gently taking his snoot and searching for himself a little radish to nibble on, it is a proud earth pony tradition, we donât have magic to make a mare feel good, we have to work hard at it like everything else,â Berry said, grinning wickedly, not needing to look at Bucky to know that he was under serious distress. Sparklerâs face was extra purple pink, Derpy was gigglingâ

And Rising Star looked quite thoughtful, making mental notes. âœI see,â he said, looking thoughtful. âœAnd what about pegasi?â

âœWe chase one another to declare intentions,â Derpy answered, giving a sideways glance at Bucky with her good eye. âœAnd then we go through a period where we get to know one another. A brief period. Just like earth ponies, we pegasi donât waste a lot of time in courtship. The signs of compatibility show up pretty early on and we go by instinct.â

âœBrief?â Bucky inquired, looking very nervous. âœHow brief is brief?â

âœWell,â Berry Punch replied, âœmy uncle Wild Oats met and married a pegasus mare named Golden Showers in the span of three days. She chased him, he chased her, he found her radish several times, wearing down her will, and Golden Showers found that she rather liked living on the ground, just so long as she could keep drinking his oatmeal porter and getting her radish hunted on a daily basis.â

âœWhaaaat?â Bucky asked, taking a long drink of wine from his mason jar glass.

âœThree days,â Berry said, sniffing, lifting up her head, taking another drink, and setting her drink back down upon the floor.

âœUh, well, among the more gifted of the Canterlot unicorns, we still practice arranged marriage. We have long courtships, usually involving meeting each otherâs therapists, going to coupleâs counseling, settling any old claims or title disputes that might exist between two families, and a year of courtship is considered ârushing itâ among most of us,â Bucky explained.

âœNo way am I waiting for a year!â Derpy cried. âœI could be eaten by a mailpony eating spider and die having never been laid a second time.â

Sparkler took a sip and nodded, enjoying her wine. She didnât get a chance to have it often, and she liked the tart sweetness. She seemed unembarrassed about what her mother had just said. Instead, she gazed at Bucky pointedly, and he turned away from her stare.

âœThunderlane courted for a whole month and ponies accused him of being a coward,â Derpy said. âœTo be fair, he had cold hooves and a little brother to worry about.â

âœThunderlane is married?â Bucky asked.

âœSort of,â Derpy replied, suddenly going silent.

âœSort of?â asked Rising Star, looking curious, looking directly at Derpy. âœBeing married is like being on fire. You either are or you are not.â

âœThunderlane married two sisters, just like they did way back in the old days, and no, those two sisters donât fool around with one another, not every mare in a herd fools around with one another,â Derpy replied, stealing Berryâs mason jar of wine from the floor and gulping it down. Berry raised an eyebrow, glaring at the pegasus mare. No one stole drink from Clan Pickled and Berry made plans to exact revenge later. âœBut the Crown no longer recognises herd marriage,â Derpy added, looking disappointed.

âœMy mother came from a herd marriage,â Rising Star said.

âœYour mother came from a blessing of unicorns?â Bucky asked, looking very surprised.

âœYeah, rare as henâs teeth, I know,â Rising Star said. âœMomâs family is a little weird going all the way back to olden days.â

âœA blessing?â asked Sparkler.

âœA herd of unicorns, or more commonly, a married group of unicorns,â Rising Star explained, looking thoughtful.

âœClan Pickled still engages in herd marriage. Weâve never fully accepted the rule of the Crown, being the anarchists that we are, living up in the Shetland Isles. My mother, bless her Pickled heart, wanted to see me married proper, finding me a stallion and a group of fellow mares to help raise my foals. It was damn near her only dream,â Berry said, looking sad. âœAnd she got killed by that damnable still, that horrible dream wrecking still.â

Derpy got up to fetch Berry some wine, the least she could do after stealing Berryâs final swallows.

âœAnd look what happened to her, she married a single stallion, trying to fit in and be good a member of the herd, and they both died, leaving me behind to raise PiÃa because nopony else was responsible enough, damn them all,â Berry growled.

Bucky, seeing Berry in actual pain, didnât know what to do, but he reached down and stroked her ears gently with a fetlock.

âœIf mom had just followed the rules of Clan Pickled, thereâd be other mares to help raise PiÃa. But I am stuck all alone, and my own rotten siblings abandoned me so they could go off and have a good time. Good thing I love PiÃa as much as I do,â Berry said angrily. The mare calmed slightly as Bucky stroked her ears. âœI love that little foal to death.â

Derpy returned with more wine, the jar balanced on her nose as she carefully stepped through the living room, nudging the jar with a wingtip for balance as she stepped over Sparkler. Berry took the mason jar full of wine gratefully, and drank down almost half of it, then belched, not quietly, her lips extending to get proper resonance. She squirmed into a sitting up position, and then leaned on Bucky, looking sad. âœIt is irresponsible and stupid to get married and not make sure to provide for your foals. Look at the Apple family and all the heartache to be found there. What bloody good did Celestiaâs little decree do for the Apple clan? That alicorn is a homewrecking busibody that doesnât understand how hard life is for us little ponies.â

Rising Star blinked several times upon hearing Berryâs words, Sparkler laid her head down upon the floor, looking thoughtful, Derpy nodded slightly, and then leaned on Berry, who was leaning on Bucky, and poor Bucky was completely squished by the weight of two mares leaning on him and pressing him into the arm of the couch.

âœOur entire social structure is built around a herd dynamic, I learned that in university. We were meant to exist in herds. It is part of our foundational psychology. And Celestia undoes countless generations of social and biological evolution with the stroke of a quill, thinking that it would fix the ills of society. All I see as a legacy of that event are entire generations of orphans, broken families, single mothers, and messed up societal values as we go against our own inner natures and try to follow this unnatural state of monogamy,â Berry said bitterly. âœI had to spend money on lawyers to keep PiÃa, because of Clan Pickledâs history with herds, and weâre seen as unsuitable members of society to raise foals. I had to fight tooth and hoof to keep that filly out of the tender mercies of the government foal services system who had the nerve to tell me that we have a history of being unfit parents. Never once was our drinking brought up as a reason, just our marriage practices. Bastards!â Berry finished off her glass with a single swallow, and then set the jar on the floor. âœAnd thatâs enough ghost of the grape for me tonight, itâs making me angry,â she muttered, rubbing her head against Bucky.

âœYou gonna be okay Berry? Derpy asked, looking concerned. âœI know all about foal services.â

âœI know you do Derpy, I was there,â Berry said, looking distraught.

âœIâve never heard this side of the argument,â Bucky said thoughtfully. âœI suppose Iâve taken a unicorn-centric view on the issue, knowing how much we Canterlot unicorns have to reduce stress and emotional triggers in our lives. Seems wise for us, not having to fight and fuss among one another, but it seems extraordinarily bad for the other tribes.â

âœMy family fled Canterlot because most of the unicorns there are really messed up,â Rising Star said.

âœRising, thatâs awful!â Sparkler snapped.

âœBut Sparkler, itâs true. We are messed up. We are all a bunch of walking disasters and accidents happen all the time. Those of us with high magic, almost all of us have very messed up lives,â Bucky replied to Sparkler, looking pensive and worried.

âœOne of my uncles was a really powerful unicorn, attended Celestiaâs school,â Rising Star said, taking a sip from his jelly jar. âœReal gifted. Powerful. Remarkably stable for being so gifted, or everybody said so. Snapped one day. Went completely barmy. Right off the deep end. Embarrassed my motherâs side of the family something terrible. He started skinning foals and other ponies and making leather from their hides. Investigators found his journals. Turns out he wrote about something from Tartarus whispering to him constantly and visiting his dreams, offering him even greater power, and he took interest.â

âœOh my gosh, thatâs horrible,â gasped Sparkler.

âœHappens quite a bit,â Bucky said, staring into his own drink. âœOur neurosis helps to act as a defense against such intrusions sometimes. Sometimes not so much,â he added .

âœDamn,â Berry muttered.

âœYou ever hear voices?â Sparkler asked Bucky, looking at him thoughtfully.

âœNo,â Bucky replied. âœNo I havenât. And if I ever did, they would find me a pathetically boring host to inhabit. Iâm boring and repressed.â

âœI hope Dinky never hears those things,â whispered Derpy, shivering as she did so.

âœIâm really glad I donât have more magic. I donât know how I could live with that on my shoulders, knowing that there are things out there wanting to exploit me,â Sparkler said. âœRising Star, it is getting late and it is a school night. Want me to walk you home?â

Rising Star nodded. âœYeah, I donât feel like being alone right now,â he admitted.

âœI should be going as well,â Bucky said.

âœAw, donât go. Stay with us,â Berry begged.

âœI, uh, need to get rested for tomorrow so I can teach Dinky things she needs to know,â Bucky replied.

Derpy and Berry both sat up, allowing Bucky to wiggle free.

âœStay here on the couch again then,â Derpy said pleadingly. âœI mean, we might tease you in the bed, but I promise, if you arenât ready, we will leave you alone. Sooner or later, you are going to have to join us though. I am not about to go through a unicorn courtship.â The grey mare scowled at the notion of waiting a year.

âœI make no such promises of good behaviour,â Berry said.

âœSo Sparkler, when you do you want to come by and have dinner with my parents?â Rising Star asked. âœI canât wait to show them the amazing filly Iâve found!â

Chapter 27

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A patient plum coloured mare sat on the couch, holding a very frightened stallionâs head in her forelegs. She made soothing sounds, not words, just sounds, waiting for the whimpers to reside. Nearby, a grey mare stood, a small foal on either side of her, looking concerned. Sitting in the overstuffed chair sat a purple pink unicorn, looking quite frightened.

Buckyâs screams had filled the house and it had been Berry that had reached him first, waking him with a rough prod and freeing him from whatever horror he had witnessed. Still unable to speak, she held him, waiting for the worst to pass.

âœI thought only foals had nightmares,â Dinky said softly, her voice velvety with concern, stepping closer to her mother.

âœNo Dinks, anypony can have bad dreams. I have bad dreams all the time of losing you,â Derpy replied, fluffing her wings and trying to calm her thudding heart. She had come downstairs ready to fight, adrenaline pumping, and now she was trying to calm her body. Something had upset her flock and disturbed their sleep, and it had frazzled the poor mare.

A low gibbering cry came from Buckyâs lips, thoroughly unnerving Sparkler, whose horn glowed even brighter, the only light in the room.

âœAnother panic attack?â Derpy asked.

âœDamn near,â Berry said, looking closely at Bucky. âœSomething scared him bad in his sleep.â Berry gently stroked Buckyâs ears, in much the same way he had stroked hers earlier. âœCan you talk to me Bucky?â she asked, looking down into his eyes, trying to determine if he was alright.

âœIâm scared,â PiÃa whimpered. âœIf something scares adults it must be really bad.â

âœCome on Dinky, PiÃa, I want both of you to go back to bed,â Derpy said, heading for the stairs. âœNow,â Derpy commanded, her tone unusually brisk.

The foals obeyed, sensing that now was not a good time to argue, heading up the stairs after the overly protective and riled pegasus.

âœIâm not going back to bed, not yet,â Sparkler said. âœI want to know whatâs spooked him. Heâs all sweaty and his eyes are pinpricks. He doesnât look well.â

âœI know Sparkler,â Berry said. âœIâm worried.â

âœB-b-b-bees in the hospital,â Bucky stammered, finally able to speak.

âœWhat?â Berry asked.

âœB-b-b-bees in the hospital. Everything went wrong,â Bucky stuttered, teeth chattering, shivering now, air evaporating the sweat from his pelt and causing his body to cool rapidly.

âœSlow down Bucky, no bees are in the hospital,â Berry said soothingly.

âœNo, dream, day went different, bees, so many bees, Celestia took Dinky away,â Bucky said, his nostrils flaring, his eyelids now fluttering rapidly.

âœIt didnât happen,â Berry whispered, leaning her head down and touching snoots.

Bucky calmed slightly at the contact, but his breathing remained heavy, his limbs still convulsing slightly, his body now shivering violently.

Derpy came down the stairs, looking concerned, a little frightened herself.

âœBucky dreamed about things going wrong in the hospital today,â explained Berry, âœbees happened, and then Celestia took Dinky away.â

âœCome on Bucky,â Derpy said, rising into a hover. âœYou need help, and you are in no position to help yourself,â the mare stated. She scooped him up off of the couch, flying slowly, trying to not bump her head on the ceiling. She began the slow flight up the stairs, holding him securely, his hooves occasionally bumping a stair as they went up. âœBerry, help me, run a really hot bath,â Derpy ordered, her tone still one of authority.

Berry was up on her hooves in a moment, heading up the stairs after the pair, waiting to pass when Derpy had Bucky in the upstairs hall. She squeezed past them both, ducking into the bathroom, and then kicked the bathtub levers to make the water run.

âœHelp me Berry, I canât fly through the doors,â Derpy said.

Berry went into the hall, standing there, not sure what to do, when Derpy laid Bucky out over Berryâs back.

âœWell, when I finally had you on my back, I didnât think youâd be so limp,â Berry said, causing Derpy to scowl. Berry trotted through the bathroom door with her cargo, who squirmed and protested. She stood alongside the tub and after a moment of waiting, Derpy gently shoved Bucky into the partially filled bathtub. He landed with a thud, a splash, and a groan.

âœNow isnât the time for jokes,â Derpy said.

âœI disagree,â Berry retorted.

âœWeâll talk about it later,â Derpy said, turning her attention back to Bucky, who was sprawled in the tub, muttering about something she couldnât make out.

The two mares stood waiting patiently for the tub to finish filling with water, and, when it did, Berry turned it off, giving the levers an extra nudge to make sure they didnât leak.

Berry pulled up a chair, causing it scrape over the tile floor, and then sat down next to the bathtub, resting her hindhooves on the edge of the tub. âœI showered with him already. If you want to crawl in there, I wonât stop you,â Berry said.

âœNaw, leave him in there as he is, heâs stressed enough, look at him,â Derpy said, standing beside the tub. âœTempting though.â

The pegasus continued to stand guard, showing all of the signs of being an aggressive protector, Berry taking note of Derpyâs posture and mannerisms. Derpyâs humour would return when she calmed down.

âœNo bees,â Derpy murmured soothingly.

Bucky made a strange gurgle and nodded.

Both mares heard Sparkler pass by in the hall, her horn causing ghostly light to flicker as she passed, heading off to bed.

âœGânight, Sparkler,â Derpy called.

âœSleep well you foghorn!â Berry called.

There was a faint titter from the hall as Sparkler continued to her room. âœGoodnight, and look after Bucky,â she called, disappearing into her room.

âœBucky, Iâve said it before, but you are too tightly wound,â Berry said.

âœI know,â Bucky replied in a strained whisper.

âœYour brain is torturing you over something that didnât happen,â Berry said.

The stallion in the tub did not reply. He was rapidly regaining his senses, and was now keenly aware that he was prone, naked, and in a bathtub, with two mares staring at him, stuck supine on his back.

âœStop being neurotic!â Berry barked angrily. âœI can see you getting yourself all worked up even now you anal retentive empty headed numpty! Yeah, you're vulnerable right now, and you canât take care of yourself, and you are currently stuck relying on two other ponies who are worried sick about you looking after your needs, so shut up, calm down, and donât make me drown you!â

Bucky whimpered, flinching, cringing away from Berryâs verbose reproach.

Derpy, outside of Buckyâs current field of view, looked at Berry and nodded slightly. Seeing Derpyâs approval, Berry took a deep breath and prepared to continue.

âœJust stop overthinking everything and stop worrying about how we see you,â Berry demanded. âœAt some point, all three of us are going to be in a hot sweaty pile and if you canât stand up to us looking at you now, then you donât have a hope of surviving that when it happens you uptight repressed snob!â

Bucky slumped down deeper into the water, only his muzzle above the surface. Berry leaned over the tub and glared down at him. âœNow you just lay there and try to calm down. Get warmed. Relax. And stop being an uptight numpty!â

The two mares exchanged a glance briefly, and then Derpy sat down upon the chilly tile floor, fidgeting as the cold tiles touched and titillated delicate places.

For a moment, Bucky thought about calling Berry a numbskull, but on some level, he knew he had the tongue lashing coming. His stomach roiled from jittery nerves.

Oh noâ

Some things do no good to restrain. In Buckyâs case, clenching his pucker was a terrible idea, reducing the size of the pressure release nozzle his body had so helpfully provided as standard equipment, causing any escaping pressure to become concentrated and increased as it was forced to escape from a much smaller opening.

âœFRRRRBLRURBLURBLURBLURBLUBBLE!â The pressure from Buckyâs pucker announced, a cry of freedom as it escaped the confining compressing colonic prison. There was a massive stream of bubbles that made the water appear to boil.

Bucky let out a whimpering cry and submerged in the water, attempting to drown himself, no longer wanting to live.

Berry stared downward, wide eyed, her face full of shock. âœWell, Iâll be damned, you are a flesh and blood pony after all,â she said, grinning.

Derpy chortled, finally relaxing her guard a bit. And then she flapped her wings, trying to fan away the offensive odour.

âœAnd here I thought that unicornâs dung donât stink, but their farts sure do,â Berry grunted, lacking opposable digits to pinch her nose shut and regretting her unfortunate evolutionary course.

Bucky stuck his snoot back above the water with a gasp, not liking his own brand as he drew breath. Not at all. Smelled like shame and failure. It was a reminder he couldnât control everything.

âœExcuse me,â Bucky said in a guilty voice.

âœNo way,â Berry said. âœWhat you did constitutes an act of war, and I reserve the privilege of returning shots fired you filthy son of House Avarice.â

âœAnd this is why unicorns clear these little disputes during the legal proceedings during the trial phase of our courtship,â Bucky said in a weak voice. âœLawyers are so helpful,â he added.

âœFeel better?â Berry asked, still looking very concerned.

Bucky nodded, which made Derpy take a deep breath and heave a sigh of relief.

Berry leaned back in her chair, her hindhooves still on the edge of the tub, folding her forelegs over her barrel. She closed her eyes for a moment, and after being quiet for several minutes, began to sing in a fine Shetland Isles lilt.

âœI'm a rambler, I'm a gambler, I'm a long way from home

And if you don't like me, well, leave me alone

I'll eat when I'm hungry, I'll drink when I'm dry

And if the moonshine don't kill me, I'll live til I die

I've been a moonshiner for many a year

I've spent all my fortune on whiskey and beer

I'll go to some hollow, I'll set up my still

And make you a gallon for ten bits I will

I'm a rambler, I'm a gambler, I'm a long way from home

And if you don't like me, well, leave me alone

I'll eat when I'm hungry, I'll drink when I'm dry

And if the moonshine don't kill me, I'll live til I die

I'll go to some hollow in this dry county

Ten gallons of wash I can go on a spree

No herd to follow, the world is all mine

I love none so well as I love the moonshine

I'm a rambler, I'm a gambler, I'm a long way from home

And if you don't like me, well, leave me alone

I'll eat when I'm hungry, I'll drink when I'm dry

And if the moonshine don't kill me, I'll live til I die

Oh, moonshine, dear moonshine, oh, how I love thee

You killed me old father, but I dare you to try me

Now bless all moonshiners and bless all moonshine

Their breath smells as sweet as the dew on the vine

I'm a rambler, I'm a gambler, I'm a long way from home

And if you don't like me, well, leave me alone

I'll eat when I'm hungry, I'll drink when I'm dry

And if the moonshine don't kill me, I'll live til I dieâ

Berry Punch opened her eyes, looking down at her two dear friends. The pegasus had tears in her eyes, wiping them way fiercely with her wingtips. Bucky was staring up at her, looking relaxed, sleepy, much of the worry now gone from his face. Berry reached down and stroked his face gently, getting a hoof wet.

âœI bet your mother never sang to you,â Berry said sadly, her voice still thick with her familial accent, tears in her own eyes now forming. âœNo wonder you stay spooked. My mom used to sing to us to keep the banshees away and the pookas and all the other things that gobbled foals up in the night.â

âœCome on Berry, letâs get him out and dried off. Bucky, youâre coming to bed with us. If you argue, I am going to smack the fire out of you, do you understand me? Berry, no funny business, heâs had a bad night. Everypony is going to behave and be respectful. We all need sleep,â Derpy said.

âœIâll be good,â Berry promised. âœBut I demand that the conditions of the truce allow spooning and or cuddling of at least one pony in the bed with me. Iâm missing my mama.â

Berry kicked the lever that opened the drain with her hoof, thinking about her mother, the fine unicorn that she was, and how much she had loved her foals.

Chapter 28

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In the early morning, just moments after dawn, a flock of pegasi and one alicorn gathered, settling into a fluffy cloud bank that glowed pink and purple from the dawn. Twilight Sparkle looked at the gathered pegasi and studied each one in turn. Rainbow Dash, her trusted and loyal friend, Thunderlane, now paying off his penance, and then Flitter and Cloudchaser, who were oddly eager to help out, and who stood, even now, anxious to give a report.

âœIt is my belief that yesterday an act of kindness was witnessed,â Thunderlane said, his head bowed. âœIt was a humbling experience for me,â he finished, Flitter touching him briefly as he did so, gently pressing her muzzle unto Thunderlaneâs shoulder.

âœAnd chowderhead here told Berry Punch that her foal was in the hospital,â Cloudchaser added. âœNo brains at all.â

âœYou thought Berry Punch was PiÃaâs mother,â Thunderlane retorted.

âœShe might as well be, you donât tell a big sister that sort of thing either you big dunce!â Flitter exclaimed, glancing at Cloudchaser, who gave Thunderlane a swift kick in the fetlock.

âœDinky Doo Hooves and PiÃa Colada went to the hospital and visited Diamond Tiara. There was a mutual exchange of forgiveness between all parties. It was an act of kindness that brought all parties involved together and I do believe that it created a new friendship,â Cloudchaser reported, retracting her hoof.

Twilight Sparkle nodded.

âœGood work you three,â Rainbow Dash complimented. âœContinue to keep Chowderhead here in line you two, I am surprised that both of you fell in to this task so easily.â

âœWe want our marriage recognised and out in the open. We will do anything to that end,â Flitter answered, her ears perking forward. She reached out a wing, touching her sister briefly, and then rubbed a foreleg against Thunderlane.

âœWe just want what everypony else wants," Cloudchaser said, rubbing her side against Thunderlaneâs and rubbing an ear against his neck.

âœWell, I think you should have it,â Twilight Sparkle announced. âœIâm talking with Cadance soon. Pony to pony. Something has to be worked out.â

âœI want to be able to acknowledge Rumble for what he really is, and not have ponies judge us or have foal services breathing down my neck,â Flitter whispered. âœIt hurts.â

Thunderlane gently wrapped one wing over Flitter and made soothing sounds in her ear.

âœWait, you mean, Rumble?â Twilight asked, looking baffled, pulling her head back and her eyes going wide in disbelief.

Thunderlane glared at Twilight pointedly, suddenly becoming a very different pony. Gone was his apparent buffoonery and incompetence. His nostrils flared and his ears splayed out sideways from his head. The cloud beneath his hooves began to turn grey.

âœFlitter shouldnât have said that. If it goes beyond this cloud, there will be consequences,â Cloudchaser said, now bristling.

âœSlow down girls, you know Iâm alright with it,â Rainbow Dash said.

âœAnd I have no intentions of damaging a perfectly good family structure,â Twilight Sparkle reassured, still looking surprised. âœI was just caught off guard, thatâs all.â

Thunderlane calmed visibly.

âœWe had to go to Cloudsdale and talk to the wrong sorts of ponies,â Flitter confessed. âœWe have to be so careful. Thatâs why we came here, Ponyville is so much more tolerant than some other places.â

âœFillydelphia,â Cloudchaser growled.

âœWhat about Fillydelphia?â asked Twilight, her voice filled with apprehension.

âœNothing,â muttered Thunderlane, slouching.

âœJust an unpleasant place,â Flitter said. âœThatâs all.â

The two mares were practically snorting now, standing on either side of Thunderlane, showing visible signs of distress. Twilight couldnât help but notice that the two sisters and Thunderlane behaved very much like one body, moving together, constantly touching, reassuring and comforting one another almost reflexively. She made mental notes to tell Celestia about this behavior. The cloud continued to darken.

But Twilight knew that she would not tell Celestia about Rumble. It didnât feel right. The wings she had now had changed her profoundly, and she had strange new feelings to go with them. One of them being a pressure to conform to the flock, something that conflicted mightily with her unicorn individuality.

âœI just want to know, Rumble isââ Rainbow Dash said in a low voice.

âœFlitterâs,â Thunderlane replied, looking Rainbow Dash directly in the eye and flaring his wings slightly.

Rainbow Dash moved forward, her head high, and gently bumped snoots with Thunderlane. She stood there, looking up at him, looking him directly in the eye. âœThe flock looks after its own. Rumble is one of mine as well. You have my word as your flockmate,â she said solemnly.

âœSo then, we potentially have kindness covered,â Twilight said, gently restoring the conversation back to task.

âœI think so,â Rainbow Dash agreed.

âœGood. You three, keep watching. And thank you so very much for agreeing to help,â Twilight said with a smile.

âœThank you for being merciful on Thunderlane. Heâs a good pony, just a little thick headed,â Cloudchaser replied.

The three pegasi took wing and flew off, off to face the day together, leaving two friends standing on a cloud together. Twilight looked agitated and flustered.

âœDash, Iâm going to be gone again, Iâm going to Fillydelphia. I donât know what is going on, but I know a motherâs broken heart when I see one. Keep an eye on things. Spike can help you reach either Celestia or I. I might be gone a while. I know I can count on you,â Twilight said.

âœOf course, because Iâm awesome,â Rainbow Dash replied with a cocky head toss.

Twilight rolled her eyes, hugged her friend briefly, and then took off at an unsteady high speed, a lavender contrail streaming out behind her.

âœThis herd discrimination needs to stop,â a lone pegasus mumbled to herself. âœIâm too awesome to marry just one pony,â she said to nopony in particular.

Another herd of ponies lay together in a bed. Two were cuddled together, spooning, while one lay on the edge of the bed, as far apart from the others as possible, alone.

The lone pony awoke, confused and disoriented, hearing birdsong and feeling a keen sense of loneliness. He glanced over at his two bedmates, wishing he could throw himself among them, but instead steeled his resolve and remained where he was, feeling a chill that had nothing to do with the air temperature. There were just too many concerns about sleeping in a bed with other ponies, the primary concern of course being the embarrassing and uncontrollable factor of morning wood. There mere thought of waking up with something embarrassingly poking into either Berry or Derpy was enough to cause Bucky to have a painful spasm of panic in his barrel, and made his breath quicken. And then he would have to spend the rest of the day, trying to avoid eye contact, thinking about the awful thing he had done, constantly remembering it in his mind, playing on an endless cringe inducing loop, spending the next few days distracted by a painful memory that just would not go away.

It was enough to drive a pony mad.

The lone pony slipped quietly from the bed, crept out the door, down the hall, and into the bathroom, where he shut the door and took care of morning necessities, gritting and grinding his teeth together when the stream of urine hit the water, making a sound that Bucky was certain would wake up everypony, a very painful and embarrassing sound that had been made in a house full of females.

Bucky cursed himself for forgetting to cast a sound muffling spell before relieving himself, the sound of streaming urine roaring in his ears, the sort of sound that was certain to give a foal a complex. Bucky felt his throat closing from panic. The urine flow stopped abruptly, and Bucky was most grateful. He cast a quick muffling spell, waited, tried to calm, and eventually the flow resumed again, this time in near silence. The panic did not leave however. It had found him last night, had its way with him, and was now an unwelcome morning visitor, every bit as stiff and rigid as morning wood, but not at all pleasurable to wake up to.

His breathing increased to painful levels, his throat felt seared. Bucky tried to hold the panic back, determined not to give in. It was just a break in routine, a little slip up, from waking up in an unfamiliar and uncomfortable place. Slowly, he willed his breathing down, brought his heart rate down, and finished relieving his bladder. He drove everything down, cramming it inward, letting nothing get the best of him and escaping.

He would hold everything back, because that is what unicorns did.

He opened the door, peered out into the hallway, looking left, then right, seeing nopony, and then began to slink down the stairs, doing so as quietly as possible.

Once into the kitchen, he began to fix breakfast in large quantities, fixing oatmeal, scrambling some eggs, and pulling frozen fruit chunks out of the freezer. He did all of this effortlessly, sitting in a chair, not even looking at the controlled chaos behind him, yawning and rubbing at his eyes as he began to also set the table.

He heard sounds upstairs. Bucky started the coffee. He had always been more of a tea drinker, tea had ritual, ritual brought calm, calm quieted the inner turmoil, a careful chain of events that allowed Bucky some small peace in his life.

But he was trying new things. And so coffee it was.

He took the eggs off of the burner before they were done cooking, knowing that they would finish cooking and be perfect from the residual heat of the cast iron skillet. Butter was pulled from the fridge, brown sugar came out from the pantry, hot sauce for the eggs, knowing that Berry was sure to appreciate it, everything coming into place, Bucky never leaving his chair.

Derpy poked her head into the kitchen, one eye closed, peering around, just as the cast iron skillet was being set on top of a pad and placed on the kitchen table.

âœUsually we have granola and milk,â the grey mare murmured. âœAll of this takes time and work.â She licked her lips hungrily.

âœI wasnât in the mood for granola this morning,â Bucky muttered, craning his head from one side to another, causing his neck to crackle.

âœI think Iâm in the mood for you this morning,â Derpy confessed, causing Buckyâs eyes to open wide. âœYou just keep looking after my foals.â

Bucky said nothing, but waited for the coffee to finish. Derpy took a seat at the table, watching everything flying around her. Sparkler came into the kitchen next, leading two foals who watched with wide eyes. Berry stumbled in last, not batting an eye at the impressive magical display.

âœI need to go check on the fuel supply,â Berry mumbled as she filled her bowl with oatmeal and scooped out some scrambled eggs. She saw the hot sauce, smiled, and then proceeded to pour an obscene amount of liquid fire on her eggs.

The foals began to devour the frozen fruit chunks, ignoring everything else.

Coffee was floated to the table, and Sparkler was the first to pour a cup, adding milk and sugar in vast quantities. Berry, stuffing food into her mouth with a spoon in one hoof, poured herself some coffee with the other, making pleased sounding âœom nom nom nomâ noises as she gobbled. Derpy was fixing her oatmeal, piling on cubes of butter and clumps of hardened brown sugar, freshly broken from the densely packed package. When the opportunity presented itself, she poured herself a cup of coffee and Bucky one as well.

âœAll this breakfast needs to be perfect is a tin of beans, straight from the icebox, spread over toast,â Berry said groggily.

âœNoted,â Bucky said. âœBeans on toast.â

âœYou feeling alright from last night?â Sparkler asked, looking worried.

âœIâm fine,â Bucky replied.

âœMmm pineapple,â PiÃa Colada said with a mouthful of pineapple, juice running down her chin. âœMy favourite food I think.â

âœIt is almost the only thing mom could eat when she was carrying you PiÃa, you were a bratty little foal. If she ate anything but pineapple and coconut, youâd make her get sick,â Berry said teasingly to her sister. PiÃa stuck out her tongue in reply but said nothing.

âœI had a thing for waffles when I was carrying Dinky,â Derpy said, shoveling in oatmeal with a spoon, eating in a hurry. âœNo syrup though. Had to be jam of some kind. Mmm jam.â

âœFunny, I love waffles,â Dinky replied.

âœAnd I had a bit of a muffin kick while pregnant too, ponies teased me all the time for eating them by the dozen,â Derpy confessed, looking a little sheepish as she shoveled in some scrambled eggs. âœAnd now, when I see muffins, I think of Dinky. Waffles too I guess.â

âœSomehow, Iâve never been pregnant, not sure how thatâs happened, by all rights I should have been a few times now,â Berry said, guzzling down hot coffee when she was done speaking. âœBut I look forward to it,â she added, pointing a lewd stare at Bucky.

Bucky froze mid gulp, his brain shutting down all unnecessary functions as panic settled in. Not his usual panic, but a special guest panic, that he was utterly unfamiliar with. He set down his coffee cup before his magic fizzled. One eye twitched alarmingly.

âœOh come on Bucky, sheâs an earth pony and I bet her biological clock is raging at her age,â Sparkler said, giggling as she did so.

âœMy age?â Berry asked.

âœWell, you are a little older than mom,â Sparkler retorted.

âœYour mother,â Berry replied, looking first at Sparkler and then at Derpy, and then taking a deep breath, âœonly just reached the legal drinking age imposed by the out of touch with reality monarchy just this year. I am not that old.â

âœRelax Berry, youâre still young enough to be cool,â Sparkler said.

Berry Punch exploded with laughter, throwing her head back and guffawing, nearly falling from her chair. She banged on the table, making things clatter, causing Bucky to start several times. She chortled and snorted until tears came from her eyes, sucking in great gasps of air, only to let them back out again as she bellowed with laughter.

âœIs she always like this?â Bucky asked.

âœPretty much,â Sparkler said, shrugging.

âœMorning ponies,â Bucky muttered.

âœIâll show you morning pony you stuck up snob!â Berry said, her laughter dying. She pounced from her chair and dethroned Bucky, pinning him to the floor. âœSic semper evello mortem tyrannis!â she cried. After that she then plunged her muzzle forward into Buckyâs, kissing him violently and biting his lip as she pulled away, making Bucky cry out. âœAnarchy!â Berry crowed in triumph, reminding Bucky that her family were anarchs, and Bucky had peerage.

Derpy watched the two ponies on the floor and chuckled. Berry was always good for a laugh. âœSparkler honey, take note, this is how you deal with a colt or a stallion who is a grump,â Derpy said patiently, instructing her daughter, pointing out valuable life lessons.

The obnoxious plum coloured mare pressed her advantage, straddling Buckyâs prone form. She looked down at him, now smiling broadly, and gently booped his nose. She looked up at Dinky, then PiÃa, over at Derpy, and then her gaze rested upon Sparkler, exchanging a knowing glance. She looked back down at Bucky, and then something in her face changed, a profound change, her smile melting away. She continued to stare for a few moments, and then, without a word, she rose up on to her hooves, and helped Bucky get up with one extended foreleg.

Still not saying anything, Berry helped Bucky into his chair, and then sat down in her own, and doing so silently. Derpy scowled, sensing something had changed, and Sparklerâs brow wrinkled in concern.

âœBerry?â Derpy posed the question slowly, her voice full of concern.

âœI donât know how to talk about it,â Berry said, blushing furiously.

âœTalk about what?â Sparkler asked, getting more eggs.

âœI-Iâ I looked into his eyes and I knew,â Berry replied, sounding flustered.

âœKnew what?â Dinky asked around a mouthful of frozen banana.

âœThat I loved him,â Berry replied, very quietly, unable to meet anyponyâs gaze. Bucky choked as he heard the words, and Derpy nodded her head slowly. âœItâs been fun and games up to this point, but something changed just a moment ago,â Berry explained in a low whisper.

Derpy looked pointedly at Bucky, one eye closed, her good eye focused on his face, trying to read him. He was sitting, silently, looking down at his plate, sitting very very still, totally silent and not even attempting to say anything. âœYou broke my Berry best friend,â Derpy said, âœyou made her go all serious and now Iâm the one trying to make ponies smile.â

The foals giggled, Sparkler laughed, but the adults made no such sounds of happiness.

âœWell, that is both of you then, I heard mom talking in her sleep,â Sparkler said, a faint smile on her lips. âœAnd what about you Buckminster?â

Bucky looked up at Sparkler, his eyes narrowed and full of concern. âœWords seem so worthless and petty right now to express how I feel,â he muttered, his eyes falling back down to his plate, and his shoulders slumping.

âœWell then, show it,â Sparkler suggested just before she let go a huge belch that made the objects on the table rattle frightfully.

âœSo my best friend is broken and moody and I have a sad lovesick unicorn in my kitchen,â Derpy summarised. âœLife has certainly been interesting.â

âœIâll clean up and make sure Dinky and PiÃa get to school,â Bucky said, still staring at his plate, slowly lifting up his coffee cup to take a sip.

âœI need to go and check on the fire,â Berry said. She raised her eyes, her usual fire returning, and turned to look at Bucky. âœDonât keep us waiting,â she said, prodding him roughly, rocking him in his chair. She then shoveled the rest of her breakfast into her mouth, chewing noisily, swallowing a few times as chewed food became swallowable, cleared her mouth, and belched a bassoon note of thanks.

âœI have to go. Please look after my foals,â Derpy said, looking at Bucky, biting her lip after a moment of gazing at him. âœAnd please stop being so sad.â

Bucky had stopped by his apartment on the way to school, picking up his spellbook, wanting to give a simple display in practical magic in school today, determined to get Dinky through the day, keeping her in school along with PiÃa.

His saddlebags also contained a few other common elements for teaching magic, popcorn chief among them. They bounced at his sides as he walked. Dinky and PiÃa followed closely alongside of him, chatting and giggling together, being foals.

Bucky was horribly distracted as he walked, thinking about the events of the morning, starting with waking up, which was awkward, his bathroom visit, which was painful, and then breakfast, which was troubling.

So very troubling.

He couldnât deny it. Not any longer. He felt something, even if he wasnât totally sure what it was. He felt very different things about both of them, but needed both of them in some odd way that bothered him a great deal. Bucky didnât like being dependant on anypony but himself.

As the trio walked, Bucky thought about being packed up and sent off on the train ride, his family living in Baltimare at the time. He had been sent off alone, his bags packed, and he wasnât much older than Dinky, who was almost helpless without an adult. And Bucky realised he had been much the same way. During his time at school, his parents had moved back into the old ancestral home they had in Canterlot, living there sometimes and living out in the sprawling estate in Baltimare at other times. There were several large homes his family owned. All of them empty and loveless. Derpyâs tiny house, only three bedrooms and a few rooms on the ground floor, was full of love and life, and felt more like home. Her home had warmth. Her home had sounds other than the sounds of pages being turned and the stuffy butler clearing his throat.

And Bucky wanted to be part of that home very badly. Any home really. He had become acutely aware of his own loneliness as of just recently.

Berry had straddled his chest his morning. Very intimate parts of her anatomy had been in contact with his bodyâ And she hadnât even paid it a single second thought Bucky realised. She had simply been playful, and obviously didnât have his hang-ups. But the very idea of such close contact burned Buckyâs mind, and would not leave him alone. He had felt her and now, the knowledge would not leave his mind. A powerful sense of shame burned through him, and he hated himself for his physical desires. He should be above these needs.

But he was not.

He could not push the thought out of his mind. The brief contact had been somewhat humid and damp, and Berryâs perfume had left a lingering trace on him. He could feel her moving and shifting against his body as she had straddled him, it lingered like a white hot coal trapped in between his ears.

It was then that Bucky made a terrible conclusion.

It wasnât perfume.

The thought struck him like a slap in the face and he was suddenly ablaze with shame and embarrassment, a physical sensation of self-revulsion. He felt painfully stupid. He had stopped casting the pheromone blocking spell quite some time ago. The spell never made you fully immune to their effects, there was always a lingering faint effect that was easily squashed down, but it also blocked out certain scents. He recalled smelling it even on the day of the birthday party, not all that long ago actually.

He nearly had a panic attack on the spot realising he was walking two foals to school while reeking of freshly applied mare musk, courtesy of Berry Punch and her careless scent marking of him, pressing her female anatomy up against his barrel and rubbing vigorouslyâ

The flustered unicorn tossed his head around crazily and gritted his teeth, holding back the panic, holding back everything. He exerted an enormous force of will and crushed it all down, compressing it into his psyche.

And this was why unicorns repressed everything. So you didnât carelessly scent mark some poor pony and cause them to have a nervous breakdown walking some foals to school.

He subdued the terrible beast that dwelt in the basement of his mind, whipping it down and forcing it to submit. It did so, but promised retribution later as it sank back into the unknown darkness of Buckyâs mind.

The schoolhouse loomed ahead, and the day was bright and promising.

The morning had gone by mostly uneventful, the class behaving themselves a little better today. Not one foal wanted to meet Buckyâs gaze, and he had sat in his chair in the corner, reading a book and looking up occasionally. He had helped Cheerilee with a practical demonstration how an eclipse worked, levitating a tiny sun, a moon, and a planet.

And now, Bucky sat outside with a few unicorn foals, popping popcorn, having fun, and explaining simple magical principles. The gathered foals oohed and aahed when he pulled out his spell book and opened it, opening to a page in a beginning.

âœOkay. I am going to teach you the Blink spell. Any unicorn can cast this spell, and it is a spell every unicorn foal should know. Blink will allow you to call for help. Any pegasus that has been to flight camp will immediately move to investigate a Blink spell if they see one,â Bucky patiently explained as many foals munched on popcorn.

Setting down his book on the blanket he was sitting on, he lifted up his head, cleared his throat, and smiled, trying to show the foals that magic was not scary or dark or spooky. At least, not this spell.

â Whenever I am all alone

And Iâm too scared to think

Whenever I need some help

I flash my light and blink!â

Bucky spoke the words carefully, pronouncing each syllable just so, demonstrating how to chant the verse to summon the magic it had been tied to. As he spoke, a blinking light shot from his horn and rose up into the sky.

Almost like magic, two pegasi appeared a moment later, circling, swooping, and finally landing, looking around, both very concerned looking.

âœSomepony called?â Flitter asked.

âœIs there trouble?â Cloudchaser added.

âœJust a practical demonstration of the Blink spell, I am really glad you two answered. Shows the foals that it works,â Bucky answered, grinning nervously.

âœOf course it works. You foals pay attention. This might save your life someday. While we are here watching, letâs see how many of you can cast it,â Cloudchaser commanded in a gentle voice, her wings fluttering slightly, still in a somewhat aggressive posture that Bucky was now able to recognise.

âœThis is an easy spell that any unicorn can cast. Just light your horn and say the magic words. Thatâs it. You donât even have to concentrate much, other than lighting your horn. You should practice this spell indoors until you can cast it in seconds without thinking. As you can see, pegasi, whom you should be most thankful for, watch over us all and keep us safe,â Bucky explained to his students.

More pegasi were landing now, quite a few, and Flitter made a few silent gestures that put them at ease. They watched as the first blinking light from a foal shot upwards, flashing green. Another blinking light rose, flashing yellow.

âœThatâs it, just say the words, see, it is so very easy, and you are casting spells just like a proper unicorn should,â Bucky praised.

An enormous purple globe of strobing light exploded from Dinkyâs horn and shot upwards, making Dinky gasp in delight. Even the pegasi seemed impressed. You could see Dinkyâs globe from a long ways away.

Everything that type threes did was pure spectacle and bound to attract attention.

Even Snips and Snails were able to send blinking orbs of light rocketing skyward, which boosted their self-esteem greatly.

âœThe fireworks class spells are an upgraded version of Blink. They can be very simple and very complicated. Even type ones can cast simple versions of the various fireworks spells, like Rocket Pop,â Bucky said. âœRocket Pop is basically Blink with a whistling sound as it rises and an explosion at its apex.â Bucky cast one, sending it skyward, whistling as it went, making the foals gasp in delight.

âœKeep practicing your Blink spells,â Cloudchaser asked. Bucky looked at her, and she looked at him, giving him a faint nod of approval. Bucky felt a powerful emotion of something he could not describe flood through him.

The foals kept casting and eating popcorn, sending balls of blinking lights skyward, and occasionally a new pegasus would arrive to see what the hubbub was.

âœThis is a lot better than learning about weather patterns and crop rotation,â a foal commented, causing the others to agree, little heads and horns bobbing.

It ended up being a very pleasant afternoon.

It felt good to be home after a long day. Bucky had taken the foals by the hospital for a short visit, Dinky complained of being hungry even after all of the popcorn, so Bucky had also purchased the foals a snack, and now, they were home.

And Bucky felt like he was home.

It wasnât the house so much, as it was the foals with him in the house. The empty house he realised. There was a note on the table beside the overstuffed chair that explained that Derpy and Berry had gone off to the Riverside Farmerâs Market to get some groceries. Bucky blinked a few times after reading, realising he was going to be alone with the foals for a little longer. He lifted away his saddlebags with his magic, setting them gently on the couch, and looked at PiÃa who was heading up the stairs, singing a song about her need to pee.

Bucky blushed and realised he needed to go as well. He too went up the stairs, not singing, to use the second bathroom.

Dinky, alone, realised this was her perfect opportunity to have a look at Buckyâs spellbook. She pulled it from his saddlebags, touching the wooden cover, it felt warm and it tingled slightly. It hummed, and Dinky could feel it in her horn.

She sat down and opened the book, but not the front half. The front half she reasoned, was full of basic spells , beginner spells. Foal spells. Like Blink.

âœDouble - yoo,â Dinky muttered to herself, now in the back of the book, where the good spells were. She was on a page were every spell started with âWâ and there were quite a number of spells.

âœWant it need it,â pronounced Dinky carefully, reading the spell description, not understanding what she was reading. âœI want a daddy, I need a daddy,â Dinky murmured to herself. âœMommy needs Bucky,â Dinky reasoned. âœIf Bucky wanted me, he could be my daddy, and mommy could be happy,â the foal said in perfect foal logic.

She read through the tricky words several times, carefully pronouncing each word, feeling an odd tingle in her horn as she did so.

Bucky came down the stairs and saw Dinky looking through his spell book. He panicked, but before he had a chance to say anything, he felt a powerful attraction for Dinky. A maddening feeling of lust and infatuation. Unnatural lust and infatuation followed by a powerful sense of arousal.

Bucky knew right away that something was terribly wrong.

His brain flooded with terrible images of all the things he suddenly wanted to do with Dinky. He cried out, shaking his head, repressing everything and shoving it down. He knew magical compulsion when he felt it, and this was powerful.

A tiny fragile part of his mind cried that he really didnât want to engage in unnatural acts of love with a foal, pleading for him to hold on.

And Bucky dug in and got his grip. Repression was finely tuned in his mind, and he summoned up every ounce of his will he had. He struggled, his brain flashing with terrible images that fanned his lust. He shoved them back. He loved Dinky, real love that existed outside of magical compulsion, and he would never allow himself to bring harm. It was a powerful revelation that rooted his sanity and gave him strength to fight.

But the compulsion was overwhelming. Dinky was the most desirable female he had ever seen. She was beautiful. Perfect.

Bucky slammed his head into the wall, dazing himself, and leaving behind a bright smear of blood that trickled down the wall. He did it again, making his ears ring painfully, shoving down every unwanted emotion he was feeling.

He heard hoofsteps on the stairs behind him, and then PiÃa was running for Dinky, saying things PiÃa should never be saying. Bucky bit down on his own tongue, nearly splitting off the tip, holding back a scream, and then hoisted PiÃa and Dinky up in his magic, keeping them apart. Touching Dinky with his magic was a bad idea. It filled him with burning desire for the foal, flooding his body with unnatural lust, fueling his arousal.

Bucky slammed his head once more into the wall for good measure. One ear was already beginning to swell alarmingly.

Twilight can fix this he thought to himself and he willed himself towards the door.

Crushing everything down, he pushed the door open.

And realised he had made a terrible mistake.

The moment he was outside, ponies turned towards Dinky, held aloft in his magic, and were immediately overtaken by unnatural arousal, the same arousal that had nearly overtaken Bucky. Profanity spewed from Buckyâs mouth, a steady torrent that would make Berry Punch faint if she heard it.

Ponies began to bolt towards him. Bucky lashed out with his magic, not wanting to do any harm, but not wanting Dinky to get hurt. He slammed the incoming crowd with a wave of telekinetic force, bowling them backwards.

Bucky ran.

And most of Ponyville began to give chase.

Holding Dinky and PiÃa aloft, he ran as fast as he could, trying to slam ponies that drew too close away with magical slaps, hoping that he wasnât hurting them.

And he wanted to hurt them. They wanted Dinky. His Dinky, Dinky who he wanted all for himself, to satisfy his aching needs. He hated them all, and dark thoughts of killing the interlopers invaded his mind unwillingly. He crammed those thoughts down deep inside as well. REPRESS EVERYTHING! he screamed inside of his own head.

Neurosis became a powerful ally, and Buckyâs neurosis was a multi-generational gift that was rapidly becoming an evolutionary advantage among his kind.

Pegasi were swooping down now. Bucky cast a cloud of cold, freezing their wings with thick crusts of solid ice that made them crash into the ground. He had to fend off several waves of incoming pegasi, while still holding back incoming ponies charging from the ground.

He sent out a massive telekinetic ripple that sent hundreds of ponies flying backwards, spilling over one another. This bought Bucky time. Bucky tapped into his own desperation, reaching deep, and doing the unthinkable.

A roiling black flame rose from his horn, his eyes turned green, and a purple mist drifted from his eyes as well as from the black flames around his horn. Dark magic. Bucky had learned a spell called âœHorrorâ from a book in the Forbidden section of the library, and he had used it once, to scare a fellow student on Nightmare Night. Nopony ever knew about him popping the lock and sneaking in.

And it certainly worked now. About one third of the ponies bearing back down upon him suddenly turned tail and ran, screaming in terror, Bucky having become the image of their worst nightmare. The dark magic spell only worked on those of weaker minds.

Bucky ran, and kept running, his barrel heaving, real terror welling up in his own mind, knowing that his head was going to roll later for this, and, the terrible knowledge of what would be done to Dinky by hundreds, if not thousands of ponies if he failed.

The assault from such a mob would be fatal, Dinky would die from such a mob committing sexual assault.

His own need for Dinky was growing almost unbearable. It was all he could think about. It was battering down his barriers, eroding his defenses, and wearing down his will.

All he could think about was sexual release.

NO NO NO NO he shouted inside of his own head.

He sent out another telekinetic ripple, sending the pressing horde of ponies sprawling backwards and away from him. His energy was getting weaker now. Soon, he wouldnât be able to cast at all, and that would be it for Dinky.

The library was in sight, he bolted for the door, shoving ponies aside with powerful telekinetic blasts and freezing pegasi to knock them from the air.

He pounded on the door, which was opened by a small dragon, who stood staring wide eyed at the chaos all around him.

âœTWILIGHT!â Bucky screamed raggedly.

âœSheâs not here, sheâs gone, Iâll call Celestia at once!â Spike cried in panic, slamming the door and locking it. âœRun, get out of town, try to survive until she gets here!â

Bucky, having no choice, ran.

Discord strolled up the lane, having had a very pleasant visit with his dearest friend, Fluttershy. He whistled as he strolled, feeling marvelous, when he began to notice a bit of a commotion ahead of him.

No, that is quite a commotion up ahead he thought to himself. A lone pony ran, holding two foals aloft in magic, and behind him was most of the population of Ponyville.

Several red bricks dropped from Discordâs backside as he stood in the lane, slack-jawed by what he saw. âœWhat in Tartarus?â The Herald of Chaos uttered, totally flummoxed.

He stood, waiting, as the unicorn approached, sensing a most dreadful spell centered on the foal. An awful spell. While Discord personally liked this spell, he had been the one who taught it to ponies in the first place after all, the notion of it being cast on a foal appalled him. While there was many terrible things Discord would do, this was not one of them.

He snapped his fingers, breaking the dreadful spell and then striding quickly forward, fanned the dark magic away from the unicornâs smoking horn. He patted the unicorn gently on the head for a job well done, looked at the foal, saw it was no worse for wear, and then, the world suddenly exploded.

Darn Celestia and her dramatic entrances!

Bucky lay on the ground heaving, Celestia standing over him, Discord standing nearby, holding two foals in his forelegs, looking oddly concerned and talking to them both.

âœBucky? Can you speak to me?â Celestia asked, looking concerned. She looked out at the enormous crowd of confused ponies, all staring at her, all of them quite confused looking, all of them wanting answers.

Bucky could not reply, everything was finally crumbling away, and Celestia saw the signs. She cried out in her own panic as Bucky began to seize, his body going into convulsions as a terrible panic attack finally worked its way free. Spittle and foam flew from his lips as he sank into whatever black realm claimed him. Celestia took him in her magic and tried to keep him safe, holding his body and trying to prevent him from self-harm.

Inside of his own head, Bucky sank into the black abyss laughing, knowing that he had not given in. He had proven to be the stronger pony, and took comfort in this as the blackness swallowed him whole.

Chapter 29

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Something beeping made Buckyâs head throb painfully with each beep, and his muzzle was on fire. He opened his eyes and tried to squirm, tried to get the pain in his nose to go away. He had trouble raising his foreleg, the weight of the blanket over him almost impossible to lift.

âœBe still Buckminster,â Celestia soothed. âœThere is a feeding tube inserted in your nose. Your horn is cracked, but will mend. Dinky and PiÃa Colada are both fine, I have smoothed over their minds and removed the burden of memory from them. They will remember a magical mishap, but nothing more. Nothing specific. PiÃa in particular should not have to live with the troubling memories that she would have had. You did a commendable job in keeping them both safe. Nopony was seriously harmed this day.â

âœWeâre here Bucky,â Derpy said, her voice faint and soft. âœWeâre in a room not too far from Diamond Tiara.â

âœI am troubled by your use of dark magic, but I understand its necessity. You did not use it for personal gain or to hold power over another, you used it in an entirely defensive manner. I am impressed. Very few can summon such energies without fueling it with selfish and dark desires. Your control is impeccable Buckminster,â Celestia spoke, her voice low and calm. âœBut it also raises troubling questions about how you came by such knowledge. I shall require a full confession from you at some point, but you are not in trouble.â

âœWho would have thought Discord would save the day?â Berry asked in a confused voice.

âœI was certainly surprised,â Celestia confessed. âœSeems he has developed a soft spot for foals at some point. Perhaps Fluttershy has been more successful than anypony realises.â

âœDinky,â Bucky said in a low mumble, the tape holding the tube up his nostril binding his muzzle and making it difficult to talk, his voice raspy.

âœIs in another room, sleeping, and Luna is working to further smooth over her mind, along with PiÃaâs,â Celestia answered. âœWe cannot have Dinky Doo casting that spell again, we have already witnessed the results. She cast a corrupted version of the spell. She did not pronounce certain words right. She made herself the object of desire and affection. It is all very troubling. I do not know how you resisted Buckminster, but I am impressed that you did. I took the liberty of explaining just what happened to Miss Hooves and Miss Berry Punch, letting them know exactly what you have endured. They were quite distraught.â

âœYou just keep looking after my foal,â Derpy cried, bursting into sobs, and clinging to Berry for comfort and support. âœEven if it means hurting yourself!â she moaned, sounding as though she was in pain.

âœCalm down bubble butt,â Berry said, pulling Derpyâs head to her neck and squeezing, trying to calm the blubbering pegasus. âœIâ I would trust PiÃaâs life with you Bucky,â said Berry to Bucky, her voice becoming raspy after the third word.

âœToday also brings into light some new concerns Bucky. You. What you did today was extraordinary magic. I am no longer sure you were classified correctly. You are either a high functioning three or a low functioning four, however, either way, the line has been blurred. You have held up remarkably well to the pressures. Your force of will and your constant state of mental precaution paid off this day,â Celestia said, giving voice to her concerns. âœAnother concern is your horn, which is now cracked from channeling magical energies far beyond what your physiology is normally capable of. No magic for a while. Which means Dinky Doo is going to need another tutor, at least temporarily, somepony who can help keep an eye on her. And you for that matter. You have done some minor damage to your nervous system, you have a concussion from what appears to be blunt force trauma to your skull, and your stomach is going to remain emptied out for days after what you have done. When you do get out of the hospital, you are going under strict bed-rest.â

âœAnd if you even try to get out of the bed for any reason, I am breaking your legs,â Berry promised. âœDerpy and I have already agreed to be your caretakers. We have permission to do whatever is necessary to look after your needs.â

âœThey do,â Celestia replied, her voice firm.

Bucky groaned, a faint sound that could barely be heard. The full implications of what that entailed began to press in on his mind. This was bound to be embarrassing and demeaning.

âœLyra Heartstrings has agreed to help. I trust her, you should as well,â Celestia announced. âœIt is almost dawn. Time to raise the sun soon. You two should get some sleep. Bucky will be released into your care once his period of observation is over. Your foals are safe and are being tended to. It has been a sleepless night for both of you, I know. Miss Hooves, I will make sure that your place of employment understands that you need some time off.â

Bucky felt two lips gently kiss him, and realised with a start that it was Celestia.

âœWith greater power comes greater demands and responsibilities Buckminster, continue looking after my little ponies when you are better. For now though, sleep,â Celestia cooed, her voice soft, impossible to ignore, filling the room with comfort and warmth.

Bucky slipped away once again.

The hospital room was flooded with sunlight that made Buckyâs head hurt. He had hazy recollections of yesterday, but had trouble recalling specifics. Dinky had cast a spellâ

Yes, Dinky had cast a spell that made everypony want to be her friend. A want it need it spell that would have made everypony trample her if she wasnât kept safe.

And Bucky had kept her safe. He recalled that, but it seemed vague and distant. The details seemed hazy and jumbled. Probably because he had a concussion. He sort of recalled Celestia mentioning he had a concussion.

He had gone through extraordinary means to keep Dinky Doo safe from the ponies who could not resist her charms and would have crushed her underhoof had they caught her. Dinky really was that adorable. He felt a warm sense of pride, something he wasnât entirely used to.

His stomach growled with emptiness and the air moving through the crack in his horn made it ache like cold water being poured over a rotten tooth. He hurt all over.

He heard hooves clattering on tile and saw a familiar plum colour flash in his blurry vision.

âœYouâre awake. Derpy is with the foals. Theyâre fine. Thank you for keeping PiÃa from being trampled along with Dinky,â Berry said cheerfully, moving to Buckyâs bedside and leaning over him. âœDoctors plan on releasing you this afternoon perhaps, after another examination. I brought my wagon to haul you home in, and weâve filled it with cushions.â

âœThirsty,â Bucky croaked.

Berry stood on her hindhooves, leaning one forehoof on the bed for balance, and lifted a small plastic cup with a straw to Buckyâs lips. He took slow careful sips, it was difficult to swallow with the tube going down his throat.

âœI love you, you big dope,â Berry said while holding the glass.

âœIâm having trouble remembering everything,â Bucky grunted in a strained voice.

âœYou hit your head really hard. We saw the bloodstain on the wall. What happened?â Berry asked, looking concerned.

âœI donât remember,â Bucky groaned.

âœPiÃa could tell you more, she has a good memory of the event. Everypony really wanted to hug Dinky Doo. Maybe you tripped coming down the stairs? I mean, the bloodstain is right there at the foot of the stairs. Maybe you saw her and stumbled?â Berry reasoned.

âœThat seems likely. If I hit my head that hard, no wonder I canât remember it. Everything on the left side of my face is numb and feels funny,â Bucky said, still straining to talk.

âœYou did some nerve damage when you conked your noggin. Doctors say it might heal, might not. It is minor, shouldnât bother you to much,â Berry replied. âœNow stop talking. You sound terrible.â

The water glass was finished off with a few more sips through the straw and then set down.

Berry stood, still on hindhooves, checking over Bucky now that he was awake. One ear was still swollen, the left side of face lumpy and misshapen, there was a line of stitches that ran from his ear to his neck, and his horn had a noticeable crack in it. His horn was not the same tan colour as the rest of his hide, but red and inflamed looking , and the tissues around its base were swollen and lumpy. She peered at the crack, looking at it from one angle, and then another, and then peered into Buckyâs eyes, not breaking eye contact, practically nose to nose.

âœI am forever indebted to you for keeping PiÃa safe and keeping her secure until the spell was broken. Celestia explained in great detail what you went through, wanting to cuddle and love poor Dinky Doo and snuggle her adorable little huggable body along with everypony else,â Berry said solemnly. âœAnd I imagine it was hard on PiÃa being in that situation. You did good. Being an uptight snob allowed you to resist Dinkyâs magical adorableness.â

Bucky stared up into Berryâs eyes, and felt a strange unknown emotion welling up inside of him. He tried to lift a hoof and couldnât. Suddenly, he really wanted to be held by both Derpy and Berry.

âœI need you,â his lips moved, but no words came out.

âœI know, ✠she said, understanding what was said anyway.

âœHelp me get better,â he said wordlessly, no sound from his lips.

âœI will,â she promised, not needing to hear.

âœUp here,â he explained, his lips moving, soundless, knowing and trusting she would understand, feeling a powerful connection growing as she peered into his eyes.

âœI knew that already,â she answered, gently stroking the good side of his face.

âœI want to want you and not feel bad about it,â he mouthed, making only a faint sound as dry lips brushed together.

âœWeâll help you,â she comforted, still stroking his face.

The late afternoon sun felt warm and soothing on Buckyâs side as the wagon rolled home. The feeding tube was still up his nose, and would stay there for now, requiring constant feeding was only one of Buckyâs many needs.

In the wagon were two foals, clinging to one another, still afraid, still worried, pained to see their rescuer in the condition he was in. There were also two mares. One was Lyra Heartstrings, student of Celestia, sometimes musician, and full time philosopher. Next to her sat Bon Bon, who watched the foals with great interest, smiling occasionally, and sometimes nudging Lyra with her nose. Derpy walked next to Berry, who was pulling the wagon.

âœWhen we came back into town last night from Canterlot, everything was such a mess, looks like theyâve been cleaning everything up,â Lyra said. âœPrincess Celestia sure was worried. I havenât seen her like that since Twilight cast the want it need it spell on her doll.â

âœBuckminster, I am looking forward to getting to know you better,â Bon Bon said. âœCelestia asked me to help you. She seems to think that since I fixed Lyra, I can help fix you as well. I donât know if I can, but I am willing to try,â Bon Bon said, reaching out and gently stroking Bucky on his barrel.

âœI was once a very messed up unicorn. Iâm a type three as well. We went to school together, you and I, even though we never interacted, I remember you a bit. I was just like you. We both spent a lot of time avoiding other unicorns and playing terrible pranks to keep other unicorns from coming near us. You turned Celestiaâs office upside down,â Lyra said with a laugh. âœI enchanted the rug in front of her office to make whoopie cushion sounds when somepony walked on it. Celestia came out of her office when she heard the horrible sounds being made, and then became quite irate when she made those sounds with every step,â she added, still laughing. âœShe told me she still has that rug. She keeps it rolled up, but sometimes breaks it out when the new school year starts and little foals have to visit her office.â

There was a faint giggle from Dinky, who perked up a bit from hearing Lyraâs story. PiÃa also giggled and tittered, somehow looking miserable and amused at the same time.

âœLyra, if you teach Dinky that spell, I will crown you with a cast iron frying pan,â Bon Bon promised, gently wrapping a foreleg around Lyra as she spoke.

Lyra blinked a few times. âœIâve always wanted to be a Princess,â she replied, earning a poke from Bon Bon.

The wagon rolled slowly home as Lyra and Bon Bon continued to exchange witty banter.

Chapter 30

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The bloodstain had been cleaned from the wall. Bucky had noticed it as he had been moved up the stairs, carried in Lyraâs magic, carried down the hall, and left in a large bed with fresh smelling sheets. Berry had been waiting with a canister of concentrated food paste, calorie dense, nutrient dense, connecting it to the tube and releasing the valve.

No matter how much he took in, Bucky continued to feel empty as his horn attempted to heal and his body tried to compensate for his extreme magical output.

After dropping him in the bed, Lyra vanished, along with Bon Bon, leaving Bucky alone with Berry and Derpy in the bedroom. Berry settled into a battered old loveseat in the corner, located next to a large wooden cabinet. Derpy stood, her wings looking ruffled, her ears perked forward. She continued to stand until Berry cleared her throat, after which Derpy crawled into the bed and gently settled in next to Bucky, making odd grunting sounds and snorts that Bucky hadnât heard before, and covering him with a wing before settling into place.

âœSheâs nesting,â Berry said, her voice thoughtful and gentle. âœMama bird has an injured bird in the nest, sheâs going to be restless and aggressive until you get better.â

There was a single tap on the door, and then Sparkler entered. She crossed the room quietly, minding her hooves, and settled on the loveseat with Berry.

âœI cleaned the blood off the wall. There was large puddle on the floor too,â Sparkler said, looking distressed. âœLook, I need to know something before I get any further in my emotional involvement here. Where are we going from here? Are we going to be a family? I need to know, so I can make some decisions, I feel that I am owed at least that.â

Berry looked Sparkler in the eye and nodded, but said nothing. Sparkler, seeing Berryâs nod, sighed heavily and looked relieved.

âœThen I am in this for the long haul then,â Sparkler said. âœIâm sorry, I just needed to know, it is difficult for me to get close to other ponies sometimes because of things that have happened. I found myself getting uncomfortably close, and then this happened, and it scared me.â

Berry leaned over and hugged Sparkler, quietly, no words spoken.

âœLyra is reading the foals a Daring Do novel,â Sparkler said. âœI saw them getting settled downstairs when I came up here.â

âœHow are we going to afford this?â Berry asked, giving voice to her thoughts.

âœPrincess Celestia said she is paying for all of this, Bucky was hurt doing his job,â Derpy said, carefully squirming closer to the injured pony in her bed.

âœBut youâre not working, and you donât get paid unless you work. Sure, it was nice of them to give you some time off, but I know there are bills. Can I help?â Berry asked.

âœI have a little money from foal sitting,â Sparkler said. âœNot much, maybe a hundred bits it has taken me almost a year to save.â

âœHold on to that,â Derpy said. âœFor a rainy day. Berry, yes you can help. Iâm not too proud to ask now that you are with us. Weâll manage. Weâve always managed. The flock looks after its own.â

âœI can let go of my apartment,â Bucky whispered softly. âœI trust you both to look after me and I know youâll care for me. I donât need it.â

âœSo how long is Bucky going to be down?â Sparkler said.

âœDoctors say a few weeks,â Berry said. âœDamaged horns are crippling.â

âœBucky, should we try to contact your parents?â Derpy asked.

âœNo, they wouldnât care. Iâve been disinherited,â Bucky groaned, raising a fetlock and gently touching his snoot. âœAll I have is my name and few meaningless titles.â

Berry grunted a few times, saying nothing, making an odd hitching sound her barrel. She squirmed on the couch a bit, and then hugged Sparkler fiercely. âœDonât say that!â Berry shouted, squeezing Sparkler tightly. âœTitles donât set you above other ponies unless you let them, they are a reminder of who and what you are, the responsibilities you have, and the obligations you have in life.â

âœThat is why I took on âDoo Hoovesâ and acknowledged myself as Dinkyâs sister. I suppose Iâll be PiÃaâs sisterâ er, actually I donât know what Iâd be and I donât give a damn either,â Sparkler said.

âœDoo Hooves is a title of shame,â Derpy said, hiding her face under a wing, her voice tight and gritty.

âœWhat?â Berry asked in astonishment.

âœI made it my own,â Derpy said, still hiding under her wing.

âœIâve never heard of this before,â Berry said, her tone incredulous.

âœIt means a pony that walks in horseapples. Ground bound. My parents said it to me when they threw me out and disowned me,â Derpyâs tone was one of complete misery. âœVery old pegasus slang. And I do mean old.â The miserable mare shoved her face into Buckyâs back and lay still.

âœWell damn,â Berry grumbled.

âœI didnât want their last name any more and there are worse things to step in,â the sorrowful pegasus said.

âœI donât care what it means,â Sparkler said defiantly. âœCall me whatever, just donât call me late for dinner.â

Berry planted a loud wet kiss on Sparklerâs cheek. âœIâd be proud to call you family.â

âœI gotta go,â Bucky said.

âœOh no, you ainât leaving,â Berry retorted.

âœNo, I gotta go…â Bucky replied, his words full of urgency.

âœOh. Oh! Thatâs why we bought a bedpan. I was going to use it as helmet, but I suppose you can use it for more mundane purposes,â Berry said.

Bucky groaned, fearing the coming embarrassment, but unable to do anything about it. This was going to be painfully exposing and a test of his mental endurance. For some reason, he was far more afraid of the coming bedpan experience than he was facing the rampaging mobs that had chased him and the foals. The thought struck him as being particularly weird.

âœIâll make this easier. Iâm gone for now. Iâll be back for bedpan disposal duty. Somehow, I think it is better if I carry it,â Sparkler said. She cleared out of the room in a hurry.

âœWant me to pre-warm this for you?â Berry said, reaching under the loveseat.

Twilight Sparkle flew towards home, her flight slow and careful. Her wings were tired. She might have pegasus wings now, but she did not have pegasus endurance. And she was carrying a load.

Secured to her back was a foal, close to Rumbleâs age, a distinctive charcoal grey filly with stark blue-white hair named Cloudstreaker. As she flew, Twilight Sparkle rehearsed scenarios in her mind, of all the different ways she planned to rake Celestia over the coals. Sure, Celestia wasnât directly responsible for this, but her government agents were, and their personal biases had broken up a family.

Twilight Sparkle intended to make Celestia responsible.

The foal had become sick, as foals tended to do at times. It was a common enough problem. The problem came when Cloudchaser couldnât prove her marriage, and her sister and Thunderlane had tried to come to her defense. An obnoxious group of biased social workers cried neglectful parenting and made a move, citing a number of reasons why Cloudchaser was unfit as mother, none of them particularly valid in Twilight Sparkleâs opinion. Everything was jumbled and confusing, and actual details seemed scarce, other than the whole thing being a railroad job.

Twilight had very nearly leveled the entire building out of sheer anger, becoming righteously indignant and finally using her Princess status for what she felt was a darn good reason. Social justice.

Unicorns! Twilight groused to herself. Sometimes, she really hated unicorns.

The fact that she had been a unicorn did not escape her.

Cloudstreaker had been left in one of Fillydelphiaâs many orphanariums, unloved and unwanted, one of the many countless foals within the local governmentâs care. It had taken Twilight forever to find her after she had been shuffled around so many times.

Twilight streaked through the night, righteous anger fueling her flight.

âœI am not sure that I did the right thing sister,â Celestia said, up late, pacing back and forth over the rug, not wearing her shoes, her regalia, or her crown. Her face was creased with worry.

âœTechnically, I was the one who selectively edited all of the problematic memories,â Luna said, trying to calm her sister.

âœBut I allowed it!â Celestia retorted, stopping in mid step.

âœIf left unchecked the results would have been disastrous I am sure,â Luna said, justifying her actions.

âœI hate doing it. So does Twilight,â Celestia retorted. She resumed her pacing, her ears back, the corner of her mouth twitching slightly.

âœIt is an unpleasant task, of that there can be no doubt, but we cannot allow an entire town to become polluted by such thoughts. And so many other foals as well. Who knows what strange hungers might have incubated in such an environment,â Luna argued, settling into a lounge sofa.

âœSeems like a violation of trust,â Celestia returned, closing her eyes.

âœMaybe, but you do not see dreams like I do, or the perverse hungers that already exist. Weâve saved many, and we will live with the burden of our guilt. We are immortal. It is our duty to carry this burden,â Luna postulated. âœDo you really want to scrap your Ponyville Project and start again elsewhere? Another Fillydelphia perhaps? How did the city of lesbian unity work out? All those mares that might have been absorbed into a herd marriage had to go somewhere… the city of sour grapes. Or Las Pegasus, where the government that governs least, governs best?â

âœStop!â Celestia cried, her ears dropping down beside her face.

âœSister, it is not my intent to anger you or hurt you, but you have been chasing these ideas of yours since before I was banished, creating cities and trying to cultivate their growth. The Ponyville Project has been your only true success so far, allowing it to go to ruin because of one mischievous foal would be folly,â Luna explained.

âœYou are right of course, but the long term has to reconcile with the short term sometimes,â Celestia said, looking painfully guilty.

âœCadance is coming soon, she will make you feel better,â Luna assured.

âœBuckminster and his friends show hopeful progress. The elements of a great friendship keep manifesting. Generousity, kindness, and I think we saw loyalty during the incident in Ponyville. When I touched his mind, the repressed sense of devotion was so strong already. If only we could get him to let go,â Celestia said, changing the subject.

âœFor me, loyalty is divided into three equal parts. Duty, devotion, and dedication,â Luna replied, looking interested, nodding her head slightly as she spoke. âœI also take the antiquated stance that there is no loyalty to objects or notions, or even nations, only friends, family, and like-minded compatriots.â

Celestia stopped pacing and looked thoughtful, staring at a lit candelabra in Lunaâs chambers. Luna detested electric lights.

âœI owe no loyalty to Ponyville as a place or an object, ✠Luna said thoughtfully, âœhowever I do owe the citizenry for their loyalty to me. Hence I protect them, even through complicated moral issues, doing what is best for them, even if I have some moral quandary or disagree with the course of action on a personal level, because of loyalty I can rise above my personal objections and do what is needed for the greater good. Much like you did about a thousand or so years ago. And you were right for doing that. I can overcome my personal objections about that event because of my loyalty to you.â

Celestia looked very startled and surprised for a moment. âœThank you Luna, I do not not know how to reply,â Celestia said in an unsettled tone.

âœEnough, this talk bores me. How about we organise an army of my guard, scout carefully through uncharted territory, after which we then ransack and plunder the kitchen for brownies or other mood altering delectables?â Luna asked.

âœSummon your captain.â Celestia commanded, smiling.

Chapter 31

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âœBerry, can you tell me a story?â Bucky asked as a new canister was secured to his feeding tube. âœIâm feeling jittery and out of sorts,â he added, his voice dry and wavery.

âœI can do that,â Berry said, settling back into the loveseat, a glass of soft cider close by. âœWhat did you want to hear a story about?â the earth pony mare asked, having just returned not too long ago from attending to the beer brewing.

Derpy shifted her weight slightly, moving somewhat to a new position, keeping Bucky covered with a wing and a protective leg. She was yawning and sleepy, and hadnât slept well, torn between a need for sleep and being protective.

Instincts were still hard on equines.

âœWell, considering us, I wanted to hear more about herds, and what happened,â Bucky answered, feeling quite warm and secure, partially covered by an over protective pegasus mare who wanted to sit on him like he was an egg, and she had said so on more than one occasion.

âœIâm gonna go get Dinky and PiÃa for this,â Sparkler said, leaving the room suddenly.

Berry waited, taking sip of cider, looking thoughtful and rather melancholy. She thought about dark times and dark days, when society had nearly come apart.

Sparkler returned with two foals, and two adult mares, who all barged into the bedroom, making Derpy snort loudly and fluff out her feathers, making the mare look larger than she really was.

Sparkler settled carefully on the bed, laying on the corner, legs folded beneath her belly. The two foals climbed into the loveseat with Berry. Lyra and Bon Bon grabbed large cushions from a pile in the corner and then sat on the floor, near the large wooden cabinet, Lyra looking eager.

Derpy, still feeling flustered somewhat by outsiders in her nest, close to her injured flockmate, continued to make a few snorting sounds as she moved to cover Bucky a little more, and a faint growl could be heard.

Nopony took offense, there was a moment of inter-tribal understanding, Derpy was just doing what she had to in order to feel comfortable.

âœWell,â said Berry, settling in, and clearing her throat a little, âœa long time ago, there were herds. But we already knew that. And problems arose. The problems mostly came, at least as I understand it, from the unicorns in the upper levels of society, and the troubles trickled down to other levels of society, in particular it hit the pegasi clans hard.â Berry took a deep breath, rubbed her barrel with a hoof, and then pulled PiÃa close for a hug. âœMarriage and war have a lot in common. You move to declare your intentions, you establish the rules of engagement, you set some standards that both sides try to follow. There are proclamations to be made, and there are some things you just donât do, in love or war. At one point, love and war broke down in our society,â Berry said, now hugging Dinky as well.

âœAfter Luna was gone, the greater houses became power hungry and dangerous, Celestia being alone, her power and influence weakened. There was lots of squabbling, but not outright war, there had not been war for a while, and everypony wanted to keep that. But there was a war happening, a dirty war, undeclared with no terms, no rules of engagement. Within the herds of the greater houses, the mares, all of which came from different houses, began to squabble and fight among one another as the political games began to intensify. At first, it was just squabbling. Lo and behold, the real trouble started when mares began to die from mysterious illnesses. Many suspected magic, poison, dirty underhoofed dealings. A new form of war was happening, and it was the worst sort of war,â Berry explained.

Berry looked sad for a moment, raising her eyes to the ceiling, pulling the two foals she loved closer. âœEventually, some pony did the unthinkable, and some mare poisoned the foals of another mare, a fellow wife mare, within the sacred herd structure. Hard to say who did it first, history being what it is, but after that, it was open season. There was a black and dirty war going on inside the houses themselves, with no rules, no terms of engagement, no means to cry truce or sue for peace. Mare killing mare, mare killing foal, and in many instances, siblings killing siblings. The nobles, never ones to do their dirty work for themselves, enlisted their trusted pegasi guards to protect themâ And maybe do a little skullduggery for them. Soon enough, the pegasi herds suffered the same problem, and the inviolate trust of the herd structure and the ability to trust other mares, your fellow wives, with your own foals was gone. Society fell apart, griffons began to encroach, the borders shrank, the houses were all too busy dealing with inside the house warfare to band together and deal with threats to Equestria. It all came to a gristly conclusion when the Matron Mare of House Avarice magically compelled her husband to kill all of his other wives and his own foals he had had with them. She used an obedience spell, and he was powerless to resist her. Celestia was forced to lop his head off for his crimes, and the Matronâs head as well. Word has it she didnât want to lop his head off, but had her hoof forced if she wanted to have any sort of standing army left to protect her remaining loyal subjects,â Berry spoke, her voice strong and melodical somehow, Berry feeling very much like the bards in her long family history.

âœAfter that, Celestia wrote a new law. No more marriages with mixed houses. If a herd was to be established, it was to be done with sisters. A stallion was free to marry all the sisters he wanted. Celestia figured that sisters would look after one another. She created the âœSisterhooves Socialâ to help foster a feeling of unity and stem the bloody warfare going on behind closed doors. It seemed to help for a while, but it really became a case of ponies learning how to hide their violence better and new ways to dispose of bodies, like using transmutation spells to turn them into candy and feeding them to orphans, if the stories are to be believed,â Berry said, holding Dinky and PiÃa as they shuddered from her story, clinging ever tighter to Berry. âœImportant to note, most of the earth ponies took no part in this, they were working too hard to engage in this bloody business and trying not to starve or get eaten by griffons. The various clan structures used this as an argument saying it was time for the noble houses to go, especially the greater houses. The entire nation moved ever closer to actual war, right out in the streets. War, like marriage, must be declared, and ponies were gearing up for a big olâ party to that end. The war between the Royal Pony Sisters had spread, infecting both wives and sisters of noble houses, spreading strife and dissension. Finally, in one heated quill stroke, Celestia signed a divorce treaty for all the noble houses, dissolving all marriages in the upper through lower nobility, and got rid of herd marriage all together, trying to keep the country from being torn apart. She declared a state of monogamy, insisting that it was the only way to stop all the horrible fighting and treachery.â

âœWow,â Lyra said.

âœIt stabilised the upper levels of society, but it completely destroyed the earth pony way of life,â Bon Bon said, her voice soft and thoughtful. âœFarms needed large families, numbers, to throw at a task or a problem and wear it down.â

âœSo why not just outlaw herd marriages among unicorns?â Sparkler asked.

âœBecause that would be a horribly tribalist thing to do Sparkler,â Lyra said patiently. âœTelling one tribe no but allowing the other two tribes to continue.â

âœI guess youâre right Lyra, still feels wrong somehow,â Sparkler said.

âœYeah it does,â Lyra agreed.

âœNo easy answers I suppose,â Bon Bon said, looking pensive and sad.

âœIt gets worse,â Berry continued.

âœHow does it get worse?â Sparkler asked.

âœA large army of jilted mares realised the odds were against them ever finding a decent marriage. Just too many mares, not enough stallions. They formed a coalition. That coalition eventually became an army. That army threatened war. It all came to a big head, popping like some stinky boil. To stave off war, Celestia was forced to break off a part of her own kingdom, and she gave a patch of land to the jilted mares, who formed the city of Fillydelphia, which was more than just a clever play on words for a name. It was literally the city of fillies, young females mostly who had no chance of ever finding a mate. They became their own city state, a republic allowed to exist on the Equestrian borders,â Berry answered, looking at Sparkler, and then taking a long drink of cider.

âœHow does a city survive without new foals for the population?â Sparkler asked, looking concerned.

âœFillydelphia became a community of foalnappers. They moved into surrounding territories, snatching up and stealing foals, they sent out agents into the world at large, gathering up orphans, the unloved, and the unwatched from the unwary. They had a manic need to get as many foals as possible. Because they took in and cared for so many orphans, Celestia was forced to turn a blind eye to the other foalnappings that took place. She was far too weak and powerless at that point, and something had to be done with the orphans left behind by all the interfamilial warfare and killings. Some say that the tradition continues to this day and they point to Fillydelphiaâs many orphanariums and how full they stay. Many a mother has claimed to lost their foal to Fillydelphiaâs overzealous foal protective services for no reason at all, and many of Equestriaâs orphans find their way to Fillydelphia, in one way or another,â Berry replied, looking agitated. âœThe old wounds still hurt. Marriage of all sorts is hated in Fillydelphia, and it is a city that is still mostly made up of mares. The offspring of the jilted mares remain jilted, hating stallions, hating marriage, hating traditional family structures. I feel bad for them.â

âœAwful,â Bon Bon said.

âœI mean, I personally am not into stallions, I think everypony knows which way I swing, but I donât go around hating them or trying to tear down families. Sweet Cheeks and I are family and we want familyâ stuff,â Lyra said, shrugging, not sure how to end her statement.

âœI guess at some point, Fillydelphia was absorbed by Equestria again,â Sparkler said.

âœWhich leaves us and what we're edging into,â Derpy said, her head now resting on Buckyâs shoulder, rising and falling with his breathing.

âœYeah, us,â Berry agreed. âœAnd our little forming herd. And the terrible mess it is bound to cause.â

âœIt's tragic and funny that Lyra and I can have our marriage recognised and accepted but herd marriage remains a social taboo. But I can remember when our marriage would have been a social taboo,â Bon Bon said, casting her eyes downward.

âœHerd marriage became synonymous with âfoal murderingâ and other fun words of that nature,â Lyra said, scowling. âœYou say it now, and it still makes ponies cringe. Well, sometimes. Things are getting better I suppose.â

âœI just want mommy to be happy. And I want a daddy,â Dinky said, snuggling into Berry. âœAnother mommy might be nice too, I donât think you can have too many of those,â she added, her voice muffled from her speaking into Berryâs pelt.

Berry visibly melted, her ears sagging downwards, her face going soft and drooping, and she squeezed the two foals in her grasp.

âœIâll share,â PiÃa said, pulling Dinky closer.

âœHuh. Well. I canât look at that,â Lyra announced. âœSweet Cheeks, my eyes are going to melt out of my skull in a minute, be a dear and fetch a bucket.â

âœThereâs a bedpan,â Berry replied helpfully.

âœShh, my egg is sleeping,â Derpy said in a hushed whisper, her head still on his shoulder, her wing wrapped over his body, and her ears remained perked.

Chapter 32

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One very frustrated and over emotional alicorn allowed the door to shut behind her as she departed. What was now going on behind the closed door was deeply personal and private, a moment for family members to treasure. And Twilight was not in the mood for socialisation.

She was furious. Red eyed, bleary, fatigued, and furious.

Cloudstreaker was returned home, to a family she had some trouble remembering, but it was a bond that could be fixed in time. Twilight Sparkle was grateful she had a chance to help restore a family.

Exhausted, tired, but seething with rage, Twilight Sparkle spread her wings and took off for Canterlot, leaving a wake of stunned pegasi behind her, all of whom saw the alicorn in new light. A single blue streak trailed behind her, leaving behind a rainbow coloured contrail as it flew to catch up.

There were no mothers quite like pegasus mothers.

Nature had to work overtime to create the pegasus female. Pegasi, living among the clouds and the high mountain peaks, had to share territory with dragons, griffons, drakes, wyverns, and all manner or monstrous hordes, all of which considered pegasi young to be delicious snacks, a highly desirable meal that was a lot like certain types of potato chips. You couldnât eat just one. Pegasi rookeries were heavily defended, well protected, and pegasi mothers were dangerous. For a long time, it was a dragon rite of passage that a juvenile dragon had to go and snatch a pegasus foal and return home with it, something many dragons perished doing.

Pegasi protectiveness extended far beyond their young, if given the right circumstances. They were loyal friends, staunch companions, and faithful mates if their instincts were tapped.

So it was no surprise that one grey pegasus mare hadnât done much to leave the bed, guarding her fallen flockmate. Her mane was dirty and disheveled, she only took food that was brought to her, and only got up to relieve herself when she absolutely had to. Instincts were powerful things.

And Berry Punch was feeling a little peeved at a moment. Derpy was running herself ragged, and Berry didnât want to have two ponies to look after.

âœLyra is off with the foals, visiting Diamond Tiara in the hospital. Derpy, you need a bath. This room stinks of hot sweaty pony. Both of you need a bath actually. I know you canât get your horn wet, but I think we can get you into the bath and keep your horn dry. Just keep your head out of the water,â Berry said, looking stern. âœAnd Derpy, youâre going into the tub with him. To hold him up. Heâs weak as a kitten.â

Derpy grumbled but did not reply. She sullenly rose up out of the bed as Berry carefully disconnected the feeding tube from the now empty canister, and closed off the valve. And then, she stood by the bed and waited, gesturing with her eyes that Bucky should be placed on her back again.

Derpy rose into a hover, bumped her head on the ceiling, she growled, staring up at the ceiling, which wouldnât last long in a fight with a pegasus.

Especially a nesting pegasus with a lot of pent up frustration.

The broody mare gently lifted the limp unicorn and carefully arranged him on Berryâs back, making sure his legs were comfortably situated, his hooves nearly dragging on the ground. Bucky grunted a bit as Berry shifted his weight around, and then she slowly took off to the bathroom.

In the bathroom, after the tub had filled a bit, Derpy took Bucky into a hover and then gently lowered herself and Bucky into the hot water. Bucky hissed as the hot water hit his backside, squirming, the pegasus gently easing them both into the water.

âœIâm going to go feed myself,â Berry announced, departing.

Derpy eased back into the tub, pulling Bucky up to her barrel, leaning him back with her. Bucky tensed, at much as his frail body would allow, suddenly aware of a number of very concerning issues.

First and foremost, two small somethings pressed into his lower back, near his hips, standing out in sharp relief, two sharp little pebbles protruding from two small pillowy mounds of flesh. And below thatâ There was something that was even hotter than the water pressing up against his flesh. It moved as he squirmed, making the mare move with it. He felt two forelegs around him, pulling him closer, shifting his body and his weight around, trying to make him comfortable.

As Bucky flailed feebly, panic rising up in his barrel, two lips brushed up against the good side of his face, from behind, a gentle kiss, and two legs pulled tighter.

Very much to his surprise, Bucky found himself relaxing, feeling oddly secure, even with the embarrassing knowledge that the mare had her squishy bits pressed up against his back. He could feel her squirm as well, shifting her hips, her whole body tensing and relaxing, her hot breath on his cheek.

âœI can feel your filly bits,â Bucky confessed in a shuddering whisper.

âœAnd my teats too, probably,â the broody mare replied.

âœOh yes, there are those,â replied Bucky, his voice wavering.

âœFair is fair,â Derpy replied, moving a hoof downward, brushing over a very personal location on Buckyâs anatomy.

âœOh hoo hooââ Bucky breathed, squirming in the broody mareâs now amorous embrace. She scrubbed gently with her hooves, using the hot water, rubbing the crusty sweat out of his thin pelt.

Something as warm as the sun pressed up against Buckyâs spine, grinding gently against him as he was scrubbed, the vigorous motion causing him to rub up against the hidden warmth. Two little hard points pressed into his flesh, poking through his pelt, rubbing up against his skin directly.

âœThis isnât so bad, is it?â Derpy asked.

Bucky could not make a coherent reply, he had gone completely limp in the mareâs embrace, his head resting on her angled neck and shoulder, his body completely draped over her body, locked in her embrace.

âœWhen two ponies are close, things are bound to touch. It happens. Some touches are just a touch and should be ignored, other touches have meaning,â the amorous mare said, her hoof suddenly plunging deep into the water, stroking Buckyâs thigh, and then it slip upward, and she began to stroke something down there below his sheath and near his thighs.

âœOohumum,â Bucky murmured, his eyes closing, feeling a strange feeling, the pegasusâs breathing was strangely hypnotic.

âœDinky Doo needs a sibling or six and Iâve found someone I want to make a nest with. Do not disappoint me, my heart is fragile and I am so afraid right now,â Derpy whispered. âœYou and Berry and I are going to have lots of little foals for me to protect,â she murmured, her voice almost a mewling cry of pleasure. âœIâve seen how you are with foals, it makes me want to jump your bones and make you mine,â Derpy explained, her voice nearly panting, making her intentions very clear by stroking Buckyâs water softened pouch of flesh where Derpyâs real interests were hidden and carefully stored.

âœOh my goodness, Iâm gonna have to go rub one out,â Berry said, standing in the door, her eyes wide, the bathroom filling with the scent of heady perfume.

Derpy smiled at Berry, still stroking and squeezing. âœYou were right Berry,â Derpy announced in sultry tones.

âœRight?â asked Bucky in a whisper, his breath coming in slow gasps.

âœI figured this was our best chance to break you down and try to make you whole again. Youâre like an infant right now, you have to rely on us for everything. Weâre slamming through your barriers, your shame, your guilt, and your repression with every change of the bedpan, every touch, every caress. And your brain is receptive right now because of your physical and emotional state,â Berry explained.

âœCelestia said something about busting down your barriers and that youâd be âimprintableâ for a few weeks, whatever that means,â Derpy said.

âœYou suffered a mental break Bucky, at least that is what was explained to us. I only understand it a little bit, but you were faced with a situation so disturbing that it broke your mind a bit. Mental trauma. Iâm not sure what was so traumatic about Dinky being adorable, but it broke you in a few places,â Berry explained. âœCelestia said you would be impressionable and imprintable for a while, and to use this time well.â

Derpy squeezed gently, nuzzling her nose along Buckyâs good ear, her breath making his ear quiver. She was glad the words were being handled by Berry, Derpy had more effective ways of leaving an impression. The tip of her tongue traveled along the edge of Buckyâs ear, causing his whole body to tense and wiggle. She withdrew, tasting salt, feeling very pleased with herself as she continued to gently rub two objects of great interest to her with the soft edge of her fetlock.

âœAnd Bon Bon can help you, apparently. Bon Bon helped Lyra after Lyra suffered a bad mental break. Celestia seems to think she can help, even though sheâs not a psychologist, but she is an earth pony, and we have special feelings about herds and ponies. Certain senses, even if we canât always describe them,â Berry added. âœBon Bon is probably gifted with a strong herd sense, just like I am.â

âœWhy her and not you?â Bucky asked, his brain struggling to reason as his senses were overcome. He felt a powerful sense of security and safety, but he also felt afraid and confused.

âœIâm involved, and she has an outside view?â Berry replied, her reply more of a question as her tone was quizzical. âœWhatever happened, it did more damage to the inside of your mind than the outside of your body.â

âœWha-hey!â Bucky gasped, feeling something soft brushing up against his dock.

Berry dragged the chair over the floor and sat down, resting her hind hooves on the side of the tub, just as she had done not that long ago. âœBucky, you need to let go. Right now, you are safe, and you are not doing anything that you need to feel guilty or ashamed of. This isnât something to be embarrassed over. Have you ever even looked a mare? I mean looked, really looked, like when a mare is displaying to you?â Berry asked.

Bucky shook his head no.

âœSo all those times Iâve lifted my tail and gave it a swish, youâve turned away rather than catch a brief peek at what Iâve had to offer?â Berry questioned.

Bucky nodded.

âœThatâs awful, because I checked you out the first day I met you, at the birthday party. I found it irresistible because you kept trying to hide it.â Berry confessed.

Bucky whimpered, a faint sound, and Derpy ground her filly bits against his spine.

âœThis is why so many unicorns wear clothes and have created a fashion industry. Just more unicorn neurosis trying to prove somehow that society needs to change its values to accommodate it,â Berry huffed. She turned in her chair, pivoting her body, leaning back in the chair, making herself comfortable.

She was also totally exposed, sitting with her legs sprawled wide open, both hind hooves resting on the edge of the bathtub, instead of sitting with her legs pressed together like she usually did.

Bucky jerked his head away and closed his eyes.

âœMeh, Iâve seen it before,â Derpy said, her tongue briefly licking her lips.

Berry stretched, raising her forelegs up over her head, extending her spine, leaning backwards, and kicking her hind legs outwards and apart.

âœBerry, when the time comes, I am going to make you my saltlick,â Derpy growled.

âœIntriguing,â Berry responded, raising an eyebrow. âœNow why would you be so ashamed to look at this if I want you to look at this?â she asked Bucky. âœThis is an invitation, you shouldnât feel bad for looking if a mare wants you looking. Besides, weâre naked, stuff peeks out. Stallions unsheath sometimes, mares wink out, stuff happens, and you just tune it out and ignore it, but you donât take what is beautiful and make it dirty and unclean.â

Derpy shifted and Bucky felt the two pebbly protrusions travel along his skin.

âœThis,â Berry said, pointing down at her exposed and winking inner flesh, âœis not dirty. It is nothing to be ashamed of. Foal batter goes in, foals come squirting out, and this is a vital part of being a pony, making other ponies.â

âœPlus, it is salty, and ponies like to lick salt,â Derpy added in husky voice.

âœI watched Dinky go squirting out of Derpy and it was the most beautiful thing Iâve ever seen in my life,â Berry said, nodding her head at Derpy, who was looking up at her. âœEver watch a foal being born?â

Bucky shook his head no and grunted.

âœWould you like to see a foal come squirting out?â Berry asked. âœBecause Iâd like for you to be there when I have mine. After all, you are going to help me make them.â

Bucky squirmed and gave a faint cry. He opened up his eyes, shot a brief glance at Berryâs exposed filly bits, and then looked her in the eyes.

âœHey, you, my filly bits are down there, stop looking at me in the eye when Iâm talking to you, you big dumb numpty,â Berry huffed. âœThis is difficult to wrap my brain around. I canât imagine a colt and a filly not being curious at all. I was just hitting my double digit ages when a colt nosed me for the first time and I nosed him, and we spent some time checking each other out, figuring out what made us different, even doing a little touchy feely but nothing to serious. Colts look funny back there, all dangly and hangs down like a church bell.â

âœI think I was about the same age. I pinned down a pegasus colt on a cloud and gave him the once over. I was curious,â Derpy confessed. âœHe tried to resist and I had to swat him down a few times. Even back then, my eyes made me an outsider.â

âœI like your eyes,â Bucky whispered. âœI like flawed things that I cannot fix or control. I like watching things I have no control over. Like lava lamps. I become fixated over things I have no control over. And Berry is wild and unpredictable and I never know what she is going to do next.â

âœAw,â Derpy said, in a sweet syrupy voice.

âœFinally, some open honesty,â Berry said in a relieved tone.

âœWhen I would be open and honest in therapy with my mother and father, they would use what I said to hurt me later,â Bucky mumbled, closing his eyes once again. âœAlways hurting!â Bucky spat, his body jerking slightly.

Derpy squeezed and pressed her muzzle against Buckyâs face, just below his ear.

âœFinally I stopped talking,â Bucky confessed.

âœYou talk plenty, you stopped being open,â Berry corrected, her tone gentle. âœI need you to be open. Like my legs.â

âœThere is a little radish in there someplace that I need to find,â Derpy said.

âœBucky, you are being obstinate. Stop that. Just open your eyes and have a look, I promise it doesnât have teeth and it will not bite you,â Berry said affectionately.

âœYouâre not all that pink down there Berry, more of a red wine colour,â Derpy observed, causing Bucky to twitch slightly.

âœLook Bucky, donât make me point out the obvious here,â Berry threatened good naturedly. âœCome on, just have a peek.â

Bucky squeezed his eyes shut even tighter.

âœFine. You leave me no choice. Just think Bucky, at some point in your life, youâve had your motherâs vagina wrapped around your neck and your dangly little colt bits have brushed up against her filly bits. Just think about that for few minutes!â Berry exclaimed.

Chapter 33

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âœMama Bird, I was wondering if I could come in and borrow Bucky, there is a lesson I am trying to teach Dinky,â Lyra asked.

âœSure,â Derpy said, her head resting on Buckyâs withers, her ears perked for trouble. Not that there was any trouble. Bucky had fainted in the bathtub after Berryâs troubling remark, and was still somewhat addled.

Dinky followed Lyra in, and Lyra gestured to Dinky to get up on the bed. Dinky did so, slowly and carefully, and then walked over to Buckyâs side, prodding him with a hoof gently, followed by a nuzzle that touched her mother and Bucky at the same time.

âœDinky is going to have a close look at your horn,â Lyra explained. âœThis is a rare chance for her, because it is cracked.â

Dinky gently stepped up to where Buckyâs head lay on a pillow, and peered down at his horn, looking thoroughly disgusted.

âœIf you look at the crack, you can see the inside of the horn. It is full of marrow, a channel of nerves, and a few glands near the base. You can see the marrow, or what is sometimes called the âquickâ through the crack in the casing. The casing is made of hair actually, well, sort of. Just like horns on certain other animals. It is flexible and can be made to wiggle if touched,â Lyra explained. âœThe horn isnât the only thing that makes a unicorn a unicorn.â

âœWhat else is there?â Dinky asked. âœI donât see anything else.â

âœWell, inside, there are glands, like under the horn. Unicorns also have several glands called the thaumaturgical glands and a special series of connected systems called the thaumaturgical system. It is a series of glands and special nerves, as well as a connecting series of vessels that carry a liquid called mana though the body. Sort of like blood vessels that allow blood to travel though the body. Right now, with a cracked horn, Bucky has no mana, or very little, and everything his body is doing right now is going towards repairing his horn. A long time ago, most unicorns died from this condition, not being able to eat enough food. Food gets converted into mana through a special process, refilling the various glands, bladders, and vessels that make up the thaumaturgical system,â Lyra explained in slow carefully pronounced words as Dinky stared at Buckyâs horn and occasionally poked Bucky on his shoulder.

âœSo unicorns are different than other ponies,â Dinky said, her brow furrowed in deep concentration and her ears twitching.

âœAll of the tribes have physiological differences,â Lyra replied.

âœBig word,â Dinky said, frowning.

âœIâm sorry, I-â

âœI know what it means, you just keep tossing it around,â Dinky interrupted, causing Bucky to give a weak chuckle. âœI get read to a lot and I ask what words mean. But I do appreciate keeping it simple.â

âœOf course,â Lyra replied, smirking slightly.

Derpy reached out with her wing and stroked Dinky, looking at her and feeling thankful for such a good foal. Dinky folded her legs and gently settled against Buckyâs side.

âœPegasi have special salivary glands in their mouths that allow them to preen their wings, coating them with a waxy oily substance that protects them from water, and keeps the feathers healthy and shiny. Pegasi also have modified adrenaline glands, these glands emit a chemical that is faintly magical in nature that allows the skin and soft tissues to harden, allowing pegasi to survive high speed flight and high g-force maneuvers. Inside of their ears, pegasi have special inner ear organs that help them keep balance and direction while in flight,â Lyra said, sitting down beside the bed on the floor.

âœWhat about earth ponies?â Dinky quipped.

âœEarth ponies are amazing and mysterious creatures, and there is a lot about them we still donât know,â Lyra said.

âœWe donât?â Dinky asked.

âœNope,â replied Lyra. âœIn their frogs, earth ponies have special glands, and nopony knows what they do exactly. It is a mystery. Theyâve been studied now for hundreds of years and they remain mysterious. Earth pony females had odd reproductive cycles that affect other females from other tribes. Earth pony females come into estrus four times a year and release two eggs when they do so. Now, both eggs are not always fertilised, but there are double the chances for a pregnancy. Being in close proximity to an earth pony female can cause females from other tribes to synch up their cycles, also causing other females from other tribes to experience estrus four times a year. Having an earth pony female around is good for any female that is having trouble becoming pregnant,â Lyra explained, grinning sheepishly.

âœWhat about stallions?â Dinky asked, looking curious.

âœEarth pony stallions have a special gift. With, uh, prolonged contact during certain activities, earth pony males can make a female come into estrus at any time, during any season, just by repeatedly trying to make foals over and over,â Lyra said, grinning sheepishly and blushing. âœThis is why there are so many earth ponies. Theyâre gifted at making foals.â

âœWill Berry Punch help mommy make a foal?â Dinky asked, looking very serious and thoughtful.

âœI would say it is very likely,â Lyra replied.

âœSo PiÃa has funny glands in her frogs. Sheâs ticklish in her frogs,â Dinky announced, her attention drifting someplace else. âœThat thing that makes pegasi have hard skin, is that why mommy doesnât get hurt much when she crashes?â she asked, her attention drifting off to other places.

âœIt helps. When pegasi sense a crash coming, those modified glands flood the body with the chemical it secretes to help pegasi brace for impact.

âœNeat,â Dinky replied.

Bon Bon settled on the bed, laying close to Bucky, and touched him gently with her hoof. It had been difficult for Berry to lure Derpy out of the room, but Bon Bon wanted to work alone. Bucky seemed fairly lucid, was propped up on pillows, had a drink with a straw, and a fresh canister hooked to his feeding tube.

âœI want to talk with you, and I need you to be open with me,â Bon Bon said. âœAnd you can call me Bonnie if you want,â she added.

Bucky nodded.

âœNow, I donât know why Princess Celestia seems to think I can help you, but she seemed very confident about it. I helped Lyra, Iâm not sure how I helped Lyra, but Lyra was a very broken pony when I met her,â Bon Bon said as she settled in and got comfortable, within touching distance of Bucky.

âœWhat happened to Lyra?â Bucky asked.

Bon Bon sighed. She knew she had Lyraâs permission to talk about anything, but it didnât make it any easier. It made Bon Bon sad to think about Lyraâs broken days.

âœLyra suffered a mental break. Nopony knows exactly what caused Lyra to suffer the mental break, but she arrived in Ponyville by train one day, and she was a very broken unicorn. She kept hearing sounds. Bells. Noises. She ranted and muttered to herself. And ponies avoided her and kept their distance. Seeing that she was alone and suffering, I went to help her,â Bon Bon said.

âœWhy would you do that?â Bucky asked. âœWhen nopony else did?â

âœWe earth ponies have strong herd instincts. She was alone. Outside of the herd. She was vulnerable. And I couldnât believe nopony had gone to help her. I took Lyra to the hospital, got her checked in, and Princess Celestia showed up not long after. She thanked me for finding her student, and was quite worried. She tried to help Lyra, and couldnât do very much to fix what was wrong. But Lyra was broken and needed somepony to care for her, and Celestia asked me if I would be willing to help a fellow pony. I said that I would. Celestia asked me to write her letters about Lyraâs progress and about our friendship if we started to develop one,â Bon Bon said, smiling faintly, her eyes misting over. âœI didnât know that Lyra was going to become my best friend and the love of my life back then, she was so hurt. So broken. Celestia explained to me that Lyra had some issues, even back when she was a student.â

âœCelestia wants me to write letters as well about my emerging relationship with Derpy and Berry,â Bucky replied. âœHow odd. Celestia must like letters.â

âœPrincess Celestia probably just wants to know that the ponies she loves are okay,â Bon Bon returned.

âœOf course,â Bucky answered, âœdo continue.â

âœLyra was pretty messed up when I found her,â Bon Bon said, looking troubled. âœSheâd scream if you touched her. Sheâd cut herself sometimes. Nothing too bad, just bad enough to snap her out of these fugue like states. I didnât give up though, I kept being nice to her and trying to touch her and let her know that a pony cared for her.â

âœI understand that actually, a little too well,â Bucky replied.

âœCelestia said you suffered a mental break. A bad one. And that you need ponies to love you and look after you, just like Lyra did if you want to get better. Do you want to get better?â Bon Bon asked. âœI asked Lyra this a long time ago, back when she could barely talk. She broke down and cried and started begging âyesâ over and over.â

âœYes, I am miserable the way I am,â Bucky admitted, finding it oddly easy to open up to Bon Bon.

âœGood, I want you to get better,â Bon Bon said, gently touching him with a hoof.

âœHow do I change for the better and still hold back all this magic I have? How does Lyra do it? I donât understand. Lyra seems almost normal now.â

âœLyra practices regular magic use, keeps to her hobbies, and keeps me as the central focus in her life, pushing everything else to the side. She trusts me and talks to me. She tells me everything. Everything, even the really troubling things that scare me sometimes. And I never stop being her friend. I never judge her. I make sure that Lyra knows that she can tell me anything at all. It is a troubling relationship though. Lyra doesnât function well on her own and needs me around a lot of the time. Lyra says she cannot really connect to the herd around her unless I am there with her,â Bon Bon said.

âœWait, you are not with her now,â Bucky said, somewhat worried.

âœOnly for a short time. Sheâll be alright. She knows her limits and will come running to me if there is a problem or if she feels panicked.â Bon Bon replied.

âœWhat did you mean exactly by Lyra cannot connect to the herd without you?â Bucky asked, taking a sip of ice water after he spoke.

âœIt is strangeâ but Lyra depends on me like a blind pony depends on a trusted friend. Lyra cannot connect to other ponies very well, and she cannot connect to the herd around her, but she can connect to me. So she depends on me to have that connection for her. It is tricky to explain,â Bon Bon said, her muzzle scrunching.

âœActually, I think I understand,â Bucky sighed. âœIâm blind too.â

âœOh,â Bon Bon answered.

âœItâs funny, but without Berry Punch, I cannot seem to connect to anything. And now that you mention your situation with Lyra, I find this all very puzzling but familiar,â Bucky commented, sounding more than a little confused.

âœDo you love Derpy?â Bon Bon asked, her brow creasing.

âœYes,â Bucky sighed. âœI have so much trouble telling her that though. Or even getting myself to admit itâ wait, why am I telling you this? I barely know you!â

Bon Bon shrugged and soothed Buckyâs nerves with a gentle touch from her hoof, rubbing his ribs softly.

âœSame thing happens with Berry Punch, I just start blurting out stuff,â Bucky said, setting his head down upon his pillows and looking puzzled.

Bon Bon gently laid a hoof on Buckyâs shoulder. âœMaybe Berry Punch is your seeing eye pony, just like I am for Lyra,â she suggested.

Bucky raised his head weakly and looked at Bon Bon, a thousand questions on his face, after a moment, he allowed his head to sink down to the pillows.

âœDo you love them both?â Bon Bon asked, her hoof still on Buckyâs shoulder.

âœSo much so that I cannot express it,â Bucky confessed. âœBut for very different reasons between the two of them.â

âœThat seems reasonable,â Bon Bon replied. âœTell me about it,â she asked.

âœI feel safe around Derpy. I donât feel safe around Berry though. Berry scares me. Sheâs wild and unpredictable. But I think I like her because of that. When Derpy is around I donât feel so cut off and threatened. I can relax my guard a little bit because I know sheâs there watching over me. I find myself talking to Berry, saying things. Things I normally wouldnât say. Berry says the most horrible things though, she actually made me faint earlier,â Bucky explained, looking pensive.

âœBut you feel connected to Berry and understand Derpy better when Berry is around?â Bon Bon asked.

âœYeah. Funny, when I met her, Berry offered to be a translator between Derpy and I. And she is.â Bucky admitted.

âœSo the two of them are the dual contrasts you need?â Bon Bon asked.

âœWhat do you mean?â Bucky replied.

âœChocolates taste a whole lot better sometimes with a big juicy sweet tart cherry inside of it. Contrasts. By themselves, they are nice, but together, something magical happens. You need something different that, by themselves, neither one could truly provide, but together, all of you form a satisfying whole,â Bon Bon said.

âœThat seems reasonable,â Bucky stated. âœSo Berry allows me to connect to other ponies and Derpy allows me to feel safe around other ponies?â

âœPerhaps,â Bon Bon said, now smiling. âœYou've been hurt. Injured. Those parts of you that allow you to connect to other ponies might be broken. Or damaged. Just like it is for Lyra. But Lyra gets to reconnect to the herd through me. Takes a lot of work and effort on her part though. It requires constant communication with me, and the ability to be open.â

âœBerry says everything I wish I could say, but I am too afraid to do so,â Bucky confessed. âœJust once, I wish I could be her and just let go just like she does. Sheâs fearless. And Derpy, she just grabs ponies and squeezes the horseapples out of them. She crushes them. She is so open with her affection, in ways I wish I could be. Sheâs so warm and the way that so many look to her for comfort. Sheâs neededâ I want to be needed.â

âœSo what is stopping you?â Bon Bon asked, raising an eyebrow.

âœMe,â Bucky replied. âœAnd everything that has made me what I am.â

âœNot for much longer, those mares are going to rip you apart. You are getting involved with a Shetland Isles pony and a pegasus. Both of which are dangerous cantankerous critters when faced alone. But together? Lyra and I might as well go ahead and throw you a wake right now in fine Shetland tradition,â Bon Bon said, laughing loudly, a painfully familiar lilt coming to her voice as she spoke.

Chapter 34

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âœI have done as you have asked sister,â Luna said, staring off into the setting sun, preparing for her task. âœI have looked after your troubled student and current project.â

âœAnd how is he?â Celestia replied, lowering the sun, yielding for Lunaâs night. âœHas the process gone well? Is there hope of recovery? Will he be happy?â

âœWhich each sleep cycle, I break him a little bit more, slowly and carefully as you have asked. Each break so far has been clean and does not create schisms,â Luna answered, feeling the call of night taking ahold of her flesh.

âœDo you think he will heal? He is in near ideal conditions to do so, near as I can tell,â Celestia queried, her tone worried. âœHe is fortunate to have found ponies who are willing to carry him through this.â

âœEach break sees progress. The initial break during his encounter with Dinky Doo Hooves was quite traumatic, but opened the way, each break after has been much easier on his mind. He will get better, and we will restore him to those who care for him if I have my way,â Luna returned. âœStill, the break he suffered protecting the foal, I worry that may never be fully healed, the best we can hope for is that he learns to draw strength from those around him.â

âœSo, are you going to leave me to my fate with Twilight Sparkle? No doubt, she will wake soon. She was exhausted,â Celestia said.

âœTime for you to face the music sister, there is much for you to explain,â Luna said with a musical laugh.

âœNot soon, now!â

âœTwilight!â Celestia said in surprise, turning around and seeing Twilight in the door. Twilight had a terrible case of bedhead, she hadnât bathed in a long while, and her eyes were still completely bloodshot. Twilight Sparkle looked awful.

âœYou! I have words to say to you!â Twilight snarled.

Celestia lowered her head, trying to reduce her posture to allow Twilight to calm.

She was quite surprised when Twilight slapped her across the muzzle, once, then twice, and finally a third time, the third time knocking her crown from her head. Luna caught it before it hit the ground, but did not place it back on Celestiaâs head.

Celestia threw her head back, but said nothing, looking down, quite in shock.

âœYou struck my sister,â Luna accused, her voice a monotone.

âœNo, I swatted your sister, I corrected her, because I love her! Iâve been spending a little time with the pegasi!â Twilight growled.

âœI already know,â Celestia said.

Twilight looked shocked for a moment and then deflated. Her back slumped, her wings sank down, and her head dropped. A low moan trembled in her throat.

âœFillydelphia,â Celestia said, her tone low and full of sadness.

Twilight nodded, looking quite disturbed, her lips moving but no words came forth.

âœIt is a very long and complicated story Twilight, and the beginnings of it go back over one thousand years ago,â Celestia announced, looking sad and frustrated.

âœWe are trying to fix that problem, but it is a complex problem to correct. It is getting better, but problems keep occurring and more corrections must be gently applied,â Luna said, staring at Twilight with wide eyes and a look of understanding upon her face.

âœA mother lost her foal!â Twilight cried. âœThatâs more than a problem!â

âœWe agree. Which is why we are trying to fix it,â Luna replied. âœBut first, you should know how the problem started and why the problem still exists.â

The two sisters carefully began to weave a sordid tale, explaining how Princess Lunaâs banishment led up to the problems that Fillydelphia was having currently in the modern day. They spoke of Lunaâs desire to take orphans from the many wars that founded Equestria and start a new colony, Lunaâs fall, they spoke of war, of curses, of black magic left behind by Nightmare Moon, a shadow government that had endured for almost one thousand years that held loyalty to Nightmare Moon and awaited her return, influencing things in the background and working against Celestia, and with each word they spoke, everything Twilight Sparkle thought she knew about Equestria died just a little bit more as the bigger picture began to be revealed.

At the end of it all, Celestia, also part pegasus, gently booped Twilight on the nose, once, twice, three times, to gently correct the troubled alicorn now that she had seen the unpleasant truth.

Bucky awoke, hearing birds, realising dawn was taking place. He was squished between two ponies, feeling very warm and secure. His stomach rumbled painfully. His mind was teased with hint of troubled dreams, but he couldnât remember what they were. He tried to recall them, some vague sense of horror and panic about something unknown.

He gently prodded Berry Punch, who woke slightly, took one look at him, and then rolled over to connect a fresh canister to his feeding tube. After she was done, she rolled back over and pressed her nose up against him, going back to a drowsing state of bliss.

With a bothersome sense of discomfort, Bucky realised his neck was wet, sticky, oily, and waxy with pegasus drool.

Derpy began to stir next to him, squirming a bit, rolling over, kicking her legs out over the edge of the bed, and stretching, arching her back and producing an alarming number of crackles. She farted loudly from the strain, which caused her to giggle. Her tail twitched and swished, the dock hidden within the hairs thudding on the mattress.

âœGuh!â Bucky gasped, catching a whiff of the pegasus, who had just fanned everything around.

âœI got brownies in the oven, I gotta go,â Derpy announced, struggling to get out of bed, the strain causing a tuba like blast as she worked to get on her hooves. âœOh goodness!â

âœMmm, just imagine the feeling of that razzing over your tongue,â Berry said, only half awake, causing Bucky to gag.

Bucky was not sure what to do with Berry Punch.

âœIf you ever go into the Backdoor Brownie Bakery never use pegasus spit for lube,â Berry warned, her eyes closed, her words slurred as she was still only half awake. âœTrust me, I know, it is designed to stick to feathers and shed moisture.â

âœHrrk!â Bucky horked, coughed, and felt a painful constriction in his barrel.

A powerful blast echoed in the next room over.

âœDerpy is bowl busting the thundermug,â Berry mumbled, pressing her face into Bucky and smacking her lips from morning mouth.

âœHnng!â Bucky groaned, just knowing that Derpy had left him in the bed all alone with Berry on purpose.

Berry rolled over on her back, rubbing her back on the sheets, wiggling around, and then she reached down between her legs and started to scratch. âœI has me a bad case of morning knob,â she muttered. Her scratching filled the room with odd noises, somewhat arousing noises, not that Bucky would ever admit that. He was shocked that he was thinking about it so openly though.

Berry pulled both of her hind legs up to her chest, displaying her flexibility, causing her backside to take on the most pleasant curved appearance. She hugged her hind legs to her barrel, making her hips pop loudly.

After her stretching, Berry sat up and studied Buckyâs horn. She made concerned sounds, vocalisations in her throat, looking this way and that, using her âœBerry-Seriousâ face as she studied him.

âœThe crack is noticeably smaller. Wow,â the concerned mare said. âœI bet you need to go, letâs take care of that, shall we?â

The door opened with a click of the latch and a single push. Berry did not know what to expect. Buckyâs apartment wasâ something. There were things inside, and these things suggested life, but nothing actually looked like somepony lived here. The inside was cold and sterile. She pushed her way inside, stood in the center, and looked around.

There were some records sitting on a rack, all of them old looking, and one sitting on the hi-fi phonograph. Using her hoof, Berry cranked the phonograph, turning the handle several times, and then allowed the record to play.

Berry was actually surprised to hear the sort of music she did. It was something mournful and sad, full of emotion, she couldnât quite make out what it was, but there was a banjo, a violin, and a trumpet or something. The music was strange but somehow appropriate for Bucky. It added a surprising new level of depth for his character.

There were no words in the song being played.

Of course not Berry thought to herself. Hearing another voice would indicate need.

On the counter, there was exactly one bowl, one plate, one fork, a spoon, a glass, and a teacup. Nothing at all to indicate a way to serve guests.

Berry felt a profound sense of sadness welling up within herself.

She moved nearer to the bookshelf, most of the books were of the self-help variety, Dull stuffy sorts of books. Even the books were lifeless and were far too painful of a reflection of Buckyâs inner nature.

âœCultivating Solitude, a Unicornâs Guide to the Problems of Society,â the lone mare read to herself, her voice reaching nopony in particular. âœHmmph,â she huffed. She pulled the book free from the shelf, looking at the cover, scowling a horrible scowl. âœNow with bonus content on the earth pony dilemma,â she muttered to herself. âœWell damnit, this book did him no good,â she groused. She stuffed the book back into the shelf and moved on, her eyes darting around the room.

She moved over to the bed in the corner, and there was a small bedside table with a drawer. Not feeling at all guilty, she pulled the drawer open and looked inside, not sure what she would find. She knew one thing she wouldnât findâ Condoms.

âœYep, none of those,â she agreed, rummaging around inside. Just an address book. She flipped that open and began to look, noting that only two pages were in use, and on each page there was one entry. One was for Buckyâs parents. On the other page, the next page over, sitting side by side with the first page, were the words âœyou canât go home again,â

A quiet seething rage slowly overtook the plum coloured earth pony, she began to tremble and an unusual red haze filled her vision. This entire apartment represented everything wrong with the pony that she loved, and she was looking at the home addresses of those most responsible for doing him the most harm.

Berry did not repress her rage, instead, she focused it into motivation, carefully she began to pack things up and place them into boxes she had brought.

On a shelf on the wall, in a small frame, she saw a photograph of a young colt. She realised it was Bucky. It was a school photo, it had to be, he was standing by a stone wall, looking well groomed, caught from an off angle, and he looked rather self-conscious about having his picture taken. There was another photo of a train set and a Hearthâs Warming tree. It seemed odd. There were no foals in the picture.

The pantry was sparse, with little left inside, lots of bland lifeless food that was eaten for sustenance, but not for living. The only thing that showed any pleasure taken in life was a container of black licorice drops, and those were just nasty Berry concluded, after trying one. Even his candy was full of self-torture and self-loathing.

Berry moved swiftly around the room, finding a number of things already packed, and she realised that Bucky had never fully unpacked on moving in. The boxes were covered in dust. She moved them to the center of the room, where a stack was forming, pressing them along using her head.

Berry wanted very much to be out of this place, she did not like it here. It was dull and lifeless, and something oppressive hung in the air. As she continued her task, a plan began to form in the back of her mind.

Chapter 35

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Ponyville, city of disasters. Not too long ago, a magically enchanted foal had nearly caused the town to come apart, causing a massive stampede, forcing one unicorn to go to extraordinary measures to keep a foal safe. It had been, for all intents and purposes, a disaster by any measurable scale.

And the inhabitants seemed completely unphased by it now a few days later. Already, the herd was correcting, making adjustments, individual ponies acting in unison as one larger organism. Ponyville had an unusual herd structure, having all three tribes living together in close proximity, and it made them unusually resilient.

It was through this town that Berry Punch walked, her head held high. She loved this community, and all that came with it. Anypony or anyone could be accepted here, if they were open and decent. They even allowed Shetland Isles ponies to settle here, something most communities were hesitant to do.

âœMaâam!â a pony cried, moving in closer to her, his pace somewhere between a trot and a canter. âœMessage for you from Mister Rich,â he panted.

Berry stopped and turned towards the messenger pony, smiling at him, trying to push aside all of her harsh feelings from earlier, when she had been in Buckyâs apartment.

âœMaâam, Mister Rich has considered your proposal, he has personally been out to examine the site, and he has agreed to your proposal with a few caveats,â the runner announced.

âœAnd those are?â Berry asked, her mood now greatly improving.

âœMister Rich wants some assurance that Buckminster Bitters will keep teaching. Mister Rich and his investors are very impressed with Mister Bitters recent activities in keeping a foal from harm, and want somepony with that kind of dedication heading the school. Mister Rich has already sent proposals to the Crown. Mister Rich also wants access to top students, the cream of the crop so to speak, for upcoming projects involving community improvement and development of Ponyville. Mister Rich has a vision to make Ponyville a place of learning and education for all ponies, earning Ponyville a place on the map,â the runner answered, somewhat breathlessly.

âœIâll need to talk to Bucky of course, but I cannot imagine any reason why he would disagree to this proposal. Iâll be in touch with a reply soonish,â Berry responded, feeling a warm blossom of pride blooming in her barrel.

âœIâve never seen Mister Rich this tenacious about anything,â the runner said, panting slightly. âœHe barely sleeps now. He is working through the day and most the night. Heâs become a very different pony as of late.â

âœI think a number of ponies have been changed recently,â Berry replied, nodding her head in agreement.

âœBut when I say Mister Rich has changed, I mean Mister Rich has changed. He is no longer the pony who hired me. Heâs going out of his way to be nice to other ponies. Heâs raised my pay. He actually spends time with us now, getting to know us. Heâs weird,â the runner confessed, looking around him as he spoke.

Berry nodded and laughed, thinking to herself about another pony who was changing slowly. And a certain grey mare, who was also going through profound changes.

Berry of course, knew that she was as constant and unchanging as the stones and the soil that she walked on.

âœI have to be going!â the runner exclaimed, taking off at a run.

Berry resumed her walk and headed off to her place of business, with a mind for a new product name. âœFarting Filly Ale.â

Derpy sat in a warm patch of grass, watching her foals play. Sparkler was currently buried under Dinky and PiÃaâs assaults, pinned to the grass, laughing and promising revenge. Not too far away from Derpy sat Rising Star, who watched the action taking place with a subdued smile.

Lyra sat nearby, strumming a melody from her lyre, something that seemed sad and happy at the same time. Lyra was alone, Bon Bon was upstairs once again with Bucky.

Even with her reduced visual acuity, Derpy could not help but notice the glances being exchanged between Sparkler and Rising Star. Sparkler kept looking at the colt, and then immediately looking away when she saw him watching her.

The mother mare rose, took a few steps, and then sat down beside Rising Star, wrapping a wing around him and leaning in close. âœYou really like her, donât you?â the pegasus mare asked.

âœVery much so,â Rising Star admitted.

âœI am about to talk to you as her mother,â Derpy warned. âœAnd I am not one for lots of words.â

Rising Star gulped and he felt the wing around him squeeze tighter.

âœIf you treat her well, I will treat you as family. You will be loved and accepted and the flock will call you its own,â Derpy said in a soft whisper. âœBut if you make her cry, if you break her heart, or if you take from her her dream of going to university, I will drop you from the stratosphere and then follow you down so I can lecture you about how to treat a filly before you die. Thatâs about forty miles straight up. Weâll have time for me to have my say.â

Rising Star nodded, his eyes as wide as dinner plates, his ears hanging down alongside his face. His heart thudded as Derpy gently kissed him on the cheek, and gave him one final squeeze with her wing.

And then, she let go and scooted away, giving Rising Star some much needed breathing space. As Rising Star sat there, trying to compose himself, he thought about the name of his next poem. â Stratospheric Plungeâ seemed really edgy and deep. Just like the crater he would make if he upset the mother pegasus. And then there was the unicorn upstairs, who no doubt would be a bit peeved if the pegasus became upset. Rising Star shuddered. Ponyville just had a recent display of a type three really letting go, and there was no way that Rising Star wanted that kind of fury turned on him. Peeved type threes were bad news. Rising Star wondered what he was getting himself into.

Derpy studied the thoughtful looking unicorn, watching him carefully. She doubted she would ever have to drop him from the stratosphere. Rising Star seemed like a good sort.

Dinkyâs father had also seemed like a good sort as well Derpy recalled.

Celestia carefully considered her ponies. Most were good, some were very good, and a small minority were not quite as good as they could be. She had hope in the good ones, placed her faith in the very good ones, and worked to help the ones who were not living up to their potential. Celestia had a hard time believing there were truly bad ponies. There were just ponies who needed a little help to see their potential and get better. But she knew that she couldnât save them all.

It had been a relief to tell Twilight more of the whole truth, but she had not revealed all of the truth. There were still parts that even Celestia did not know, and some things Celestia still kept to herself.

Thankfully, the worst was over and Equestria now saw peace. All of the horrible strife that had nearly torn the country apart from within was now ever, hopefully gone forever, wars between houses were now history lessons of the past.

Celestia wondered briefly about why so many of her students found themselves in Ponyville. Coincidence? Sheer luck? She did not know, but it intrigued her. Lyra had appeared there after vanishing, broken and unwell. Buckminster had moved there after graduation. Trixie Lulamoon had been there a few times and had caused some mischief. There were many others, but it was the problematic unicorns that Celestia had the most concern over. Like Trixie.

Trixie was a unicorn in need of help, and Celestia hoped that somepony would help her. Trixie needed to settle in Ponyville.

Even Discord, the Herald of Chaos, had been reformed in Ponyville.

Celestia felt anxious, hoping that the first reports from Lyra and Bon Bon would arrive soon, agents of observation to help her assess the herd status that seemed to be rapidly forming.

Celestia felt an odd mix of apprehension and hope. As each day passed, she became a little more open minded about the restoration of herd marriage. Cadance would arrive soon, and Celestia was eager for her arrival. There was a lot to talk about with Cadance.

âœI still donât know why I am telling you these things,â Bucky said, his head on a pile of pillows, his eyes half closed.

Bon Bon gently reached over and stroked his ribs with a hoof. âœBecause you want to get better dear,â she explained.

As she touched him, the glands in her frogs released a chemical that reacted with Buckyâs skin, causing him to release a flood of chemicals in his brain that made him feel better, a careful blend of dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, a flood of endorphins, and finally, what can only be scientifically measured as a bucketful of prolactin, which counteracts the sexual stimulation caused by dopamine, and leaves behind the powerful feeling of euphoria usually felt after sexual intercourse. With every touch, Bon Bon was drugging Bucky into a stronger and greater state of trust and relaxation, flooding his brain with bonding chemicals that made him trust her, and calming his anxiety. Bon Bon did not know that she was at the evolutionary peak of what her kind was capable of. She did not know that she was a super producer, a walking pharmaceutical factory that took the form of a pony. An earth pony. Others of her kind also had this effect, but it was greatly reduced.

Bon Bon had no idea that Lyra was addicted to her and could not function without regular re-applications of chemicals that Lyra needed to balance out, be happy, and survive. Bon Bon had no idea that the candies that she so carefully created, many mixed with her own hooves were also agents of powerful altered states that calmed and soothed so many of the ponies all around her, in much the same way that Berry Punch had accidentally dosed everypony around her with hoof pressed dumpling dough. Berry Punch was also a powerful producer, though not at Bon Bonâs level of output. Pinkie Pie, another super producer, was also responsible for keeping most of Ponyville on even keel after leaving behind traces of various triggering chemicals in her many treats and goodies. Aloe and Lotus, the ponies who owned the spa, were also powerful producers who did their part to keep the town happy.

The trace amounts were enough to help stabilise mood, but direct contact was enough to powerfully affect even the most muddled ponies, like Bucky or Lyra, or any number of other troubled minds.

The other two tribes had no idea that they owed their survival to the earth ponies, or what the earth ponies did for them through contact with their food and day to day gentle touching.

âœI do want to get better,â Bucky agreed, feeling strangely calm.

âœSo then, back to the subject at hoof, what is it that you find attractive about those two mares? You need to tell them someday, you might as well practice with me,â Bon Bon said in soothing tones.

âœThis is very embarrassing,â Bucky admitted, âœIâm supposed to be above noticing physical details.â

âœPish posh,â Bon Bon retorted. âœYouâre a stallion. You are allowed to have needs. It isnât that embarrassing.â As she spoke, Bon Bon, being the gentle sort she was, gave him a reassuring rub.

âœWith Derpy, it is everything. Sheâs like a stormcloud. Sheâs beautiful to look at. Her wings. I like her wings. Her grey with a faint hint of blue colour. And I love the colour of her mane. Or the way her nostrils flare when sheâs excited. The way her muscles move under her well-toned pelt. And I love her eyes. I donât care what other ponies think,â Bucky confessed, his tone almost drowsy. âœAnd the way her hips sway when she walksâ Part of me just wants to bury myself in her and make foals,â Bucky said, closing his eyes and cringing, not believing the words that had just come out of his mouth. He could not believe he was admitting such a base bestial need.

âœGood, good,â Bon Bon said, blushing only slightly. âœWhat about Berry?â

âœI donât know that I find Berry all that physically attractive,â Bucky admitted.

âœSurely you must find something that is appealing about her body,â Bon Bon said incredulously.

âœOh, sheâs pretty, no doubt, but she is my nemesis. My foil. She is my mental counter. I hate to admit it, but I think Berry might be smarter than I am. That bothers me. Frustrates me. And I think it turns me on,â Bucky said, completely in awe that these words were coming out of his mouth. âœI want to slip her the pony making bone for very different reasonsââ Bucky whimpered when he heard the words escaping his lips and immediately wanted to die.

Bon Bon blushed, turning a wonderful shade of mauve. âœOh my, pony making bone, I havenât heard that one before. Soâ you want to, uh, have you way with Berry to establish some dominance perhaps? Tame the wild Shetland Isles pony?â

âœMaybe,â Bucky admitted. âœMaybe I just want to reduce us both to the levels of dumb beasts where we have dirty animal rutting and there is no talking, no intellectual discourse, and I am finally on even hoofing with her.â Bucky gasped as he spoke, his own honesty completely flummoxing him.

Bon Bon burst into laughter and gave Bucky a gentle prod. âœGood luck with that, Berry will always have something to say, especially if she has a pony making bone being rammed into her plot.â

Chapter 36

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Several days had passed, and many things were getting better. Buckyâs horn was mending quickly, the crack nearly sealed now. Food was actually staying in his stomach for a while, and his near starvation seemed at an end.

The sessions with Bon Bon seemed to be having a noticeable effect, but nopony knew the whole truth, that it was the sessions with Bon Bon and the carefully introduced mental breaks being caused by Luna on a nightly basis. Bucky was being rebuilt brick by brick. Luna believed that her breaks were perfect, successful in every way, but Luna had no idea that her breaks were being chemically assisted by Bon Bonâs careful touch.

And so it happened that on one bright and promising morning, Derpy Doo Hooves woke up with an interesting visitor in the bed, poking her tail, and prodding her dock. She wiggled and moved her backside, intrigued by what she felt, and then, it moved.

Bucky awoke quite suddenly, feeling something silky soft and inviting rubbing up against something. Only partially awake, and thinking he was dreaming, he gave an experimental prod.

âœMy brownie oven!â Derpy cried, leaping very suddenly out of the bed.

Bucky awoke, realising suddenly what had just taken place. There hadnât been actual penetration, but there had been a friendly knock at the backdoor. He kept his eyes closed, now squeezed shut, and cringed.

âœWhat?â Berry snorted, now awake, sitting up, looking alarmed.

Derpy stood beside the bed, her wings fluffed out and a crazed look on her face. âœI finally felt a friendly poke back there and it scared me, it has been so long,â she said, laughing.

Bucky did not reply, but groaned.

Berry, scowled. âœI didnât get poked.â Berry, never one to leave anything alone, rolled Bucky over onto his back, easily overpowering him.

She whistled.

âœWould you look at that,â she said, still groggy from waking up. âœHeâs hung like a barrel. Not much length, but my goodness Derpy, would you look at that girth!â

Derpy turned and cocked her good eye on the squirming and exposed Bucky. âœOhâ Ooooh!â

Sparkler came crashing into the room a moment later. âœI heard a cryâ OH EGADS, I AM BLIND!â she cried as she backed out of the room and slammed the door.

âœI want to die,â Bucky announced in a firm monotone.

âœNo,â Berry said. âœI am Berry needful.â

After having a good laugh at Sparklerâs expense, Derpy had crawled up in the bed and was examining the prone and supine unicorn. âœThatâs a little big to be stuffing into the olâ brownie oven,â Derpy remarked. âœYou should always warn a mare before dropping into the bakery unannounced. I darn near dropped some brownies bedside.â

âœI cannot believe this is happening,â Bucky whimpered.

âœWell, I showed you mine, it is only fair,â Berry said, looking down her muzzle at Bucky, grinning groggily.

âœAnd here is mine!â Derpy said, standing up and turning around on the bed. She flipped up her tail, splayed out her legs a bit, and presented.

That is an unusual shade of blue Bucky thought to himself, and then his brain revolted and tried to shut down everything.

âœYou donât see a shade of blue like that often,â Berry commented, screwing on a fresh canister to the feeding tube and flipping the valve. âœKind of a blue purple grey. Like a sunset behind thunderclouds.â

Very much against his will, Bucky found himself nodding.

âœDinky squirted out of there, so you should be okay stuffing your caber into that,â Berry said, her eyes darting first from Bucky and then to Derpy.

Derpy turned around and eased herself down on the bed, smiling. She didnât stay long. After a moment, she took off to use the bathroom.

âœWhat a shame, look, the wee beastie is going back into his cave,â Berry said, using her âœBerry-Disappointedâ face and prodding Buckyâs side with a hoof.

Very much against his will, Bucky laughed, a nervous laugh that came out hesitantly and unsteadily.

Berry stared down at the unicorn that she felt such strong feelings for. âœYou know Buckminster,â Berry said, using his full name, âœit is difficult to imagine life without those you love, this is why ponies tend to forgive certain ponies that make mistakes so easily. If I ever make a mistake, or do something foolish, I really hope that you will forgive me.â

âœAfter everything you have done for me, how could I not?â Bucky asked.

âœIt isnât a matter of obligation dear Bucky, you donât owe me. I chose to do this,â Berry said, leaning down and giving a soft kiss on the good side of Buckyâs face. âœYou make my best friend happy and you look after PiÃa, you wouldnât believe how often PiÃa is a deal breaker for a lot of my potential dates. It is why I stopped having meaningless nookie when I was out on a dateâ I wanted to see who was actually interested in me. It has been darn near a year since Iâve had my itch scratched. Once I stopped giving it away, and started looking for something serious, the long line of those interested dried right up. I am in an unnatural state of celibacy and it must end soon.â

Bucky nodded, saying nothing, but he did look Berry directly in the eye.

âœLetâs take care of your needs, and then I need to go downstairs and help out a bit,â Berry said, smiling warmly.

Berry had gone to take the foals to school. Sparkler had left the house as well, off to school, completely mortified.

Bucky and Derpy were alone, Lyra and Bon Bon had gone to school with the foals. The unicorn and the pegasus were having a long conversation, but no words were being spoken. There was a great deal being said, with lots of nuzzling, stroking, gentle caresses, and soft squeezes.

The pegasus was quite beside herself, not knowing how to act. She was behaving like a school filly almost. She made little happy nickers, wickers, and the occasional whinny. She made no attempt to deny that she was a happy animal, and she made happy animal noises.

Which really inflamed Buckyâs passion, much to his surprise.

While he was in no state to actually do much of anything, and his morning wood had been only partially hard at best, he found that he took a perverse delight in seeing what made the pegasus squeal with gentle prodding of his hooves.

It was a not so innocent exploration of each otherâs bodies and finding out what made each of them react. Bucky was hesitant and shy, but he was slowly overcoming his own reluctance.

More importantly, the mare was learning to trust again after being hurt so badly. Desperate for affection, needing physical contact, and finally getting it from somepony she truly trusted. While Berry had been âBerry affectionateâ, Derpy wanted foalsâ and desired contact from somepony that could provide them.

It was in this environment that the timid pegasus mare finally opened her heart and took wing in a metaphorical sense.

âœBucky?â Derpy said, breaking the long wordless silence.

âœYes?â Bucky replied, his mind racing and his body feeling fatigue.

âœI want to ask you a question,â the mare asked, suddenly very afraid.

âœGo right ahead,â Bucky replied, wondering what was on the mareâs mind.

âœDo you want to be a father?â the concerned mare inquired, her heart now beating in her throat, and her eyes now close as she rested her head on Buckyâs neck, her wings suddenly very still.

âœI donât know how, but Iâd like to learn,â Bucky replied, suddenly very afraid.

âœWell, you start by loving a pair of mares and earning their trust,â she began. âœThe next part is pretty easy. You let the mares have their way with you, theyâll know what to do. After that, you wait,â she continued. âœAfter waiting almost a year or so, youâll be a father. The only thing to remember at that point is make sure one end is fed and the other end is wiped regularly. Thatâs it. Everything else you learn along the way,â she finished.

âœSeems like there should be more to it than that,â Bucky answered, looking thoughtful and rubbing the mare next to him.

âœOh, there is. But that is why you keep having them until you learn all there is to know,â Derpy explained, her tone patient.

âœI see. Fascinating,â Bucky replied.

âœI learned some very important lessons with Dinky,â Derpy quipped.

âœLike what?â Bucky asked.

âœOh, important lessons! Like never feed a baby foal seven bean chili, no matter how much they might like it. Thatâs a bad idea. If a foal drinks bubble bath, it wonât kill them, but you might wish that you were dead. Never, under any circumstances, do you allow Berry to give a foal coffee to âwarm them upâ no matter how cold it might be. She can be Berry bad sometimes, that Berry Punch. The numbers on the packages of diapers indicates the babyâs weight, not how many pounds of poop a diaper might hold. I learned that the hard way. Never try to hold and comfort a foal that has the combined symptoms of diarrhoea, sneezing, and cough,â Derpy said, going through the list of things she had learned.

âœOh dear,â Bucky whispered.

âœOh, and foals get runny noses a lot. They wipe their noses on you. I think it means they like you,â Derpy added.

âœA rational part of my mind says that I should be screaming in terror,â Bucky deadpanned. âœBut my rationality took grievous injury that day that most of the city of Ponyville decided to chase me. I hope that nopony was declaring intentions, otherwise Iâll have the largest herd in history.â

Derpy giggled and pressed her nose against Buckyâs neck affectionately. âœCan I ask you a very personal question?â she queried, nosing him gently as she did so.

âœI suppose,â Bucky answered.

âœI know you havenât been with a mare, but have you ever, well, you know, got off somehow?â the curious pegasus asked.

âœNo,â replied the very embarrassed unicorn.

âœNever?â Derpy said.

âœNot once. I thought about it once. It made me hyperventilate,â Bucky confessed in a low whisper.

âœI donât get too many moments alone, but when I do, usually in the tub, I try to rub one out. I canât imagine living without some kind of release,â Derpy said, her voice nearly overtaken by giggles. âœIâm still very young, and I have needs.â

âœIââ Bucky started, and then failed.

âœSparkler caught me doing it one time when she barged into the bathroom. She was really nice about it, gave me tips. We talked about being mares,â Derpy said, reminiscing. âœShe was right about one thing, sticking your filly bits directly under the water faucet and letting hot water run on them feels really good.â

âœYouââ gasped Bucky, and then he fell silent.

âœI once rubbed one out while thinking about Berry Punch, just to get an idea of what it might be like. Iâve never told her. I think I will though. She isnât the only one who can be Berry naughty,â Derpy admitted.

âœSheâ.â Bucky mumbled, his words trailing off.

âœSometimes, even though it makes my wings really messy, I like to tickle my jelly bean with my feather tips. Causes the nicest shudders,â Derpy said, her words open and honest and exposing her deepest secrets.

âœJelly beanâ.â Bucky repeated, still befuddled.

âœI have a really big jelly bean actually. Iâm kind of self-conscious about it. It peeks out a bit down there sometimes when I am excited and my tail hairs brush up against it and it has almost caused me to crash a few times,â Derpy remarked after hearing Bucky say âœjelly bean.â

âœPeeks outââ Bucky said with a gasp and then struggling to breathe.

âœYeah, it does. It is a very big jelly bean and really easy to find. It is really awkward. I also have a big plot for a pegasus, it makes me feel funny when I compare myself to others. My hips got spread out so wide when I was young so I could give birth and now I have these wide hips and a big plot,â Derpy said, sounding very timid and afraid, her voice filled with real worry.

âœIâ I, uh, oh damnit, I really like your big backside!â Bucky blurted, struggling to get the words out.

âœWhat?â Derpy said in a tiny whisper.

âœI like your big backside. You have no idea what I want to do with it,â Bucky admitted, his own voice becoming very quiet.

âœOh,â the grey mare replied, still sounding a little insecure.

âœI canât believe youâd think youâre not pretty, I mean, youâre beautiful,â Bucky whispered. âœAnd I feel really funny saying that knowing youâve heard it before from another that hurt you and I am so afraid of hurting you so I am too afraid to say it knowing that you might take it wrong or it might bring up bad memories and I just donât know what to do!â

âœI need to be held,â the pegasus begged, sniffling, and falling silent.

Unable to to do much else, Bucky allowed the mare to cling to him.

Chapter 37

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A plum coloured earth pony sat at the train station, waiting. Barley OâBlivion was due on the next train in. The cantankerous old unicorn would be good to see again. Berry truly missed him and his wisdom. Truth be told, Berry wanted him around as she began her family. Foals always needed a history lesson or two that was worth listening to.

He was obnoxious, he always had a hoof for some foal to pull, and he was family. You did anything for family. Barley had been there when Dinky had been born, and had helped out quite a bit. Barley had been there each time when Berryâs parents had died. And now, he was coming back to Ponyville to stay, to spend his final years in the place that he loved.

He claimed that the damp of Vanhoover made his gnarled old bones ache.

A faint whistle indicated the train was coming, and Berry waited, prancing around on her hooves impatiently. She was behaving almost like a filly, wanting to see her dear uncle, take him home, and introduce him to Buckyâ because really, she wanted his approval. Not that she needed it, she just wanted to follow family tradition. Something her siblings had broken away from.

There was also the fact that Barley was a hoot. A real hoot. Berry needed a companion with a mind for mayhem.

At last, the train pulled into the station, steam rising from the engine, the smell of burning coal leaving a tang in Berryâs nose.

She didnât have to wait long. Being somewhat elderly, he was one of the first off of the train, and he came down the stairs slowly but with grace and dignity. He was older than Berry remembered, his once white pelt now yellowed into ivory colour with age, and his once fiery orange mane and tail was now an iron shade of grey. He moved towards her, picking up his pace a little, until Berry could take it no longer and ran forward to hug him, nearly crushing him, causing his spine to crackle.

He was quite grateful for the spinal crackle, it worked loose a few bad kinks from sitting on the train.

âœYou look well lass,â Barley said, looking Berry up and down. âœNow, tell me youâve had some foals. A mare your age, there should be foals. This is shameful behaviour. And foals are so much fun to make.â

âœFunny you should mention that. No foals yet, but Iâve met their father,â Berry confessed, blushing.

âœOh, have you now?â Barley said, raising an eyebrow.

âœYes. I have. I have found a nice fella to settle down with, and Derpy and I are forming a nice little herd,â Berry said, blushing even more and giggling. She had gone from being a mature mare to a secondary school filly. Or maybe even a primary school filly.

âœOhâ you were always the good one Berry, respecting the old ways, listening to your history, doing what is right,â Barley praised. âœHow is PiÃa? Iâve missed that filly. How is Miss Hooves? How is wee Dinky?â

âœFine, fine, where is your stuff?â Berry asked, looking around.

âœI have nothing. What few things I had left, I gave away. I canât take stuff with me when I go. And I donât plan to go for a while, but I didnât see a need to haul a trunk cross country at my age.â Barley said, coughing slightly.

âœWell then, letâs go home,â Berry said. âœWeâll talk. Up for the walk?â

âœYeah,â Barley said.

Berry began to walk home to Derpyâs house, leading the old unicorn along behind her. He fell in step, still spry even with knobby knees, looking around and seeing how Ponyville had changed.

âœBefore we get home, there is something you need to know,â Berry said, in her Berry worried voice.

âœEh, whatâs that?â Barley asked.

âœThe stallion Iâve found, the unicorn that I love, he is a son of House Avarice,â Berry said, cringing and biting her lip after saying it.

âœOh damnit Berry, what are you thinking you empty headed numpty!â Barley snapped, suddenly sounding very grouchy.

âœHeâs a good find, trust me, I give you my word. Heâs a little broken right now, but I love him and thatâs final, and I donât give two horseapples and a tinkerâs damn what you think!â Berry retorted. Except, she did care about what her uncle thought.

As they walked home, Berry told her uncle everything that had happened recently, leading up to Bucky keeping Dinky safe and his recovery.

Alone in the bed, Bucky lay listening to the voices downstairs. Joyous shouts, the sounds of ponies talking, Derpy and Berry both laughing. The foals were still in school. Some pony had come to visit. After a while, he heard hooves on the stairs, many hooves, Derpy and Berry were coming upstairs and were bringing the visitor.

The door slowly pushed open and Bucky saw an older unicorn, ivory coloured, studying him with piercing eyes. Derpy shoved her way into the room, jumped up into the bed, and lay down beside him, her head on his withers.

Always protective.

âœI done heard about what you did laddie,â the old unicorn said. âœIâm Barley OâBlivion and I hear youâre courting my beautiful wee Berry.â

Bucky nodded, not sure what to say.

âœI also hear youâre a son of House Avarice. I suppose that can be forgiven, Berry seems awfully insistent and sweet on ya, and I never could tell her no. What is a sorry sot like you courting two mares like these? Are ye daft?â as the old unicorn spoke, a familiar lilt crept into his voice. âœI want enough foals to surround my bedside so I can die proper, stop wasting time fiddling around ye lump.â

Bucky groaned. There were now two of them.

âœI understand that you need your rest. Iâll leave you in the care of yon pegasus mare. I love her a great deal, sheâll treat you well if you treat her well. Weâll talk more later,â Barley said, bowing his head slightly and exiting the room.

Berry looked almost beside herself, prancing around and acting like a filly. She crossed the room in a bound, jumping onto the bed, planted wet sloppy kiss on Derpyâs lips, and then planted a wet oily waxy kiss on Buckyâs.

After staring at them both for a moment, she lept from the bed and was out the door again, giggling like a school filly.

âœShe is going to be totally unbearable,â Bucky said in a panicked whisper.

âœAw, sheâs sweet. And she slipped me the tongue,â Derpy said, licking her lips and making a happy sounding grunt.

âœMe too,â Bucky said, heaving a contented sigh.

âœBerry, my dear sweet little filly Berry, have you actually thought this through?â Barley asked.

âœI thought you were alright with this?â Berry said, taken aback and slightly angry, taking a big breath and getting ready to tell her uncle off.

âœIâm alright with him,â Barley said, cutting her off. Berry deflated visibly. âœWhat of the foals ye daft lass? What if the foals are wee little unicorns and House Avarice sets its greedy eyes on them and does their dirty little tricks to try and claim them? What if theyâre powerful wee little unicornsâ you think those plotholes will ignore those potential assets? Iâve seen it happen lass, those Canterlot unicorns make the damn laws, and they take whatever they damn well feel like,â Barley said, looking quite angry and a tremor had taken over one leg.

âœBut,â Berry said, looking confused and angry.

âœBut nothing lass, you look at what they did to their own son, lying upstairs in yon bed. You said with your own lips they broke him. You want that shadow looming over your own foals? What sorta horrible parents does what was done to that poor soul up there? His eyes look bloody haunted! And all of the things youâve told me, which I am sure isnât everything. Protect what you claim Berry Punch, daughter of Clan Pickled,â Barley said.

âœI had planned on paying them a visit actually, his parents. To clear the air and give them a piece of my mind,â Berry whispered in low tones, not wanting anypony else to hear.

âœYou give them a bloody message that Clan Pickled sends their regards and to keep their bloody hooves off of our foals! Those smarmy bastards TOOK OUR FOALS!â the old stallion growled. âœAfter that little misunderstanding that had our home taken and saw us banished to that forsaken rock in the ocean, they came and stole what was rightfully ours. Never relax your guard, oh ye daughter of Shetland.â

Berry nodded respectfully to her uncle, bowing her head slightly.

âœNow you be a good wife for him and you do what is right for your foals. I know youâre one of those fancy feminists and you got those uppity values in university. You put those to work lass. You are obligated to protect both of them ponies upstairs. Never forget who and what you are lass,â Barley said.

âœI remember who I am, why do you think I am committing to this?â Berry said in strangled voice.

âœGood lass,â Barley said. âœI meant what I said, I want enough foals to surround my bed so I can die proper.â

âœYes uncle, of course,â Berry said, nodding, her eyes somewhat teary.

âœAnd one of those foals is to take on my name. I donât care which little type you squirt out, unicorn, pegasus, or earth pony, one of them is to have one of my names,â Barley said gently, wrapping a foreleg around Berryâs neck and hugging her.

âœBarley Bitters is a good name for a foal I think,â Berry said, sniffling, her face pressed into her uncleâs neck.

âœAye lass,â Barley agreed, his own eyes misty. âœWe look after our own…â

âœCome what mayââ Berry continued.

âœWe anarchs only have one another,â Barley finished. âœYou go to Canterlot and give that coont a piece of your mind,â he added, his accent now thick.

âœTheyâre plotting against me,â Bucky whispered. âœI just know it.â

âœMaybe,â Derpy admitted, her ears perked and trying to listen.

âœSee, I knew it,â Bucky said in a low moan.

âœYou are silly,â Derpy said, closing one eye and peering at his stitches carefully. âœThink about my plot and youâll feel better.â

Images suddenly came to Buckyâs mind, making his thoughts a distinct shade of blue. He did indeed feel better.

âœYou look better,â Derpy said, still peering from one eye. âœI can barely see a crack in your horn now. Is your face still numb on this side?â

Bucky nodded, saying nothing, thinking blue thoughts. And red wine coloured thoughts. Thoughts about plots. As he started thinking about this he knew he should be embarrassed about. And he was. And that made him feel dirty. Bucky discovered he liked feeling dirty. He raised the eyebrow on the good side of his face.

âœWhat?â Derpy said.

âœI canât stop thinking about your backside,â Bucky confessed, remembering Bon Bonâs lessons about honesty.

âœOh! Want to spend some time looking at it?â Derpy asked.

âœNo,â replied Bucky, nodding his head yes.

Later that day, Dinky Doo and PiÃa Colada came home to a very big surprise. Entering into the house with Lyra and Bon Bon, they were greeted by an old unicorn, a distant memory from early foalhood.

But that didnât matter. They were swept up anyway, the old stallion falling down upon the floor to be with them. Berry Punch watched this display, sitting quietly, and Lyra had an odd almost emotional reaction as Bon Bon gently stroked her.

Old bonds were almost instantly revitalised by touch and smell, triggering powerful herding instincts. What was once lost was quickly reclaimed, powerful feelings of affection and bonding were induced. PiÃa in particular cried happy tears, unable to speak, only able to express her affection by hugging, touching, and rubbing her hooves over her uncle and Dinky as they shared an emotional moment with one another.

Finally overcome, Lyra began to cry, leaning into Bon Bon and no longer caring what ponies watching her might think.

Finally, Berry Punch joined the pony pile on the floor, hugging the foals and sharing a bonding moment with her old uncle, her body engaged in various acts of affection, her mind off someplace else, someplace distant.

Chapter 38

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To my friend, Celestia,

I may have done something rash and foolish. I am a pony madly in love. You told me to try new things and I have. I am crazily in love with two mares, as I am sure you have figured out by now. I cannot express the words. By myself I am a broken pony, but with both of them I am made whole. There is no way I could function without them both. I know these things are forbidden, but I have asked both of them to form a herd with me. I hope you will understand. I hope you will forgive me. I hope you will allow this, as there is no way I will ever be able to have some semblance of a normal life without them both. I have had a lot of time to think during my convalescence and Bon Bon has opened my eyes. I do not understand how or why Bon Bon is able to do what she does, but she has a knack for fixing broken unicorns, Lyra Heartstrings and I are evidence of her talent.

I am begging you to reconsider your stance on herd marriage. I understand there are herds here in Ponyville. They need to be recognised. They deserve to be recognised. I am aware of the complications of such arrangements, I know there has been trouble in the past, and to that end, Derpy, Berry Punch, and I are all working out rules of engagement for one another. We want this to work. I need this to work. I want to be whole again. I want to feel better. I want to have foals and be able to love them. I want to feel something other than a hollowed out sense of emptiness.

I think I had an epiphany about your school and my time there. You were trying to help me, help my kind, help all of us there, am I right? To that end, I accept the proposal being offered, if you will grace me with the privilege, I will head a school here in Ponyville, I have no idea what I am doing, but I trust that you will guide me. This seems to be a good place for unicorns to heal. Perhaps the ley lines are funny here. I know they cross here. I think I tapped into two of them that day I had to keep Dinky safe. Iâm not quite sure what happened there.

I trust you. Bon Bon wanted me to say that, so I have.

Trust is a funny thing. I trust Derpy and Berry to carry me where my heart and mind would choose not to go. I have had to let go completely and allow them to do what is best for me. And I trust them to know what is best for me. In spite of my own best efforts, I think I am getting better.

I really donât want to write this next part, but Bon Bon insists that total honesty and full disclosure is the only way for me to get better, so here goes.

When I was a colt, in school, just before the Summer Sun Celebration, I accidentally caught a glimpse of your backside when your tail was no longer strategically covering various places of interest. It caused me to have troublesome thoughts about you for almost three months, and this is why I went through that phase where I could not look you in the eye no matter how many times you told me to do so. I was not trying to be disrespectful, I was just a very confused and damaged colt that couldnât deal with what I saw.

And I saw everything.

Recalling this memory has been problematic, confessing this is causing me great strain. Do not be surprised if I cannot make eye contact when next we meet again. (The rhyme is accidental I assure you) I am certainly not trying to think of you in that way. Oh no, Bon Bon is giving me the stinkeye right now for slipping into neurosis, Berry is about to die from laughter, and Derpy is giving me a one eyed stare that I cannot make out. I cannot repeat what Lyra is saying without completely destroying decorum, but it is causing Berry to laugh Berry hard.

What have I doneâ

Bucky.

The rules of engagement.

Berry Punch pondered the meaning of these words. Yesterday, there had been an actual engagement, a formal official engagement. Bucky was out of the bed now. He was slow, and he was wobbly, and he needed help to get around the house, but he was upright. Enough time had passed that the crack in his horn had mended, he had a little more strength, and, during a quiet moment with all three of them together in the bed, there had been an arrangement of engagement, and the rules of engagement had been discussed.

Marriage.

And the agreed upon foundation rules of their forming herd. Simple things really, to make sure they all stayed civil and loving towards one another. There was only one issue that had really stood out enough that Derpy had insisted on, and it was something they had all agreed was vital.

No sex with one another without the other knowing about it. No hiding. No withholding. Ideally, it was to be treated as a group activity, but needs were needs, and they couldnât always be together.

The train to Canterlot rocked back and forth on the tracks and Berry thought about other rules of engagement, not in love or marriage, but in war. She knew what needed to be done and she was on her way to do it now. She was surprisingly calm, given what was about to take place.

She was a pony in love, on the cusp of being both a wife and hopefully a mother, and she was not about to take chances. She hadnât been drinking, not lately, she was doing this stone cold sober, which made it worse somehow.

The only pony that knew what she was doing was Barley, and he had given his blessing. He was at home now, with the two ponies that Berry loved, Bon Bon and Lyra, who were becoming fast friends, Sparkler, and the foals.

Berry sat in silence as the train rolled on towards Canterlot.

Twilight Sparkle sat in her library, silent, reflective, a book open in front of her that she was not actually reading. Everything Celestia had said to her was settling in and reshaping her jumbled thoughts into something a bit more coherent.

She listened to Spike arguing with Owlowiscious about something, or specifically somepony, because Owlowiscious kept saying âœwho.â Poor Spike was sounding frustrated.

Twilight Sparkle, the trick to good leadership is to get all of the ponies in the herd all running in the same direction. To do this, you must give them something to chase. We are creatures born to run, we need something to follow.

The words repeated over and over again in Twilightâs mind.

It was in the middle of Twilightâs reflections that the door burst open and Rainbow Dash came bursting in, running up to Twilight and shoving her book to the floor.

âœWe gotta go Twilight, Berry Punch hopped a train to Canterlot. We have to go keep an eye on her!â Rainbow Dash said.

âœCanât you just go look after her?â Twilight said sullenly.

âœWell, yeah, I could, but I donât want to be alone. Besides, we know there was an engagement yesterday, it is all the flock can talk about, I bet Berry is going to go look at wedding dresses or find somepony to help plan a wedding or find a nice place to get hitchedâ or something. Come on Twiâ this will be fun!â Rainbow Dash said, leaning in nose to nose with Twilight Sparkle.

Twilight sighed and allowed Rainbow Dash to drag her towards the door.

The last thing she heard as she was leaving was Owlowiscious asking âœwhat?â which left Twilight feeling a little troubled as she was hauled out the door.

Buckyâs nerves were frazzled. He was trying to have a nice time, but it was becoming more and more difficult. Barley and Sparkler were in a heated battle for dominance, and it had left Buckyâs poor sensibilities quite sullied.

The sound Bucky thought to himself, mentally cringing. He had to make it stop somehow.

He winced as Sparkler let go another foul blast, filling the whole house with a resonating gurgling belch that must have lasted for all of thirty seconds or so, causing the old unicornâs bushy eyebrows to almost meet his ears.

The old unicorn wasnât going to take this affront any longer it seemed, and began to mutter about putting the upstart filly in her place. He took a long pull from his beer, took a deep breath, swallowed some air a few times, and then let go with a foul sounding belch that was equally as nasty as Sparklerâs.

Something had to be done.

The foals were rolling on the floor with laughter, Bon Bon had a broad grin, Lyra looked sheepish but was trying to have a good time, and Derpy was laughing so hard that she was crying.

Bucky was clearly the only pony not having a good time, and that bothered him on some level. He was clearly not moving with the herd. He had a strange longing for Berry to touch him. Or Bon Bon. A hug might be nice. He shook his head, not believing that he had just thought that.

Another thunderous belch was heard, this one from Sparkler. Her eyes bulged halfway out of her skull as she let go and her mouth was opened so wide that you could see her uvula flapping in the breeze.

It is interesting to note that certain unicorns have a biological quirk that connects their thaumaturgical system to their vocal cords, providing magical amplification for anything going through their throats. This particular genetic quirk exists among the âœnobleâ unicorns and those with high magic. The condition is called âœthe Canterlot Voiceâ and it gives immense vocal power to any unicorn in possession of it.

And, disinherited or not, Bucky was a noble unicorn, coming from a long bloodline that could be traced back to the noble families of the Old World before the Long Walk.

Buckyâs thaumaturgical system was coming back online, bigger, better, and stronger than before, his extreme use of magic completely frying his old system and forcing new connections of thaumaturgical neurons to be created. New jumpy neurons that were still very spastic and in the process of creating stable new connections.

Celestia had been mistaken. Bucky had been a type three, and would have continued being a type three, had not he magically fried himself into being a faulty and badly wired problematic type four susceptible to surges as his body was forced to create new thaumaturgical connections to allow for magical discharge to keep his beloved Dinky Doo and PiÃa safe from harm. Much like stories of mothers lifting heavy things to save their foals, Buckyâs body had responded to the emergency the only way it could. More magic.

It was under these completely unknown revelations that Bucky sat, guzzling a rootbeer, after already downing one, determined to join in on the fun and make himself try something new.

Having listened (with no small degree of horror) to Sparklerâs lessons to Dinky and PiÃa about how to swallow air and make yourself belch, Bucky pulled in a considerable mass of air to mix with his rootbeer.

The initial blast actually struck Barley and Sparkler before the sound could be heard, blowing them from their chairs. The kitchen table slid for several feet over the floor, and one of the chairs tipped over. The kitchen window shattered.

The actual sound itself was deafening in the small room, filling the kitchen with a dreadful sound that no words could describe. It came along a mere moment after the blast hit, leveling all those trapped in close quarters.

The Royal Canterlot Belch spread through Ponyville, causing birds to take wing and leave behind fresh deposits of bird droppings as they flew for their lives. Startled pegasi, never calm creatures to begin with, also caused a number of cries of alarm and panic as ponies below were treated to objects falling from clouds. Those objects were not meteorological precipitation, but were the evidence of long evolved reflexes of pegasi whose bodies shed all possible extra weight before taking wing when in panic mode.

âœAye, damn yer eyes laddie, ye best make sure ye pass on the gift of yon Voice to Berryâs foals, or Iâll neâer forgive ye, ye great lout!â Barley said, rubbing his head and struggling to sit up.

âœWhat hit me?â Sparkler asked, dazed, and sprawled on the floor. She blinked several times. âœIt was like hearing a train coming.â

âœMy jelly bean feels like it has a heartbeat!â Derpy announced, her wings sticking out ramrod straight.

âœI beg everyponyâs pardon, I donât know what happened,â Bucky said, looking sheepish and rubbing his barrel.

Thunderlane poked his head through the kitchen window, looking around inside. âœWhat in Tartarus was that?â he asked, his face full of terror.

âœSparklerâs lessons in table manners paid off,â Derpy announced, looking proud.

Chapter 39

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âœThere are no shops out this way, all of this area is the wealthiest district in Canterlot,â Twilight Sparkle said as she flew beside Rainbow Dash. âœThe nobles live here. My family lives right over there.â

âœI wonder what sheâs up to,â Rainbow Dash replied, looking puzzled.

âœI donât know,â Twilight said, sounding confused.

The two figures flew overhead, unnoticed, flying from cloudbank to cloudbank, swooping over palatial homes, homes with walls, fortifications, and even towers. Impressive homes made from old wealth, some of these homes were almost one thousand years old. Twilight Sparkle could actually see her home from here, a sprawling structure that did in fact have its own tower, because when it was constructed, towers were very fashionable and everypony had to have a taller tower than their neighbor.

The pair watched as Berry Punch approached a home that was shaped like a five sided star with a very tall tower rising up out of the center.

Berry Punch approached the door of the vast estate home of Buckyâs family. It was star shaped, sort of, or so she thought, with five wings protruding from a central tower in the middle. She trotted up the steps, took a deep breath, and then pulled the corded rope to ring the bell. She waited, and, after some time, the door opened.

âœMadam?â a stately somewhat older stallion inquired.

âœI have come with a message,â Berry Punch replied. âœBuckminster Bitters has been injured and has been recovering. I come with news of his condition,â Berry said, not technically lying.

âœOne moment madam,â the butler said, excusing himself and closing the door.

The strangely calm earth pony stood waiting, breathing deeply, knowing full well what she must do. Old business had to be finished. What was once started had been put on hold, and the business had never been concluded. And it was time for this business to end. Berry Punch was a mare in love, and love made almost anything seem reasonable due to the drug like effects of various chemical agents flooding the brains of ponies in love.

The door finally opened and a very stern looking unicorn mare with her grey hair drawn into a bun emerged out onto the landing. She looked at Berry Punch, puzzled. âœYou have news of Buckminster?â she asked. The butler stood just behind her, looking thoroughly disgusted that there was an earth pony standing on the landing.

âœYeah, I have news of Buckminster,â Berry said, her voice becoming a heated growl.

The stuffy old unicorn looked even more confused.

âœCLAN PICKLED CLAIMS HIM AS THEIR OWN!â Berry roared, rearing up on her hind legs and lashing out with a vicious slap that sent the unicorn mare sprawling backwards. Moving with impossible speed and grace, she landed on her front hooves, swiveled her body around, and kicked out with her hind hooves, sending the butler flying into the doorframe. He fell to the ground and did not move.

âœClan Pickled sends their regards. Consider that friendly slap across the cheek my invitation to war you heartless bitch,â Berry cried, her body still moving rapidly. She sent out another kick with her forelegs that sent Buckyâs mother skidding over the landing.

The older unicorn spat out several teeth as she lay on the ground, groaning.

Berry sent another punch downward and the splintering of bone could be heard as Berry drove her hoof into the unicornâs leg.

âœYou, you broke the sacred trust that exists between a mother and her foals. OUR SACRED DUTY! OUR RIGHT! OUR PRIVILEGE! WHAT YOU DID WAS UNTHINKABLE! CURSE YOUR WOMB AND DAMN YOUR EYES!â Berry cried as she stood over the prone mare on the stoop. âœYou took a beautiful mind, a wonderful soul, and you left him twisted and broken. I should kill you for what youâve done. You are a shame to mothers everywhere. What I am going to do is even worse though. You are going to live. Clan Pickled has taken what you have so carelessly destroyed and thrown away. Consider the peace broken!â Berry growled, gritting her teeth after she spoke.

Berry Punch moved around the prone mare, walking towards her back end. Looking over her shoulder, Berry carefully lined up her kick. She was no Apple, but she had earned her red ribbons for being a kicker. She raised up one rear hoof, tensed her considerable bunched up muscles, and lashed out with every ounce of her fury, connecting with the unicornâs filly bits.

The older mare went skidding over the landing with a high pitched shrill scream, her guts on fire, her filly bits crushed under an earth ponyâs brutally strong kick. Blood began to seep from her feminine places, pooling over the landing and covering her tail.

âœI doubt you will ever have foals ever again, but I had to make sure,â Berry spat, turning around to look at the fallen mare clutching her groin. âœThis is war. Come near me, my family, or my foals, I WILL KILL YOU!â Berry promised. She spat on the prone mare and then took off, galloping away as fast as her legs would carry her.

A pair of ponies resting on a cloud, sat watching the scene below them. Berry Punch stood on the landing, waiting at the door. Somepony had answered and gone inside. Twilight Sparkle exchanged a glance with Rainbow Dash, Rainbow looking a bit confused.

A moment later, an older unicorn mare came out onto the landing at the top of the stairs, and exchanged a few words with Berry Punch, or so it seemed from their aerial vantage point. Then, there was a loud scream, and things happened.

The pair of ponies watched as Berry Punch moved with blinding speed, flooring the unicorn mare and subduing the butler. Twilight was so much in shock that she couldnât even move to stop the events she watched playing out below. Rainbow Dash was clinging to her, trembling, the blue pegasus clearly troubled by these events.

They watched as Berry Punch savagely broke the unicornâs leg, the shattered limb visible from their elevated view, and there was shouting about cursed wombs and damned eyes. It was difficult to make out.

Rainbow Dash let out a piercing scream when she saw the womb destroying kick delivered to the unicorn. Twilight Sparkle couldnât scream. All she could do was shake violently and cling to Rainbow Dash, unsure of what she was looking at, the horrible display of pony on pony violence below her completely unnerving her. One pony was savagely attacking another pony, creating disharmony within the much larger herd structure. And Twilight Sparkle was flummoxed.

âœThatâs the most horrible thing Iâve ever seen, and Iâve seen Discord playing with himself,â Rainbow Dash whimpered, one hoof clutching down between her own legs, her hind legs clenched around her hoof.

âœI thinkâ I think that was Buckminsterâs mother,â Twilight Sparkle said, her own hind legs clenched tightly together. âœI canât be sure, but I cannot imagine Berry Punch doing that to anypony else. I canât imagine Berry Punch doing this at all. Sheâs a good pony and a pillar of our community.â

âœWe should go help,â Rainbow Dash said.

âœPonies already are,â Twilight responded, pointing downward. âœWe should go see Celestia,â she added. âœCelestia needs to know what is going on.â

âœLetâs go Twiâ,â Rainbow Dash said, still clutching her filly bits.

It was done. She had done it. She had actually followed through with it. Berry Punch sat on the train in silence, the car was filled with other ponies, mostly pegasi and earth ponies, many of them females, all of them sitting around and talking gregariously with one another.

She took a deep breath and saw her reflection in the window. The mare staring back at her seemed to approve of her actions. Berry sighed, taking in and letting out one deep breath, trying to relax her quivering muscles.

Her kicking leg was still tense and just aching for more kicking.

When the first tear rolled down her cheek, Berry found herself in the company of strangers, a pegasus mare taking a seat beside her and offering a friendly hug, which Berry gratefully accepted. Another mare sat on the other side of her, an earth pony, and she too, offered up a hug to make Berry feel better.

Berry Punch quietly reflected that this is the way that it should be, but her eyes had been opened and she had seen for herself that some ponies had been broken, and this bond of herdship had been taken from them. Like Bucky. She resolved to hug the stuffing out of Bucky when she got home. Sheâd need Derpy to help. Because Berry also needed to be hugged. She lived in terrible fear for her future foals, haunted by stories from the past. Terrible stories of the clearances in the Shetland Isles.

The pegasus mare said nothing as Berry cried upon her shoulder, and the earth pony mare ran her hoof in a small circle over Berryâs back, making Berry feel just a little better.

âœWhatâs wrong dear?â the earth pony asked.

âœI am going to be married soon. I plan to be a mother,â Berry said, just blurting everything out without thinking about it.

âœThatâs an emotional place to be,â the earth pony agreed.

âœIâm worried about my future foals,â Berry admitted.

âœI just got married and I am worried about my future foals too. The world is a dangerous place. The best thing we can do is be empowered mares and take a strong stance on defending our young, as is our right,â the pegasus said, giving Berry a friendly squeeze.

âœA mother should have a right to do anything she wants to protect her foals,â the earth pony agreed. âœI am not sure about this new feminism talk going around, but I do agree that mares should have a right to protect their foals by any means necessary. It is what we do as mothers. Ponyville doesnât even have a standing guard constabulary that we can call for help if something happens,â the earth pony added.

âœWe know how to raise our foals better than the Crown does,â the pegasus commented. âœI think the new feminist ideals are valid. A motherâs rights are inviolate, provided the foal does not come to harm. But no good mother would harm her foal. I should have the right to kill somepony that might try to harm or otherwise molest my foals,â the pegasus stated.

âœI dunno about killing, but beating them to within an inch of their life is fine with me, and I am a feminist,â Berry confessed. âœA mare should have the right to determine how their foal is raised, and the government needs to keep their snoots out of our families, as long as nopony is being hurt. Like herd marriage. I should have the right to assemble with other like-minded mares and present a united front to raise my foals together with them, dividing the labour and making sure my foals are provided for at all hours of the day, and provided for if something ever happens to me,â Berry explained.

âœAnd that is the feminist argument?â the earth pony asked.

âœIn a nutshell,â Berry replied.

âœThat seems reasonable,â the earth pony said thoughtfully.

âœA herd would make foal care much easier. You could take shifts. Somepony could watch over them during the night while you slept. All of the hard work would be spread out over multiple mares. You could wake up refreshed and well rested and actually be a better mother,â the pegasus said, giving voice to her thoughts.

âœWait, why did we give that up?â the earth pony asked.

âœLong story,â Berry replied. âœThere are plenty of books though.â

âœI think Iâll do some reading,â the earth pony mare said, smiling broadly.

âœA mare should have the right to assemble with like-minded mares and form a herd. Present a united front. Engage in collective bargaining. Have the right to assemble. We deserve the power of committee. We deserve to be able to divide our labour and lighten our loads. We have a right to have motherhood as a unified group effort because it takes a herd to raise a foal. We have a right to collect and assemble mares from different backgrounds together so our foals will grow up with the broadest possible knowledge base to work with. What I know is limited, what another mare knows might also be limited, but together, we can teach all of what we know to our foals and have them prosper, and then when they have foals, that collection of knowledge can be passed on to their foals, each generation starting off a little better than the one before. I have a right to be a good mother, and share my motherhood experience with my best friends, those I love, and my fellow herdmates within marriage. And nopony has the right to take that from me. Motherhood is sacred. It is the foundation of our society and the privilege of every mare to do her part, and she shouldnât be forced to endure this task alone, bearing the heavy brunt of all this labour on her shoulders. We deserve to be empowered!â Berry ranted, feeling Berry empowered herself, having just delivered a good old fashioned Shetland Islesâ plot whipping.

âœYeah!â another earth pony agreed, listening to Berryâs impassioned pleas.

âœTell it sister!â a pegasus shouted, sitting several seats away.

âœAnd when foals need to be punished, and some little foals do, it is better to be done by a calm mare who loves the foal, not the angry mare whom the foal is in trouble with. Punishment could be delivered swiftly and fairly, without anger, as it should be,â an older earth pony mare said, nodding her head as she spoke.

âœYeah!â Berry agreed.

âœYeah!â several ponies said in unison.

The door opened with a faint squeal, the hinges needing to be oiled. Berry Punch saw Bucky on the couch, sitting with Derpy, and Lyra was reading a book to everypony. Lyra fell silent when she saw Berry in the doorway.

Berry moved swiftly, crossing the room in a bound, and tackled Bucky and Derpy on the couch, savagely assaulting them both. She pulled them both in, nearly crushing poor Bucky, and went to work trying to encourage a three way kiss.

Sparkler covered two pairs of little eyes with her fetlocks, pulling Dinky and PiÃa close as there was a very passionate three way kiss being exchanged on the couch.

Barley, sitting in the overstuffed chair, raised an eyebrow and said nothing, patiently waiting for the passionate three way embrace to come to an end.

Berry finally pulled away and sat, her legs still around the pair of ponies that she loved, watching them both, her barrel heaving. âœI might need for you to forgive me,â Berry said breathlessly, licking waxy residue from her lips.

âœI would forgive you anything,â Bucky replied, adoration easily visible in his eyes, his face looking red and flustered as he realised everypony was staring at his embarrassing display of three way affection.

âœGood, because I just gave your mother a piece of my mind and I started a war,â Berry replied, turning to look at Barley.

âœOh,â replied Bucky, strangely calm. âœOh my.â

âœAye, thatâs my filly,â Barley said approvingly.

Chapter 40

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The pearlescent white alicorn stood locked in concentration. Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash had both willingly offered up their memories of the event, and Celestia had pulled everything she needed from them. Before Celestia, a large projected screen slowly formed, the picture grey and void, nothing yet to see.

Everything in the room vibrated with the intense magical energies being summoned. This was top tier magic, a magic exclusive to type fives, and a skill that Twilight Sparkle was still practicing.

She carefully studied Celestia hoping to perform the spell better herself.

Eventually, images began to form on the projected screen, showing images of what had taken place. The image zoomed in, showing everything in perfect detail, and sounds became easy to hear.

The image played backwards, to the beginning. The image began to move forward at normal speed, and the doorbell was rung. A few moments laterâ

âœCLAN PICKLED CLAIMS HIM AS THEIR OWN!â

âœOh dear,â Celestia gasped, hearing these words.

âœClan Pickled sends their regards. Consider that friendly slap across the cheek my invitation to war you heartless bitch.â

âœOH NO!â cried Celestia, now in total panic, her wings fully extended and flapping in alarm, and she began to dance around on her hooves.

The sounds of splintering bone thundered through the room and all three ponies winced together, sensing pain.

âœYou, you broke the sacred trust that exists between a mother and her foals. OUR SACRED DUTY! OUR RIGHT! OUR PRIVILEGE! WHAT YOU DID WAS UNTHINKABLE! CURSE YOUR WOMB AND DAMN YOUR EYES!â

Celestia began to sob, Twilight sat silently, and Rainbow Dash growled.

âœBut Berry is right!â Rainbow Dash insisted. There was no reply.

âœYou took a beautiful mind, a wonderful soul, and you left him twisted and broken. I should kill you for what youâve done. You are a shame to mothers everywhere. What I am going to do is even worse though. You are going to live. Clan Pickled has taken what you have so carelessly destroyed and thrown away. Consider the peace broken!â

Celestia stumbled and fell to the floor, horrible sounding shuddering sobs now coming from mouth, her long neck and throat giving them unusual resonance.

Twilight tried to comfort her fallen mentor, gently placing a foreleg around Celestiaâs neck and stroking her gently.

âœBut she did do that!â Rainbow Dash said angrily. âœBerry is just being honest!â

After a few moments of the image playing, there was an awful meaty sounding âœthwump!â and an accompanying image that made Celestia roll over on her side and clutch her groin with her forehooves, nearly crushing Twilight Sparkle, who cried out in alarm, trying not to be squashed under the much larger alicorn.

Even Rainbow Dash cringed again.

âœI doubt you will ever have foals ever again, but I had to make sure,â

Silence.

âœThis is war. Come near me, my family, or my foals, I WILL KILL YOU!â

âœI ain't saying that Berry is right, but I understand what she did! This was a moment of brutal honesty! I might have done the same!â Rainbow Dash said, now clutching her groin again.

âœHow is this an act of honesty?â Twilight snapped, squirming uncomfortably and clenching her hind legs together, or trying to as she stood.

âœBerry Punch told the truth! She said what was in her heart and she didnât hold back! I might have done the same. Some stuff just makes my pegasus blood boil. If somepony was to ever touch one feather on your wings Twilight, I probably would kill themââ Rainbow Dash confessed. âœShe made an honest mistake, but I might have done the same.â

Twilight Sparkle lept over Celestia and tackled Rainbow Dash, hugging her tightly, overcome with emotion and crying.

âœMy Ponyville Project,â Celestia mumbled, still sobbing.

Twilight Sparkle, still hugging Rainbow Dash, turned to look at her fallen mentor and felt a painful stab of resentment and more than a little anger. The tiny spark of anger ignited a furious blaze, which quickly became a burning conflagration, and then a blistering inferno of seething rage. And the resentment, forged in the fires of rage, became a tiny shard of hatred that pierced her heart painfully, making it bleed.

Twilight Sparkle gnashed her teeth, she then closed her eyes, and then she teleported away without a single word of parting, leaving Celestia all alone, sobbing on the floor and utterly alone in her moment of pain.

Later that afternoon in Ponyvilleâ

Princess Twilight Sparkle stood in the middle of the living room of one Derpy Doo Hooves, looking angry, confused, and a little bewildered.

Before her sat three ponies. One looked sad, one looked confused, and one looked defiant. Bucky looked confused, deep conflict on his face, Derpy looked sad, and Berry remained defiant.

âœLook, I cannot agree with what you have done, but I do have some understanding of why you did it. You were a lone earth pony taking on two unicorns. That explains the initial assault for incapacitation. I donât fully understand the follow through assault,â Twilight Sparkle said.

âœI do,â Rainbow Dash quipped, her voice unusually low. âœTradition from the old days, punishment for a mother that brought harm to her foal, or to another foal. Back when everypony went nuts and mothers were poisoning and killing each otherâs foals. The black days, when so many pegasi were exiled from Cloudsdale. They talk about this in a Daring Do book. Well, sort of. The days I mean. And some of the punishments.â

Twilight rubbed her face with her fetlock.

âœMy mother will be fine. She has access to the best care available, an endless supply of bits and the best unicorn doctors that Canterlot has to offer. I bet sheâll be out of the bed faster than I was,â Bucky said, giving Berry a squeeze. âœI doubt there will be any lasting damage. There isnât much the unicorn doctors in Canterlot cannot heal if you have the bits and the right name. My mother has both.â

âœLook, Princess, here is the bottom line. In a declared state of war, I have a lot more options to protect my foals than I do otherwise. You cannot look me straight in the eye and say that the Canterlot unicorns do not abuse the law. You do know about the clearances, right?â

âœYes, yes I do, which is why I am here trying to be a good Princess and sort this out. For now, you are to remain here, in your home, with your family, until such a time that I can figure out what is to be done with you. I know that you will do what I ask because you want me to help you, right?â Twilight Sparkle asked.

Berry Punch nodded slowly.

âœConfinement in your home is only the beginning. I do not know what is going to be done with you, but I will try to make sure that it is fair. What you did was wrong, and I do not agree with it, but I have some understanding as to why now, not that this makes anything easier to accept,â Twilight said, her breathing somewhat laboured. Her mind was racing and she was having trouble holding everything together. Fillydelphia weighed heavily on her thoughts. Celestiaâs visions danced through her mind.

âœLook, what happened a long time ago is horrible, and to be honest, I cannot say that it wonât happen again, because it is still happening in some ways,â Twilight said, looking pensive. âœI really wish I could reassure you and say that you had nothing to worry about. I cannot honestly do that however. I know that even now, they still sometimes sweep foals from the Shetlands and raise them in mainland orphanages because of what happened and the public outcry over the barbaric practices of herd marriage that take place in the Shetlands,â Twilight muttered, rubbing her head and trying to keep her eye from twitching.

âœThat needs to stop,â Derpy protested, her voice cracking with sadness.

âœYeah it does,â Twilight agreed. âœAnd somepony needs to make it stop.â

âœWord is going to spread about this. Ponies will not be able to ignore this any longer,â Rainbow Dash said, rubbing Twilight on the shoulder. âœWar means serious business. This will be in the papers. It will get ponies talking. Maybe something good will come out of all of this. At least, I hope so. Derpy, the flock has your back. Berry Punch, you are a numbskull and I am really really angry with you right now, but the flock has your back as well. All of you. Weâll sort this out. Berry, I need your word that you are willing to make compensation for this.â

âœI am willing to make this right, but I want this oppression to stop first. When that happens, Iâll do whatever it takes,â Berry promised.

âœThen I need to make this oppression stop so you can hold yourself accountable and this can be dealt with,â Twilight said. âœI need your word as well.â

âœYou have my word, I give you my word that I will do whatever is necessary to make amends and see this through,â Berry assured.

âœGood. Then I give you my word that I am going to make this oppression stop, one way or another. We need this settled,â Twilight agreed.

Princess Luna trotted down the long hall towards Celestiaâs quarters, feeling flustered and confused. The sun was up late. It should have settled down and gone to other parts of the world almost nine minutes ago. Princess Luna had been forced to do it herself and now she was on her way to discover why her sister had been so lax in her duties.

When she reached the door, she didnât bother knocking, she shoved past the guards and kicked the door open, looking around the room. What she saw alarmed her. The entire room had been completely trashed. The mirror was broken. Things had been thrown. And there was an enormous lump in the middle of the bed, hidden under a blanket.

Princess Luna jerked the blankets from the bed and saw her sister curled into a fetal position, softly sobbing, not saying anything.

âœWhat is the meaning of this?â Luna demanded. âœYou have failed in your duties.â

âœWe are at war sister, there is war between houses once again,â Celestia mumbled, almost incoherently.

âœIâve heard some talk, but I see no signs of war,â Luna stated matter of factly.

âœA member of House Avarice came to the palace earlier this day and asked to buy the services of the guards as mercenaries. They also inquired as to where to buy mercenaries,â Celestia whimpered.

âœSo they have no army?â Luna asked.

âœNo,â Celestia admitted.

âœIs the mare in any danger of dying?â Luna questioned.

âœNo. She is fine. She is getting the best treatment that bits can buy, the best care that is available to ponies of her social class. Sheâs going to make a full recovery in a day or two,â Celestia said hollowly.

âœI do not see the problem,â Luna said, scowling. âœStop being neurotic! You are no better than the unicorns you look after!â

âœPonyville has a standing army,â Celestia said, collapsing into fresh sobs. âœThe two pegasi flocks have united into one unified body. They have banners Luna, banners!â

âœAnd where is Twilight Sparkle, why has she not restored order?â Luna said, puzzled, and looking rather miffed.

Celestia did not reply, she merely pointed to a scroll on the bedside table.

Luna began to read, her face becoming more and more confused as she did so. Her jaw hung open, her eyes went wide, and finally, she spoke: âœThe flock looks after its own.â

âœTwilight Sparkle has turned Ponyville into an independent republic. She has taken Ponyville away from me…â Celestia said, her voice failing due to her uncontrolled sobbing.

âœThis is indeed, surprising,â Luna admitted.

âœI sent messengers,â Celestia said, her voice hitching and hiccuping. âœI sent a dozen of the royal guard to arrest Berry Punch for assault and have her brought in for questioning. To arrange some kind of agreement. To put an end to this. And only one guard returned, bearing that note. The others have been taken prisoner and are currently under the custody of Twilight Sparkle,â Celestia said miserably.

âœI see,â Luna said, looking very surprised. âœPrisoners already. Weâre up to that now. Well, that is almost a war. So, one mare about to make a full recovery, I take it Ponyville is going to be used as a bargaining chip for something that Twilight wants, and I have a few guesses as to what her desires might be, and eleven royal guard ponies taken as prisoner so Twilight can make some weak show of force, letting us know that she means business. With her banners and weather pegasi protecting her republic. Sister, I shall make plans at once to hide under the covers with you,â Luna said in teasing tones.

Celestia buried her head under her pillows, refusing to look at her haughty sister.

âœWell, at least Cadance is dropping by in a few days. Perhaps we can engage her services as a neutral party and make her an ambassador,â Luna said.

There was a loud groan from under the pillows.

Luna crawled into the bed and lie down next to her sister. âœLook, I know this is rough on you. Ponyville is still under Twilightâs protection. This changes nothing. She is not going to allow harm to come to it. I say we allow her to have her moment, make her gambit, and then try to reason this out. No doubt that she already has Berry Punch properly secured somehow. For the record, I sympathise with that mare. I saw this coming. I figured this would come to a head sooner or later. The Shetland Isles ponies have wounded hearts and they live under desperation because of what you allow to continue to happen, all in the name of keeping the public peace and stable public opinion. Well, that and those old treaties that are still legally binding, but those are broken now. Actually sister, this might be a good thing. Real peace can finally be settled. Perhaps we can let the Shetland Isles go their own way, free of our influence. It isnât right to have a repurposed penal colony in this day and age and I feel sympathy for them being trapped on a desolate pile of rocks. Iâve been there,â Luna rambled.

âœYou are right Luna. The treaties ARE broken now!â Celestia said, her head emerging from under the pillows. âœDo you believe a fresh start is possible if we can just end this somehow?â

âœAnything is possible sister. We are together once again,â Luna said, snuggling up beside her sister.

âœAs bad as this is, maybe this needed to happen. Maybe we can finally smooth things over in a way that both sides find some measure of peace and everypony can be happy,â Celestia said, cuddling closer to her sister.

âœWe need to trust that Twilight Sparkle is going to do something to hold Berry Punch accountable. I believe she has something to answer for, but if her crimes allow all of this to finally be settled in some fair fashion, a little leniency could be allowed,â Luna said, rubbing her sisterâs neck with her snoot.

âœStay with me tonight sister, I am scared,â Celestia said, her voice flooded with uncertainty. âœThere hasnât been an internal war in so long. I do not want any more little ponies getting hurt. Twilight has betrayed meââ

âœOh hush,â Luna interrupted. âœTwilight Sparkle would never betray you. She has done something, yes, but we should give things time and see what she does. Perhaps this is a matter of perspectives and she knows something we do not. Twilight is a good pony, and I would trust her implicitly.â

âœPonyville,â Celestia protested.

âœYes, there is another foal in your sandbox sister, playing with your sand. Look, take some deep breaths, calm down, and remember, you invited Twilight Sparkle into your sandbox,â Luna snarked. She made a very pegasus like gesture of affection, pressing her snoot into her sisterâs cheek and snorting forcefully.

Luna was true to her word, guarding Celestia until the morning. When Luna raised the sun, Celestia was still sleeping, looking troubled. Luna stared at her crown and regalia, sitting on the bedside table. She made no move to put them on. Instead, she strode for the balcony, spread her wings, and took flight for Ponyville.

Luna landed in the early morning hours, and was immediately surrounded by pegasi on all sides. She studied them, and determined that they did indeed, mean business.

âœDo you intend to stop me?â Luna asked. âœDo you think that you can stop me?â

âœNo,â Thunderlane replied. âœBut we can make you kill us. That will not go well for you,â he added. Flitter and Cloudchaser stood directly behind him, along with a few dozen other pegasi.

âœI have no desire to fight you. I did not come as your Princess. I surrender and wish to see Princess Twilight Sparkle at once,â Luna offered.

âœVery well,â Thunderlane said, stepping aside and gesturing at the library door. âœBe respectful of Chancellor Twilight Sparkle,â he warned.

The door opened and Luna peered inside. She saw Twilight. And then she saw the others. Rainbow Dash, who was peering back at her. Pinkie Pie, who was laughing. Rarity turned her eye upon Luna and nodded politely. Fluttershy sat, looking dreadfully afraid, and Spike was trying to comfort her. Applejack sat with Pinkie Pie.

âœWhy are you here?â Twilight demanded.

âœI came to offer myself in exchange for the prisoners,â Luna replied.

âœOh,â Twilight returned, looking a little surprised. âœThat isnât happening. But you are free to see them and make sure they are treated well. Just because we are at war doesnât mean we cannot be civilised,â Twilight reassured.

âœWe are at war?â Luna said in surprised.

âœWe are in control of Ponyville now. All of us,â Twilight said, gesturing to her friends. âœAnd a threat has been made against one of our own. We will punish her as we see fit, but we will no longer be dictated to.â

âœI see,â Luna said. âœI wish to see the prisoners at once.â

âœOf course. I will go with you,â Twilight offered.

The two alicorns walked through the town together, pegasi circling overhead. There were indeed banners, just as Celestia had feared. They didnât walk very far. A large vacant shop had been commandeered and the prisoners were housed inside.

Luna was quite shocked upon entering. The guards all froze, looking at her, most of them rather guiltily. They had been drinking. There were bottles on the floor. Beds had been moved in. Some were still eating breakfast. Some were still sleeping.

âœDo we have to go?â a guard asked, looking guilty.

âœI donât want to go back, I like being a prisoner. Yesterday, two ponies named Aloe and Lotus interrogated us. I swear, all I did was give them my name, rank, and number,â he muttered, his eyes downcast to the floor.

âœThe food is a lot better,â one guard confessed, not daring to look Luna in the eye.

âœAnd the beer was fantastic,â one guard said sleepily, hiding his face under a blanket. âœWe are willing to make this sacrifice for Equestria. Donât forget about us.â

âœWhat is going on here?â Luna asked, clearly puzzled.

âœWe are civilised. This war doesnât have to be bloody or brutal. We can work something out. If you send more guards, we will capture them as well. The only guard that protested his capture completely folded when Aloe offered him a backrub in exchange for his surrender,â Twilight said smugly.

âœAnd they drew lots on who had to be the chump that had to take the note back to Celestia,â Applejack added.

âœAnd what of Berry Punch, the cause of this all?â Luna asked.

âœShe is currently confined at home until I can figure out what to do with her,â Twilight answered.

âœWanna be our prisoner? Pinkie quipped.

âœVery well, I surrender,â Luna announced.

âœThat was much easier than expected,â Rarity confessed in surprise.

âœI cannot leave my sisterâs guards,â Luna explained.

âœSo just like that, you are willing to surrender?â Rainbow Dash asked.

âœWell, you are being very reasonable about all of this, and I would like to establish communications. No better way to do that than to surrender myself and show you all that I trust you with my well-being,â Luna explained. âœI do request to be allowed to see the pony responsible for all of this."

âœThat seems reasonable,â Twilight agreed, sighing with relief.

Chapter 41

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Two unicorns sat in a small fenced in backyard, sitting in the early morning sun, looking around and occasionally looking deeply into each otherâs eyes. Pegasi circled overhead and the world continued to move on, not caring that some imaginary lines that separated the land masses seemed to have shifted a bit.

âœIt is all so crazy Sparkler. Last night, we had a message arrive by magic that we are all to arrive in Canterlot and swear an oath of loyalty to House Avarice. Theyâre calling your whole family âwar criminalsâ and say this attack was completely unprovoked. Nothing makes sense anymore,â Rising Star said, his ears splayed out sideways.

âœBerry had her reasons. I cannot say she was right, but I understand them. And House Avarice, they are the war criminals. Foalnapping war criminals. Thatâs crazy,â Sparkler retorted. âœAre you going to go?â Sparkler asked hesitantly.

âœOf course not, I am casting in my lot with you,â Rising Star said, leaning in and kissing Sparkler on the cheek briefly. Sparkler, inflamed by this show of loyalty and a brief peck on the cheek, wrapped a foreleg around the colt and hauled him in for a long wet kiss on the lips, complete with a long awaited lip nibble, as he had once done to her. Afterwards, the two gazed into each otherâs eyes for a while. Sparkler was definitely feeling her inner pegasus right about now. She could almost feel her wings. Loyalty went a long way for her, and a flood of emotions coursed through her body.

âœWhat about your parents?â Sparkler asked.

âœBoth of them plan to stay loyal to Ponyville,â Rising Star confessed. âœWe are aware of the consequences. We talked about it last night when everything went wrong all at once. Twilight Sparkle was very brave doing what she did,â Rising Star said. âœFailing to answer the summons could have us all in some very big trouble,â he added, looking very worried.

âœBerry is in some Berry big trouble,â Sparkler said, causing Rising Star to wince. âœIâm standing by her now. Sometime soon, she will be my mother, and I am proud of what she did, even if I donât agree completely with her doing it.â

âœSoâ does me rebelling against authority make me more attractive?â Rising Star asked, prodding Sparkler with a folded fetlock.

Sparkler rolled her eyes and shoved him, causing him to fall over.

âœI really hope that Twilight Sparkle doesnât end up at war with her own parents,â Rising Star said, voicing his fear.

Sparklerâs eyes went wide for a moment, taking in the entirety of Rising Starâs words, feeling an awful chill creeping down her spine. That would be the most horrible thing everâ

âœI want to be a parent someday,â Rising Star said. âœWith a nice mare. University educated. Maybe some sort of geologist,â he added absentmindedly.

Sparkler pressed her lips into a flat line and regarded the subtle hint with narrowed eyes, staring down at Rising Star, who was sprawled in the grass.

âœBut if a certain unicorn filly was to not attend university, or not finish university, well, I donât think she would be as attractive. I need a perfect mare for my foals. And she needs to be smart,â Rising Star said, now resting his head on the grass.

âœYour foals?â Sparkler asked.

âœI think Iâd like a few, but not right away. Being a unicorn, I have high standards. I cannot have just anypony mothering my foals. I dunno, I might even want to start a herd if I found the right like minded mares. I am all for mare empowerment,â Rising Star said.

âœIs that so?â Sparkler asked.

âœIâd need a mother that would be willing to go to war for her foals. Now that Iâve seen that take place, I donât think I could settle for anything less,â Rising Star commented. âœAnd I think I would want a pegasus grandmare to look after my foals, and maybe an earth pony grandmare as well, because I would want them well rounded with educated with different points of view, so they could be open minded to other ponies.â

âœWow, you do have standards,â Sparkler said, nodding.

âœAnd she needs impeccable table manners,â Rising Star quipped, nodding enthusiastically as he lay in the grass. âœSomepony has to teach the little unicorn foals courtly manners. Unicorns have such high societal demands, and good manners are of vital importance.â

âœGood luck finding such a perfect creature,â Sparkler said.

âœI know, it is the impossible dream,â Rising Star said.

Princess Luna, now a prisoner, settled into the overstuffed chair in Derpyâs living room, as so many other ponies had done before her. The chair was old, and had a long history. It had been returned to a second hoof shop so many times, and had seen so many owners. While it looked a little ratty, it is still supremely comfortable, and Luna would have gladly considered it her throne. It became a perfect place to sit when two small foals squeezed into the chair on each side of her, snuggling up against her.

She turned and studied the three ponies on the couch, all of them looking a little worried. They sat huddled together, and it was obvious to any observer that they all loved one another a great deal. Luna resolved to make sure this love endured. She then turned to her gaze to Twilight Sparkle, who sat on a large cushion on the floor, also studying the three ponies on the couch, looking just a little confused.

âœI think,â Luna began, âœthat we should dispense with all formality and simply speak to one another as ponies. There has been enough protocol as of late.â

âœI agree,â Twilight replied.

The three ponies on the couch nodded.

âœBerry Punch, why did you do this?â Luna asked, straight forward and blunt.

âœFor my foa-â

âœNo,â interrupted Luna, âœany answer but that one. That is the easy answer. Just like I turned into Nightmare Moon because I was jealous of my sisterâs day.â

Berry Punch glared at Luna, looking her in the eye quite fearlessly. Luna did not seem the slightest bit bothered by this. Rather, she looked rather amused and maybe a bit grateful, a faint smile on her lips and her eyes bright and merry.

âœI wanted her to pay for what sheâs done. I want all of them to pay for what theyâve done. But that mare, she failed in her duty, and she damn near ruined something beautiful,â Berry grunted, her gaze never leaving Lunaâs.

âœThatâs better,â Luna said, nodding slightly. She cast her gaze upon Twilight, and saw Twilight was gazing at her curiously, her head tilted to the side.

âœBuckminster, how do you feel about what has taken place?â Luna asked.

âœI have conflicting emotions,â Bucky confessed. âœI suppose part of me wants to see my mother suffer because of what she did. Part of me is flattered that Berry is placing me on a pedestal. Iâve never had anypony do that for me before. Iâve never been that important. I donât know how to feel about it. It is causing me a great deal of emotional distress. Having a mare declare her love for you and then go off and declare war for you kind of makes you feel good,â Bucky admitted, leaning closer to Berry Punch as he did so.

âœBucky deserves better,â Derpy said, closing one eye and staring at Luna with her one good orb. âœI keep going back and forth. Part of me wishes I had been there with Berry, kicking the stuffing out of her,â Derpy added, casting a one eyed glance at Twilight.

âœAssault is wrong Miss Hooves,â Twilight admonished.

âœNow wait Twilight, let us establish a few facts here. Berry, did you appropriately deliver the declaration of war?â Luna asked, her brows furrowing.

âœWith a slap over the chops and the verbal declaration required,â Berry Punch answered with a faint nod.

âœAlright then. At that point, under Equestrian law, Berry was free to kill that mare without consequence. The butler, well, that is just dirty pool to kill the hired help. But Buckminsterâs mother, Berry would have been within her every right to kill her, so let us all acknowledge Berryâs restraint in dealing with her,â Luna announced, her eyes meeting briefly with every eye in the room. She gave a soft squeeze to the two foals in the chair with her, feeling them squirm against her sides.

Twilight Sparkle visibly deflated, her head dropping low and her wings drooping.

âœWe cannot punish Berry for the assault, as heinous as it might have been. She should instead be commended on her mercy,â Luna said, her words slow and careful. âœWhat Berry Punch needs to answer for, is starting a war. And this is a far more serious issue. We cannot determine the penalties for this action now. That can only be done at the end, when both sides sit down and peace is declared. So long as nopony actually dies from this, I would highly recommend leniency Twilight Sparkle, when you determine the punishment for what has taken place. Berry Punch, if I were you, I would pray that nopony dies. The punishment for brokering a war that causes death are harsh indeed,â Luna said, now staring directly at Berry Punch.

âœThank you Luna, for some perspective,â Twilight Sparkle said, taking a deep breath and sighing with relief. Twilight was secretly grateful that Luna was stepping in and restoring some sense of order, some sense of right and wrong. All of this was a lot to take in all at once. And Luna seemed to be able to do it with such grace and aplomb. Twilight Sparkle made mental notes to review Lunaâs behaviours and actions.

âœI donât want my sister in trouble,â PiÃa said sadly.

âœDo not worry dear heart, I think this will be alright,â Luna said, comforting the small foal. âœThis needed to happen. The old treaties are now destroyed and new treaties can now be created. Ones that are fair to all sides. Perhaps Twilight Sparkle could broker some meaningful settlement of peace between both parties. Would be a worthwhile display of her leadership now that she is Chancellor,â Luna said, giving Twilight a pointed look.

âœIt is indeed very flattering to become the spoils of war, a trophy,â Bucky muttered, mostly to himself when the room fell silent.

Derpy poked him with a hoof and shot him a dirty one eyed glare. âœThis is your fault,â she sneered at Berry Punch. âœYou and your feminism and all those big words. Now Bucky has a big head,â the grey mare grumbled.

âœIf I may say so, I do not agree with my sisterâs stance on herd marriage. I wish all three of you the best of luck, and you have my blessing, for whatever it is worth. My views are about one thousand years old and outdated though, so take everything I say with a grain of salt,â Luna said with a soft chuckle.

âœThank you,â three ponies said in unison, words that sounded well practiced together.

âœYou have mine as well,â Twilight Sparkle added, feeling the need to match Lunaâs graciousness.

âœTwilight Sparkle, if I may suggest a course of action,â Luna asked.

âœOf course Luna, youâve been very reasonable,â Twilight responded.

âœMight I recommend that you use your new authority and require Berry Punch to marry. Soon. I do believe that placing her into a position of real responsibility for her fellow herdmates may level out some of her more wild behaviours. Make her obligated. Craft a shackle for her, as it were,â Luna explained.

âœI will take that into consideration,â Twilight said, nodding as she did so.

âœAnd Derpy, keep your flock safe. Keep Berry safe from herself. Do not allow her to do any further foolish action,â Luna advised.

âœOkay,â Derpy agreed. âœI plan to be in charge anyway.â

Berry grunted a non verbal agreement and said nothing.

âœBerry?â Luna asked, her eyes narrowing and her ears folding back against her skull.

âœWhat?â Berry asked, reluctantly receiving Derpyâs hoofs on physical affection after Derpyâs announcement of being in charge.

âœI find it interesting that modern feminism is more or less a rehash of the militant culture of warmongering mares from one thousand years ago,â Luna stated, looking very thoughtful. âœRight down to worthy stallions becoming a cause for war.â

Berry turned away from Lunaâs gaze finally, unable to meet her eye.

âœOh, do not mistake my words, perhaps warmongering stings a little bit right now, but I was quite shocked to discover that I was already a feminist in these modern times,â Luna explained patiently, her words trying to restore Berryâs gaze to her .

Berry Punch turned and looked slowly at Luna, their eyes meeting once again.

âœA good father is more valuable than all of the wealth I own in Canterlot. Worth more than the entire contents of my treasury. It isnât selfish to want these things. A good father worthy of fathering foals is hard to find. And he should be sheltered, treasured, and protected. Fatherhood, just as motherhood, is a sacred institution. Even with the current trouble, you did right in laying a solid claim to Buckminster and then moving to protect him. Herds were made to protect a good stallion. Even after all this time, we are still slaves to certain instincts, certain animal urges. This was a mistake worth making. Somehow, we will move past all of this and this will become a marvelous footnote in Equestrian history. I suppose I shall have to endeavor to spend a bit more time writing our history,â Luna said, squeezing the foals at her sides and trying to reassure everypony in the room.

âœI suddenly want to talk to my father,â Twilight said, sniffling.

Chapter 42

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âœI want her head!â

Princess Celestia leveled her gaze at the mare sitting opposite of her at the table. Buckminsterâs mother, Primrose Propers. An absolutely awful example of what a unicorn could be. Unicorns like her were the reason why Princess Celestia had to create her school in the first place.

âœYour Ladyship, may I remind you, it was your family that created those laws that allow the declaration of war and the freedom from consequences afterwards. May I also remind you that your family used that law to kill quite a number of rivals and then immediately sued for peace afterwards, allowing you to indiscriminately kill your foes and then pay a pittance to remove yourself from any responsibility,â Princess Celestia said in frigid tones to the hated mare across the table.

âœHow dare you say such things!â Primrose reprimanded. âœMay I remind you that you would not even have your tacky crown and the throne of Equestria without my family! Princess Platinum backed your gambit because she trusted you as a neutral party among the noble unicorns, the servile pegasi, and those filthy mud ponies.â

âœYes, a family that you married into, so not your family at all. I remember when your ancestors scrubbed my chamber pots,â Princess Celestia snapped.

Primrose looked mortified for a moment and then regained her composure. âœThat mare came to my home and viciously assaulted me for no reason at all! I demand that you do something at once, you, you, you pretender to the throne!â Primrose shrieked.

âœAnd you do not seem any worse for wear,â Princess Celestia retorted.

âœThat is not the point! I am not obligated to suffer like those lower class wretches! I demand you do something at once or I will make it my lifeâs mission to see that the political power that House Avarice affords you dries up!â Primrose threatened.

For a brief moment, Princess Celestia entertained the notion of declaring war upon House Avarice and obliterating the obnoxious noblemare. It was certainly tempting. A little too tempting. Princess Celestia decided it was time to end the meeting.

âœBegone, I have heard your pleas, you have no grounds. This meeting is over. Threaten the Crown again and it will mean war,â Princess Celestia said to the now staggered mare who had her mouth hanging open.

After speaking her piece, Princess Celestia simply blinked away.

In her private quarters, Celestia looked over her pile of messages. There were guards volunteering to go take Ponyville. Guards who probably intended to surrender the moment they arrived. Word had spread fast. At least the war with Ponyville was nothing to worry about. The other war was far more worrisome.

There was a message from Luna describing her views on the current crisis, including multiple mentions not to worry, a stack of messages from various Canterlot nobles demanding action be taken and for the Crown to actually do something for once, rather than sit back and grow fat from taxes.

The final message proved to be the most interesting. It had the noble seal of Clan Pickled and it was a message from Keg Smasher, High Laird of the Isles.

Celestia sighed. Under the current political conditions, the Crown was forced not to acknowledge any title greater than Laird, or landowner among Clan Pickled. The simple truth was, Keg Smasher would make for a fine High Chief. Or even a Prince. Celestia liked the rowdy pegasus a great deal. She cracked open the seal and unrolled the scroll, seeing that Keg Smasher had written this himself in his funny scrawling script. Celestia felt warmed by the gesture and appreciated it. Keg Smasher could have had a scribe write it for him in fine perfect script, but he had instead done it himself, pen in mouth.

As Celestia read the letter, she laughed a little, then cried a little, and then, after a long time of simply reading, she heaved a sigh of relief. The rowdy pegasus had sent a little hope in Celestiaâs direction, and she felt most grateful.

âœAre you sure you arenât angry with me?â

Bucky considered the words carefully, exchanging a glance with Derpy as he did so. He felt Derpyâs feathers brush against him slightly.

âœI am not angry with you,â Bucky said. âœAll of this is a mess, but we will move through this together.â

âœIâm a little angry with you,â Derpy confessed. âœThe more I think about it, the more I realise I should have been there with you, you stupid numbskull. You left me behind. You took away my choice of going with you as a friend and a soon to be fellow-wife.â

âœIâm sorry,â Berry Punch apologised, no traces of mirth in her voice.

âœWhat you did was stupid! What if you had been hurt!â Derpy growled, reaching out and delivering a powerful swat to Berry Punchâs muzzle.

Berry sat in shock from the blow, blinking and looking surprised. âœI love you too, Iâll try not to let you down again. I really am sorry,â she said, unable to meet Derpyâs gaze, and not because of Derpyâs eyes. âœBucky, if you want a free shot, here is your chance. I have it coming,â Berry invited.

Bucky reached up with one foreleg, extended it, and gently brushed the side of Berryâs face where Derpy had swatted her. âœYou crazy crazy mare. I donât know what I am going to do with you,â Bucky admitted.

âœNopony else would have her at this point,â Derpy snarked. âœWeâre stuck with this numbskull.â

âœSo, one somewhat broken snob, one numbskull, and one very patient pegasus who watches over us both,â Bucky said, taking everything into account.

âœIâm not perfect,â Derpy confessed.

âœOh yes you are,â Bucky said, grabbing her suddenly and pulling her close. âœI am a high society snob. I might be broken, but I do not accept anything less than perfection.â

Derpyâs face turned a deep shade of purple and she began to stammer wordlessly as Bucky developed a case of wandering hooves. She waggled her eyebrows seductively.

âœExplain me then,â Berry challenged, raising her gaze to meet Buckyâs.

âœStill perfect,â Bucky admitted.

âœIâm not sure I deserve that,â Berry said, sounding uncertain.

âœHush numbskull,â Bucky ordered.

âœMake meââ Berry said with a bit of a challenge.

A second later, the earth pony was being subdued by the pegasus while the unicorn silenced the earth pony the only way he could, with a passionate kiss on the lips. The pegasus had a terrible case of exploratory wingtips, allowing her feathers to travel everywhere as she held the earth pony and kept her pinned. The earth pony struggled to laugh because her mouth was a little busy.

âœUGH!â Sparkler said. âœGet a room if you are going to do that!â She stood on the stairs, watching the adults on the living room floor. âœSeriously, just go get a room, shag one another, get it out of your systems.â

âœWeâve waited this long, weâre going to wait until marriage,â Derpy said, still pinning the squirming giggling earth pony mare. âœI want to be a good example for you,â Derpy explained, smiling at Sparkler.

âœYeah, but I am going to go blind if this keeps up. Or develop a complex. Or become afraid to leave my room,â Sparkler protested.

Bucky ceased his assault and let go of Berry. He focused on Derpy instead, taking the mare by surprise. Berry scrambled away, crawling on her belly, giggling like mad.

âœAw, mom is happy,â Sparkler said, watching her mother pin Bucky to the floor and take control of the situation. She slammed him down a few times to establish dominance and Sparkler took notes. Sparkler took note of her motherâs heavy grunting and snorting and felt a little alarmed. She felt a brief moment of pity for Bucky.

âœI want little brothers, dad,â Sparkler requested.

Bucky froze completely, which caused Derpy to pull away in alarm. Bucky lay on the floor, completely non-responsive.

âœBucky?â Derpy said, poking him with a hoof.

The prone unicorn did not reply.

Berry crawled back over, still on her belly, and prodded Bucky with her hoof, and no reply. Bucky usually responded to Berryâs hoof prodsâ everypony had noticed that.

âœBucky, say something, are you having a panic attack?â Berry asked, shoving him roughly with her hoof.

âœNo, Iâm fine,â Bucky said in a low strained voice. âœMaybe not fine.â He lay on the floor unmoving, staring up at the ceiling. One side of his face twitched, the paralysed side of his face stayed still.

âœIâm sorry, I thought it would be alright to call you that,â Sparkler said, finally understanding what had happened.

âœIâm glad you did,â Bucky said, still staring upward. âœJust caught me off guard. I guess Dinky will call me that now.â

âœDinky keeps asking me about it,â Sparkler said. âœPiÃa too, but that gets a little complicated because she is Berryâs little sister.â

âœI guess we need to talk about this,â Bucky admitted.

âœMore words,â Derpy said, sighing. âœWhat is there to talk about? Dinky is going to have a daddy, PiÃa might as well be Berryâs foal, and both of them love you to pieces. Just let things happen,â Derpy said, pressing her wingtip down on Buckyâs lips.

âœIt wouldnât bother me if PiÃa called you daddy,â Berry said, collapsing down on top of Buckyâs barrel and crushing him. She lay there, sprawled over Bucky, looking thoughtful.

Sparkler came over and tackled her mother, crushing the pegasus down to the floor. She pressed her face into her motherâs neck and inhaled deeply, smelling her motherâs scent. âœThank you for everything you have given me,â Sparkler whispered. âœYou gave me a life, and I cannot thank you enough.â

Derpy began to snuffle, wiping at her eyes with a fetlock. âœStop it Sparky,â she murmured. âœIâm really emotional lately.â

Dinky came trotting down the stairs, PiÃa just behind her, yawning and now awake from her nap. She wasted no time in joining the pony pile, vigourously rubbing against her mother, and PiÃa piled in on top of her sister, who was still sprawled over Bucky.

âœDinky, you have a daddy,â Sparkler said, grabbing her little sister and squeezing her tightly. Derpy squirmed around until she could get her forelegs around both of her foals, and she began to squish them in the most motherly way possible.

âœWhat about me?â PiÃa asked, raising her head.

âœYou can call Bucky whatever you are comfortable with,â Berry said. âœForget all about the complicated stuff for now.â

âœBucky, are you crying?â Sparkler asked.

Bucky made no reply as his eyes flooded with tears.

Derpy, hearing Sparklerâs words, moved to comfort the now emotionally fragile unicorn, his moods as variable as a leaf on the breeze as of late.

Pony pile dynamics caused a major shift of distributed pony mass, with Derpyâs pony pile merging with Berryâs pony pile, and suddenly, Bucky found himself buried under a writhing mass of ponies. Dinky claimed the top of the pile, and began to pull PiÃa up there with her, sitting on top of Sparkler, who was piled on top of Derpy, who was sprawled over Berry and Bucky.

Not all that long ago, such an act would have caused outright panic.

Now, the panic was only a mild panic, and Bucky was able to cope with it. He lay pinned, pressed under a ponderous mass of ponies, feeling a whole lot better about life.

Derpyâs navel was pressed tightly against the side of Buckyâs face, so he turned his head, wedging his muzzle into a very delicate area on the grey mare.

Derpy wiggled, threatening the pony pile dynamic of stability, which was tenuous at best, and haphazard at worst. The pile was structurally unsound. Unicorns did not make good foundations for anything. Society, empires, pony pilesâ

Bucky blew a long raspberry, which completely wrecked Derpyâs ability to provide stability for her distributed load bearing mass she provided for the ponies above her. The raspberry vibrated the poor mare in the space just below her navel, and Bucky could feel her belly button on his chin.

Derpy had an outie, but he already knew that.

The pony pile suffered catastrophic collapse, and Dinky and PiÃa tumbled to the floor. Sparkler almost squished Dinky as she slid off, letting out a giggling cry as she went.

âœSome jerk blew a raspberry right in between my te-â

Derpy was cut off by Berryâs hoof pressing into her mouth, Berry giggling madly.

âœMommy had a raspberry where?â Dinky asked, blinking, rubbing her bumblebee cutie mark, which she had landed on.

âœIn a very ticklish place,â Sparkler said.

âœI know where,â PiÃa said, blushing, turning even pinker than she was. Her ears drooped in embarrassment.

âœPiÃa, shush!â Berry said, still giggling.

âœAdult areas. Where the snorgasm happens,â PiÃa announced.

âœOh my,â Sparkler said, turning purple-pinker and beginning to giggle. âœPoor mom. Sheâs already so frustrated.â

Derpy pushed Berryâs hoof away. âœBucky, I am going to wreck you, just so you know. No more nice mare,â Derpy threatened. âœYou just wait.â

Derpy rose up onto her hooves unsteadily, her wings half flared. She shuddered, giving herself a good shake. She felt warm and flustered.

It is interesting to note that pegasi physiology was geared towards turning their body into one big heat sink, and pegasi were prone to overheating from physical exertion. Their wings were filled with spongy tissues that could be flooded with blood, allowing for increased airflow over a large amount of surface area, rapidly cooling their body. In order to maximise the amount of surface area, the wings were capable of extending forcefully outward to their full length, each feather lifting away and extending outward away from the skin, allowing for the maximum amount of airflow to cool the overheated pegasus in a most efficient manner.

Pegasi called this much needed survival adaptation âthe wing bonerâ and every pegasus had stories of it happening at the most embarrassing times.

Her flared wings were not enough to cool her rapidly overheating body and Derpyâs brain released a flood of chemicals to trigger emergency heat dumping as the pegasus mare thought about taking something from Bucky that he could only give away once. She wanted it more than anything else in the whole wide world.

The crack her wings made as they ejected outwards was almost supersonic, very much like the crack of a whip, and it sent the foals scattering, another useful biological adaptation, creating privacy for more foal making.

The extended wings also created the most useful hoof holds, allowing for the violent and athletic sex that the pegasi were known for.

Sexual arousal also triggered the magically charged pegasus adrenal glands, which made their skin harden, which in turn caused their entire body to suffer a rock hard state, which is part of the reason why pegasi were known as brutes. They suffered full body erections during the height of arousal.

Only the very brave, the very durable, or the very stupid took pegasi as mates if they were not pegasi themselves.

Bucky was not very brave and he certainly was not very durable, but he had one thing in spades.

Derpy stood over Bucky and Berry, her wings spread wide, smiling a very violent and predatory smile as she stared down at the unicorn and the earth pony she had claimed as her own.

Chapter 43

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The royal train car was well appointed. Full of comfortable seats, a few small day beds for reclining equine forms, and all manner of delicious snacks, it was truly a small palace on rails. The car itself was packed with royalty and nobles, a delegation headed to the independent republic of Ponyville, now an enclave within Equestria.

Now that the shock had worn off, Celestia was actually proud of Twilight Sparkle, and intended to tell her so. Twilight Sparkle had not moved against her, or at least that is what Celestia had believed, Twilight Sparkle had moved to protect Ponyville. And Celestia hoped that her hunch was right. Celestia refused to believe that her student, her pupil, her most trusted friend, would ever actually move against her. She had to believe it or else the foundation of long standing trust would now be gone.

And there were others who shared Celestiaâs belief. Night Light, Twilight Sparkleâs father, Twilight Velvet, her mother, Shining Armor, her brother, and Cadance, her sister in law, who had done much to comfort Celestia and help Celestia see reason. All of whom were currently in the train car. All of whom were fiercely proud of her for doing what she did. And Celestia had been moved into a position of agreement. Twilight Sparkle had done the right thing. Twilight Sparkle had almost always done the right thing.

It was Celestia who currently wondered if she herself had done the right thing.

âœCadance, are you sure this is going to be a good course of action?â Celestia asked, seeking reassurance from the bright pink alicorn currently curled up against her.

âœAuntie, I assure you, it was love that brought us to this state of affairs, and love will get us out. This is a little hiccup, just a little rough spot. I believe this can be smoothed over,â Cadance reassured, giving Celestia a nuzzle. Cadance had always been more pegasus in her means of communication, having once been a pegasus herself.

âœBut bringing back herd marriage. Officially sanctioned herd marriage. After all of the trouble it caused. It had to go,â Celestia said, comforted somewhat by Cadanceâs nuzzle. Cadance was well suited to being the Princess of Love, Celestia reflected, being such a physically oriented creature derived from pegasus stock. Pegasi were always hooves on in everything they did, and Cadance was no different. The pink alicorn now began to rub the side of her face against Celestiaâs long neck, causing Celestia to relax considerably.

âœAnd now it has to come back,â Cadance replied, feeling a warm happy sensation from feeling Celestiaâs soft pelt against her cheek. âœAt least in Ponyville. Restrict it to one city only. Have Twilight Sparkle pass a law allowing it, and when Twilight Sparkle inevitably hands Ponyville back to you once her conditions are met, keep the law on the books in the name of âfairnessâ, that way, everypony gets what they want. And you can save face by being the fair and just ruler. You do not get blamed for changing the law empire wide, and they cannot fault you for being a gracious ruler when you settle this dispute and sue for peace.â

âœThat is brilliant Cadance,â Celestia said. âœThis is why I moved you to the Crystal Empire,â Celestia remarked.

âœWhich still technically has herd marriage on the books and is currently being ignored I might add,â replied Cadance.

Celestia pursed her lips together and looked thoughtful. Cadance was telling the truth. Technically, the Crystal Empire was outside of Equestria, so it should not matter. âœWhat is your own opinion on this manner? Would you share Shining Armor with another mare?â Celestia asked in a low voice.

âœThe right mares, certainly,â Cadance replied.

Celestia sat, genuinely shocked.

âœHow could I be selfish and keep him all to myself? He is going to make a wonderful father once I can get him to relax and lighten up a bit. Love is love is love. Our family could only be improved by making it larger. I would get to watch Shining Armor be a father and interact with other mares, I would get a chance to see him as he really is, from an outside perspective other than my own exclusive perspective. I would get a chance to open my heart to my fellow-wives, to test myself, to see if my values are as strong as I claim they are. Adversity brings growth and chances for improvement. I would get a chance to see if friendship really was magic, and if it could survive at the next level of social operation, that of applying those values in a family setting, to see if sharing, caring, loyalty, honesty, and all those other values can hold true under a real test of fire, because marriage is the ultimate testbed of oneâs values. When Shining Armor and I had our first fight, I thought my world was ending, my confidence completely shattered, and I didnât feel worthy of being the Princess of Love. I had failed in my duty. It was a reality check on everything I believed in and Shining helped me put all of the pieces back together. He was terrified that I did not love him anymore. We were both very vulnerable and exposed after that squabble. We both grew a great deal. Now, add a couple of mares that were my most trusted and loyal friends and add them to this situation, and I would welcome the chances for growth, opportunity, and self improvement,â Cadance said in one very long winded bit of exposition.

âœWhen you put it that way, it seems reasonable,â Celestia replied.

âœI wonder what this lack of growth has robbed society of,â Cadance said, looking thoughtful, now covering her auntie with a wing and going for a full body rub.

âœThat is not fair Cadance,â Celestia grumped, feeling a bit miffed with her niece.

âœYou do not deny that it is true though,â Cadance acknowledged, attempting to merge with her aunt. Celestia had the most wonderful pelt.

Cadanceâs physical affections were creating floods of oxytocin between the two mares, bringing them ever closer. Bonds that lasted centuries took effort to develop.

âœBerry Punch brought us to war,â Celestia said distractedly, enjoying Cadanceâs affections. It seemed as though all of her worries were being soothed away.

âœI would go to war for Shining Armor,â Cadance confessed. âœI would have to make a grand gesture worthy of his love though, like razing a city or sacking a county.â

âœThat is not funny Cadance,â Celestia admonished, trying to not crack a smile.

âœIâm not laughing,â Cadance said.

Celestia suffered a painful start as she realised that Cadance was not joking, what she had said was not said in jest. She turned to look at her niece, another alicorn that she trusted implicitly. For a brief moment, Celestia wondered if love might be a threat to the empire, a source of destabilization. Cadance was, in her heart, a hot blooded bad tempered pegasus held back by a thin alicorn veneer.

Berry Punch had offered up a few injuries to express her ire. Celestia realised that Cadance would have leveled the house to a pile of rubble or worse. It was a sobering thought. Cadance was the alicorn of love, love had passion, emotion, love was raw. Love was possessive and protective.

Love had always been the cause of so many wars, and Celestia now saw Cadance in an entirely new light. Cadance made grand gestures of her love and affection. Her gestures of war would be epic. It made Celestia squirm.

âœWhat would you have done in Berry Punchâs position?" Celestia asked bluntly, needing to know, dreading the answer. âœIf somepony had left the love of your life broken, damaged, and badly hurt?â

âœI certainly would not show her level of restraint. You were lucky auntie, that it was only an earth pony that had started the war,â Cadance said grimly. âœI would have brought a flock and the war would have began in earnest immediately after the declaration.â

Celestia cringed at hearing the words.

âœThat house, not one stone would be left standing. I would leave behind a smoking crater. I would run them down in the street and trample them under my hooves. I would-â

âœCadance! Enough, stop being a pegasus, I cannot bear it,â Celestia said, her eyes clenching shut.

Cadance blinked, snapping out of her momentary angry spell. âœIâm sorry auntie, I do not know what came over me. Just the thought of somebody hurting Shining. I thought about Chrysalis for a moment and everything began to flood out, forgive me,â Cadance begged. Cadanceâs distress was visible, and Celestia tried to calm her niece. Pegasi were such flighty creatures, and so much of Cadanceâs pegasus nature dominated her new form. Much like Twilight Sparkle still retained so many unicorn traits.

These faults were their strengths, Celestia knew this and celebrated it.

The train pulled into the station in a cloud of steam and smoke. A crowd had gathered. Banners were displayed proudly in such a location that it would be the first thing a pony saw upon stepping off the train.

Princess Luna was nowhere to be seen.

Twilight Sparkle waited, surrounded by her trusted friends. The truce was a chance for her to display her sense of civility. She looked forward to showing Celestia just what she was capable of, that she too could run an empire, only without all the ugly bits.

The doors opened and the first pony off of the train was Celestia, who was not wearing her crown or regalia, just as Luna had not worn hers. The crowd cheered a little bit, some of them confused, unsure of how they should greet the now foreign dignitary. Cadance came next and Twilight Sparkle could feel her heart jump up into her throat.

What she saw next broke her completely.

When her parents and Shining Armor stepped down off of the train, Twilight Sparkle became a foal again. All thoughts of public decorum died. She began to bawl from her raw emotions and ran forward to embrace her parents, sobbing pitifully.

There was a very touching moment in the family that the public realised that they were intruding upon. Many turned or looked away out of respect. Quite a few turned to their own families and had a moment of warm affection.

Twilight Sparkleâs sobs could be heard all over the trainyard, and Celestia had a powerful reminder that, even if still flawed, not all Canterlot unicorns were bad sorts.

Leaving Twilight with her family, Celestia followed a charcoal coloured pegasus named Thunderlane, hoping to see Luna, her sister, who was not there to greet her at the train station.

âœMaâam, the prisoners are all secured in here. Well, they live in here. They are actually free to roam the town. Seems cruel to keep them locked up,â Thunderlane said. âœWe are many things, but we are not cruel.â

âœThank you for your graciousness and your kindness towards my loyal guard,â Celestia said, thanking the pegasus.

She pushed open the door and peered inside. She was immediately hit with the smell of urine, which shocked her. Her nose crinkled. It was dark inside. It reeked of alcohol. There were bodies all over the floor, along with dozens of bottles of all kinds, beer, wine, and cider. She could see Luna sprawled on a couch, still drinking, currently chugging down a bottle of wine as Celestia had opened the door.

Thunderlane, sensing trouble, took off.

Lunaâs only greeting was a thunderous belch.

Beside Luna sat an older ivory-coloured unicorn stallion that Celestia did not know or recognise, and he was cuddled against Luna in a most infuriatingly familiar fashion.

Both of them were deep into their cups, as drunk as lords.

They had completely obliterated the guard and were the last two ponies still conscious. The urine smell came from puddles pooled around sprawled out backsides.

Celestiaâs thoughts of disgust were interrupted by Luna farting a trumpeting blast and giggle-snorting repeatedly.

âœAye lass, yer a wee pretty maid,â the unknown stallion confessed drunkenly.

Luna began to giggle even more, leaning on the stallion and taking another long pull from her bottle.

âœWhat is the meaning of this?â Celestia demanded. A stallion on the floor, passed out, farted loudly, practically beneath Celestiaâs hooves.

âœI was appointed to keep up the morale of these fine service ponies. We had ourselves a party,â the stallion slurred.

âœI had to lea-hiccup-lead by example,â Luna explained, hiccupping as she did so. âœWeâve been up all ni-hiccup-ight. They all fell on du-hiccup-ty and somepony had to keep watch-hiccup-â

âœLuna, what are you doing?â Celestia said. âœAnd who is that on the couch with you?â

âœThis is Bar-hiccup-ley OâBlivion, and last night, some time after mid-hiccup-night, he felt me up a bit and I -hiccup-ran away and he chased me, and then after that -hiccupI chased him, and then af-hiccup-ter that, we drank a whole lot, and then, -hiccup-we shagged and oh boy, it has been a long time since Iâve had a good and proper sha-hiccup-gging,â Luna explained, completely and utterly sloshed.

Celestia stepped away, backing out of the building. She took one deep breath and slammed the door.

âœIt isnât any-hiccup-thing serious!â Luna hollered from inside. âœJust a little chase and some frien-hiccup-dly shagging!â

Thoroughly disgusted with everything in life, Celestia strode away from the building and went off to collect her thoughts.

Chapter 44

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Twilight Sparkle sat in her library, surrounded by her family. It was a private family moment, with her mother, her father, Spike, her brother, and Cadance. All of them sat looking at her, all with very different expressions on their faces. Her mother looked happy to see her. Her father looked proud, as he had always looked proud. Spike looked confused, but the recent events had left him very confused. Cadance looked calm and supportive.

Shining Armor looked angry.

âœTwilight dear, I am sure you had very good reasons for doing what you did. But I am very curious as to why you did them,â Twilight Velvet said to her daughter while leaning on her husband.

âœI had a number of reasons mother,â Twilight answered. âœI needed to make sure that Berry Punch was safe. I didnât want members of House Avarice coming here and harming her, or killing her. Declaring independence for Ponyville allowed me to protect her. House Avarice doesnât want to start a war with me. Iâve already been sent communications stating that they recognise my authority for the time being. So I have Berry Punch secured. Also, I intend to force Celestiaâs hoof on a few issues. I will give Ponyville back when certain glaring issues have been addressed and a fair resolution is offered to all parties.â

âœThat seems reasonable,â Night Light said, looking at his daughter and considering her many words carefully. âœAnd what do you intend to do with Berry Punch?â

âœI donât know yet,â Twilight admitted.

âœShe should be pardoned,â Shining Armor said.

âœWhat?â Cadance gasped.

âœYou heard me. Pardoned,â Shining Armor insisted.

âœHow can you say that Shiny dear,â Twilight Velvet asked.

âœEasy,â Shining replied. âœSure, the war looks bad, but it will allow Twily to fix things and it will allow both sides to talk and maybe sort things out fairly for both parties. None of this could be fixed without a state of war first. This is a war in name only. Berry Punch should be declared a national hero and offered a full pardon for what will eventually restore real peace. It is what I would do if I had it in my power. And now that the war is back on, I would use the current laws, created by House Avarice I might add, to try House Avarice for war crimes retroactively. The new state of war would allow for that to happen if a brave soul went forward to press charges when peace is sued for. I would strip them of their wealth, wreck their houses, and make them pay one thousand years of restitution to Clan Pickled for their horrible atrocities. And I would hold OUR family responsible as well. We had a part in all of this.â

âœShining, son, have I have ever told you how proud I am of you?â Night Light asked. âœI cannot help but feel you are right. We in this room may not have actually had a hoof in what happened in the past, but we continue to profit from all the horrible things done.â The older stallion sounded terribly sad, Shiningâs words settling in uncomfortably into his mind. There was a lot to answer for.

âœYes we do,â Twilight Velvet said despondently. âœEvery year we collect our tribute payment from House Avarice as part of the bleedingly cruel tax that is levied over the Shetland Isles. I just found out where that money came from when I refused to answer the summons and they sent the papers saying that we had violated the pact of mutual defense that existed between our houses. Shining Armor told me where that money came from. It made me sick. Actually sick.â

âœBlood money,â Shining Armor spat.

âœWe are all war criminals,â Twilight Velvet said, the shock still slowly settling in. The sheer enormity of the situation finally resting on her shoulders. âœWeâve been profiting from the blood money for almost a thousand years. There is no way we could pay it all back and absolve ourselves of wrongdoing. Shining Armor is right. We will have to pay our dues or become hypocrites.â

âœThis is becoming complicated,â Twilight said sadly.

âœThis is really confusing,â Spike agreed.

âœWell then, we as a family need to do the right thing now. As a family. All of us. As soon as possible, we begin the legal proceedings to strip ourselves of our titles and our lands. We give up our wealth and any claims to what House Avarice collects. We quietly accept our lots with all the dignity we can muster and we become paupers,â Night Light said, his voice cracking with grief. âœAnd when this ends, we be the brave souls that seek prosecution for the war crimes that have taken place, and throw in our lots with those to be punished. The courts will be merciful if we begin to make amends now.â

âœShining, you know more about all of this, is this the right thing to do?â Twilight Velvet asked her son, her eyes now teary.

âœI donât know,â Shining Armor admitted. âœBut it would be a good start.â

âœSo thatâs it then. House Evening Star is no more,â Night Light said. âœWe begin again and do the right thing. We become the examples that we want to see in the world. I worked very hard to teach my foals these values and I will not be made a hypocrite. My only regret is not knowing sooner. I wonder how many other houses continue to make profit.â

âœWe cannot go home,â Twilight Velvet said, the truth of the situation settling in.

âœStay in Ponyville, the flock looks after their own,â Twilight Sparkle said, the real meaning of those words continuing to grow each day she heard them.

âœCelestia is here in Ponyville and even though she is not here in full official capacity, we can begin by telling her,â Shining Armor said solemnly.

âœI will begin to study and try to find a solution that is fair for all of us. To be honest, I do not fully understand what is going on,â Twilight Sparkle said to her family.

âœHouse Avarice planned this well,â Shining Armor said. âœIâve been doing a little study myself. Twily isnât the only scholar. This could potentially collapse most of the noble houses,â Shining Armor said.

âœSuddenly I donât feel right trying to punish Berry Punch,â Twilight Sparkle tearfully confessed.

âœI donât know what to say,â Cadance said. âœI donât think she should be pardoned. I think she needs some kind of punishment for what she has done, but it should be very lenient and more of a token gesture than anything else.â

âœHow can you say that Cadance? Sheâs the victim!â Shining Armor argued.

âœAre we fighting?â Cadance asked, alarmed.

âœNo,â Shining said. âœLook, Iâm sorry, but all of this has my blood boiling and the more I learn about this, the worse it gets. Iâll try to not be so imposing of my opinion on others. I really am sorry. To all of you.â

âœTwilight dear,â Twilight Velvet said to her daughter, âœplease do try to be merciful in whatever you choose to do. This whole situation is only going to become more and more complicated as past sins are compiled and old debts are called in. Now, more than ever, it is time for a gentle touch. That mare, Berry Punch, she did what she believed was right. She had no way of knowing just how much damage was actually being done. She started a war, she ended the peace, and as awful this is going to be, it needed to happen. Do not punish her for her courage.â

Twilight nodded and went to her mother, and, upon reaching her, began to hug her fiercely. The two mares shared a tearful moment together, bonding only as a mother and daughter could.

Spike, needing to hug somepony, and seeing Twilight was busy, ran to Night Light and began to squeeze Twilight Sparkleâs father. âœI have a few gems that could help out,â Spike offered, causing Night Light to begin to sniffle.

Shining, seeing his family hugging, turned to Cadance and tackled her, kissing her neck noisily while he squeezed, feeling so many conflicting emotions as he did so.

A small flock of pegasi studied Celestia. Flitter and Cloudchaser watched her, while Rumble and Cloudstreaker hid behind their parents. Celestia watched the foals peering at her shyly, and she smiled at them. Thunderlane pranced on his hooves and looked at her sheepishly, with his head down low in supplication.

âœLook, I had no idea what was going on in there,â Thunderlane apologised again. Flitter whacked him a good one upside the back of his head and Thunderlane groaned.

âœSo all of you are a herd,â Celestia stated, speaking exactly what was on her mind.

âœYes,â Thunderlane replied, rubbing the back of his head with a foreleg.

âœWould you care to tell me more? It might be helpful. I would really like to know your perspectives,â Celestia said invitingly. âœIt might help me make things right.â

âœWhat do you want to know?â Flitter asked.

âœEverything,â Celestia said.

âœWe just want to raise our foals and have a large happy family,â Cloudchaser said.

âœWho is in charge?â Celestia asked.

âœNopony really. We donât have an alpha. We try to vote,â Thunderlane said. âœIt was my idea,â he added, looking very proud with himself.

âœAnd this is why we love Thunderlane. He does so many stupid things that when he finally has a good idea, he comes across as being utterly brilliant by comparison,â Flitter giggled, her wings fluttering and her tail swishing.

âœWell, speak for yourself sister, I love him because even though he is a total chowderhead, he is a wonderful father and a kind and attentive husband that does everything he can to keep me happy,â Cloudchaser said, causing Thunderlane to blush. âœBeing a good father will allow me to forgive almost anything. How could I not share with my sister such a good father? That would be selfish. My sister deserves to have a good father for her foals just as much as I do.â

âœInteresting,â Celestia replied, now looking thoughtful.

âœI came up with a rule that one of us cannot take sides in an argument. So if something happens, I canât get somepony to side with me or they cannot get somepony to side with one of them, one of us always obligated to be the neutral party and make sure that that the two of us that are bickering stay nice to one another, and then kiss and apologise,â Thunderlane announced, looking very pleased with himself. He raised his head high and took on a very dashing stance, very nearly preening himself with pride.

âœHe did,â both Flitter and Cloudchaser said together.

âœMay I ask a personal question?â Celestia asked.

Cloudchaser looked annoyed and Flitter glared at her sister.

âœIf we can answer and it will help our cause, I will answer almost anything,â Flitter offered, smacking her sister with her wing as Cloudchaser made an annoyed snort.

âœI am curious about your sleeping habits,â Celestia admitted, blushing faintly.

âœEverypony has to ask that,â Cloudchaser grumbled.

âœWe all sleep in the big bed together,â Flitter replied, âœeven the foals. We believe that sleeping as a family creates strong bonds. It has certainly helped Cloudstreaker readjust back into family life. We will keep them with us until such a time they are ready to claim their own beds or we will kick them out. For other thingsââ Flitter said, her words trailing off as she tried to think of a nice way to put this while foals were present.

âœWe have a separate room and a smaller bed,â Cloudchaser continued. âœA pair of us will go there for quiet time alone. My sister and I do not under any circumstances engage with one another or share Thunderlane together. We respect each others privacy and need for alone time. I get him one day, she gets him the next day, and if one of us is feeling extra spry, we have the option to ask one another for his company. Usually, we agree.â

âœYeah,â Thunderlane acknowledged, grinning. âœTheyâre sweet with one another like that, offering to cook dinner in exchange for having some time with me. Makes me feel good knowing I am worth bargaining for.â

Both sisters rolled their eyes at once, a gesture that seemed that it happened quite a bit, given that Thunderlane was in fact, an actual chowderhead.

âœYou all seem to be very happy with one another,â Celestia observed.

âœWe are,â Flitter answered.

âœI am extremely happy, I mean, look at these two,â Thunderlane said.

âœI couldnât be happier,â Cloudchaser replied.

As Celestia continued to talk to the trio, she thought about another trio of ponies that she desperately wanted to talk to. She hoped that she would be welcomed.

Chapter 45

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âœI suppose you want to talk to me about what I did.â

The large white alicorn settled into the overstuffed chair and looked at the mare addressing her. âœNo actually,â Celestia replied. âœI have no desire to talk about that. I came here for personal reasons. I received your letter Buckminster,â the alicorn mare stated.

Bucky, sitting on the floor, fell to the hardwood floorboards with a thump, looking very embarrassed. He had nearly forgotten about that during the recent events.

âœI must say, I am very very flattered that somepony found me attractive,â Celestia admitted, causing Bucky to ignite. His blush intensified to the point where smoke began to waft away from his horn. âœDo not look so surprised. Every mare wants to know that she is desirable and attractive. And I am still a mare, in spite of all I have become,â Celestia stated.

âœI, uh, er, wellââ Bucky trailed off.

âœYou are pretty,â PiÃa said, looking up at Celestia. She climbed up and straddled Buckyâs withers, rested one foreleg on the back of his head, and then she fanned his smoking horn with the other.

âœWhy thank you PiÃa,â Celestia said graciously. âœI have been in contact with Keg Smasher,â she said to Berry Punch. âœHe should be contacting you soon.â

âœOh dear,â Berry Punch said.

âœTry not to worry about too much for now,â Celestia soothed. âœThere are other issues to discuss.â

âœI thought you didnât want to discuss the whole war debacle,â Berry replied, looking somewhat confused.

âœNo, I do not, but I did come to discuss politics,â Celestia admitted. She watched Dinky crawl up on Buckyâs back and begin trying to shove PiÃa off. The two struggled while Bucky lay sprawled upon the floor.

âœPolitics,â Derpy mumbled. âœUgh.â

âœActually, I came about marriage. Which in your case, is going to be very political,â Celestia revealed, looking at the the ponies in the room with her. âœTwilight Sparkle of course wants Berry bound to some position of social responsibility, and I agree that it would be for the best. I cannot perform the actual wedding, Twilight Sparkle is hesitant to do so, howeverââ Celestia fell silent and looked around the room. âœCadance is a foreign dignitary and she has the authority to do so. She is also the Princess of Love, and she wants a hoof in this. And I agree. We have discussed this, all of us, except for Luna and I.â

âœWhy havenât you talked with Luna about this?â Bucky asked.

âœI do not want to talk about it,â Celestia replied, shaking her head and snorting with disgust. âœI cannot even begin to figure out where to start regarding the Luna situation.â

âœThere is a Luna situation?â Berry asked, looking Berry curious.

âœForget about it. You should be prepared for a wedding. It will be soon. Details will be incoming. Keg Smasher specifically asked for me to allow this, stating that he will help end the war at his end if I do. So I am going to acquiesce to his requests. I am unsure as to why he would request this as a condition for his agreement to sue for peace, but I do trust his judgment. He has been nothing but a good and fair ruler, working very hard to manage with what little bit he has,â Celestia explained.

PiÃa gave a cry and tumbled backwards after a particularly strong push from Dinky. She lost her balance and fell. She never hit the floor. PiÃa hovered, an inch above the floor. Celestia hadnât done it, and Buckyâs horn was still smouldering but not lit.

Dinkyâs horn was glowing brightly.

âœSorry,â Dinky apologised, hooking fetlocks with PiÃa and pulling her back up. The two foals hugged one another tightly, sitting on Buckyâs back.

It was an impressive display of magic and control, and Dinky had no idea that Celestia was intently studying her. Dinky was already powerful enough to lift another foal in her magic and had the mental fortitude to summon the will required.

âœYou seem to be doing very well Dinky,â Celestia praised.

âœBucky and Lyra keep teaching me stuff,â Dinky replied, blushing. âœLyra teaches me lots about magic theory and Bucky teaches me about force of will, focus, and control. I can drive a nail into the wall now just by thinking about it,â

âœThat is impressive for a foal your age. You have been blessed with very good teachers Dinky,â Celestia said, smiling at the foal.

âœI can summon fire, but I know better than to actually do it. I can make liquids boil or become very cold. Berry gets me to reheat her coffee,â Dinky admitted, trying to not sound like she was bragging, even though she was clearly proud of what she could do.

âœTell her about the bread,â PiÃa giggled, which caused Dinky to giggle.

âœNo,â Berry said, shaking her head.

âœDinky is a bit of a prankster,â Derpy warned.

âœShe had Berry pretty good,â Bucky added.

âœI enchanted a loaf of bread,â Dinky boasted. âœI placed a sound spell on it.â

âœWhy place a sound spell on a loaf of bread?â Celestia asked, puzzled.

âœWhen Berry went to cut the bread for breakfast, every time she sawed on the bread with the knife, it made rude farty noises,â Dinky confessed, giggling. PiÃa collapsed into Dinkyâs embrace with the giggle-snorts.

Celestia covered her mouth with her fetlock and struggled not to laugh. She coughed instead, and had to keep coughing. Quite without meaning to, she tittered. She could not believe she was laughing at this.

âœIt was awful,â Bucky recalled. âœI almost died from mortification. Berry would go to cut off a slice and the rude noises would fill the kitchen.â

The alicorn made a very unladylike snort.

âœTroublesome little unicorn,â Derpy said, shaking her head.

âœWell, I told you, little unicorns do that,â Bucky said.

âœLittle unicorns would not do that if big unicorns didnât teach them prank magic,â Derpy retorted, glaring at Bucky, trying not to smile.

âœEven worse, she enchanted Barleyâs shoes,â Berry said, sighing. âœBarley took the opportunity to dance a jig,â Berry said, her face breaking into a wide grin.

Celestia found herself laughing, quite against her will. And then she realised who Luna had been with. She choked on her own laughter and struggled to breathe for a moment.

âœYou look like youâve seen a ghost,â Berry said.

âœMaybe I have,â Celestia wheezed.

Two ponies staggered through town, completely sloshed. They would stop occasionally, leaning upon one another, trying to steady themselves. Several bottles and a keg floated behind them, held in a bright blue aura.

âœKiss me, Iâm shitefaced,â one said, puckering up and making kissy kissy noises.

âœYeah, I am -hiccup-sorry about that, I shar-hiccup-ted when you were kissing me back there,â the other replied.

âœIt happens lass, it happens. Ye know, I think I pissed meself,â the stallion said to the mare. He looked down between his front legs, peering at his hind hooves, wobbling unsteadily. âœI did, I did.â

The mare laughed, and then took a long pull from the bottle. âœI think -hiccupI am in the mood for your luc-hiccup-ky charms again,â she said suggestively, one wing flapping wildly as she struggled to keep her balance. âœYou are such a gen-hiccup-tlepony. Everypony else is -hiccup-so afraid of me,â the mare confessed. âœI get so -hiccup-lonely.â

âœAye, I wants me a strong able bodied mareâ I needs me a good mare that can put me in me place,â the stallion replied, nearly falling over, his front hooves splaying outwards. âœLook at me, Iâm a sot,â he chuckled.

The mare stood, staring at the stallion, licking her lips with unabashed lust.

âœIâm prood of me wee dainty Berry,â the stallion said, his lilt fueled by alcohol. âœAll oâ her siblings ainât worth a tinkerâs damn, âcept wee PiÃa. I loves me that wee filly.â

âœYou -hiccup-have a good fam-hiccup-ily,â the mare agreed, dropping an empty bottle and heaving a sigh. âœAnother fine soldier has fallen,â she said sadly.

âœAye, he was a good lad,â the stallion slurred. âœI want to go home, I dinnae think I can take another moment without me wee Berry,â the stallion blurted.

âœI will walk -hiccup-you home,â the mare offered. She paused and took a long drink from the keg directly.

The residents of Ponyville watched in abstract horror as Luna, Keeper of the Moon, chugged directly from a keg and then staggered off with the old stallion by her side.

Celestia was drinking the fireball whiskey directly from the bottle now. She had polished most of it off. While she was nowhere near drunk, the alicorn was becoming relaxed. She had dropped her guard and become quite sociable.

âœI really want all of you to be happy,â Celestia said, looking at Bucky, Derpy, and Berry Punch. âœSo much has been done to you Bucky, you deserve to be happy. And if it takes two mares to do that, then you should have two mares.â

Derpy looked at Berry and raised an eyebrow. Berry looked at Derpy and returned the eyebrow raise. Both mares nodded slightly. Bucky, now so much more aware of the silent communications between the two mares, felt afraid.

âœI have a lovely bottle of red in the kitchen, in the fridge, getting cold. Let me know when you finish the whiskey,â Berry said invitingly.

âœThatâs so nice,â Celestia said, her cheeks turning pink. âœPonies never want to do pony things with me, like somehow I am above having a good time. I am a mare too. I want what mares want. I am still a pony. I just want to let my mane down sometimes and have a nice time, but no, manners this, and decorum that, and mind what you do lest you cause a scandal. Did I just use a run on sentence?â

Bucky nodded faintly. Dinky and PiÃa giggled and Dinky whispered something into PiÃaâs flickering ear.

Celestia guzzled down the remainder of the bottle and set it down upon the small table next to the chair.

Berry bounced into the kitchen, and sounds could be heard. Derpy dismounted from the couch and flopped down on the floor next to Bucky, rolling up against his side. PiÃa gleefully began to climb over Derpy and find a nice place to lay down, her body resting in the crevice formed between Derpyâs and Buckyâs bodies.

Berry returned a moment later, walking on three legs, her foreleg holding a tall mason jar full of wine in her hoof, for Celestia, who took it gratefully. She bounded back into the kitchen again.

âœIâve been under so much stress lately. The noble houses have been squabbling. If I could, I would get rid of them all. Weâd be better off without them,â Celestia confessed.

Berry returned, walking a three legged gait, bearing a glass of wine for Derpy. She set it down on the floor in front of the grey mare with a smile and then vanished into the kitchen once again.

âœPonies do not realise how little power I have sometimes about the day to day matters of the empire. The noble houses have to vote and agree on things, and if they do not agree, stuff does not get done,â Celestia explained. She took a long drink. âœOh, that is quite good. We keep Clan Pickled wines in the royal cellars.â

Berry returned with a glass of wine for Bucky, grinning hugely as she bounded into the room and set the glass down. Bucky picked up his glass right away and took a long drink, closing his eyes as he tipped his head back. Berry departed, seeking wine for herself.

Derpy drank slowly, smacking her lips as she pulled them away from the jar. The red wine turned her grey lips a purple blue colour, which Bucky might notice matched another pair of lips, had he been looking.

âœYou two look so adorable together, all covered in foals,â Celestia said, her regal tones melting away into something warm, friendly, and full of emotion.

Berry returned, set down her glass, and flopped down on the floor with Bucky and Derpy, scooting in beside them. She emptied half of her glass with a swallow.

âœI remember how it used to be,â Celestia said, reminiscing. âœPansy had over a dozen fellow-wives and Hurricane was a very happy stallion. Three seems like so small a number for a family.â She took a long drink from her glass and belched lightly. âœI have to know, who is the head in this herd?â

âœI am,â Derpy replied, blushing a bit. She took a sip and then giggled.

âœI would challenge her position but she can kiss me so hard that I have to pull my tail out of my backside when it gets sucked in,â Berry replied.

Celestia snorted, horked, and then guffawed.

âœI am content to remain on my pedestal,â Bucky replied. He was feeling warm from his wine. Not drunk in the slightest, but he was relaxing a bit.

âœI get to call him daddy,â PiÃa announced to Celestia. âœSo does Dinky. That makes us sisters. Sort of. Stuff is complicated.â

âœAw, I had always hoped that Buckminster would get to be a father, I have such high hopes for you Buckminster. Once we move past this unpleasantness, Iâd like to see you do great things,â Celestia said to Bucky. She took a long drink and completely killed off her drink. She stared down into the jar, peering at the drops remaining. She flicked out her incredibly long tongue and lapped up the last remaining drops after stuffing her muzzle into the jar opening. âœI feel so much better,â Celestia confessed.

âœThere is beer in the fridge,â Bucky said.

âœDo not bother getting up, Iâll get it,â Celestia said. Her horn glowed and several bottles poofed into existence on the table beside the chair. Her horn still glowing, she cracked off a cap and began to drink, making happy murmuring sounds in her throat.

âœThis is a side of you I never thought existed,â Berry said in a low voice, exchanging a glance with Bucky.

âœIâm just like you,â Celestia sniffed. âœYou should have seen Luna.â

âœI should have seen Luna?â Bucky asked.

âœNothing!â Celestia said, draining her bottle and cracking open another one. âœYou know Bucky, you arenât the only one afraid of having a nice time,â she added. She began to guzzle another bottle.

âœThis is going to be glorious,â Berry whispered into Buckyâs ear.

Bucky heartily disagreed. This was going to be disastrous. He wasnât even sure if alicorns could even get drunk. âœBerry, what were you thinking?â Bucky whispered back into Berryâs ear, causing Berry to giggle as his breath tickled her ear.

âœSheâs having a rough time, she is our guest, we have obligations to be hospitable,â Berry replied, whispering into Buckyâs ear.

âœPonies always forget about alicorns and our superiour hearing,â Celestia said, punctuating her words with a loud belch. It wasnât quite Sparkler grade, but it was close. âœI know what you are doing, and I thank you.â

The ponies remained drinking for a while, talking, laughing, the foals occasionally mentioning things they learned in school. A very relaxed atmosphere took over the room, and Celestia began to act more and more like a pony, and less and less like a regal figure.

The festive mood was interrupted by a knock upon the door. One knock at first, followed by a flood of instant knocking.

Berry Punch scrambled to her hooves and then opened the front door.

Beyond the door was quite a sight.

âœI believe this is yours!â Cadance grunted at Berry Punch, using her magic to toss a ivory stallion indoors. He landed on the floor with a grunt.

Twilight Sparkle stared at Celestia, looked around the room, and looked quite in shock. âœAnd this is yours!â she exclaimed. Using her magic, she tossed Luna into the room. Luna tumbled to the floor with a drunken roar of laughter.

âœHey, Twilight, can I -hiccup-have that stick?â Luna asked.

âœWhat stick? What are you talking about?â Twilight demanded, clearly running out of patience, a scowl plastered on her muzzle.

âœThe -hiccup-stick you keep up your plot!â Luna roared, collapsing with laughter.

âœBerry, wee Berry, you are going to hear some stories,â Barley slurred. âœAnd theyâre all true. Especially all the parts with Luna.â

Berryâs mouth fell open as Cadance and Twilight Sparkle shoved their way inside.

Chapter 46

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There were four alicorns in the living room. Derpyâs home, small and cramped by Buckyâs standards, large and spacious by Ponyville standards, had become one of the rare locations to host all of Equestriaâs alicorns under one roof. It was a momentous occasion, and two alicorns were already celebrating and in surprisingly good moods given everything that was going on.

Two were not.

Two alicorns were not in good moods. One of them felt quite snippy seeing both of her aunts in a very relaxed state of decorum. That same alicorn was also grieving the loss that her husband was going to have to endure. She was not in the best of moods at all. The other had similar worries, having lived to see the end of a noble house that was there when Equestria had been founded. And then to see her teacher, her mentor, the very example that Twilight Sparkle had modeled her entire life after, sitting in a chair drinking and becoming quite relaxed, it caused quite a bit of mental turmoil.

Luna, laying on the floor, cocked up one leg and farted. It was a loud wet sounding squealer, and it filled the room with an appalling stench. Barley and Celestia both laughed at it, as did the foals, everypony else was in too much of a state of shock to react.

âœThe stenchâ -hiccup-will lastâ forever!â Luna said with drunken theatrics, paraphrasing her own infamous words. Celestia, upon hearing this, broke down completely, bellowing with laughter until tears came out of her eyes.

Cadance stood, crinkling her nose, unable to take a deep breath, hold it, and let it out in her usual manner of stress relief.

âœOh my gosh, that is worse than Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack all put together, and those three once wrecked the Grand Galloping Gala,â Twilight Sparkle muttered. âœEven worse than Fluttershyâs silent but deadly creepers.â

âœI was there at the Gala,â Celestia quipped. âœThe after party at Donut Joeâs was so much better. I cannot stand the high society unicorns sometimes.â

âœAt least the two sisters are able to laugh at past hurts together,â Berry remarked.

Berryâs words had a profound effect on Cadance and Twilight Sparkle, both of whom looked a little less angry. Cadance watched both of her aunts, both of them still laughing, and felt a little ashamed for judging them. She knew the burdens they both bore upon their shoulders. Twilight internally began to hope that the two sisters would keep having a nice time together. Perhaps, this is what they needed.

âœHeck, you put me and my sister Berry Shine into a room together and somepony is walking away with a black eye,â Berry said. She punctuated her words with a long drink.

âœI donât have any siblings,â Bucky muttered, also taking a drink.

Derpy said nothing.

Berry, noticing Derpyâs silence, began to crawl over Bucky, displacing Dinky, squashing PiÃa beneath her, until she was laying on top of both Bucky and Derpy, and she planted a gentle kiss on Derpyâs head, right between her ears.

Luna, seeing this display of affection, felt very touched. She immediately scrambled upwards to her hooves, staggered through the room, and then climbed into the chair with her sister, clinging to Celestiaâs neck, trying to not fall out of the chair. Luna kissed her sister a few times, reeking of whiskey, wine, beer, and gin, and Celestia did not seem to mind, embracing her sister affectionately and holding her close in the chair, which was not large enough for two alicorns.

Cadance, the alicorn of love, felt a truly humbling amount of love in the room, and Shining Armor was not here to share it with her. She kissed Twilight on the cheek instead, which instantly destroyed what was left of Twilightâs bad mood. âœThis is a powerful moment,â Cadance whispered in Twilightâs ear. âœI wish you could feel what I am feeling.â

Cadance wrapped a foreleg around Twilightâs neck, pulling her sister in law close. âœLove bears all things. Politics, disputes, sisterly squabbles, acts of war, love can survive all of these things,â Cadance whispered.

âœOr bring them about,â Twilight replied.

âœSunshine sunshineââ

âœLadybugs awakeââ

âœClap your hoovesââ

âœAnd do a little shakeââ

The final line was spoken together in one voice by two very close ponies who loved one another, and Cadanceâs hug became an almost unbearable crushing force as her inner pegasus nature took over her drive to give affection, and Twilightâs inner unicorn felt an odd sensation of comfort.

Dinky, overcome with emotions and feeling a need to do something, enchanted everyponyâs shoes, her brief moment of magic completely unnoticed by anypony in the room.

Back in her library, later that day, a somewhat annoyed Twilight Sparkle was handed a package by Spike. Spike struggled to keep a straight face, chewing on his lip, his eyes watering with tears. With Twilightâs every step, the dragon shuddered, hugging himself, almost unable to contain his mirth.

âœIt isnât funny Spike. Trying to dispell it only makes it louder,â Twilight grumped. Troublesome meddlesome little unicorns she thought to herself.

Heaving a sigh of frustration, she pulled the paper off of the package. She didnât know where her parents were, or Shining for that matter, she supposed they were out seeing Ponyville. Under the paper was a box. A wooden box. Inside the wooden box was a ledger. A ledger bearing the royal seal of Princess Platinum.

Settling down upon the floor and setting the book before her, Twilight Sparkle began to read, something she was very good at. This book was written in fine script, by somepony with exquisite magical control.

The ink was fine ink too, the very best sort of ink that bits could buy. Twilight knew this because she used the same ink. It flowed beautifully and produced beautiful text. It wasnât dribbly or splotchy, dried quickly, and did not smear easily.

The paper of the ledger was beautiful ivory white, heavy stock, made for absorbing perfect ink. It was the right blend of perfectly smooth, to allow the quill to travel without snagging, and faint roughness, to catch the flowing ink and allow it to seep in. This was a ledger from somepony that loved paper and ink just as much as Twilight Sparkle did.

The beauty of the ledger and the ink though stood out in contrast to the horror story inside. Twilight flipped through page after page of detailed notes about penalty taxes, tributes, payments that had to be made to keep the peace, restitution for so called crimes, payments made for killing certain noble members of House Avarice from over nine hundred years ago, and the penalties were still in effect, each year a payment was due. House Avarice sat at the top of the heap, and it was easy to see why. House Evening Star even had debts, as Twilight found, large debts to House Avarice, and those debts were subtracted from the payment due to House Evening Star for its allegiance. It became easier to understand how House Evening Star had fallen under House Avariceâs control, even if she didnât see the explicit reasons why. Just that payments were due. House Evening Star would be bankrupted in no time at all if it wasnât getting a portion of the penalty tax from the Shetland Isles. That portion was paying off House Evening Starâs debts and then some, giving them a sizeable chunk of wealth each year to add to the family coffers.

And every house owed something to House Avarice in some form or another. Some received payments enough to cover their debts and make them quite wealthy, much like House Evening Star. Others had backed the wrong gambit and now had to pay yearly.

And every year without fail, there was a hefty payment from House Two Lights, a name that very few knew about. Twilight Sparkle sat in total shock, unable to comprehend what it was she was reading. These were just the markers for the debts, not the histories of the debts themselves, but this was amazing information. She saw other tabs protruding from other parts of the ledger, and opened to one listed as âresourcesâ.

Twilight realised with dawning horror that she was reading about the foal sweeps of the Shetland Isles, the foals were marked as resources. Every few years, a regular sweep was conducted and most, though not all, of the foals were taken from the Isles under the excuse of doing what was ârightâ for the foals and the betterment of society. Most of the foals ended up in Fillydelphia, and the various noble houses that profited greatly from Fillydelphia were paying tribute to House Avarice for services provided and resources offered. Fillydelphia continued to grow by leaps and bounds, and, even though it was a city populated mostly by mares, the population continued to grow with explosive growth. Fillydelphia payed taxes to both the Crown and to several noble houses, and those noble houses made a fortune off of the ever growing population of Fillydelphia. Tribute was then offered to House Avarice. House Avarice was making a fortune off of sweeping foals and essentially selling them to Fillydelphia, fueling the population boom, greatly increasing the number of ponies who paid taxes. And everything was indexed back to income listings in other parts of the ledger.

It was all a very complex money making scheme that was completely heartless, cruel, and ruthlessly exploited ponies.

At some point during her reading, Twilight Sparkle broke down, wondering if her trust in her fellow ponies and her belief that ponies were inherently good could survive this. She began to sob, and, hearing her cry, Spike came along to try and comfort her. She hugged him tightly to her, rocking back and forth and she wept, unable to say why she was crying. Spike, unable to do anything else, did the only thing he could do.

He was there for her, just as she had always been there for him.

âœSo, marriage,â Bucky said. âœTomorrow.â

Berry Punch pressed a shoe down upon the floor and it made a disgusting sound. She nodded slowly, and then looked at her soon to be fellow-wife and smiled. âœMarriage is fine and good, but I am far more interested in what comes after,â she said in a smokingly sultry voice.

Both mares looked at Bucky, who began to look a little panicked.

âœYou should show Bucky your walnut trick,â Berry said.

Derpy began to laugh riotously. âœI could, the foals are out with Lyra and Bon Bon,â Derpy replied.

âœWalnut trick?â Bucky asked.

Saying nothing, Derpy went into the kitchen, each step producing horrid flatulent noises along the way. She returned a moment later with a walnut held in her teeth.

She gently set the walnut down on the floor directly in front of Bucky, and then smiled at him, giving him a seductive glare.

âœBerry, I need to be kinda excited for this trick. Iâm thinking sexy thoughts but I nee-â Derpy was cut off as Berry went in for the kill, planting a devastatingly deep kiss on Derpyâs lips. When she pulled away a moment later, Derpy's wings were half sprung.

âœWeâve all heard stories of pegasi cracking nuts with their lips, well, Derpy can too, and not just her kisser lips,â Berry said, slurring slightly.

A new horror crept into Buckyâs mind and threatened his fragile sanity.

Derpy sat down on the walnut, made a face, stuck out her tongue, and then stood up. The walnut was missing. Her ears twitched in concentration, she closed her eyes, flexed her buttocks together, twitched her tail, and there was a loud âœCRACK!â from her backside.

A moment later, she grunted and a cracked walnut in several pieces fell to the floor.

Bucky whimpered in panic, fearing for his sanity and now his life.

âœNeat trick, eh? Derpy read about it in a book about old pegasi military traditions. Pansy could do it,â Berry said, smiling. She also picked apart the walnut from the shell and ate it too, smiling broadly as she did so.

âœHowââ Bucky whimpered.

âœEasy,â Derpy said, grinning. âœI just flex back there a little. Iâm strong! Maybe too strong for my own good. I once destroyed part of the town hall by accident,â she admitted, blushing as she did so. âœSome pegasi are fast, others are strong.â

Bucky gibbered in fear.

âœNow, Bucky, if you and I know what is good for us, weâll just go along quietly and allow her to have her way. I wouldnât trigger any of her aggressive qualities, or you donât want to know what she might do to both of us,â Berry Punch warned. âœDerpy and I talked, and I suggested that she be the one to get rid of your pesky virgin status. Sheâs pent up and needs a chance to let go. After that, all bets are off and it is every pony for themselves. Iâve had a dry spell for a while myself and I have itches that need scratching.â

Bucky huddled into a ball on the couch, a wordless cry escaping his lips.

âœIâll try to be gentle, but I make no promises. I have needs,â the pegasus promised.

âœI make no promises to be gentle. I never do anything, or anypony for that matter, halfway,â Berry chuckled.

âœIn that case Berry, I have no plans to be gentle with you, I think youâll be strong enough to take it,â Derpy said, prodding Berry with a hoof.

âœDo yer worst!â exclaimed Berry, her accent coming in strong.

Chapter 47 (wedding)

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Two mares stood together. They had been friends for most of each otherâs lives, lovers for quite a while, and were soon to be fellow-wives with one another. The change was profound. Going from friend, to trusted friend, and now a bond that rivaled sisterhood, making them family. They looked at one another in the full length mirror, admiring each otherâs physical forms, and feeling beautiful. Today was their day.

They were perfect. Every inch of their pelts had been carefully brushed to a fine sheen, their manes were carefully combed as was their tails, and Derpyâs wings had been carefully preened. None of these things actually mattered though, they already knew they were beautiful to the one pony for whom it mattered.

Derpy Doo Hooves turned and went to the large wooden cabinet in her room. Opening the door, she began to dig around, pushing things around with her hoof. She found a small wooden box. With a forceful shove, she cleared all of the clutter off of the top of it, and then carefully opened the lid. Using her wing tips, she rummaged around inside, producing a black eyepatch. She slipped this over her head and returned to looking in the mirror.

âœEyepatch?â Berry Punch questioned.

âœI hate it, but today I want to see. Saves me from squinting my bad eye shut,â Derpy explained, turning her head from one side to the other and checking herself out.

âœI dunno, I think it makes you look kinda sexy,â Berry admitted in a low voice, no trace of her usual teasing tones.

âœReally?â Derpy asked.

âœYeah, makes you look kinda dangerous,â Berry replied.

âœPoor Bucky. He didnât want to be snatched away by Thunderlane. He wanted to stay and watch us make ourselves pretty,â Derpy said, still studying herself in the mirror.

âœIâm telling ya, sexy,â Berry reassured. âœAnd Bucky will be fine. Heâs finally becoming the stallion he was always intended to be. Heâll manage. Thunderlane and Celestia wonât be too hard on poor Bucky,â she finished.

âœYou donât think we scared him too badly with the walnut trick do you?â Derpy asked, striking a rakish pose, her head high, wings flared slightly, and one foreleg raised.

âœNaw, heâll be fine. Little pushes out of his comfort zone so he can build his coping skills,â Berry explained. âœHeâs getting better, he keeps playing pranks on us and teaching Dinky those horrible spells. He is getting bold enough to defy you.â

âœHeâs changed,â Derpy said. âœHe holds his head up high now, and not in a snobby way. He has actual pride in himself. Especially when he is with us. Heâs gone from being cold and distant to warm and loving, and he is still getting better. Look how he is with Dinky and PiÃa.â

âœWe just need to keep nipping at his heels until he nips back,â Berry acknowledged. âœAnd then try to survive said nipping. He nearly killed me with those tickles that day in the brewery. I mean, I was asking for it, obviously, but he was tickling my cork. And I donât think he even realised it. When I made it into the bathroom I had the most powerful orgasm Iâve ever had in my life. I almost went off right there in the brewery.â

âœI thought you had to pee,â Derpy asked.

âœI thought I had to pee as well,â Berry admitted. âœBut then when I got to the little fillies room, something else happened. Something not pee.â

âœOh my,â Derpy giggled.

âœI bleated like a darn sheep Derpy,â Berry reminded. âœI only make sheep noises when I am about to have an orgasm. They call it the Curse of the Isles.â

âœWell that explains a few things,â Derpy said, now laughing. âœTonight, Bucky and I are going to bed with ewe.â

Berry glared at her soon to be fellow-wife. âœThat was awful,â she scolded.

âœI know,â Derpy replied, hanging her head in shame.

âœAre we ready for this?â Berry asked suddenly, her eyes wide, all traces of her happy-go-lucky self now gone. Her ears drooped slightly and she stared at herself in the mirror. âœNot like I have a whole lotta choice here, with four princesses breathing down my neck to take some responsibility for what I have done.â

Derpy gently kissed Berry Punch on the cheek and wrapped a wing over her. She too, looked into the mirror and looked at the two mares standing together. Derpy was the slightly larger of the two, and she held her head high. âœYou can still say no,â she said into Berry Punchâs ear, her voice low and soft. âœBut I doubt they will be as lenient.â

âœI donât want to say no,â Berry said, taking a deep breath. âœI just donât know if I am ready to face everything that comes after today.â

âœOh,â Derpy replied. âœI see.â

Berry turned her head to the side and wished her mane was straight like Derpyâs, instead of twisty curly. She stole a quick nuzzle from the grey mare at her side.

âœWeâll be fine if we all face this together,â Derpy said.

âœI just want to be the mare that Bucky deserves,â Berry admitted, her voice a bit scratchy. She was unable to look her reflection in the eye and turned away.

âœWe are,â Derpy reassured. âœI have no doubts.â

âœAre you sure you are ready for this?â

Buckminster Bitters pondered the white alicornâs words. He nodded, took a deep breath, and then nodded again. He was shaking badly, and his panic had him. He was determined to not give in though. Today was his day, and he was determined to have a good time.

âœYou look a little nervous,â Celestia said, gently stroking Buckyâs face with her primary feathers.

âœI am marrying the pony that started Equestria's first inter-house war in centuries and a pegasus mare that can crack walnuts with herââ Bucky trailed off, horrified by what he almost said to Celestia. Of all the ponies he could make this sort of faux pas.

âœFilly bits?â Celestia finished.

The unicorn stallion swooned and very nearly fainted. His ears burned, and he could not believe that Celestia had just said that.

âœLook, no mincing words. I know for certain that your mother never once sat down at had the sort of talk that a mare needs to have with her son. And I cannot in good conscience allow you to walk into a situation with two mares like that without having you properly prepared,â Celestia said sternly.

âœNo no no! I know all about how little foals are made, I donât need this talk coming from you!â Bucky begged, shaking his head ânoâ repeatedly.

âœThis isnât about foals. This is about mares. You are marrying two able-bodied mares, and they are going to love you. I mean, they are going to love you. And they are going to want to be physically satisfied by you. And you do not have any experience, do you?â Celestia asked in her most authoritative voice.

âœNo,â Bucky whimpered, knowing that he was about to get the mother of all sex talks from the mother of all ponies.

âœTo start with, be careful. Nothing kills the mood faster than getting a little too hasty and just jamming yourself right in. Dangerous for you, and dangerous for the mare. If you arenât careful, you will bend in impossibly painful ways, and you could end up with a penile fracture,â Celestia warned.

Bucky clenched his whole body and shuddered.

âœTake your time. Make sure everything is nice and slick before you try anything. Too much friction is not your friend. Getting blisters on your colt bits or a mare getting blisters on her filly bits is not a good time,â Celestia explained.

Bucky fell back in his chair and covered his face with his forehooves. Death was preferable to what he was enduring right now. This was awful.

âœDo not just focus on your own needs and then roll over and go to sleep. That is wrong, and had I the power, I would make laws prohibiting this behaviour,â Celestia said forcefully, her tone imperious.

All the unicorn could do is whimper in reply.

âœClitoris,â said Celestia, looking regal. âœYou should spend lots of time getting to know all about this part of your mates. It will help with the lubrication issues, and making sure their needs are satisfied. Be gentle. Do not bite, chew, or visit any sort of violence upon it. Ever. Do not be afraid to talk about whatever it might be you are doing at the moment. Ask questions. Communications will go a long way towards making everypony happy in your newly formed herd. Experiment. Talk. And then experiment a little more before talking again. Do you understand?â

Bucky nodded, and struggled not to faint.

âœMake them feel loved and appreciated. Be kind to them. Be gentle. Be the good stallion that I know you can be,â Celestia commanded.

âœYes maâam,â Bucky stammered in reply.

âœAnd there is one more thing,â Celestia announced.

Bucky could not look the alicorn in the eye.

âœI am going to give you a spellbook. Inside are powerful spells of erotic magic. You are but one unicorn among an earth pony and a pegasus, and this will give you even standing with them. Study it well and never do ANYTHING without their consent, or I will smite your ruin upon Canterhorn Peak. Do you understand me?â Celestia demanded.

âœYes maâam,â Bucky replied, nodding his head enthusiastically.

âœAny questions?â Celestia asked.

âœYes, actually,â Bucky replied in a tiny squeaky voice.

âœI am listening,â Celestia answered, her tone now soft, gentle, and inviting.

âœWhat do I do if I disappoint them? What if I make a mistake? What if something happens too soon? What if I let them down? What if I am no good?â Bucky questioned, his breathing nearly a wheeze.

âœNone of that matters,â Celestia reassured.

âœBut it does matter,â Bucky retorted.

âœNo, it does not,â Celestia replied, her tone soothing. âœNopony knows what they are doing their first time. But this is why we hold to love and trust. Mistakes will be made. Sometimes embarrassing mistakes. But those that love you will see you past those mistakes, and I am sure you will get a lot of practice. And with practice, you will become better with time,â Celestia promised.

Buckyâs breathing slowed slightly, his heaving barrel calming somewhat.

âœI promise you, I will always be here to talk to you if you need to talk. Your mother is a horrible mare. We both know this. And you are going to need a mare you can discuss issues with along the long journey of your marriage. I know you will have Bon Bon as well. Just take it slow, focus on being happy, and allow them to keep carrying you until you can move along on your own,â Celestia said, her tone warm and motherly.

âœThank you,â Bucky replied, his eyes watering. He wiped them with a fetlock and took a deep breath.

âœNo more tears, we need to get you cleaned back up, it is almost time,â Celestia announced, her tone now joyous.

The small backyard. The place where the three of them had unknowingly began their journey together. It was crowded with ponies now, nearly filling the yard. Sparkler and Rising Star were there together, exchanging secret glances when they thought nopony was looking. Dinky Doo and PiÃa were sitting in a corner, where the short stone fence and the rear of the house met together, sitting with Lyra and Bon Bon, who would be foal sitting them overnight. Four alicorns gathered, the major powers, and one of them had even brought a date, much to her sisterâs dismay. Barley OâBlivion and Luna sat together on the grass, now sober, but looking rather rough. The old stallion had been crying, and every now and then, the tears would begin flowing again. Luna, now his friend, tried to comfort the old pony with the occasional nuzzle or prod. Celestia and Twilight Sparkle sat together, talking softly with one another, reassuring one another of their friendship. Shining Armor sat by himself, watching Cadance, who was watching everypony and feeling the love all around her.

On either side of Cadance sat Berry and Derpy, who were waiting patiently.

Above them, on a collection of clouds, there was a massive flock of pegasi, looking down, smiling, and occasionally giving out a hoot or a shout.

Thunderlane stood with Bucky at the front of the house, looking down the breezeway, where Bucky had once walked to attend a birthday party that had changed his life forever. The pegasus prodded Bucky, urging him forward.

âœCome on, you can do it,â Thunderlane urged.

âœI donât know that I can,â Bucky whimpered, trembling with fear.

âœDo you want me to carry you?â Thunderlane said, his voice full of gentle sincerity.

âœI dunno,â Bucky wheezed.

âœBucky, donât. Those mares are counting on you. If you have one of your attacks, right now, on today of all days, it would destroy them,â Thunderlane said, placing a wing around Buckyâs neck.

Buckyâs breathing eased upon hearing Thunderlaneâs words. He placed one trembling hoof forward and began to walk down the breezeway. With each step, he took a deep breath, and Thunderlane matched Bucky step for step, and breath for breath.

âœSo far, I havenât screwed this up yet, and I aim to have a featherbrain free day,â Thunderlane said with a smile. âœEven the ritual snatching went well. I thought I was going to drop you for a moment.â

âœYou did,â Bucky said, his voice wavering.

âœBut I caught you,â Thunderlane replied.

âœYeah, you did,â Bucky admitted.

Bucky took the final step around the back corner of the house and froze.

They were beautiful.

His breath caught in his throat and he couldnât breathe. He stood frozen, his face darkening, his barrel showing no signs of respiration. The crowd looked at him, several with growing alarm.

Thunderlane gave Bucky a good whack in the side.

âœOOF!â Bucky wheezed, now breathing again.

He took the final steps slowly, Thunderlane giving him the occasional supportive shove when he needed one. Bucky noticed Derpyâs eyepatch and missed seeing both of her eyes. He loved her eyes. Being the quick mind that he was, he immediately understood why she had the eyepatch though. Berry Punch was strikingly beautiful, and she smiled at him. More than anything, he wanted to feel Berry Punch touch him and tell him everything was going to be alright.

âœYou did good Bucky, now look after my flockmate, Iâm trusting you with her care,â Thunderlane whispered. âœI know youâll keep her safe, you kept Dinky safe.â

Finally, Bucky stood before Cadance and his two soon-to-be wives. He swallowed, trying to quell his terror, and raised his gaze to look all three of them in the eye. He looked at Derpy first, then Berry, and finally, Cadance.

âœSo glad you could join us,â Cadance said sweetly, a faint hint of laughter in her voice as she addressed Bucky. âœThese two were getting impatient.â

âœAll of this is really unnecessary,â Derpy said nervously. âœJust saying our vows is enough for me,â she added, her one visible eye darting around.

âœThis is history in the making,â Cadance said regally, her head held high. Her horn was shining, shining almost as bright as the sun. Her wings spread suddenly, covering Berry Punch and Derpy Doo Hooves in their shadow.

Buckminster Bitters nearly fainted. He felt lightheaded. Strange magic was at work. He could feel it, it vibrated inside of his own horn. It made his teeth buzz and tingle. Cadanceâs horn grew ever brighter. Bucky could feel gravity relaxing its hold upon his body, and his heart thumped in his chest.

Cadance rose into the air, her wings not flapping. She pushed away from the ground through force of will alone, and three ponies rose up together with her, all suspended in a hazy pink aura. It was getting difficult for the crowd to look directly at them.

âœDo you have your vows?â Cadance rumbled. Her voice could be felt more than heard, a low sonorous rumble full of power. The sound of her voice was truly intimidating, she was the Princess of Love, and she was in the thick of what fueled her power.

Cadance felt that right now, she could crack the planet in half if she so desired.

âœYes I do,â Derpy answered, her own wings spread outward, her forelegs folded over her barrel as though she was hugging herself. âœI, Derpy Doo Hooves, do so vow to be a good mother, to give of myself whatever is necessary for all of the foals of my herd, and to be a fierce and loyal protector to all I am duty bound to watch over.â

âœI, Berry Punch of Clan Pickled, vow to be of service to all of my herdmates, to be a willing friend, a constant companion, and a never ending source of love and affection. I pledge to be a good drinking companion, a shoulder to cry on, and a provider for all of the foals within my herd. In war or peace, I will remain true,â Berry Punch vowed.

âœBuckminster, are you prepared to bind them?â Cadance asked, her voice now otherworldly. Her eyes were white with raw magic. âœOnly you can finish what has been started. Speak whatever words you have in your heart and bind your herd together.â

âœI am Buckminster, and I have no House. But I do have family. I vow to spend the rest of my days attempting to be worthy of the friendship, trust, devotion, adoration, and love that you have for me. I vow to devote all of my energies to being a good husband, a worthy father, and to make sure that no past mistakes are repeated with any unicorn foals of my own, including Dinky,â Buckminster promised, bowing his head.

âœWith those words all of you are now bound,â Cadance uttered in a divine rumble. âœBreak these ties that bind at your own peril. Love one another and do what is right.â

With her last word, Cadanceâs horn flashed with a pure white light, blinding most of the crowd for several moments. The four suspended ponies slowly sank back down to the earth, all of them silent, all of them deep in the throes of Cadanceâs magic.

When every hoof was back down on the ground, the trio, Bucky, Derpy, and Berry, came together in a three way embrace and kissed one another, a searingly passionate three way kiss that made the crowd gasp. For a moment, it seemed as though something else was about to happen, so taken the three were in their passion, but they finally pulled apart, all breathless, and the pegasus was a little slobbery.

Cadance slowly returned to her normal self, and made her way to Shining Armor. She made no attempt to preserve decorum, tackling him on the spot, and releasing her pent up frustrations with a smouldering kiss.

Flashbulbs went off as pictures were taken.

The vows made, the binding ceremony over, it was now possible for the party get into full swing. It started with Barley OâBlivion planting a long wet smooch on Lunaâs lips, and then uncorking a bottle of wine. A massive celebration began to take place.

Hours later

âœCadance?â

âœYes auntie Celestia?â

âœI have to ask, what did you do today? That spell, what was it?â

âœMy wedding gift for them.â

âœWhat did you do?â

âœWell, when the sun finally sets, both mares are going into go into heat.â

âœCadance!â

âœWhat auntie?â

âœHow could you? Poor Buckminster!â

âœOh, I am positive he is going to love his wedding gift.â

âœWe have to lure the guests away from the party before the sun sets!â

âœI know.â

âœNaughty Cadance, what have I told you?â

âœOh, I will be getting my punishment as well.â

âœHow so?â

âœWhen I cast the spell it had an effect on me as well.â

âœOH NO! SHINING ARMOR!â

âœHe had to strategically use his shield spell to survive contact the last time.â

âœCadance, I cannot believe you have done this.â

âœI kept the spell contained inside of a carefully placed barrier.â

âœWell, that is good. I would hate to see Luna in heat again.â

âœI would kind of like to see that actually.â

âœCADANCE!â

âœWell, she has found a nice stallion.â

âœCADANCE! NO!â

Chapter 48 (Warning! May contain equine erotica!)

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âœI guess everything changes now,â Derpy said, looking at her mates, her face solemn. They stood in the living room, eyeing one another, eyeing the stairs, all of them a little nervous.

âœYes, it does,â Bucky said, taking both of his mares and holding them aloft in his magic. It was simple and effortless on Buckyâs part. Berry Punch gave a nervous giggle and Derpy Hooves let out a low cry of alarm. Bucky moved towards the stairs, the mares in tow, held in his magic aura.

He climbed the stairs slowly, making sure not to bump those he held dear into the walls or the ceiling. He walked slowly and calmly, a stallion that had accepted his fate.

He knew that these mares were going to destroy him. He faced what was ahead with grim determination. He had a terrible shuddering thought about walnuts.

âœYou know, the alpha usually carries the stallion to the bed,â Berry said.

âœI donât give a damn about traditions,â Bucky said. âœBesides, both of you have carried me many times, I feel like I owe you.â He pushed open the bedroom door and stepped inside. Standing by the bed, he gently lowered both mares and waited, not knowing what to do next.

âœYouâre probably really scaredâ you should know that neither one of us has plans to actually hurt you. Celestia wanted us to tease you a bit and push you out of your comfort zone. Weâve done that. But I donât want to actually hurt you,â Derpy confessed.

âœNor I,â Berry Punch added.

âœI suppose I needed a good shove,â Bucky confessed. âœWhat now?â

âœI dunno, I am really scared actually,â Derpy admitted. âœI mean, I havenât done this since Dinkyâs father. I am so worried that I am going to disappoint you, and that youâll hate meââ the grey mare trailed off, her breathing heavy. âœBerry is so experienced and I am so scared that she is going to please you better than I ever could.â

âœI have the same fears, I was worried that I would let you down,â Bucky admitted.

âœOh,â Derpy mumbled.

âœAlright, enough of that, both of you, we are going to operate as though this is the first time for both of you and I am going to help you both. Bucky, you get on the bed with us and lay down,â Berry instructed.

Bucky did as he was bid, moving slowly. Berry shoved him down and rolled him over, planting a gentle kiss on his lips as she did so.

âœIâve never done anything with a mare before, so this is a first time experience for all of us,â Berry announced.

Derpy took a bit of initiative and straddled Bucky, sitting on his belly. Taking a deep breath, she leaned down and kissed him. It was a slow smouldering kiss, full of all the sensuality that only a pegasus could muster, Derpyâs pegasus salivary glands producing lots of extra oily waxy saliva with its oddly sweet taste. Derpy was getting into the kiss, her body now grinding up against Buckyâs. Berry gently coaxed them on, rubbing them with her hooves, releasing a flood of feel good hormones into both of them from the glands deep within her hooves.

The pegasus mare, who had been so aggressive before, kissing sometimes with bruising intensity, was now shockingly gentle, and the contrast inflamed Buckyâs mind. This was the mare he had chosen to be the mother of his foalsâ and right now, he wanted foals more than anything.

The air was filled with the heady scent of sweet perfume. It was stronger now than it had ever been. Something began to peek out of its sheath, the tip tickling Derpyâs velvety belly. The mare giggled, her wings becoming slightly sprung, and she hiked her backside up into the air, her hind legs now straight, her front legs folded, her barrel still pressed against Buckyâs.

Berry, seeing Derpyâs backside up in the air in the âœcome mount meâ position, took advantage of the situation. With a hoof, she brushed aside Derpyâs tail, causing the grey mare to squeal with alarm, her cry muffled as she maintained her liplock with Bucky. Never being the one to be cautious or go halfway, Berry Punch thrust her muzzle forward and plunged her tongue in the swollen blue grey lips of her fellow-wife.

The flavour was not quite what Berry expected. More tart than anything, with a vaguely wine-like flavour that she could not place.

Derpy, feeling a tongue suddenly invading a very intimate area, pulled away from the kiss and gasped, her ears folding back against her skull. The tongue continued its probing, prodding every crevice it could find.

Craning his head, Bucky could not believe what he was seeing. His brain responded the in the only way it could. It sent a signal through Buckyâs body that brought him to near total hardness in seconds.

Berry hooked her forelegs around Derpyâs hindlegs and plunged even deeper, Berryâs infamous bottle licking tongue now finding a new purpose for its extraordinary length and dexterity.

Derpy began to moan wildly and wiggle her backside, her back arched, her tail now lifted high. Overcome with pleasure, she resumed her slobbery makeout session with Bucky, kissing him passionately, never once bothered by the fact that he had no idea what he was doing and that he was a clumsy kisser. He had passion and that is all that mattered to the mare right now.

Berry Punch, always brave, always adventurous, withdrew her tongue and placed a slow wet lick over Derpyâs blue-grey pucker, causing the mare to shriek with her mouth full of Buckyâs tongue. Berry licked her lips, pondering the odd flavour. Salty, sweaty, with a rubbery texture. She licked again, this time with real force, dragging her tongue over the pucker, using her head for leverage, the friction causing quite a bit of tugging on Derpyâs plothole. Derpy gave an almost orgasmic cry and a dribble of clear liquid trailed from her gaping filly bits, her swollen oversized clitoris very visible now.

Berry Punch dragged her tongue over Derpyâs dark purple-blue-grey jelly bean and made the mare scream. Derpy pulled away from her kiss with Bucky and tossed her head around wildly as she cried out several times.

âœIâ I need you right now,â Derpy said breathlessly to Bucky. She eased her backside down onto Buckyâs stomach, feeling something prodding at her now slick marehood.

âœEasy there,â Berry coaxed, nudging Derpyâs backside with one hoof and lining up Buckyâs cock with the other. âœHeâs hung like a barrel, so go slowly,â Berry warned.

Derpy eased herself backwards, feeling something prodding at her entrance. It was big. Something wide awaited her. It took some effort for it to finally penetrate, and she gasped. She wrapped her forelegs around Buckyâs barrel and held on.

âœIt almost feels like giving birth again,â the pegasus grunted as she pressed down, her clitoris trailing over Buckyâs pelt, making her shudder. It wasnât even that far in yet and an orgasm threatened to take over the mare.

Berry eased both of them together, and when the chance presented itself, she bent down and gave a lick to the tightly stretched lips wrapped around the girthy cock that Bucky was gifted with. Bucky, feeling the lick, became startled and jumped, driving himself into Derpy several whole inches at once, causing Derpy to let go of him and sit up, which caused her to completely hilt Bucky.

Derpy screamed an equine nicker of lust and began to grind on Buckyâs short but girthy length now completely secured inside of her, her oversized jelly bean pressing into Buckyâs belly as she ground her hips.

Berry maneuvered around behind Derpy, placed both hooves on Derpyâs wing joints, and then pressed down on the mare, driving Bucky in even deeper somehow, and causing Derpyâs love button to get even more friction over the now slick pelt of Buckyâs belly.

Lewd squelching could be heard with every thrust.

Derpy leaned back into Berry, trusting the earth pony to hold up her body, and began to let go, feeling an explosive orgasm coming. She tossed her head back, her tongue hanging from her mouth, and both of her ears splayed out sideways.

Finally, she could not take any more, and Derpy screamed as the first waves of violent full body spasms crashed over her like an avalanche.

âœUnngph I made you go off before I did!â Bucky grunted and gasped, looking pleased, his face contorted with effort, save for the small area where he was paralysed. He thrust his hips upward just as Berry Punch was jamming Derpy downward, and something gave way.

Bucky had his first orgasm and it blew his mind. He lay there, now limp, violent spasms forcibly injecting semen deep into Derpy, who was still grinding away on top of him. She let out another yelp as she orgasmed again, and let out breathless panting cries as she felt her body wrack and shudder, while Bucky lay below her, feeling the mare clech violently around his cock.

Derpyâs whole body was hard as she went into the final throes of her second orgasm, and she collapsed backwards into Berry Punch, panting and mewling with pleasure.

Berry gently eased Derpy down on to her side, and Bucky slipped free from Derpyâs clenching marehood with a sloppy wet pop. Derpy lay down, trying to catch her breath, feeling light headed.

âœThat was the hottest thing Iâve ever seen,â Berry Punch confided. She leaned down and gave Buckyâs half hard cock a lick, slurping up a bit of semen that was dribbling down the shaft. Bucky twitched at her touch. Seeing him twitch, Berry gave another lick with her curious tongue.

âœOh, too sensitiveââ Bucky warned.

Berry licked the tip, her tongue circling the opening for a moment, causing Bucky to squirt forth a final small spurt, which nearly went up Berry Punchâs nose. She licked her lips and gave a happy grunt. She crawled over Bucky and threw herself on top of Derpy, kissing the grey pegasus wildly, wiggling her rump around and trying to give Bucky a good show.

Spreading her legs, Berry began to grind her filly bits against Derpyâs exposed and winking clitoris, making the grey mare whimper and beg for another release.

And Bucky had a great view of what was going on back there from his vantage point. He could hear the wet slick sounds of the two marehoods being rubbed together, and he felt his partially erect cock starting to throb again.

Berry was growing more and more bold, grinding violently against Derpy, and Bucky recalled a word he had once read.

Tribadism.

Bucky felt a powerful need to penetrate something when he saw Derpyâs oversized clitoris vanish inside of Berry Punchâs damp wine coloured folds.

Slurp!

Berry had just sucked it right inside and was now squeezing Derpy between her lips, grinding her hips to create friction.

Bucky nearly blew his second load right then and there.

Derpy, unable to take any more stimulation, tossed Berry Punch off of her, and then rolled away, shuddering and seizing, clenching and contorting, her body lost in another full body orgasm.

Berry, determined to not let her prize get away, went after the mare, intent to drive her over the edge once more, but something grabbed her hind leg and hauled her back across the bed on her belly.

Bucky was on her back a moment later, one foreleg wrapped around her barrel, the other hooked over her chest. Berry wiggled her tail aside, and seconds after doing so, felt something pressing against her entrance.

âœIâm a tough mare, but but careful, Iâve never taken anything so wide,â Berry cautioned, arching her back and thrusting her hips upwards.

Bucky gave a gentle thrust and Berry hissed in pain.

âœOh THAT STINGS!â Berry cried, feeling herself already stretched out to the point of pain from just the tip. Bucky pulled out. âœI dinnae say to stop ye numpty!â Berry said, slipping into her lilt.

Bucky tried again, gently inserting the tip and then giving a bit of a push. It felt so tight. So warm. There was so much friction.

Berry shot out from beneath him with a cry of painful alarm, scooting over the bed, and falling over the edge, rubbing her backside as she escaped.

âœI am so sorry, what happened?â Bucky cried, now frozen in terror.

âœWrongâ holeââ Berry grunted in pain. âœYou son of a bitch, you gave me a fudge turnover from behind!â

âœUGH! I am a bad husband, I am so sorry, I wonât tou-â

Buckyâs apology was cut off when Berry tackled him violently and kissed him. Derpy watched the two ponies going at it. She wasnât sure if this was love or not, but it wasâhawt.

Berry was in control now, pinning Bucky down and kissing him, grinding her mareflesh against Buckyâs cock for more lubrication.

The tables turned suddenly when Berry was lifted high into the air and then slammed down on the bed. Bucky crawled over her belly and dropped himself down on top of her, one foreleg around her barrel, another wrapping around behind her neck and pulling her close.

Derpy felt incredibly aroused again.

âœPin her down,â Derpy shouted.

Bucky had done exactly that, using his magic and his body to keep Berry still, but also making sure to do nothing that would actually hurt her. He still felt pretty bad about invading her brownie bakery and made sure not to make the same mistake twice.

âœSit back on your haunches Bucky, and line yourself up,â Derpy suggested.

Bucky sat back, Berry still pinned in place with magic. She was licking her lips now, and lust burned in her eyes. She looked at Derpy with a touch of fear and anticipation.

âœEase it in slowly, sheâs never had a foal, so she is going to be tight,â Derpy said, worried about her herd mate.

Bucky poked in the tip, which caused Berry to squirm.

âœNow slowly, just a tiny bit at a time,â Derpy instructed.

Bucky did as he was told.

Berry writhed as inch after stinging inch slowly stretched her out. She moaned and kicked her hind legs out as wide as possible.

Derpy straddled Berryâs barrel, and then slid herself backwards a bit, lifting her tail and presenting herself to Berry, who was trapped beneath her. She was facing Bucky, and she leaned forward to kiss him.

Bucky almost went off, the feeling of slow penetration and now the sound of Berry Punchâs furious wet sloppy lapping filling his ears. Derpy gave a moan and a grunt, grinding and shifting her hips as Berry Punch worked over her already oversensitive marehood. She leaned into her kiss with Bucky and wrapped her forelegs around him.

Derpy began to feel Berry Punch rocking back and forth beneath her, as Bucky continued to penetrate the overly tight snatch of Berry Punch. Derpy broke away from her kiss with Bucky and looked down, seeing Bucky half in Berry Punchâs now swollen and red lips, which were stretched out tightly around Buckyâs wonderful girth. Derpy could feel Berryâs moans and whimpers travel through her probing tongue as it circled Derpyâs flexing outer lips and occasionally lapped over Derpyâs nubbin, causing Derpy to shudder.

âœNow,â Derpy said breathlessly, âœjust push the rest of it in in one slow go. Donât stop unless I tell you.â

Bucky leaned into it and gave it all he had, finally pushing his ring in, and then slowly easing in his remaining inches, causing Berry Punch to kick and whimper, but she never cried stop.

Finally, Bucky was hilted, balls deep, and he could feel Berryâs abused and flamingly hot pucker against his scrotum.

Derpy pulled away from Bucky, scooted her hips back a bit more, and then lowered herself down to Berryâs tightly stretched marehood. She gave an experimental lick to Berryâs exposed clitoris, with caused Berry to squeal. She licked again, causing another squeal. Finally, she pulled Berryâs button inside of her mouth and began to suckle as Bucky pulled out to his ring and then carefully slid back in.

Berry Punch let out a few muffled screams of pleasure and returned the favour, sucking on Derpyâs oversized jelly bean.

Bucky, feeling a bit more confident, pulled out again to his ring and then jammed his way in rapidly, causing Berry to wrap her hind legs around his middle and squeeze him violently. He could feel contractions deep inside of her. He pulled out and then rammed his way inside again, working up to a rhythm.

With Buckyâs each thrust, Berry lashed her tongue against Derpyâs nubbin, which made Derpy squeeze Berryâs cork between her lips with a shivery pleasurable sensation for both mares.

Bucky was watching the two mares perform sloppy oral sex on one another while he banged away. He wrapped his forelegs around Berryâs hips and began to thrust harder, which made Berry cry out with each thrust.

âœDonât stop!â Berry begged, tilting her head back for a moment to speak and catch her breath. She latched back on to Derpyâs button and began to suckle wildly, as she felt her orgasm approach.

Bucky angled his hips and now, his tip pressed along the soft spongy tissues of Berryâs g-spot. Bucky had no idea what he was doing, but he knew it felt good pressing his tip into the hot inviting flesh.

When Berry finally orgasmed, Derpy seized down on her cork and gave her a strong suckle, overwhelming poor Berry Punch who began to bleat like a sheep.

Thrust.

âœBA-AH-AH-AH!â

Thrust.

âœBA-AH-AH-AH!â

Thrust.

âœBA-AH-AH-AH!â

Finally, Bucky couldnât take it anymore and rammed it in as deep as he could, coming explosively as he sank himself in balls deep into the plum coloured mare.

Hearing her mates in the throes of orgasms sent Derpy over the edge, and a hot sticky flood of fluid spurted from her nethers, soaking Berry Punchâs face.

After a few more thrusts, grunts, and licks, the three ponies finally collapsed into an exhausted pile.

âœI am only catching my breath, I ainât done,â Derpy panted.

âœI canât believe Bucky tapped my bung,â Berry gasped, her entire backside on fire.

âœI canât believe I just had a threesome,â Bucky said. âœI love you both more than words can possibly express right now.â

âœDoes anypony feel left out?â Bucky asked, laying on his back, panting somewhat.

âœIâm good,â Derpy groaned.

âœMy bunghole is sore,â Berry complained.

The three ponies lay sprawled out in the destroyed bed. The sheets were damp withâ something All three of them were soaked with sweat and who knows what else. The room stank of hot sweaty pony sex, oversexed mares, and spunk. Lots of spunk.

âœThat smell, it is driving me crazy,â Bucky said, feeling himself already beginning to harden. He rolled over on his back and there was a disgusting wet âœsplorchâ sound as he rolled into a puddle comprised of questionable liquids.

âœI cannae take another shaggin',â Berry said, admitting defeat.

âœI can take another go, but I might get a little screamy, I am really sensitive,â Derpy said, reaching down and absentmindedly scratching at a sex-goo encrusted teat. âœWeâve been going at it for hours now, I wonder if we can make it till dawn.â

âœI donât know, but I canât stop getting hard. I think Cadance did something. I felt odd magic,â Bucky moaned.

âœI want you to take me like a mare,â Derpy said, rolling over on her belly and wiggling her hips. âœBut I donât think I could stand up right now if my life depended on it.â

âœThat is one position you and I havenât tried,â Bucky replied, getting an eyeful of winking pink from Berry Punch who was laying with her legs spread and fanning her filly bits with a hoof.

âœI feel like somepony crammed a beer keg up me arse,â Berry grumbled.

âœItâs bigger than some poniesâ legs,â Derpy giggled, waving her spunk encrusted tail invitingly at Bucky, who was struggling to roll over.

Bucky finally rolled over. He then crawled over the bed, his throbbing drooling cock snagging the sheets somewhat as he pulled himself along. He paused along his journey to stick his snoot into Derpyâs slick, swollen folds and give her a loving lick. He wasnât sure what he was tasting, nor did he care. The smell caused his brain to fuzz over and his vision went blurry. He licked again, then again, and, feeling a little brave and adventurous after watching Berry Punch try it, he pressed his tongue against Derpyâs slippery pucker and gave a very enthusiastic lick.

Derpy cried out, moaning loudly as Buckyâs tongue actually slipped inside of her for a moment, the sensation of his rough and bumpy tongue slipping in between the wet and satiny wrinkles of her pucker. She cried out again, grabbing a pillow and hugging it in her forelegs as the tongue circled and then penetrated once more. Another exploratory lick caused Derpy to heave a shuddering cry and clench up tightly around Buckyâs tongue, actually trapping him in place for a moment.

âœOh that feels so good,â Derpy whined as she panted, her tongue lolling out.

Derpy shivered as she felt Bucky climbing up on her back, sliding into place, his pelt rubbing up against hers as he maneuvered his way into a good position. She raised her wings and rubbed them along Buckyâs ribs, making herself shudder yet again.

âœNo,â Derpy murmured, feeling the tip of a wide cock penetrating her. âœNot there, try the other one, I think I can take it,â Derpy invited.

âœHave you lost your mind?â Berry asked.

âœBut the tongue felt so good. It is like scratching an itch. Everything is so crusty back there,â Derpy replied. She wiggled and rocked her hips, feeling Buckyâs spunk dispenser rub over her pucker.

âœJust be careful,â Berry warned.

âœI am not sure about this,â Bucky said, feeling worried.

âœJust go slow, I really want thisâ I like taking long poops with lots of straining, it feels good,â Derpy confessed.

âœUgh,â Berry grunted.

âœWell then,â Bucky quipped.

Derpy felt Buckyâs snoot press into the back of her neck, his hot breath blowing through her mane. He hooked one foreleg over wing joint, and positioned himself for attempting penetration. He wrapped his other foreleg around her chest and then begin to slide forward on her back, pressing and applying pressure against her pucker.

Derpy mewled with painful pleasure, throwing her head back a bit, her mouth opened wide. She kicked her hind legs out wide, and rolled her hips a bit, increasing the pressure on her well moistened anus.

Berry began to crawl around on the bed, moving slowly, until she reached Derpyâs front end. She pulled away the pillow and situated her backside near Derpyâs chest. She kicked out her hind legs and splayed them out on either side of Derpy.

Derpy, seeing Berryâs glistening lips presented, reached down and gave them a loving slow lick. First one, then another, and then another.

As Derpy was licking, Bucky applied enough pressure to achieve penetration, which caused Derpy to push forward and go muzzle deep into Berry Punch, causing Berry to moan loudly, while Derpyâs moans were muffled inside of Berryâs now wrecked snatch.

Bucky halted all progress after gaining the initial inch or so he needed for entry.

Derpy lifted her head high and took several deep breaths, her eyes closed, her nostrils flaring. She focused on relaxing, and, after several moments of concentration, was able to relax enough for Bucky to ease in a little more.

Derpy heaved a shuddering gasp and then plunged her muzzle back into Berry Punch, licking everything but Berryâs cork. Berry was far too sensitive for her nubbin to be directly stimulated anymore. Berry whimpered and made tiny feminine wails as the pegasus went to work.

Bucky pulled out slightly, and then pushed in, feeling the tight wrinkled flesh of Derpyâs pucker strangling his shaft. With each careful thrust he forced Derpyâs muzzle into Berryâs abused folds, Derpyâs hot breath and lips sending a storm of stimulation though the plum coloured mareâs most hidden places. Bucky held to a slow and steady pace. The frantic pounding from earlier had given away to fatigued and lazy prodding.

âœHunf, hunf, hunf, it is like pinching off the most satisfying loaf ever,â Derpy grunted, raising her head to catch her breath. Licking her lips noisily, she went back to work on giving Berry Punch a case of the shivers.

Bucky enjoyed the new sensation of a different part of Derpy wrapped around him. It was slick enough to slide, but still gripped him tightly, offering a unique feeling of tension of friction. He dared not go in more than a few inches, and he couldnât even slide in as far as his ringâ he was simply too wide at that point. While he wanted nothing more to hilt himself in the delightfully grippy entrance, the thought of actually hurting Derpy caused him to banish those urges from his mind. He continued with his slow gentle pace, never thrusting more than the first few inches in.

Berry Punch began to make fervent bleating noises now, rapidly approaching another orgasm. She reached down and began to stroke Derpyâs ears with her fetlocks.

Derpy could feel the folds of her marehood tugging over her protruding nubbin, each one of Buckyâs careful thrusts pulling and stretching her pucker upwards towards her dock and causing her velvet recesses to slide back and forth over her winking button. The sensation was causing her to build up to a slow crescendo of an orgasm, she could feel it coming, slowly and steadily, and she was afraid of it.

Bucky actually slowed down his pace slightly, realising he was in no big hurry. He was tired, his joints ached, and he could feel a yawn building. Ever so carefully, he slowly pushed in an extra inch or so, increasing the stretching of Derpyâs pucker.

The increased stretching stung a bit, but made Derpyâs silky soaked folds flap and slap against her clit, the sudden change of sensation pushing her over the edge. She buried her muzzle into Berry Punch and screamed a muffled scream, her hindlegs kicking a bit, which caused her hips to roll.

Her rolling hips caused Bucky to slide in further, and, the moment he felt Derpyâs stranglehold around his ring, he suffered his most violent orgasm of the night.

It was downright painful, and load after load of cock-snot went rocketing up the screaming pegasusâ poop-chute. Bucky felt like his balls were on fire. He tried to pull out, to pull free of the pegasusâ plot, but he found he could not. She had a vice like grip on his pecker, squeezing him, and holding him in place as she drifted through her own powerful orgasm.

Berry Punch, feeling Derpy muzzle deep inside of her, each one of Buckyâs thrusts pushing Derpyâs snoot right into her pelvic wall, was finally violently thrown into wracking orgasm. She snatched up a pillow and screamed a sheep like bleating howl into it as Derpy continued to scream into her, and Bucky finished off his final few thrusts.

Finally, the pegasus relaxed enough to let go, and Bucky pulled free with the sound of a cork being pulled from a wine bottle. He remained on Derpyâs back, completely collapsed, his head resting on the back of her neck. He could feel a runny gush of liquids spewing from Derpyâs still clenching anus and dribbling down his cock, which was now rapidly becoming flaccid. His hips gave one last involuntarily thrust forward, one more reflexive hump, and his flaring still spurting tip rammed into Derpyâs exposed clitoris, causing the mareâs body to tense up yet again and have another mind blowing orgasm that made many of her joints pop audibly from the force of her muscle spasms.

Derpyâs reflexive reaction caused her to lift her head sharply, which made her lips brush directly over Berryâs purple-pink pebble, which made Berry once again shriek into her pillow, sounding like lambs being devoured by some horrible gobbling monster.

After taking a moment to scream and recover, Berry scrambled away, still in the throes of another orgasm, her own hips giving a few involuntary humps at the air.

Derpy crawled out from under Bucky, found her own spot on the now spunk drenched bed, and rolled over onto her back, relishing the feeling of the cool air over her inflamed filly bits and well pounded and puffy pucker.

Bucky lay where he fell, rolling over onto his side but not having the strength to do anything else. His cock was on fire from the friction and the exquisite tightness of the pegasusâ plot pucker.

Berry Punch let out a soft shuddering orgasmic snore as she drifted off, the side of her face resting in a puddle of unknown sticky liquid. Her barrel rose and fell, her legs all out at odd angles.

Derpy reached down and pulled herself apart gently, letting some much needed cool air inside of her flaming filly bits, her breathing ragged and heavy. She heard a snoring snort from Bucky and smiled even as she panted.

The pegasus mare was finally happy, her dry spell was over. She blew one trumpeting blast from her queef canyon and then began to drift off to sleep, a fine coating of sexual fluids forming a shell over her wings that was going to be difficult to clean later.

Chapter 49

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Derpy awoke. She struggled into wakefulness. She was sore all over. Her wings were crusted over with something that had formed what resembled a glaze. She was sore down there. She was also stuck to the bed. As she tried to roll over, she could feel a patch of her pelt being pulled out, each little hair of her pelt stung as it was pulled free. With a jerk, she freed herself from the sticky spot that cemented her into place.

âœOw,â the grey mare whimpered, rubbing the patch where she had just lost some hair. âœOh my, what did we do?â she asked, looking around. These sheets needed to be burned.

Berry Punch awoke with a snort and raised her head. One ear was plastered to the side of her face, glued in place with something. She had fallen asleep in a puddle and now, her ear was glossy with some kind of dried fluid of some sort.

She too was stuck to the bed, and whimpered as she pulled herself free, leaving behind a bit of plum coloured hairs on the sheet she had been stuck to.

âœMy plot hurts,â Berry mumbled.

âœMine too,â Derpy grumbled. The gray mare lifted her leg and let go with her usual morning flatulence. This morningâs stench was truly awful, smelling feculent and spunky, an odd aroma of eggs and mushroom soup.

âœIâm stuck,â Bucky muttered.

âœWe all woke up stuck,â Derpy said, grunting and farting again. Something runny dribbled out as she did so.

âœBleh, pegasus farts!â Bucky complained.

âœYou certainly enjoyed the source of the stink last night,â Berry quipped.

âœYeah I did,â Bucky replied in a small voice, blushing furiously. He sat up suddenly, tearing himself free of the sheet. âœOoooow,â he hissed, leaving behind a patch of back hair from his pelt.

âœMy ear is stuck to my face,â Berry said. âœUgh.â

âœThat crusty puddle looks a bit like milk chocolate,â Derpy reflected, scratching her filthy filly bits.

Berry Punch became rather green looking and covered her mouth with one crusty filthy fetlock. She pulled her foreleg away and looked at it in horror. âœWhat did we do?â she asked, looking horrified.

âœEach other,â Bucky replied, not thinking about his words.

Both mares stared at him wide eyed. At one point, Bucky would never have been able to say that. And now, he was yawning, barely aware of his own words.

âœBath,â Bucky grumbled. He effortlessly hoisted both mares in his magic, scooted off the bed, stumbled towards the door, crashed through the door, slammed into the hallway wall, and then ricocheted into the bathroom door. He stumbled though, his mares in tow, flipped the levers to get the water running, and then dropped both mares into the tub. He added copious amount of bubble bath and then squeezed in himself as the tub was filling.

Derpy sat at the end, with Berry leaning against her belly, and Bucky sat at the other end, facing both mares.

âœBath,â Bucky said again, yawning after he spoke.

âœI am actually crusted shut down there,â Berry confessed, feeling the water loosening the hardened crust.

âœWe need to clean up,â Derpy rasped, wrapping her forelegs around Berry Punch and holding her close. âœThe bed isââ

âœDestroyed?â Berry finished.

Bucky nodded. âœIâll do the laundry,â he offered.

âœSo sweet, I hate laundry,â Derpy said, her breath tickling the back of Berryâs head.

âœMy ear is stuck,â Berry complained, her ear still plastered to the side of her face.

The tub full, Bucky flicked the levers and turned off the water. The three ponies soaked in the hot bath full of bubbles, the mares and the stallion exchanging glances from one end of the tub to the other.

âœThis doesnât seem like the romantic morning after that it should be,â Berry said, thinking out loud.

âœNo, it doesnât,â Derpy said, rolling her hips and scraping her filly bits against Berryâs spine, trying to work loose the sticky feeling. Water began to flood in and it felt so good. Derpy gasped.

âœI bet both of you are pleased with yourselves, pinning me down several times and having your way with me,â Berry said with a grin, feeling the pegasus grinding up against her spine. She shivered, causing Derpy to gasp. âœTurnabout is fair play,â Berry threatened good naturedly.

âœAlpha privilege,â Derpy replied.

âœSome alpha, I do believe that Bucky had us both completely under his control,â Berry snorted.

Bucky said nothing, but sat blushing and looking a bit smug.

âœThat doesnât bother me. It was nice to see him take charge a bit,â Derpy said, rubbing her hooves over Berryâs barrel.

âœWell, I will keep that in mind when we plot against you and pin you down,â Berry growled as the pegasus squeezed her lovingly.

âœAny time you think you can take me,â Derpy said, pushing Berry Punch down into the water and dunking her.

She popped up a moment later, gasping, her ear no longer stuck. After catching her breath, she giggled. âœMight be more fun to try and pin him down,â Berry suggested with a wicked grin.

âœWe can take turns pinning each other down,â Derpy said, scooching herself down into the water and giving her wings a good soak. âœBut last night, you had to be tamed, you troublemaker you.â

âœAw, you say such sweet things,â Berry said, blinking her eyelashes several times.

The house was filled with the scent of delicious food when they emerged from the bathroom. It seemed they had a helpful guest. Somepony was singing some lewd sea shanty down in the kitchen, a song about buggering some filly who ran away from home.

âœBarley,â the three of them all said together.

They went down the stairs together, the smell of food getting stronger, trampled through the living room, and stormed the kitchen, taking seats at the table.

âœAye, this house reeeeeeeeks of sin and buggery,â Barley quipped, placing a carton of orange juice on the table as he did so. âœNot that Iâm complaining. How goes the foal making?â

The two mares began to blush and Bucky squirmed.

âœReally though, we need to crack open every window before the foals come home. The neighbors will all smell what has been going on though. Be prood lasses, be prood. The neighbors all got a good earful last night,â Barley praised as he set a bowl of cracked wheat porridge on the table.

âœOhâ gosh,â Derpy said, turning a lovely shade of puce.

âœLuna and I heard everything going on in the town square. We went a frolickinâ in the town fountain last night. Had ourselves a nice time. Sheâs a nice mare. Old fashioned. I like her values,â Barley huffed as he settled into a kitchen chair.

Bucky sank down into his chair. âœYou could hear us?â

âœBerry has the Curse oâ the Isles, sounded like sheep buggery all over town,â Barley quipped as he helped himself to the porridge.

âœOh damnit,â Berry swore as she poured a glass of orange juice.

âœWhat were ye doinâ to me sweet little Berry to make her bleat all the bloody night?â Barley asked Bucky.

âœI, uh, may have had a hoof in that,â Derpy said guiltily.

âœI bet you had yer hoof in sumptin!â Barley roared, clapping Berry on the back.

âœYeah,â Berry Punch replied, feeling Berry sheepish.

âœSo, I expect foals in a about a year, Iâve marked me bloody calendar,â the old stallion said with his mouth full of porridge and dried fruit. âœâCause the stank of mare in heat is waftinâ from every wall of this house.â

âœHeat? Noâ it isnât time. I am not in my cycle. I should be soonish, which is why I was in a hurry to settle down,â Berry retorted.

âœI am a summer mare, I get the horrible summer heat,â Derpy said, lifting her glass of orange juice. She drank, belched loudly, and then drank again. When she finished drinking, she spoke: âœI think Iâd know if I was in heat.â

Barley said nothing, but shot a knowing glance at Bucky, who was busy stuffing his face and guzzling orange juice between bites.

âœI feel like I should be at work. Iâve taken an extended leave. I donât know what to do. Everything went out of control for a while,â Derpy said, her face furrowed in thought.

âœQuit yer job,â Barley said. âœYer done.â

âœWhat?â Derpy exclaimed in shock.

âœYou are done my pretty lass. No more work for you. From now on, you are a full time mother. Iâve been talking with the Apple family and Mr. Rich, and I am going to be making some big batches of apple whiskey, apple cider, as well as me own batches of sweet nectar. Berry can help me once all of this blows over. Well, Bucky too I reckon, heâs got that mark for it. Weâre set for money. Iâm old, but I am an old unicorn, and my horn still works even though my body has gone to shite in so many ways,â Barley explained.

The grey mare sat in shock, not moving, not saying anything, and then, quite suddenly, she began to cry.

âœYou can work, you can work, please, no crying, thatâs blackmail,â Barley begged.

âœNoââ sobbed Derpy. âœIâm happy,â she sniffled.

Barley took a deep breath and puffed out his cheeks in relief. He cast his glance at niece, who gave a nod, and then at Bucky, who stared at him blankly.

âœLaddie, I donât mean to invite my sorry old self, but Iâd like to be a part of this herd. I want to offer my support, and be here for the foals. Iâm old, and Iâd like to spend my last years in a big family, offering up my wisdom to the next generation,â the old unicorn asked the much younger unicorn.

Berry stared at Bucky intently, waiting.

âœWhy ask me? I donât understand what is going on here, I thought Derpy was the alpha,â Bucky questioned.

âœDerpy is the alpha for the female decisions of the herd,â Berry answered. âœYou make the male decisions. Barley wants in as a loving and devoted uncle. Only you have that right Bucky.â

âœOh,â Bucky said, dropping his spoon into his bowl. âœI donât know about these rules,â Bucky muttered.

âœThat is why we are teaching you as we go,â Berry replied, smiling slightly. âœYou have to decide what is best for all of us sometimes, and you manage the male end of the family. Barley is another male, and he seeks shelter under our roof, so to speak,â Berry added.

âœIâd be stupid to say no,â Bucky said. âœSo yes.â

Barley took another deep breath and bowed his head. âœYou have my thanks,â he said in gratitude. âœWhatever life I have left in me, I intend to be a provider for my wee sweet Berry and her family, as compensation for being able to die proper, foals around my bed as it should be.â

âœThank you,â Derpy said, wiping her eyes with her fetlock. âœCan I work in the brewery though? I like saying I have a job,â Derpy asked.

âœFamily business, so of course,â Barley answered.

âœI like the idea of a family business,â Bucky quipped.

âœOur type of business should be a family affair,â Berry Punch agreed.

âœNo more stupid mailbag,â Derpy sighed, flexing her wings.

âœAnd one of or two of us will always be able to be home with the foals,â Barley said, grinning with an almost manic pride. âœCause really, that is all it boils down to, making foals and keeping them safe.â

âœIâve been offered my own position but I can do both,â Bucky said thoughtfully.

âœI do believe we are going to have more bits than we know what to do with,â Barley said with a certain sense of self assurance.

âœTime to fix up the old family farmhouse,â Berry sighed.

âœAlready on that lass,â Barley said. âœMy name is still on the deed it seems.â

âœOh,â Berry said. âœI didnât know.â

âœI should be getting the first big advance from the Crown in a couple of weeks,â Barley cackled. âœIâll be using that to help fix up the house.â

âœCrown?â Bucky asked.

âœLuna is paying me to make whiskey, high test whiskey, she wants a few barrels of moonshine for the royal cellars. Iâve taken the job. The coin was too good to refuse,â Barley explained, refilling everybodyâs glasses with orange juice as he did so. âœThe barrels on me arse was all she needed to know that I was good for my word.â

âœAnd the fact that you shagged her has nothing to do with it, I am sure,â Berry laughed.

âœEh, I told her that the only thing I do better than shagging is making whiskey and beer,â Barley confessed. âœAnd she hired me on the spot.â

Chapter 50

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Shining Armor stared at the ledger that his sister had presented to him earlier. It was full of damning evidence. He struggled to take in what little bit he had read, an overwhelming feeling of panic beginning to overtake him. He felt his sister hug him, trying to comfort him, but she said no words, and she was every bit as distraught at her brother.

Celestia had seen the ledger as well, and now sat watching the two siblings trying to comfort one another. Spike sat beside her on her pillow, sharing it with her, leaning on her and looking glum.

Twilight Velvet and Night Light leaned on one another, unable to offer any words.

âœThe whole truthâ the entire truth coming out like this, it is going to destroy everything we know, isnât it?â Twilight Velvet asked, finally breaking the long silence, trying to understand the circumstances she had never been prepared to face.

âœYes mother,â Shining Armor replied.

âœDoes this mean the end of the noble houses?â Night Light asked.

âœOnce this war has been settled and if ponies want to do the right thing, then yes, this means the end of everything we know,â Shining Armor replied. âœWe must first settle the war, and then, I donât even know. The noble houses are the court system. How do we try the courts? What court do we appeal to?â Shining Armor asked.

âœWe never made a provision for this,â Celestia admitted. âœI had some small knowledge of some of these things, I mean, I understood that there were a few questionable things going on, but I had no idea of the scope or the true level of corruption. I have failed. I did nothing in order to preserve the long standing peace and to keep what I had been led to believe was stability.â

âœYou didnât fail Princess Celestia, we all failed. The noble houses I mean. We let House Avarice gain entirely too much power over all of us, and even your house, the House of Two Lights, has fallen into debt and therefore under control of House Avarice. You were used,â Night Light said, expressing his opinion of the situation.

âœI let myself be used believing I could rise above it,â Celestia admitted gloomily. âœI knew that when I made that deal with Princess Platinum that there would be long term consequences. I had no idea that House Avarice had this much control going on the background. I thought the houses that strained against one another would balance one another out, but I was wrong, and many lives have been affected.â

âœHouse Avarice has political power, but not martial power. They really do not even have that many powerful wizards to be honest. They have the raw ability, but a vast majority of House Avarice spent their lives studying politics and law, not magic and practical spell casting. They are dangerous political foes, but that is being undone slowly. They have no standing army. There is little they can do as far as actual warfare goes,â Shining Armor explained. âœBuckminster is probably the most dangerous spell caster they had, and he is no longer loyal to them. He never took to politics from what I have gathered.â

âœNo, Buckminster never held any interest in politics. His love was study of magic and magical application, just like another little pony I know,â Celestia said. âœAnd yes, the other members of House Avarice that have attended my school never bothered learning magic beyond the very basics, focusing instead on the social arts, political arts, and legal studies.â

âœSo House Avarice has diminishing political power, no standing army, a pile of coins they think they can control the world with, and no real means to back up their threats?â Twilight Velvet asked.

âœCorrect,â Celestia answered. âœClan Pickled has a standing army of over one thousand troops, well seasoned, well trained, who deal with monsters and other hazards on a regular basis, and could call up another few thousand conscripts. Keg Smasher very politely informed me of this, but made it clear that he did not intend it as a threat. He wanted House Avarice to stay away from the Isles, or there would be trouble if they came looking for it. He did offer to lend me his troops to use if order fell apart in Canterlot, he told me they were well trained and disciplined, and could be relied upon to restore and keep order if the situation demanded.â

âœWell, that was pleasant of him,â Shining Armor said. âœWe may need those troops. We have the guard, but letâs face it, most of the guard is not seasoned,â Shining said shamefully.

âœCelestia, if things fall apart, if things go badly I want you to know that the flock looks after its own. If you need Ponyville, we will be here for you, declared state of war or no,â Twilight offered. âœBut I do ask that the noble houses be dissolved. It is time for the old ways to be set aside and new ways to be discovered.â

Celestiaâs eyes watered, and she began to sniffle. She tried to speak, stammered, stuttered, and then said nothing, but nodded her appreciation.

âœYou know Twilight, you never did properly declare a state of war,â Shining said in a low voice. âœYou seized control of Ponyville and raised an army, but you havenât actually declared a state of war, at least not in the current legal sense.â

Twilightâs gaze dropped to the floor. Her barrel heaved as she took a deep breath. Her breathing ragged, she rose to all fours and crossed the room, stiff legged. She stood before Celestia and raised her hoof. âœI am sorry, but this must happen for all of these changes to take place,â Twilight apologised.

Celestia, her gaze darting to Twilightâs raised hoof, nodded faintly.

Twilight brought her hoof to Celestiaâs cheek and stroked gently with her fetlock, wiping away a tear that was rolling down. âœWhen this ends, let us not be enemies,â Twilight offered, looking Celestia in the eye. âœI believe this settles the requirement of âœa hoof across the muzzleâ for me to properly declare?â Twilight asked.

Shining Armor said nothing, but nodded, and Twilight Sparkleâs parents sat there, looking proud, all of them leaking liquid pride.

Celestia reached out with one foreleg and pulled Twilight in for a hug, crushing the smaller alicorn to her barrel. âœI am proud of you,â whispered Celestia, her voice husky with emotion. Spike clung to them both, sobbing a bit himself.

Derpy sat on the couch, surrounded by her foals, PiÃa Colada now among their number in a very real sense. Berry Punch sat on a cushion on a floor, sitting near the couch, and Bucky reclined in the overstuffed chair, watching his mares play with his foals, even Sparkler now among their number.

Bucky found that he suddenly felt very possessive of his herd. It was all he had. All that mattered. His new emotions were overwhelming and overpowering. If his old family tried anything foolish, Bucky no longer had any doubts. He would obliterate them and leave his foalhood home a smoking ruin. He knew he had that power within him. He could feel it now.

He twitched slightly, feeling angry, and a curl of smoke rolled up and away from his horn, unnoticed by the other ponies in the room. His emotions were raw, unchecked, and powerful. Love was powerful and dangerous, unpredictable, and gave strength.

Bucky watched as Sparkler hugged Berry Punch and whispered something in her ear, which caused Berryâs ear to twitch in the most appealing way. Bucky felt a stirring, not in his loins, but in his heart, watching Berryâs ear twitch.

âœFather? Are you alright?â

Bucky did not respond, still not conditioned to those words. He continued to stare blankly ahead, watching everything he loved and held dear.

âœFather?â Sparkler repeated, louder this time.

Bucky started, his body twitching as he snapped out of his stupor. âœWhat? Iâm sorry, I was thinking, I guess I am still not used to that word just yet,â Bucky explained, feeling slightly guilty. He rubbed his head, his fetlock traveling over the dead area that he no longer had any feeling in.

âœYou looked a little troubled,â Sparkler said.

âœI was just thinking,â Bucky replied. âœI was a little troubled I guess. I am having very odd feelings about wanting to protect all of you.â

âœLove makes us realise what is important in life,â Berry said absentmindedly.

âœEach day I understand a little more about why you did what you did,â Bucky said in a low voice. âœThese new feelings, I must be honest, I am not sure if I can deal with them.â

âœThen donât try to deal with them by yourself, trust us with them, remember what Bon Bon said. Be open, be honest, and hold nothing back no matter how worried you might be about how we might feel about what you said,â Berry reminded.

âœWe love you, you can tell us anything,â Derpy offered.

âœI was just thinking about how easy it would be to scatter the molecules of my family members into the wind if they harmed any of you,â Bucky confessed. âœIt would be just like teleporting something, only I wouldnât put it back together after I zapped it.â

The room fell silent, and Bucky began to worry if perhaps he had made a mistake in being honest. He could feel the tension building.

âœYou can do that?â Berry asked.

âœI can do that,â Bucky answered.

âœIf we are ever in a situation where I cannot keep us safe, you do that and you donât hesitate,â Derpy instructed.

âœIâve been learning a few defensive and offensive spells from the library,â Sparkler announced. âœI canât channel a lot of raw energy, but I seem to have a knack for summoning electricity. We were sparring a bit and I gave Rising Star quite a zap. He had to lay down and think about how much he appreciated me as a filly.â

Derpy sniggered and covered her muzzle with a fetlock.

âœI can teach you how to focus what energy you do have into a well focused blast of raw telekinetic force. Several hundred pounds of force focused into an area the size of a bit is more than enough to blow a hole through most ponies,â Bucky said, his eyes going from Derpy to Berry to gauge their reactions to his words. âœI can summon several thousand pounds of force, but you donât need to summon that much. Even a hundred pounds of force focused into a spot the size of a cookie is all you need.â

Dinky had gone completely still and was now paying rapt attention.

âœYou listen carefully Dinky,â Derpy said slowly.

âœOne of the first spells a unicorn learns is how to boil water. If you are ever in a crisis, remember this one thing. A ponyâs body is mostly made of water,â Bucky instructed. âœAnd it will boil if you concentrate hard enough.â

Berry Punch gulped audibly. Sparkler gave a slow nod of understanding, looking slightly horrified. Derpyâs face remained expressionless. Dinky hugged PiÃa, who hugged back. All of them stared wide eyed at the unicorn in the overstuffed chair.

âœIf somepony ever comes and tries to make you go with them against your will, you fight back. I am going to trust that you are good ponies, and I am going to teach you things. Terrible things. And you are never going to use this knowledge unless it is absolutely necessary, do you understand?â Bucky said, finishing his words with a question.

âœYes father,â Sparkler answered.

âœYes daddy, ✠Dinky replied with a nod.

âœMost importantly, allow me to keep you safe. Iâd rather not have you have to live with the memories of hurting somepony. Iâd rather it be me,â Bucky said.

âœCan Rising learn a few spells?â Sparkler asked, blushing. âœHe has this foolish notion of wanting to protect me.â

âœI can teach if he is willing to learn,â Bucky offered. âœWe live in strange times. A little self defense is prudent.â

The conversation was interrupted by a rapping on the door.

Chapter 51

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There was a pegasus at the door, bearing the insignia of a royal courier. He stood politely waiting after asking for Berry Punch, passed her a scroll casing when she arrived at the door, and then flew away.

The door was shut and the trio stood inside, Berry Punch holding the scroll case in her teeth. She took it to the kitchen, set it down upon the table, took a seat in a chair, opened it, and then unrolled the scroll.

She sat reading for several moments, set the scroll down, and looked sad.

âœWhat is it?â Derpy asked.

âœI am being summoned back to the Isles by order of Keg Smasher, High Laird of the Isles. Legal summons,â Berry Punch said, looking very troubled.

âœWeâll go with you,â Bucky said.

âœYeah,â the pegasus agreed.

âœSomepony needs to say here and watch the foals,â Berry replied.

âœThey can come as well. A trip would do us all good,â Bucky said.

âœLegal summons,â Berry repeated. âœThis might not be a fun trip.â

âœSo we face it together,â Derpy said. âœWe knew there would be consequences when we bonded together. So shut up, you numbskull.â

Berry Punch slumped in her chair and fell silent as Bucky read the scroll.

âœThis doesnât seem so bad. Keg Smasher wants to discuss his terms of surrender with you, the one who started this war, he probably has some provisions or demands to make of you. Perhaps demanding that you make a formal apology before he will consent to any plans to make peace,â Bucky said as he read. âœWe have to leave tomorrow,â he muttered. âœEarly morning train to Manehatten, and then a boat northward.â

âœI always wanted to go on vacation,â Derpy said thoughtfully.

âœIâve always wanted to see something other than Ponyville,â Sparkler said.

âœYouâve been to Canterlot,â Derpy reminded.

âœI was little and Canterlot was boring,â Sparkler retorted.

âœTrains make me wanna hurl,â PiÃa protested.

âœBoats probably arenât your thing either PiÃa,â Berry warned.

âœI get to get out of school!â Dinky shouted.

âœIâll keep you both doing your schoolwork,â Bucky promised.

âœDâaw,â both foals said together in crushing disappointment.

âœI wouldnât be a very good father if I let you two slack off,â Bucky stated calmly.

âœYes you would,â Dinky retorted.

âœYeah, Iâd be fine with that,â PiÃa added. âœTotally fine.â

âœWell I wouldnât,â Bucky said sternly.

âœDonât sass your dad,â Derpy warned.

âœAw, this isnât fun at all now,â PiÃa whined.

âœHush PiÃa, mama is giving us âthe scowlâ and I want to keep living without her finishing breaking the crack that is already in my plot,â Dinky warned.

âœYou only have one eye open,â PiÃa observed as she looked at Derpy, her voice a little nervous. The young earth pony foal began to realise that all of the adults were looking directly at her. âœHaving three parents isnât as fun as I thought,â she whined.

Berry fell apart first, snerking into her fetlock as she covered her mouth, Derpy finally broke down and giggled, and Bucky held out the longest before cracking his brand new smile, which was slightly lopsided from his facial paralysis along his temple.

Sparkler, at that odd transition between being a foal and an adult, laughed with the adults, realising just how foalish PiÃaâs behaviour was.

Meanwhile, off in Canterlot, in a small study with fine mahogany walls, a broad desk made from matching wood, and paintings of old nobles covering the walls, an old stallion sat in a finely upholstered chair, staring up at a painted portrait of Princess Platinum. He was drinking, slugging down large gulps of brandy from a snifter. He stared at the painting, casting accusing glances at it sometimes, hateful glances at other times, and sorrowful glances after a particularly large gulp of brandy.

He refilled his snifter and continued staring.

âœYou never wanted this,â the old stallion said, gesturing around him, indicating the world at large.

He took another long drink, cringed at the sour burning belch that blossomed in his throat, and pounded on his own barrel, trying to get the wretched taste out of his mouth.

âœYou, you had friends. You never wanted to actually hurt your friendsâ you loved them. Iâve read the words you wrote down yourself. Youâ you just wanted to make sure your lineage was looked afterâ you stupid idiotâ your lineage wrecked your good intentions and abused that little bit of leverage you left in place, and look what weâve done. Weâve wrecked everything!â the old stallion said to the painting.

The painting stared back wordlessly at the old stallion. The mare in the painting was silver, her pelt seemingly metallic. She wore a small crown studded with dainty jewels.

âœWeâre at warâ somepony was finally brave enough to call us out on what weâve done. And Iâve done something terrible,â the stallion confessed, finishing off a nearly full glass in one gulp. He poured another snifter of brandy from the decanter and continued to stare at the painting, which stared back at him.

âœShut UP! Stop scolding me. SHUT UP!â the old pony shouted, cringing and closing his eyes. âœIâve done as you have asked! What more do you want from me?â

The painting gave no reply, but the eyes made from so many careful brushstrokes continued to stare, unblinking.

âœIâve condemned us all,â the old unicorn grumbled before he took a drink. âœSTOP GIVING ME THAT LOOK!â he roared at the painting.

The old unicorn looked away from the painting and his eyes settled upon a carved bust of Princess Platinum on his desk. He looked away from that too. She was all over this study, her image looking down at him from all directions.

âœI sent the ledger, please, stop torturing me, I canât sleep anymore, I just want some sleep. I want a quiet rest without guilt!â the old stallion begged.

âœStop shouting at me all at once, all of you, I cannot make out what you are saying!â the old unicorn said, pressing one hoof to his ear and grimacing. âœSILENCE!â he shouted.

âœLook, the three of us need to talk.â

âœStop being the insufferable big sister,â Luna demanded.

âœI agreed that we would no longer engage in marriages, it is too political and it always does harm,â Celestia said patiently.

âœYou agreed! I was away when that decision was made!â Luna snapped.

âœYou cannot actually be serious,â Celestia said, staring aghast at her sister.

âœI have thought about it, nothing more.â Luna said. âœIt was more than just a fling. He isâ he isâ he appreciates me and my values! I do not scare him or intimidate him! He appreciates my militance! He tells me I do not need to change, that I am fine the way I am, and that the world needs to change to go back to how it was.â

Celestia sighed and turned away.

âœI do not care that he is old or that our time is short. That doesnât matter. Our time is short anyway, no matter his age. What little time we have is precious, and I would not wish to squander it,â Luna explained. âœAnd his age isnât an issue. Heâs aged like fine wine. Or whiskey. Time has only been kind to him.â

âœI understand sister,â Celestia said, slumping in defeat.

The two sisters stood in what was jokingly being referred to as the âœroyal suiteâ which was the largest room available at the Ponyville Inn and Boarding House. Luna was still staying with the guard, mostly, not that they needed their spirits lifted.

âœI cannot say what we will do, but we will continue to be friends for the time being,â Luna said.

âœAnd I will not tell you what to do sister. It was a mistake to do so in the first place,â Celestia admitted.

âœThank you,â Luna said gratefully.

âœLet us not be enemies,â Celestia said, repeating Twilightâs words.

It had been a long day, full of various tasks. Derpy had made the rounds, informing others of their trip, saying goodbye, letting ponies know that they would be gone for a while. At home, Bucky and Berry made sure that everything was in good order to leave, cleaning out the fridge of anything that might spoil, and allowing PiÃa, Dinky, and Sparkler to gobble down as much ice cream as they could stomach. During the later afternoon, Sparkler had gone to tell Rising Star of her departure, and the two had shared a quiet moment together. The house was cleaned, left spotless, a mostly effortless task done by Bucky, who did it while he was busy doing other things, like eating ice cream.

And so the afternoon had wound down into evening, and evening transitioned into bedtime, at least for the foals anyway, and the family had come together for one moment of bonding before the big events of tomorrow, all piled into the big bed together. It was a very crowded bed, packed full of ponies, and it was clean and had fresh sheets.

In the center of it all lay Bucky, head raised, somehow looking more like a lion among its pride than a pony, with Derpy on one side and Berry on the other, Sparkler lay beside Berry, and the foals were busy crawling all over everypony.

The change was not unnoticed by the two mares. Bucky had gone through some sort of metamorphosis during his convalescence, he had gone in weak, and re-emerged as something else entirely. He was still sweet, he was still kind, he was still everything that both of them had fallen in love with, but he was also different.

His expressed emotions were largely unfiltered now. He said things. He felt things. Very little was held back anymore, and the new path of total honesty as suggested by Bon Bon led to some troubling moments, but they were moments that the two mares were glad to share, happy to have a whole pony between themselves.

âœPapa?â

The word hung in the air as a question, Dinky Doo still trying different words to see which one fit the best, leaving Bucky occasionally confused as he was still adjusting to responding to being called father, no matter which title was used.

âœYes Dinks?â Bucky replied as PiÃa kept rubbing the area on his head where the stitching had been, the soft bump of her fetlock making tiny circles.

âœI understand how important my schoolwork is, and I want to keep doing it, but there is something I want to do more,â Dinky said, reclining on her motherâs back.

âœAnd that is?â Bucky answered.

âœWell, I know my cutie mark is only three bumbly-wumbly bees, but can I still be a powerful wizard even though I donât have a magical cutie mark?â Dinky asked, her face scrunched in concentration as she stumbled through a difficult concept.

âœDinky, my cutie mark is a hops plant. Has it slowed down my magic use?â Bucky returned, answering a question with a question.

âœNo, I guess it hasnât,â Dinky said thoughtfully.

âœAll you need to become a powerful wizard is ambition, dedication, and drive. You have the raw magical ability. What you do with it is entirely up to you,â Bucky explained patiently. âœThis means a lifetime of dedication. It means reading books and studying when other foals are out playing. It means a life of careful control, a sacrifice of self, and a strong measure of self wisdom to understand what true power is.â

âœWhat is true power?â Sparkler asked, suddenly very interested.

âœHaving the means to inflict great harm and then never once having to use it. Understanding what you could do, and then holding it back when the time actually comes for you to use it,â Bucky explained, his voice very soft, and each word carefully chosen.

âœSo like what you did to fend off Ponyville,â Dinky said, her face becoming thoughtful. âœYou could have smashed them, broken their legs, made them all boil, winked away a leg or even their head, or done all kinds of terrible things like setting them on fire or crushing them all into jelly.â

âœYes, I could have done all of those things,â Bucky confessed. âœI could have killed every pony that had threatened us. Instead, I chose to hold back the full measure of my power, choosing instead to use only as much force was needed to try and hold back the rampaging mob.â

âœI understand,â Dinky said in a small voice. âœAt least, I think I do. I hope I do. This is why you keep talking about the need for control, right? If you had become too angry during that time, you might have accidentally hurt somepony seriously or even killed them. You had to hold everything back, even your really mad angry feelings, to keep everypony safe, me, PiÃa, them, you, nopony got seriously hurt because you understand true power.â

âœPiÃa and I,â Sparkler corrected.

âœYes, Dinks, something like that,â Bucky replied, feeling a strong rush of pride in knowing that Dinky was catching on quickly, and was understanding advanced concepts of morality and ethics that many students never fully cottoned onto.

âœI want true power then. I want that kind of control and understanding,â Dinky said, looking unusually solemn for her a foal her age. âœI never want to be responsible for seriously hurting anypony ever again. What happened to Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon was a very hard lesson for me to learn, and I only want to learn it once.â

âœGood Dinky,â Derpy said, to the foal sprawled over her back.

âœYes, you are a very good Dinky,â Berry Punch agreed.

âœA lot of ponies never learn this lesson,â Bucky said, expressing his sorrow in his words. âœThey donât learn it until it is too late, and then they are not in a position to get a second chance.â

âœSo if Dinky is going to be a wizard, can I be her assistant?â PiÃa asked.

âœYes, a wizard needs an assistant. A flunky!â Dinky cried.

âœNo flunkies,â Derpy quipped, causing Dinky to groan.

âœAw, nuts,â PiÃa muttered. âœI wanted to grow a nice hunch, maybe develop a limp, and become Dinkyâs faithful flunky, like the flunky for the Mad Doctor Scratch ânâ Sniff in that Daring Do novel.â

Berry Punch rolled her eyes and facehoofed.

âœWhat? I have a palm tree for a cutie mark. I donât even know what that means. What does one do with a palm tree?â PiÃa asked.

âœGo coconuts,â Bucky said dryly.

âœNo,â Derpy said. âœNo puns.â

âœYou make puns,â Berry retorted.

âœOnly sometimes, when they are tasteful,â Derpy admitted, causing Berry Punch to snort in reply.

âœSo assistant, with the option for promotion to flunky when weâre older and the adults canât boss us around so much,â Dinky said in summary.

âœYay!â PiÃa cried.

âœI need a flunky,â Bucky said.

Derpy sighed in frustration.

âœBerry, you do stupid things, you up for it?â Bucky asked.

Berry Punch could not reply, all she could do is lay there with her mouth wide open, her eyes wide with shock. Derpy chuckled, Sparkler giggled, and the two foals were overcome with laughter.

Bucky took the opportunity to plant a wet kiss on Berryâs lips, a short brief kiss, which made the foalâs laughter dissolve into groans of disgust.

âœGah, gross,â PiÃa exclaimed, not actually turning away this time, her voice disgusted but her face happy.

Bucky turned his head and managed to catch Derpy by surprise, causing the pegasus to give off one of her squeals that Bucky was beginning to adore. When he pulled way, the pegasus whickered in pleasure and blushed.

âœWeâll face tomorrow together,â Bucky said, surrounded by his family.

Chapter 52 (The Goodbye - also the place to stop reading if you want to avoid the Isles Arc, darkness lies ahead)

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The railway station was crowded. There were four alicorns present, the Elements of Harmony stood by, and a massive flock of pegasi, now one unified flock, had turned out. So had most of Ponyville. Something almost like a parade had formed as Bucky and his herd had moved through the town, during the hours just after dawn. It was strangely quiet, oddly dignified, and the long procession of ponies had moved towards the station.

And now, they stood among the throng, Bucky looking rather uncomfortable.

Twilight Sparkle cleared her throat, which somehow caused the crowd to quiet down. Spreading her wings to look a bit more regal, just as she had seen Celestia and Luna do so many times, she took a deep breath and spoke: âœKnow this, whoever goes to the Isles may never be allowed to return. Much will depend on Berry Punch and the conditions placed upon her. This may very well be a one way trip for any who goes.â

Berry, hearing those words, panicked. âœAll of you need to stay. Bucky, I want you here with Derpy and the foals. Look after PiÃa. Iâm going alone,â Berry demanded in her state of sudden alarm.

âœNo,â Derpy said. âœBucky, go with her. She is going to need you. I need to know that Berry is safe. I will stay here and look after the foals. Barley will be here to help me, and I still have the flock.â

âœNo, Derpy, I cannot allow that. Bucky, you stay here. With her. Sheâs tough on the outside, but I am her best friend, and I know how soft she is on the inside,â Berry said.

âœBerry, stop being so damn prideful, he is going with you and that is the final word. As the head mare, I get to make this decision,â Derpy growled. âœWe both love him, and I love you, you stupid bleating numbskull! I need to know you are looked after!â

âœSILENCE!â Bucky cried, using the Voice. The force of his utterance caused the glass of several street lamps around the station to shatter.

Celestia and Luna, unaware that Bucky had the Voice, both looked a little alarmed and surprised, but said nothing. Both made plans to say something later however.

âœBoth of you will be SILENT!â Buckyâs voice carried with it magical compulsion and a puff of smoke drifted from his horn. Everyponyâs ears rang and many ponies recalled Lunaâs return on Nightmare Night. Several bowed, overwhelmed by a strange magical compulsion that jolted through their bones. The noble Voice was a powerful thing.

âœBoth of you, come here, at my side, this instant,â Bucky commanded. Heads low, both mares followed his command, not quite daring to look him in the eye.

âœWe are going together, and that is final. There will be no arguments. Sparkler, you are free to make your own choices. You are old enough that you can. Personally, I would like for you to stay, keep in school, and focus on getting into university. Barley will look after you. PiÃa, Dinky, come here,â Bucky said, his tone now gentle. The foals moved quickly, not wanting another shouted command.

Sparkler looked at Rising Star, who stood close by with his parents, and then at her own family, and then at Barley, who stood looking glum.

âœI am coming with you, the flock stays together,â Sparkler said, her eyes flooding with tears as she spoke. She moved to be with her family.

âœSparkler!â Rising Star cried, prancing in place, looking frantic. He turned and looked at his mother and father, his face contorted with pain.

âœYou will only meet a filly like that once in your life my colt,â Shining Star said, looking her son in the eye. Rising Star threw a leg around his motherâs neck and hugged her tightly, and his father embraced both of them. Finally, they separated and pulled away.

Looking one last time at his parents, Rising Star moved to stand beside Sparkler, never once asking if he could come along.

âœI am proud of you,â Galaxy Guide said to his colt. âœGo and do us proud. You take care of her, do you hear me? She is a rare creature, just like your mother.â

Rising Star nodded, suddenly looking very grown up and mature.

A flashbulb went off, and Barley stood, holding the camera in his magic, worried if he would ever see Berry again. He quietly decided to keep working under the assumption that his niece would be coming back again soon.

Cadance felt a silent sense of satisfaction, this was the best example of what a herd marriage could be. A powerful and inspirational force of love. Both mares had only wanted the other to be happy, never once thinking of themselves. If there was any fear of jealousy or selfishness regarding this union, it died upon seeing the selfless display.

There was suddenly a bit of a commotion as a foal went running through the crowd, bawling and crying as she darted forward.

It was Diamond Tiara, and Filthy Rich was right behind her, trying to catch her. She had healed well, and was looking much better, though not quite her usual self. The slightly larger foal tackled Dinky, she squeezed, howling pitifully, and PiÃa moved to embrace the two.

The foals had spent a lot of time together, and were currently Diamond Tiaraâs only friends. Mister Rich stood nearby, now still, watching the display.

Bucky looked Mister Rich in the eye and nodded.

âœBuckminster, I wish you the best of luck. Return to us soon if you can,â Mister Rich said. âœLook after your mares and your foals. Family is all we have in this world. Nothing else matters. Not money, not wealth, nor power. Just family.â

Bucky nodded solemnly.

Two mares pushed through the crowd and drew close.

âœPlease, both of you, look after Bucky together, I still worry about him so much,â Bon Bon said. âœBucky, you let them look after you, or else. I know you will all be coming back. I have to believe that.â

âœStay close to those you love. It is the only way for our kind to stay sane,â Lyra said.

Berry and Derpy both looked at the mares and then at Bucky.

âœI know this is the worst time to ask about it, but it might be the last time we speak, even though I refuse to believe that,â Bon Bon said, looking at Lyra, who gave her a faint nod. âœBut we both wanted to ask you at some point if we could bond with your herd. We donât want in on your inner herd, but we do want a hoof in raising the foals and being part of your family. We canât have foals of our own, but we would like to share yours. We wish only to remain exclusive to one another, but we want to be a part of something greater,â Bon Bon said tearfully.

âœWe hope you will give it some thought while you are gone,â Lyra said, looking terribly strained. âœAnd I need to get away from this crowd. This is turning into a bad scene for me. Goodbye, all of you. Keep one another safe and love one another.â

âœThe three of us will talk about it while we are away, and when we return, we shall all discuss it,â Bucky replied.

Bon Bon nodded. âœThank you. I am going to get Lyra away from here before something bad happens. Be safe, and keep each other sheltered in love.â

The two mares gave a final nod of goodbye, and then departed, Bon Bon clearing a way through the crowd for Lyra. Bucky watched them go, already missing them both, already wondering what Derpy and Berry might have to say about this.

Derpy gently rubbed Diamond Tiara with a folded fetlock and watched her foals, feeling proud. Before her was all the proof she needed in knowing that she had raised Dinky right, and PiÃa as well.

Celestia approached, the crowd parting for her. She wore no crown, no regalia, no symbols of office, but her nobility did not need useless symbolism. She moved with quiet grace and dignity until she stood before Buckyâs herd.

She kissed Bucky first, gently on his cheek, then Derpy, and finally, Berry. She gazed down upon them, lovingly, feeling very proud of all of them. âœOur Founders would be very proud of you, seeing you like this,â Celestia said in a voice thick with emotion, a voice that hinted that tears were coming. âœThis is what they wanted.â

âœA unicorn to light my way, a pegasus to watch over me, and an earth pony to shoulder my heavy burdens,â Berry Punch said in a low raspy voice.

âœYes,â Celestia said, nodding, the first tear finally falling. âœBuckminster, I am proud of you. I had always hoped that you would break free. And now look at you. Derpy, watch over them both. I cannot guide you during what comes next. Berry Punchâ You are going to be held accountable for your actions. Keg Smasher is willing to discuss peace, but he has a condition that he is going to place upon you. I cannot say more.â

âœThank you,â Derpy said, blushing, unsure how to react to this situation.

In the distance, a train whistle blew.

âœLast chance for goodbyes,â Twilight Sparkle called.

âœBucky, look after my niece, sheâs a foul tempered hot headed little cuss,â Barley said, looking heart broken.

âœI married her because of that,â Bucky said.

âœGood lad,â Barley replied, his voice hitching.

Thunderlane and his family stood close by, wings closest to the heart raised in salute. Other pegasi followed his lead, and soon, every wing was raised on every pegasus in the crowd.

âœI am trusting you with the life of my flockmate Derpy,â Thunderlane said, his voice stern and serious. âœBring her back to us,â Thunderlane begged.

âœPlease,â Flitter added.

âœReturn her to us, all of you, come home soon,â Cloudchaser requested.

âœThis isnât goodbye,â Mister Rich said. âœYou are going to have a school to run. The community here needs you. I shall expect your return. Even if it might take awhile.â

âœComing home doesnât sound too difficult, it sounds like all you have to do is agree to Keg Smasherâs demands,â Thunderlane said to Berry Punch. âœSo do it, and come home.â

The train rolled into the station, belching smoke and steam. It only had two cars, a tender, and an engine. It carried no passengers, other than a small compliment of pegasi and unicorn guards.

While Celestia had worries, she knew that Buckminster was more than enough defense all alone. She pitied anypony that might foolishly choose to attack the train. She hoped that nopony was that foolish.

Recent events had shown though, some ponies were foolish. The Monarch of the Sun mused on recent events as the crowd began to shuffle all around her. Berry Punch had little say in her actions, she was merely a player in this game of fate and destiny. What had started off as a rather simple declaration of war had set off a vast series of events, many changes that could have only taken place if Berry Punch had done what she was clearly meant to do.

It was a troubling line of thought, one that had once troubled Star Swirl as well. How does one punish a pony for doing what fate created them to do?

Mister Rich quietly pulled Diamond Tiara away from her friends, holding her close, and Diamond Tiara let her father hold her close. She was clearly a very different little filly now, and she turned to her father for comfort.

Galaxy Guide and Shining Star watched their colt, pride on their faces, and tears in their eyes. Rising Star and Sparkler were clinging to one another, clearly terrified, and they clung to one another as if they were the only ponies in existence. They held one another, unable to keep looking, but unable to turn away.

Twilight Sparkle found herself pressed in from all sides, both her friends and her family pressed tightly all around her, not actually wanting to send the family away, but knowing that hard choices had to be made. She now had a greater understanding of Celestiaâs impossible decisions. She had no way of knowing if she was making the right decision now, only history would be able to confirm if she had been wrong or right.

Twilight Sparkle desperately wanted to be right, she had to be right, because this pain was terrible and the idea of being wrong and enduring all of this horrified her. Celestiaâs decisions suddenly seemed so much clearer and Twilight resolved to spend more time listening to Celestia in the future, and less time being angry and judgmental.

Luna had moved to Barleyâs side, and was now standing with him, the old stallion leaning on her side, occasionally swiping at his eyes. She leaned her head against his, saying nothing, no words actually needed to be said between the two, and Luna stood in support of her friend. There would be lots of drinking later, and words, what few were needed, could be said then.

When the door opened, Bucky quietly summoned up all of his noble dignity and led the way, his head high, he made his way to the train and started up the stairs, Berry Punch following on his heels. Derpy herded the foals along, turned to look at the crowd one last time, choked, and then turned away, resuming her task of nosing the foals along. Rising Star and Sparkler walked side by side, touching, their necks pressed together, neither one of them able to turn and give a final glance. They were the last ones up the stairs.

And then, all of them were gone. The door closed. No faces peered from the windows, the blinds were drawn, the occupants not visible. A dreadful silence fell upon the crowd.

Far away from the crowd, sitting on a roof, a unicorn and an earth pony clung to one another and wept, quite overtaken with emotion.

âœWe made a terrible mistake,â Lyra said. âœWe should have gone with them.â

Chapter 53

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The train ride was mostly silent. It was a well appointed car, not a common commuter car. There were berths for sleeping in, large comfortable seats, a bathroom, and a small kitchenette area well stocked with snacks and food.

The atmosphere was quiet and subdued. Dinky and PiÃa were both quietly reading to themselves, piled against one another on a small sofa, Derpy and Berry sat piled on one another on another sofa, sometimes talking quietly and still apologising to one another for the heated moment back at the train station. Bucky sat reading a thick tome about the lost history of herd marriage and common practices of various members within a herd, trying to understand where he fit into all of this.

Sparkler and Rising Star sat at a chessboard, the game had started, but no pieces had been moved in a while. They were silent, and mostly looked at one another, realising that something profound had changed between them. This wasnât playful courting, or some secondary school crushâ something more committed and mature had taken hold and both of them struggled to understand the change that had taken place.

Moments gave way to minutes, minutes gave way to hours, and the hours gave way to an entire day, the sun eventually setting. Most of the trip had been spent in silence, each pony reflecting on everything that had happened, what was happening now, and what might come. And after the sun had gone down, sleepy little foals had been tucked into a berth and kissed goodnight by all those that loved them, while the older members of the family remained awake for a while longer. There would be a layover to take on water and coal around midnight, and they would arrive in Manehatten around dawn if all went well.

Eventually, Sparkler crawled into a berth and Rising Star crawled into the one beneath her, Sparkler looking down from her berth at the colt below her and smiling at him one last time.

Derpy was not pleased with the berth situation. They were really only large enough for one pony each, unless you were a foal. And she didnât want to sleep alone. She glared grumpily at the berths and remained on her couch, her forelegs crossed over her barrel.

After the train had taken on fresh water and coal, three ponies settled onto one couch in what appeared to be a stacked pile that could not possibly be comfortable for any pony involved. Love made all things bearable, even odd sleeping conditions, and the trio slept, pressed against one another, seeking love and warmth.

The dawn was grey and chilly. They were farther north now, and they sky was overcast, full of fog and threatening rain as a storm blew in from the ocean.

It seemed as though all of Manehatten had turned out to greet them at the train station. It was a city whose population was a majority of earth ponies, all of whom seemed to see what Berry Punch had done as some heroic act. A band played music. Confetti filled the air. The guard were nervous and agitated. Ponyville was a city of thousands. Manehatten was a city of hundreds of thousands.

There were banners hung from the lamp posts along the route taking them to the harbour. Dinky and PiÃa huddled close to Derpy, the roar of the crowd frightening them both quite badly. The guard formed a protective phalanx around the family, keeping them securely in the middle.

âœThis is insane,â Bucky whispered, his words lost to the loud cheers of the sea of ponies all around him. He moved forward slowly, his horn ignited out of a near state of panic, unsure what to make of the pandemonium all around him.

Flashbulbs kept going off, too many flashes to count, each flash almost causing Bucky to release some spell, increasing his panic. The flashes panicked the guard too. It would be nearly impossible to tell if there was incoming hostile spells under these conditions. Bucky levitated both PiÃa and Dinky onto Derpyâs back, knowing she would understand the meaning. If something happened, Derpy had wings and the foals would be safe once she flew away.

Berry Punch didnât seem the least bit afraid. She was enjoying every moment of this, reveling in her moment of fame and glory, lifting her head high and smiling for the cameras. She had become a champion of earth pony justice, sticking up for earth ponies everywhere, and become something of a national symbol for earth pony equality.

The full madness of the situation began to sink into Buckyâs mind.

This was the worst sort of crazy because it made so much sense.

The walk to the harbour was the most difficult walk of Buckyâs life. Several times he had nearly succumbed to the panic rising up within him. The sound, the sights, the smell of thousands and thousands of ponies all around him. The whole situation had become overly political. Some of the crowd carried signs promoting earth pony equality while others held signs proclaiming rights for herd marriage. It was almost impossible to think.

The sound was deafening.

The grey pegasus mare was a nervous wreck, her wings twitching, her steps jerky and halting as she continued forward. Sparkler stood beside her, pressing her body against her motherâs side, trying to soothe her and comfort her. Derpy kept pushing her away so she could keep her wings ready for sudden take off.

There was a collective sigh of relief from everypony in the phalanx as the harbour came into view and the family finally traversed the gangplank. The crowd behind them cheered, shouting and yelling âœgoodbyeâ and cameras still flashed.

Berry Punch turned around and waved a final goodbye, blowing kisses at the crowd and smiling broadly at them. Her final wave incited the crowd into a frenzy, and the roar became painful as the crowd cheered their own final goodbye.

Bucky and his family were quickly escorted to their quarters.

âœI am glad that is over,â Derpy said, the pegasus still looking quite frantic. She paced about their stateroom. There were two rooms. One for Bucky, Derpy, and Berry, and then one for the foals, with Sparkler and Rising Star sharing the foalâs room.

âœThat was wonderful,â Berry said, bouncing in place with excitement.

âœI feel sick,â Bucky muttered. âœNot seasickness. I thought I was going to have a panic attack during that long walk.â

Quite without warning, Berry Punch pounced upon the pacing pegasus, planting a pair of puckered lips upon the pegasusâ lips. She bore Derpy to the floor, working out Derpyâs frustration the only way she knew how. Derpy resisted only for a moment before giving in and kissing back.

Bucky watched the mares wrestling on the floor with growing interest, distracted from his own problems. Berry was doing quite a number on the grey mare pinned beneath her, and Derpy struggled to reassert her dominance.

This was a wonderful distraction.

Finally, Berry pulled away, breathing hard. She wiped her mouth with one foreleg and rolled away from Derpy. She lay on her back, her barrel heaving, staring up at the ceiling. Derpy also lay on her back, her wings fluttering faintly.

âœIt was just getting interesting,â Bucky lamented.

âœI feel better,â Derpy admitted.

âœI figured you would,â Berry said smugly. âœAll a pegasus needs to set them straight is a good snuggle.â

âœThink the foals are alright?â Bucky asked nervously.

âœThey have Sparkler and Rising Star, I am sure they are fine. In a little while, I am going to go out and look at the ocean,â Derpy said. âœIâll take the foals with me.â

âœIt isnât even mid-morning and I already feel exhausted,â Bucky admitted.

âœAnd here I was hoping for a chance to wear you out,â Berry simpered suggestively. âœBig crowds always leave me feeling empowered. Strong.â

âœI hate crowds,â Derpy muttered, her muzzle scrunching from dislike.

âœNot fond of them either,â Bucky confessed.

âœI canât believe we have this ship to ourselves,â Berry said. âœNo lines in the cafeteria.â

âœFood sounds good,â Bucky said. âœI wonder if there is anything to eat.â

âœThere is a mini-fridge in the corner,â Berry said.

âœOh!â Bucky exclaimed, rising from his chair and checking out the mini-fridge. He pulled the door open, peered around, and then pulled out an entire pecan pie. He grabbed a small plastic spoon from a container above the fridge and retired back to his chair, digging into the pie with abandon.

âœYou going to eat all of that?â Derpy asked.

âœHyeash,â Bucky replied, his mouth full.

âœBut I like pecan pie,â the pegasus pouted.

âœIfsh yoush shqueesh insho frish shair wifsh me, Iâllsh share shome wifsh yoush,â Bucky invited.

Derpy did not need a second invitation. She piled into the chair and straddled Bucky, licking a bit of pie from his nose.

âœYou two are adorable. I wonder what else is in the fridge? You two just hang out and make one another feel better,â Berry said, getting up from the floor to check out the fridge. She rummaged around inside of there, moving things around, making Berry happy grunts as she plundered.

After a moment, she pulled out a bottle of pomegranate soda held in her teeth and placed it upon a small table near the fridge, and then returned to grab a container of eclairs. âœWonderful,â she said, drooling. âœI bet the foals are plundering their fridge as well.â She then grabbed a tub of baked beans in molasses and returned to the table with her prize. She cursed, realising she had no spoon, and returned to the fridge to collect one. She then returned to the table and began to tuck in, tearing into the beans hungrily.

Bucky, using his magic, fed Derpy and himself bites of pecan pie, alternating bites between one another. He was all too aware of various parts of Derpy brushing up against him as she straddled him, and he could feel the pegasusâ excited response to being close to him and receiving affection. She licked off every crumb that fell and made happy pegasus noises as she began to settle into her element.

Berry watched them both, taking comfort in knowing that they were feeling comforted by one another. She would join them soon enough, but the pair of introverts needed some down time. She took a bite of beans and chewed, enjoying the cold sweet baked beans thoroughly. There were little bits of pineapple and dried apple bits that were no longer dried, but had soaked up the sweet sauce and rehydrated a bit. She noshed into an eclair and watched her mates continue with their pie sharing. Derpy wanting to send Bucky with her made Berry Punch feel a swelling surge of love for the pegasus.

Dinky and PiÃa Colada ravenously stuffed cookies into their mouths, gobbling enthusiastically, and occasionally guzzled some milk from little paper cartons. They had already eaten a small carrot cake between the two of them, and their faces were still splotched with sour cream frosting.

Sparkler had a tub of macaroni salad that she was devouring, washing it down with a bottle of cherry-lime soda. There was also a sweet potato pie on the table she intended to devour with Rising Star, who was eating a tub of baked beans in molasses with little bits of pineapple and apple.

Sparkler, full of macaroni salad and most of a bottle of cherry-lime soda, belched horrifically and blew Rising Starâs mane out of his eyes, nearly making PiÃa choke as she began to giggle.

âœHow soon do you think I am going to have little sisters and brothers?â Dinky asked, her question happening out of the blue. She spoke with a mouthful of cookie and crumbs flew everywhere.

Rising Star paused his eating and set his spoon down in the tub of beans.

âœDinky, I am sure you will have some little siblings soon enough,â Sparkler said with a smile. âœThey were just married.â

âœThink Bucky makes mommy moan like she did that day on the couch? She sounded really happyâ I want her to be happy,â Dinky said, looking very thoughtful. âœAnd Berry too, even though I am not quite sure how that works between mommy and Berry just yet,â the little unicorn added.

âœOh, uh, wellâ Dinky I had no idea,â Rising Star stammered.

âœIâm not stupid,â Dinky said. âœI know how little foals get made. Sort of. I snuck off and looked through a few books in the library when Miss Cheerilee took the class there one day.â

âœNever once thought you were stupid Dinky,â Rising Star said, now blushing.

âœAnd I donât want Bucky sticking himself inside mommyâs backside just for foal makingâ I want her to feel good and be happy,â Dinky said, and then crammed a whole cookie into her mouth. âœSex needs to be for more than foal making.â

âœGROSS!â PiÃa protested. âœIâm eating here!â

âœHeâs sticking himself into your sisterâs backside too,â Dinky retorted around a mouthful of cookie.

Sparkler sat, silent and in shock.

âœI know that,â PiÃa squeaked. âœI mean, sorta, I donât know as much as you I donât think,â the pink earth pony foal confessed.

âœLook Dinky, I am sure they are all very happy trying to make foalsâ and trust me, I know that mom feels pretty good about it,â Sparkler said with shudder as she recalled several memories. âœBerry too,â Sparkler added, speaking to PiÃa.

âœI had no idea,â Rising Star said.

âœDinkyâs smart,â Sparkler said. âœAnd magically gifted as well.â

âœAre you two going to have sex?â Dinky said bluntly to her big sister.

âœDinky!â Sparkler protested.

Rising Star wisely remained silent, knowing there was nowhere to run on a boat and Sparkler would catch him eventually.

âœWell?â Dinky asked. âœYou love one another, right? Just like in a story book, he is leaving home to be with you.â

âœYes Dinky, we love one another,â Sparkler admitted to her younger sister, making Rising Star smile and blush. âœBut for right now, we are not adult enough to do what our mothers and father are doing,â she explained delicately.

âœOh. So it is like waiting for Hearthâs Warming Eve,â Dinky said thoughtfully.

âœYes Dinky, just like that,â Rising Star agreed, earning him a look of approval from Sparkler, which made him feel good all over.

âœI want to be a big sister, just like you Sparkler,â Dinky admitted.

âœAw, Dinkyââ Sparkler gasped, her eyes beginning to tear over. âœI love you, you little prankster you.â

Chapter 54 (Warning! May contain nuts!)

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Derpy had gone to take the foals on deck, so they could all look at the ocean together, leaving Bucky and Berry in the stateroom together, and she had left with a knowing wink.

âœLater, Iâll get mine,â she had said as she left, shutting the door behind her.

Berry looked pointedly at Bucky, licking her lips in a seductive manner and narrowing her eyes. âœVery clever that mare, luring the foals away so we have some private time together, you and I,â she said in a husky voice.

Bucky fanned himself with a hoof, it suddenly felt a bit warm in the room.

âœI havenât bathed for awhile. Iâm taking a shower, and then Iâll be back to deal with you. Just hang out, relax, and wait for me. I need to make certain parts of me lickable,â Berry said in a Berry seductive voice. She vanished into the bathroom and Bucky heard the water run.

Sitting in his chair, he suddenly felt very flustered. Derpy straddling him and then Berry being Berry had left him in quite some mood. A brave mood. Berry had once ambushed him in the shower, and turnabout was fair play, or so Berry always said.

He spilled out of his chair and moved as stealthily as possible, creeping his way into the bathroom and towards the shower. He pulled open the door and stuck his head in. The shower was small. Not large enough for two ponies.

Berry turned and shot him a glance over her shoulder, watching Bucky stare at her wet backside. âœWell, I honestly did not expect you to follow me into the shower,â she admitted. She whipped her tail over Buckyâs muzzle, a slightly stinging slap. âœThis shower is very small however.â

Not bothering to wait for an invitation, Bucky planted his snoot directly into Berryâs hot wet snatch, blowing a raspberry and making Berry laugh riotously. He plunged his tongue into her dark plum folds, feeling her clench around him as she laughed. Her laughter quickly faded into a long shuddering moan.

âœHold on sweet thing,â Berry said, wiggling free of his ministrations. She stood on her forelegs and with a quick well balanced movement, wrapped her hindlegs around Buckyâs head.

This was intriguing.

Directly below his muzzle like a feedbag waiting to be devoured was the object of his desire. He was now half in and half out of the shower, the front half of his body now soaking wet, the water running down his face and running rivulets into Berryâs glistening glossy gash.

âœYouâre amazing,â Bucky said breathlessly, his breath blowing hotly over Berryâs exposed berry. He punctuated his words with a lick directly to to Berryâs berry, making the mare wobble on her forelegs.

âœDonât let me fall,â she said in a pleading voice.

Bucky could feel her hindlegs squeezing the sides of his head, her muscles quivering, her legs scissoring slightly and rubbing the muscles along the top of his neck. He blew on her button, his breath blowing over her wet winking sex, causing Berry to wobble once again on her forelegs.

Once again, Bucky plunged his tongue down deep into her moistened mare flesh, tasting her tartness, and slowly probing the whole cunny crevasse, feeling around to see if anything made her react.

Berry gasped, feeling the hot snorts from Buckyâs nostrils blowing over her pucker, the heat causing the sensitive flesh just under her dock to clench violently, causing her twat to tighten. She felt his tongue making slow clockwise probings, going round and round inside of her in a slow lazy circuit. Then she felt the direction reverse, now going counter clockwise.

âœUmmmmph,â she mewled. âœYou have no idea how good that feels,â she murmured. Berry whimpered a few times, trying brace her front legs and push her backside higher, so Buckyâs tongue would plunge deeper. âœYou are… becoming really… good at that…â she gasped, making little feminine cries between her words. âœIf you keep… that up… I am going to go offââ

Bucky replied by dragging his tongue over Berryâs cork, sliding the entire length directly over the protruding knob of flesh. It caused Berry to begin making bleating sounds down below him, inciting him to continue licking her nubbin directly.

Not intending to do so so quickly, Berry climaxed. It started off with a faint quivering shiver that ricocheted through her filly bits, and then became a violent spasm that made her spine contort. Her legs gave way, and for one terrifying moment, she thought she was going to crash face first into shower floor, but then she felt the warm tingle of magic surrounding her body and pulling her back up, and the tongue lashing continued.

The tongue flailing almost became violent, a frenzied frenetic fantasy of foreplay. Each loving lick caused Berry to bleat, her forelegs now pulled up and she hugged her own barrel, squeezing herself, her eyes closed, water running down her body, along her face, and dripping from her nose. She ground her hips and clenched her hind legs, trusting completely in Buckyâs magic to hold her aloft.

The orgasmic tongue tickling continued for several minutes, until Berry couldnât take it anymore. She was biting down on her own lip now, wanting to beg for it to stop, but not wanting for it to end.

âœBucky… mount me… right here in the shower… take me… just be… gentle and give… me time… to take you in,â Berry panted and begged.

She was gently lowered to her forehooves, which wobbled, and then her hindhooves hit the ground. She stood on all four legs, trembling.

âœThis shower is too small, the only way weâll both fit in here is if we are stacked,â Bucky said breathlessly, recalling words Berry had once said to him when she had invaded his shower.

He shoved her roughly into the shower and then mounted her. This was his first time standing up. He placed his forelegs along her barrel, adjusting himself and pulling himself forward. She wiggled and bucked a bit beneath him, trying to scoot him into position. He wrapped a foreleg around the front of her chest and pulled the rest of the way forward, sliding along her slippery soaked pelt. He could feel her heat near his tip, a beacon to guide him in.

Berry was still orgasming beneath him, Bucky could feel her spine arching, her muscles contracting, and her muscular haunches flexing. He pressed against her entrance and began to apply pressure.

At first, nothing happened, and then with a wet squelching sound, he achieved penetration, which caused Berry to throw back her head and let go with a shrill scream. âœDonât stop,â she commanded, her voice ragged. âœThat first plunge always stings a bit.â

Berry splayed out her hind legs slightly and rolled her hips upward, trying to spread out as much as possible to take him in.

Bucky continued his slow relentless penetration, pushing in deeper and deeper, never letting up for even a second, pressing himself in inch by tantalising inch. His girth was widest around his penile ring, and when he pressed that part in, he felt Berry begin to buck and squirm with vigour.

âœThat all you got?â Berry challenged, baring her teeth, trying to wiggle away from him, her ears splayed out sideways from her head.

Bucky, using the foreleg he had wrapped around her chest, pushed her backwards and thrust his hips forward, making Berry growl. She began actively trying to shake him off and Bucky froze, confused.

âœWant me to stop?â he asked, worried that he was hurting her.

âœNO YOU DIMWIT, I WANT TO MAKE ME YOUR MARE!â Berry snarled, angry that the rutting had stopped.

âœYou want this rough?â Bucky asked, not moving, slightly confused.

Berryâs reply was to bring her head down sharply and bite down savagely on Buckyâs leg wrapped around her chest. His sudden jerk caused him to plunge deeply into her, making Berry moan.

âœYou told me to be gentle,â Bucky growled, feeling a bit peeved that Berry had bitten him. He squeezed her tightly and gave her a solid thrust, almost driving himself balls deep.

âœOnly at first,â she growled in reply, feeling him deep within her. She began tossing her head around. Berry went crazy, her hind legs jumping in little mini-bucks, causing Bucky to slide forward along her back and achieve deeper penetration.

Bucky, not knowing what else to do, gave Berry exactly what she seemed to want. He pulled out most of the way and then hilted himself with one violent thrust, his balls slapping so hard against her that they began to ache. Berry threw her head back and howled, clenching tightly around him. He did it again a moment later, and then again, using his forelegs for leverage, trying to pull himself forward, trying to shove her backwards under him, his tongue hanging out of the side of his mouth, the hot water from the shower head beating down upon his body.

There were no longer any words, only fierce grunting, both of them slipping into dirty animal rutting, Bucky slipping it to her as hard and as violently as he dared, and Berry reciprocated by bleating like the filthy little hard screwed ewe that she was.

With a finale plunge that caused his tip to ram into her cervical wall, Bucky blew his load, a violent spastic orgasm that caused him to collapse limply on Berryâs back, his hips still making a few instinctual humps as he continued to try and pump his seed deep within her. They remained in the shower like this, Bucky draped over Berryâs back, his hips occasionally twitching and causing another spurt to be released.

Finally, Berry gave way and both of them lie in a heap at the bottom of the shower, letting the hot water beat down upon them both.

âœNext time, pull my mane or something,â Berry invited, kissing Bucky passionately after she spoke. She pulled away after several minutes. âœI am going to get cleaned up, you are going to rest, and then I am going to watch the foals while Derpy gets to have her way with you.â

Bucky nodded. With a grunt, he pulled himself free from Berryâs still grasping gash with a wet sucking slurp, causing Berry to have one final lip biting case of the shudders, her final orgasm causing semen to gush forth from her stretched out snatch and go circling down the drain.

He kissed her again, thrashing his tongue against hers, keeping lip locked until dizziness threatened to overtake him. He pulled away breathlessly. âœYouâre crazy,â Bucky quipped.

âœYou have no idea,â Berry said, giving him a loving nuzzle, her face drenched with water, rubbing her head along his jawline. âœI am going to do terrible things to you someday. Things with riding crops. And maybe a bit of rope. I have all kinds of kinky fantasies that Iâve never trusted anypony enough to try before.â

Bucky had drawn a hot bath and was soaking in it when Derpy came through the door. She had a crazed manic grin on her face.

âœBerry told me some saucy things,â the grey mare whispered in excited tones. She slipped into the hot bath, submerged for a moment, and the came up out of the water, soaked, her mane clinging to her face. âœI am going to rut your face until you canât feel your smile,â Derpy promised in an aroused announcement.

âœI married two very forward mares,â Bucky groaned.

âœYes you did,â Derpy agreed, nodding as she did so. She rose out of the water, standing up in the tub. She kissed Bucky passionately, pressing up against him, applying her weight down on top of him, He leaned back, allowing the pegasus to press her advantage upon him. Bucky reclined against the back end of the tub, and wrapped his forelegs around Derpyâs neck, pulling her in closer. She resisted, pulling back. Finally, she broke her powerful suction and pulled away. She turned around in the tub, careful not to step on him, and then backed her plot into his face. She was already swollen with desire, her lips puffy and inviting. âœBerry told me you made the beast with six legs,â Derpy said breathlessly.

âœYeah, we did, in the shower,â Bucky admitted.

âœWell, I want you against my back again too,â Derpy said, pushing herself backwards into Buckyâs muzzle, the time for small talk over. The pegasus was not one for talking, pegasi were creatures of action.

Bucky was nearly suffocated as his muzzle was plunged into slick blue grey folds. He pushed her forward a bit and began to slowly lick around her outer lips, his edges of his tongue trailing over the protruding edges of her lovely labia. Already, her nubbin was beginning to bulge, slipping out from under her clitoral hood. It glistened at him invitingly.

Squalane began to bead up around Derpyâs blossoming mare-flower, looking like morning dew on blue-grey petals. The liquid was both sweet and somewhat sour, and it was quite salty. As more of it began to condense, Bucky licked it off as it formed droplets.

With a suddenness that made Derpy's wings flap, Bucky plunged his tongue inwards, drinking deeply like a hummingbird at a rare nectar rich blossom. Derpy began to get wet, a line of drool beginning to dangle down from her nubbin as more and more liquid began to ooze from her mare-maw.

Bucky slurped the dangling strand of liquid love from Derpyâs oversized button, running his tongue over it slowly, teasing, knowing that Derpy liked her lovemaking a little more loving and gentle.

Derpy hiked her tail even higher, trying to expose as much flesh as possible, trying to give Bucky a hint that there were other things that needed licking. Bucky obliged, starting down low with a lick that ran her entire length, ending with his tongue lapping over her flexing pucker.

âœOhâ I like that,â Derpy said breathlessly, her ears now limp and hanging on each side of her face. âœMore of that would be nice,â Derpy suggested.

Bucky gave another slow loving lick that trailed over her clitoris, up her moistened minge, and then lingered over her protruding pucker. It winked briefly, and Bucky could see pink for a moment, framed on all sides by blue grey wrinkled flesh. Knowing that he had once been in there, that he had been invited in there, welcomed, it excited him and he started another lick at Derpyâs jelly bean and slowly trailed his way upwards, this time teasing her anus with the tip of his tongue and poking in gently, causing the mare to squeal with fillyish delight.

âœYou really like pucker play,â Bucky said.

âœI do,â Derpy admitted. âœNothing feels better than taking a big dump and feeling all the pressure come out. That feeling as everything stretches and pulls back there. For a long time, it was the only thing I really had that felt like something going in or out of me,â she confessed, baring her soul. âœI used to get excited when I knew there was a big one comingâ ooh oooh ooh ooooh MMMPH!â she cried, feeling a tongue split her pucker and probe just inside her entrance. âœYou donât know how relieved I am that you donât mind doing thisâ I was so afraid that you would think I wa-oooh oooh uuugh unf unf unf MMM MMM MMM!â she whimpered, letting out adorable little wails of ecstasy. âœI canât believe how lucky I am that you like-Oh my goshâ ooh oooh ooooh HMMMmmmmmuuumph!â she moaned, feeling Buckyâs tongue sliding in and out, in and out, she could feel the edges of his tongue, all the little bumps scraping along the tight confines of her clenching pucker.

âœI need you inside of me,â Derpy begged, pulling away sitting down in the water, the hot sting of her pucker making her quiver. She felt herself being grabbed from behind, and pulled to Buckyâs barrel. He was gentle and slow. She reclined, leaning back into him. She could feel his legs wrapping around her barrel and lifting her, sliding her up along his body. She could feel something hard probing around her entrance. After a moment of inexperienced fumbling, she felt him slide in, and he began to lower her down upon his girthy cock. Her wings flared, slinging water everywhere.

Derpy reclined against Buckyâs barrel, feeling full inside off her. He lifted her again, sliding her up along his length, and then slowly pushed her down, working his way in a little deeper. Derpy moaned, leaning her head back against his neck, melting in his embrace.

âœHow much do you love me?â the mare asked.

Bucky did not reply. Not with words. He knew better.

Instead, he reached down under the water with one foreleg, and, using his folded fetlock, began to rub in slow lazy circles over Derpyâs nipples, causing the mare to wiggle in his embrace. He lifted her again, using one foreleg, drawing her up until only the tip remained inside, and then slowly brought her down.

This was a different sort of love making for a different sort of mare. This wasnât frantic rutting. It was slow and lazy, and more about holding one another, with actual rutting added mostly as an after thought. He moved his fetlock over her nipples, teasing her teats, making the pegasus writhe in his embrace.

He lifted, held her up for a moment, teasing her with the tip, and then slowly brought her down, filling her up, and hilting himself inside of her, easing her down oh so slowly. This time, she shivered, and he could feel her clenching around him.

His exploring fetlock dropped lower and he felt her nubbin against his joint. He opened his fetlock slightly, closed it around the swollen knob, pinched it lightly, and then gave it a gentle tug.

Derpyâs whole body braced against him, her spine arching, her teeth gritting together, both ears standing erect, each wing quivering with delicious tension. âœHarder,â she whimpered.

He grabbed her again, pinching her in his fetlock, lifting her up, and then he slid her down as he gave a gentle tug, plunging his way in deep as he squeezed and pulled on her distended tumescent clitoris. She tensed again, kicking out her hind legs.

Bucky took both of her hind legs and gathered them up, pulling them to her barrel, folding her in half, making her backside well rounded and inviting. He lifted her up and lowered her slowly, sliding in deeper than ever.

He hugged her hindlegs into her barrel even tighter, her hind hooves up near her neck, and then he gently slid her along his barrel, now kissing her neck, before gently shoving her downward and plunging in to the point of bottoming out inside of her. He wasnât the longest stallion in the world, but he understood leverage, and he was dedicated to making his mares happy.

Derpy began to make plaintive squeals of joy as the lazy lovemaking continued, the pace slow. She wiggled her hips and arched her back, trying to pull Bucky in as deep as possible, and the clenching of her own legs squeezed her clitoris tightly.

This continued for nearly a half an hour, one slow lazy thrust every few moments.

âœYou need release,â Derpy said.

âœWhere?â Bucky asked.

âœOh, right where you are. Iâve gotten my rocks off a few times, let yourself go,â Derpy said breathlessly.

Bucky picked up the pace, sliding her up and down rapidly on his pecker, He set to his task with vigour and candour, picking up speed as he went along.

Derpy found herself going off yet again, the hot bath water stinging slightly around her taught well stretched spasm chasm. She could feel Buckyâs grunting laboured breathing on her ears, his barrel heaving against her spine, his ribs rubbing against her sensitive wings and causing her all kinds of paroxysms of pleasure. Bucky was huffing and puffing now, drilling away at her like a steam piston. She could feel her pucker sliding up at down along the tip edge of his cock because of the angle of penetration. It began to get very warm from friction.

Finally, she could feel him, his body shuddering, his thrusting needy and wanting, and he buried himself in her, fractically twitching as he rammed home an explosive hot load deep inside of her, the first hard spurt slamming into her cervical sphincter and making her whole body violently seize. They trembled against one another, breathless, greedy for more, Bucky still buried deep within her, flooding her with seed. He held her like this for several minutes, she could feel several more spurts happen, and then he let go of her. She kicked out her now freed hind legs and collapsed against her love, soaking in the tub, unable to believe just how well she had just been rutted.

No words were said as the two lay there together soaking. Derpy felt Bucky going flaccid against her spine.

She twisted her head around and kissed him, biting on his lip gently and giving a tug to say she loved him.

Bucky wrapped his forelegs back around her and held her close, his hot breath blowing into her soaked mane and tickling her ears.

Chapter 55 (warning, some mature subject matter)

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Buckminster Bitters stood with his family, watching as the sun set off the left side of the ship. They were heading northward, more or less, and according to the captain, making good time. Both of his mares kept giving him suggestive glances, both of them looking quite pleased.

Sparkler stood with Rising Star, both of them quiet, looking ahead, and not at the sunset off to the side.

The wind whipped at everyponyâs manes and tails.

Dinner in the shipâs cafeteria had been pleasant. They were the only passengers, and there was about two dozen crew members, some of whom also ate dinner in the cafeteria. It was odd being on an almost empty ship.

There was a fully stocked bar on board. Once the foals were in bed with Sparkler and Rising Star to watch them, Bucky, Derpy and Berry had plans to get completely plastered.

PiÃa was doing surprisingly well, she had endured the train ride and was now managing to survive the voyage on board the ship. She stood near her sister, leaning on Berryâs leg, afraid to stand too close to the railing.

Dinky didnât mind the railing and looked overboard every chance she got, watching the white waves wash up against the sides of the ship.

âœI need to talk to you all,â Berry said, her voice grim.

Every ear perked, every head turned, and every pony present paid attention.

âœThere are some things you should know before we get the Shetland Isles,â Berry said in a slow hesitant voice. âœThis is not going to be a pleasant trip most likely. Well, I mean we can have a nice time, but things are going to be different.â

âœDifferent?â Bucky asked.

âœThe Isles are a bit backwards. You are not going to find any grocery stores. There is no electricity. There are no refrigerators, but there are iceboxes, and unicorns that make ice for ponies to use. Indoor plumbing really doesnât exist. There are no toilets. If you want water, you have to pump it yourself. Some of the isles donât even have fresh water. The ponies that live on those isles have to depend on pegasi bringing them fresh water from the other isles. Ponies still live here though, even with all of these troubles, because they want to be free,â Berry explained.

âœOh my,â Derpy said, spreading her wings slightly to catch a cooling breeze.

âœI can conjure water if there is any close by, I have magic to preserve food, or to make ice, and I suppose I can learn to live without the other things. And I thought adjusting to life in Ponyville was difficult,â Bucky said.

âœLife on the Isles is different and difficult, and that is why some ponies from there ditch the old ways and move to the mainland. I came to the mainland hoping for a better life. Ponyville has always been an odd place. And there are a few herds there, hidden in plain sight. Hopefully, we can take care of whatever needs to be dealt with and go home,â Berry said, her mane whipping in the wind.

âœThere is always the option that I take us home and then dare other ponies to stop me,â Bucky said in a low voice.

âœThere is that, but that wonât win us very many friends I donât think,â Derpy acknowledged in a low voice.

âœBucky, you would have to sleep sometime,â Berry said.

âœYou are right of course. Both of you. Iâll shut up now,â Bucky replied.

âœDid you try to make foals with my mother earlier?â

Derpy went as still as a statue at the sound of Dinkyâs voice, her mane blowing and tangling around her ears. Her mouth moved once to make a reply, and then moved no more. She stood, staring at her foal.

Bucky, also taken off guard, froze in panic, unsure how to respond to this question. He stood, blinking rapidly, Dinkyâs words echoing in his ears.

âœDinks darling, what do you know about making foals?â Berry Punch asked, sitting down upon her haunches and pulling Dinky close.

âœWell, everything. I know a stallion sticks his woo woo into a mareâs hoo hoo and there is something called âsemenâ that squirts out after a lot of hugging,â Dinky whispered, her cheeks turning apple red.

âœYes Dinky, that about covers it. Yes. Bucky has been sticking his woo woo into our hoo hoos and weâve been hoping to make foals. And there has been a lot of hugging and love between all of us,â Berry explained patiently. âœDoes this bother you? Are you upset that your mother is doing this? Do you feel angry or sad?â

âœWell, it bothers me a little, because it sounds gross, but I want a little brother or a little sister or bothâ and I want mommyââ Dinky paused, her muzzle getting a thoughtful set of wrinkles. âœI want my mother to be happy and I want to make sure she is getting the love she deserves. Myâ I donât know what to call him because he isnât my daddy, he did bad things to my mother and now I want good things to happen to her,â Dinky explained, trying to sound grown up.

Berry gently wrapped a foreleg around Dinky and pulled her close. âœSo Bucky is your daddy now? For realsies?â

Dinky nodded shyly, stealing one glance up at Bucky.

âœAnd you are okay with him sticking his woo woo into her hoo hoo? If you feel jealous about him getting some of your motherâs affection, that is normal and it isnât anything to be ashamed of… or if you feel uncomfortable with him doing things with your mother,â Berry said in unexpectedly Berry mother-ish tones.

âœReally, I donât mind him sticking his woo woo into my mommyâs hoo hoo,â Dinky admitted. âœAnd I am not jealous. I promise. If there is somebody sticking their woo woo into my mommyâs hoo hoo, I am glad it is him. Heâs doing the right thing and being a daddy after he does it.â

âœYes, yes he is Dinky. And a lot of stallions wouldnât so readily take in a foal not their own,â Berry said gently, her foreleg still around Dinkyâs withers.

âœI know. I hear about it from other foals in school,â Dinky replied in a low voice. âœMakes me sad. I donât know how I got so lucky.â

âœWell, your mother had to be very brave and run Bucky down first, and then she had to be patient and draw out the good pony she saw in his eyes when she first met him. And here we are. And we owe it all to your mother being a brave pony,â Berry said in sage tones. âœI would trust my life to your motherâs instincts.â

âœMommy was a very lonesome pony Dinky, and she needed her hoo hoo looked after by somepony that really loved her and that she could trust,â Derpy explained in a wavering embarrassed voice. âœAnd I love you so much right now for being such a big filly about all of this.â

âœDo you have any more questions?â asked Berry Punch.

âœNo, I think Iâm good for now,â Dinky quipped, her ears drooping down to the sides of her face.

âœI have a question,â PiÃa squeaked hesitantly.

âœYes little sister?â Berry replied, waiting patiently, still being Berry motherly.

âœHow do two hoo hoos work together?â PiÃa asked, her pink pelt turning pinker.

There was a faint embarrassed titter from Sparkler and a groan from Rising Star.

âœPiÃa, honey, what kind of answer do you want? An answer that will make you feel better about what you donât know, or an honest answer?â Berry asked, answering PiÃaâs question with a question of her own.

âœUmmm,â PiÃa replied nervously. âœAs an earth pony we are meant to be honest,â she stated nervously, unable to look up and meet her sisterâs gaze.

Bucky shifted nervously. This was a side of Berry Punch that he had not seen, and he felt intrigued. Brash Berry Punch, the Warmonger of Ponyville, had the makings to be an excellent mother, just like Derpy did. His reaction to her display of motherhood was rather odd. He really wanted to stuff something into her hoo hoo and love her gently. Not that she would enjoy that probably, but the thought crossed his mind and lingered.

âœWhen two mares enjoy each others company they can kiss each other on the filly bits. They can also rub against one another, using different parts of their bodies, and it is possible for two mares to make each other happy in the same way that a mare and a stallion can make each other happy. Stallions and stallions can also make one another happy. And PiÃa, you must never be a bigot about such things, telling other ponies what is right or what is wrong about how they find happiness with other ponies. A lot of ponies think that what we are doing is wrong,â Berry explained patiently. âœDo you need to know more?â

âœNo, not at the moment, I am good,â PiÃa gulped, her eyes closed. âœAnd being a family isnât wrong. Stallions and stallions, mares and mares, a herd, it is all family. And family is all that matters. You taught me that.â

Derpy snatched PiÃa with a wing, pulled her in, and began to squeeze, making the foal groan from the crushing force.

âœI have good foals,â said Bucky, âœI have me some wonderful foals already. I donât know what to say. I have three wonderful foals already. By sheer luck. My foals.â

âœOh, you included me,â Sparkler quipped, sounding emotional.

âœOf course I included you. Look at you. You are here. With us. Even after I gave you my opinion on what I wanted from you, you chose family. And you did right,â Bucky praised, his tone sincere, warm, and honest.

âœOh bother, I donât want to cry right now,â Sparkler said, rubbing her eyes with a fetlock, but unable to stop the tears.

Three ponies were sprawled around a table, looking comfortable, and were laughing with one another. Two little foals and two responsible someday soon to be adults watched over them, down in a darkened stateroom.

The three ponies around the table had been drinking quite a bit.

âœThat was something else earlier today,â Bucky said, his words only faintly slurred.

âœGood foals,â Derpy agreed. âœAnd Berry was sexy.â

âœI know. I thought about wanting to stick my woo woo into her hoo hoo when she was being a good mother,â Bucky confessed somewhat drunkenly.

âœI am Berry ruttable,â Berry spoke, and then lifted a pitcher of sloe gin fizz and drank from it greedily.

âœIs it getting any easier for you two?â Derpy asked.

âœIt still feels like somepony is sticking their whole hoof and part of their leg up my backside,â Berry said, wiping her mouth with her foreleg after she was done speaking.

âœAll this talk makes me feel entirely too good about myself,â Bucky blurbed. âœYou know, you two never took a turn with one another today.â

âœWe all took a nap instead, and that was nice,â Derpy said.

âœAt that point, I was exhausted,â Berry admitted. âœAnd my plot was sore. Well, still is actually. Hurts to sit down.â

âœWell, you wanted it rough,â Bucky muttered.

âœYeah I did,â Berry replied, lifting her pitcher of sloe gin fizz in salute. She downed a dozen or so swallows and then belched a belch that would make Sparkler jealous.

Derpy knocked back a glass of whiskey, grimaced, shuddered, and poured another glass. âœI am one happily married mare,â she announced, the whiskey burn in her throat making her voice husky. âœI honestly believed that this would never happen.â

âœI never thought Iâd be one for marriage and family,â Bucky confessed, and then tossed back the remainder of his glass of rum. He set the glass down and went to work on the bottle directly.

âœI wanted a family more than anything,â Berry said. âœBut both of you knew that.â

âœYou had a good chance at getting a familyâ look at meâ I just got lucky,â Derpy said morosely.

âœYouâ shut up,â Bucky ordered, his words a bit more slurry than before.

âœBut it is true though. With my eyes-â

âœBerry, shut her up,â Bucky interrupted with his command, making a gesture as he spoke.

Berry lunged at the pegasus and tackled her, planting a Berry drunken and Berry affectionate kiss on the grey mareâs lips. The two mares began to make out, hooves rubbing wildly as they groped one another.

Bucky watched the mares making out with a great deal of inebriated interest. He took a long pull of the golden coloured rum from the bottle, belched, and tasted apricots as an aftertaste. The two mares continued to roll and writhe, rubbing and grinding against one another, and Bucky took another long drink.

âœI love every hairy inch of you, from your eyes to your trumpeting plothole,â Bucky stated, causing the two mares to pause their making out. âœSo donât ever put yourself down ever again,â he commanded.

Derpy nodded, still pinned beneath Berry, her eyes glittering with her heated feelings of love and arousal.

âœI am getting as drunk as a lord,â Bucky announced, closing one eye and staring down the neck of his bottle. âœAlmost gone. Horrible.â

Berry pulled herself free from her entanglement with pegasus and reached for her pitcher of sloe gin fizz so she could get a drink.

âœI love you both so much,â Derpy said, speaking from her heart.

Chapter 56

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The next few days onboard the ship were days of quiet reflection and loving bonding, as well as one day completely lost to a hangover, where the most exciting thing done was crawling out of bed to reach the toilet. The aftermath of the epic bender did have one comedic consequence though. Berry Punch had awoken the next afternoon staring a cyclopean entity right in the eye, and it had been Berry happy to see her.

When land had been spotted, it had been Sparkler that had given a cheer, Eventually, they docked, disembarked, and then stood trying to take it all in. The family and their few possessions were loaded into a waiting wagon pulled by two big earth ponies, and then carried through a large city built around the harbour.

The city was the first sign of something being terribly wrong. The city was filthy. The ponies were dirty. Dung lay in the gutters of the street. The air reeked of urine and worse. There were surprisingly few foals running around. Coal dust and soot covered everything, leaving it dingy black and grey. Not many of the buildings had glass. The stench was eye watering and made the nostrils burn.

Derpyâs only reaction to the absolute destitution and poverty all around her was to begin weeping and clutch all of her foals close. Bucky and Berry both tried to console her, but the grey mare would not be comforted. The reality of the possibility of spending the rest of their lives here began to sink in.

Near the edge of town where the cobblestones ended, the roads turned into cesspits of filth, runoff from the town, deep feculent muck that squelched and slurped rudely at the legs of the earth ponies and the wagon wheels. Their progress became tedious and slow as the two ponies struggled to pull the wagon free of the filth and reach the soft dirt country lanes that lay outside the city.

None of Berry Punchâs words had properly prepared them for their experience. It was simply unbelievable until it was seen, and then it became something you wished you didnât know.

Eventually, they reached the soft dusty roads outside of the city, and their pace picked up. The city and its stench faded behind them. Dinky and PiÃa sat in quiet shock. Up to this point in their lives, they had believed the world to be a good and happy place. That illusion was now gone, and they were forced to deal with the reality that the world had some very unhappy places. More than anything, both of them wanted to go home now, back to Ponyville, back to someplace clean and wholesome.

Alas, it was not meant to be.

The wagon rolled through pastoral farmland, rolling green fields, and the sight was a balm to the eyes after the horror of the city. Little stone cottages with sod roofs dotted the landscape. Tall oak trees stood in rows, some of them containing giant gourds nestled in the stouch branches, tucked away into solid sturdy crotches and forks.

The giant gourds were very much like birdhouses, except that the occasional pegasus flew out of them, off to do errands or somesuch. Some of the pegasi population hung out in trees, watching over the earth ponies and their stone cottages below, wary weathered eyes watching for any sign of danger.

As they continued down the dirt lane, they passed a funeral, a group of ponies getting ready to bury the departed, something small that was wrapped in a bloodied blanket.

âœThese lands ainât safe,â one earth pony wagon puller said to the other in a thick accent, shaking his head and flicking his tail.

âœWonder if it was those thrice cursed wolves,â the other replied, watching the funeral as he pulled past.

âœNot much left to bury by the looks of it. Something ate the poor thing,â the first said in reply, a hint of anger in his voice.

Dinky began to sniffle upon hearing the words and hid her head under her motherâs wing, she was shaking and quite afraid.

âœBe warned, you lot, terrible wee beasties roam these islands. Foul things. They look like wolves. Howl like wolves. They ainât exactly wolves though. More shadow than anything. They feed on fear as well as flesh. Theyâll snatch any foal left unattended after the sun sets. Youâll be safe in the castle, but always make sure to be indoors and off of the moors before the sun goes down. These beasties ainât natural,â the second pony warned.

âœThere are also giant eagles. Always keep an eye pointed upwards during the day. Usually, they stick to the coastlands, but occasionally, the sea does not provide and they go looking for pony flesh. Be warned,â the first pony added.

âœThank you,â Bucky replied, now looking upwards.

PiÃa had joined Dinky, her head now hidden under Derpyâs other wing, trembling, and quite afraid. Berry Punch looked sullen and worried. She gently stroked her sibling, trying to comfort her and soothe away her fear.

After what felt like hours, a lake came into view, a vast wood, and beside the lake a large fortress-like castle stood guard over the surrounding countryside. Tall towers, thick walls, solidly built and well defended no doubt. A small village lay sprawled around the castle. The air stank of smoke and worse.

As they neared the outskirts of the village around the castle, they saw another funeral. Two larger bodies covered in shrouds were being committed to the earth. A group of mares stood crying nearby, and a small herd of foals huddled beneath their legs. There was no stallion among their number any longer.

âœMore wolves?â Bucky asked.

Neither pony pulling the wagon replied, but one had nodded and the wagon continued ever onwards. They moved through the village and the sour smell of dirty ponies and sewage assailed their nostrils.

The courtyard was large and full of soldiers. They stood at attention, and it was obvious they were on display for guests. Their armor shone with a mirror finish, their coats were glossy, and the soldiers consisted of all three tribes. Every single one of them looked hard boiled and ready for violence. Some had missing eyes. Some had missing ears. One pegasus was missing a wing.

Berry Punch rose solemnly when the wagon halted and saluted them, which the soldiers returned, honest looks of appreciation upon their faces. They had a thankless job, and at least one pony had showed them the proper respect they were due.

âœKeg Smasher approaches!â somepony shouted.

Bucky and his herd, now on the ground and out of the wagon, gathered together, turned, and watched as the largest pegasus they had ever seen approached. Tall, hard looking, his barrel as broad as a wine cask, legs like tree trunks, Keg Smasher was intimidating. He was grinning hugely, revealing several missing teeth, and there was a near manic gleam in his eyes.

âœWelcome to my humble home,â he greeted, only the faintest hint of an accent in his voice. âœIâve heard so much about you all from the big dame Celestia.â

âœThank you for having us,â Bucky said, easily slipping into courtly manners. âœWe are most appreciative of you having us as guests in your home directly and for the trust you have placed upon us.â

âœAyeâ Lord Buckminster,â Keg Smasher replied, raising an eyebrow and perking his ears forward. His wings fluffed slightly and his head was raised as high as possible.

âœThe title is completely unnecessary. Iâve-Look, I let that part of me go. The only title I crave any longer is âfatherâ and nothing else,â Bucky answered.

âœGood lad,â Keg Smasher grunted, his posture relaxing. His head dropped a bit, his wings settled, and he seemed more relaxed somehow. âœI like being a father too. I have me a dozen wives. And a whole bunch of little foals I love to roll around on the floor with.â

On the outside, Bucky did not react. He remained as impassive as a statue. On the inside however, he recoiled, his mind having trouble the notion of a dozen mares. He had trouble keeping up with Derpy and Berry Punch.

âœLook, I want to get right to the point. What is it that you want from Berry Punch and by extension, us? Iâd like to know. Right now if possible. The sooner we know what we are dealing with, the sooner we can sort this out and we can go home,â Bucky insisted.

âœA bit hasty you are there lad,â Keg Smasher replied. âœI was going to give you a few days to get settled in before dropping that on you.â

âœNow is good. I am pleased with now. I am settled,â Bucky stated in a very authoritative voice that made Keg Smasher scowl.

Berry Punch tensed. This was not the meeting between Bucky and the Laird that she wanted. While Bucky had eschewed the title of Lord, he was still acting very much as though he was in charge, and challenging Keg Smasherâs authority. She cast her eyes to Derpy, who also looked a little flustered, the mare had her feathers puffed out, trying to look much larger than she really was. Berry flinched internally as she realised that Derpy had slipped into a challenge posture, legs stiff, head high, wings fluffed, and her teeth slightly bared. Berry hoped that this did not end in violence, but it certainly seemed possible. Keg Smasher challenging Derpyâs mate had set the grey pegasus mare off, and she was ready to try and give a good thrashing. Her tail twitched aggressively and she made little grunts as she breathed. Berry began to worry.

âœGo fetch my sweet wee Thistle, and no damn lollygagging!â Keg Smasher barked.

Bucky felt his muscles tense and something nagged at the back of his mind. Why would Keg Smasher be fetching a pony?

âœWhat I want is simple. I am more than willing to sit down and attend the peace talk, and sign my name for a fair treaty this time, but I want something in return. I want you to take one more pony into your herd. I want Berry Punch to look after her,â Keg Smasher explained.

âœWhat?â Berry Punch asked.

âœHuh?â Derpy harrumphed. A low growl slipped from deep in her throat afterwards.

âœI beg your pardon?â Bucky said, moving to a much more defensive posture.

âœI want you to take another mare into your herd. I need her looked after,â Keg Smasher said, all traces of his smile gone.

âœWhy?â Bucky inquired.

âœBecause she is special to me, and I need her protected,â Keg Smasher answered without explaining anything.

âœIs that her?â Derpy gasped, looking at a filly being led to them. She was a pale blue colour, and her mane and tail looked like seaweed. Not hair, but actual strands of seaweed, broad flat strands of what appeared to be green living plants. âœThat is no mare!â

âœYes she is,â Keg Smasher insisted, now sounding annoyed. âœAnd yes, that is her.â

âœNo! Sheâs Sparklerâs age! She is as young as I was when I had Dinky,â Derpy gasped in astonishment. âœNo!â

âœOld enough to breed makes you a mare,â Keg Smasher replied, looking somewhat angry now, his face was as dark as a stormcloud.

âœShe is my age,â Sparkler said in hurt tones.

âœShe is with foal,â Keg Smasher growled.

Silence fell upon the group, nopony saying anything anymore. Thistle stared at them curiously, still looking hopeful. Keg Smasher looked annoyed and angry. Berry Punch looked confused. Derpy was angry and continued to become more so. Dinky and PiÃa huddled under Derpyâs legs, worried about everything around them. Bucky looked thoughtful. Sparkler leaned against Rising Star and looked frightened. Rising Star looked shocked and his mouth hung open.

âœWhy us? Why is this so important? Explain why we are necessary. Perhaps if we know more, we will be receptive as to why this needs to take place,â Bucky said.

âœYou canât be serious,â Derpy hissed.

âœBe calm my little storm cloud,â Bucky soothed.

âœNo!â the grey mare growled, all of the short little hairs along her back rising. âœI have no intention of being calm!â

Keg Smasher looked at Thistle, who nodded slightly.

âœWell, you see, Thistle isnât a pony. Well, not exactly. She is, but she isnât. She is a kelpie. On land, she is a pony, but in fresh water she grows a tail and swims. And her kind are almost gone. She is a rare prize of mine, something I treasure a great deal. Something very dear to my heart. The little rabble rouser you see over there, she snuck off to the mainland and got herself in trouble. She was taken advantage of. Once she became of breeding age, sheâs made it her mission to try get fat with foal, so she skedaddled off to the mainland, got sweet talked into thinking she was married, taken advantage of, and then abandoned,â Keg Smasher explained. He took a deep breath. âœAnd then came home heart broken and begging my forgiveness. She wants to leave these isles and live on the mainland more than anything. So, I need a group that can help her raise her foals, I need her to have a good husband and a fine group of fellow-wives that will look after her, and keep her safe. She is darn near the last of her kind. The mainland isnât known for being to welcoming of herds, but here you are. A herd. With a powerful and dangerous unicorn, a hard assed pegasus that clearly wants to murder me in front of my own troops, and Berry Punch, the Warmonger of Ponyville.â

âœI see,â Bucky said. âœAnd what if we refused?â

âœWell then, the war goes on, and you lot get to live here forever,â Keg Smasher replied with a huff that made his cheeks bulge out.

âœLook, you must understand, she is very, very young,â Bucky said, trying to appeal to Keg Smasherâs reason. âœThere is no way Princess Celestia would agree to this sort of marriage back on the mainland. There are lawsâ look, fillies do get pregnant, but to openly marry one, I would be committing a crimeââ

âœPrincess Celestia knows and approves. So does Princess Twilight Sparkle, one Princess Luna, who thinks this is a marvelous idea, and one Princess Cadance, who believes that this wee treasure of mine could be loved and cherished by all of you and know a happiness like no other,â Keg Smasher replied in a smug overbearing voice.

Bucky sighed.

âœAll you gotta do to go home is marry my little wee pretty thing. And you can leave at any time,â Keg Smasher said enticingly.

âœSo you would let this war continue if we said no?â Berry said snidely.

âœForever!â Keg Smasher shouted. âœIâm tired of having my hoof forced into giving away everything I have at somepony elseâs whim! This time, by damn, I will have something in return for what I have to offer!â

âœI understand,â Bucky replied, causing the entire group to fall silent.

âœYou canât be serious!â Derpy said after a few moments. She reached out and gave Bucky a painful pinching nip with her teeth, causing him to yelp.

âœLook, I am just saying I understand his position, I am not agreeing to anything, not yet,â Bucky explained.

âœNot ever!â Derpy growled. She reached out and nipped Bucky again, and this time he cried out in pain.

âœLook, I know you are upset, but biting the dung out of me isnât helping!â Bucky scolded, glaring at his mate.

Derpy hung her head in shame, but continued to bare her teeth.

âœLook, pretty pegasus mare, try to see it my way. Thistle is nearly extinct as a species. There are no male kelpies. Only females. She needs to have a lot of foals to even have a small chance of having another kelpie. Only female foals have a chance of being a kelpie, and there is only a small chance of having all of the ideal conditions met. I need her protected. And before me, I have a unicorn that held off an entire damn town of ponies to keep two foals safe, a half crazed warmongering mare that set off this conflict as a mad display of love and affection, and then there is you, you angry little thundercloud, who is already trying to protect her from all harm and you donât even know her,â Keg Smasher said in a gentle soft voice. âœAnd lass, please stop biting him. I can see those welts from here. Youâre going to feel bad about those later.â

Derpyâs anger changed to confusion. âœWhat you say does make a little sense, but I am too flustered to understand a lot of words right now,â she admitted. âœAnd Bucky is a good husband and a fatherâ but she is too young. Too young. She is Sparklerâs age.â

âœWhat if Rising Star and I were married and took her in?â Sparkler asked.

âœNo!â Derpy said, her wings flaring out and her legs twitching. âœSparkler, no! I forbid it!â Derpy protested, her tail swishing. Sparkler hurried away from her mother, out of nipping range. She had never seen her mother quite like this before.

âœNo lass, I am sorry, but I donât know much about you or your lad. While I am sure you are both fine ponies, and you are probably a damn good pony considering your mother, I just donât think you can protect what I value most. No offense, sweet lass, but you are very kind to offer,â Keg Smasher replied graciously.

âœI understand,â Sparkler said. âœYou must love her a great deal. Are you her father?â

âœNo, but I am her caretaker. I promised her mother I would see her married,â Keg Smasher answered.

âœWhat happened to her mother?â Rising Star asked.

Keg Smasher drooped, his proud stance completely gone. With a loud thud, his backside hit the cobblestones in the courtyard. âœUnpleasant business that. When the sweeps took place, Thistleâs mother took Thistle and hid themselves in the bottom of the loch. All of her other foals were rounded up and taken. She had to make an impossible decision. She chose to save Thistle and keep her in the one place where they could not be found. After the unpleasant business was over and she found out that every single of one of her foals had been taken, she was never the same. About a year later, she threw herself into the sea. Salt water is lethal to kelpies,â Keg Smasher explained, looking grief stricken and sad.

âœBastards,â Berry hissed.

âœCome here,â Bucky said to Thistle.

âœWhat are you doing?â Derpy demanded, baring her teeth.

âœLook, please, be calm,â Bucky said, nuzzling the aggravated snorting pegasus, hoping she would not bite him again.

Thistle approached the group, her head low, casting nervous glances at Derpy, worried about the agressive mare.

âœI make no promises about marriage, but I will give you a fair chance to get to know us, to speak with us, to spend time with us. I do not agree with this. You are youngâ and I donât know how to deal with that,â Bucky said, looking Thistle in the eye.

âœIâm not that young!â Thistle snapped. âœIâm having a foal, which means I am no longer a foal!â The flustered filly calmed slightly. âœDo you think Iâm pretty?â she asked, batting her eyelashes.

Bucky backed away, caught completely off guard. Thistle stepped forward. âœI am very direct in what I want. Does that bother you? I have obligations. I am almost the last of my kind. I need to get started as young as possible and have as many foals as possible so that there is some chance of keeping what I am alive for just a little longer. I donât care how it happens, or what I have to endure, or that it might hurt me, or any of those things. All I care about is that somepony ruts me every chance I have so that I can squirt out a foal, and hope that the foal is female, and a kelpie. I will be your slave. I will look after all of your other foals. I will be your housemaid. I will do anything you ask of me and more. All I ask in return is that you rut me regularly and keep me fat with foal,â Thistle offered.

Bucky could see her teeth. The kelpie had fangs. It unnerved him and made him shudder. Her breath reeked of fish. Her mane did in fact look like weeds. She didnât have hair at all, but actual plants. He spotted a budding bloom in her tangle of weeds just behind her ear, the faint pink of the bloom just beginning to show through the green casing.

âœThis is crazy,â Berry Punch muttered.

âœThis canât be happening.â Derpy whimpered. âœI need to have a quiet place to settle down before something bad happens. I keep biting my husband.â

âœI can show you to your quarters. I am keeping you in the castle where it is safe,â Keg Smasher said. âœFollow me.â

There was a large room. And that was it. There was a pile of hay in the corner, fresh hay. There was a fireplace that burned bales of compressed peat. And nothing else.

âœWhere will be my foals be staying?â Derpy asked, her breathing heavy and uneven.

âœWhy, here of course, with you,â Keg Smasher said, looking confused.

âœWhat about privacy?â Derpy asked.

Keg Smasher looked terribly confused for a moment and then broke into a grin. âœYou donât rut in front of your foals!â he bellowed. âœHah! How is a foal supposed to know what is important in life if you donât let them watch how you live yours? My foals, all of the wee little buggers, sleep in a pile with my wives and I. Most of them donât even wake up when the activities commence. Little fillies learn what is important from watching, little colts learn what is expected of them, and everypony understands where they come from and the essence of what is important in life. Making more ponies!â

âœUGH!â Derpy grunted, closing her eyes. She pushed past Keg Smasher looking disgusted and quite angry. She stomped into the room, settled into the hay, pulled Dinky and Piny closer to her, covered them with her wings, and settled in.

âœI wouldnât bother her any further. Sheâs nesting,â Bucky whispered.

âœI see that lad, and something about her scares the piss outta me,â Keg Smasher breathed in a low voice. âœThere are pegasi, and then there are pegasi,â he added. âœOh, speaking of pegasiââ

Keg Smasher gave a loud whistle that echoed down the hallway and then stood patiently waiting.

âœPegasi?â Bucky asked.

âœI am assigning you an errand colt,â Keg Smasher replied.

âœErrand colt?â Bucky asked. âœWhat is his name?â

âœOh, he doesnât have a name. Just say âlad.â That is what that word is for after all. All the nameless ones.â

âœNo name?â Berry asked.

âœWell, he is an orphan. He earns his keep running messages, doing errands, fetching things, grabbing buckets of water, all that stuff. He is being groomed for good manners. He would probably have been taken in the next sweep, but now, thanks to you Berry Punch, there are no more sweeps. So I donât know what else to do with him,â Keg Smasher explained.

âœNo more sweeps,â Berry muttered, her tone one of relief. âœNo more sweeps?â

âœNo. Celestia said no more sweeps. The treaty is broken. The sweeps are over. Never again,â Keg Smasher replied, sounding pleased.

Berry Punch stood in shock for a moment, silent, and then exploded into tears. She stood, looking very confused, looking around, sobbing and bawling, and then she ran into the room, piled into the hay with Derpy, and continued to cry her eyes out.

âœA lot of us had the same reaction,â Keg Smasher whispered quietly. âœMyself included. Damnable treaty is no more. No more sweeps, no more penalty taxes, no more interfering. When we sign the new peace treaty, there will be no concessions offered. Just a signature of peace.â

Bucky nodded, peering through the door at his mares, both of whom were now crying. He felt awful.

âœAh, here he is. He stays a little sleepy during the day, but heâs a good lad. Earnest. Hard worker,â Keg Smasher said.

âœThatâs a lunar pegasus!â Bucky exclaimed.

âœYeah, we have a few. His mother was solar and his father was lunar. Both died fighting those damnable wolves,â Keg Smasher grumbled.

âœYou called?â the colt asked.

The lunar pegasus colt was a few years older than Dinky and considerably larger. His pelt was sooty dirty brown, and his wings were a dark dusky blue. His mane and tail was the colour of old rust, a dark dingy reddish brown.

âœYou are to look after these ponies. Run their errands, fetch them whatever they ask for, look after their littlest foals, and make yourself useful. Can I trust you to do that?â Keg Smasher asked.

âœYes sir. Of course sir. Anything you ask of me sir. I am eager to serve,â the colt replied, bowing slightly.

âœGood lad,â Keg Smasher praised. âœIâll leave you two to get to know one another,â he said to Bucky, turning to leave. âœDinner is in a few hours. Iâll be sending somepony to collect you.â

And with that, Keg Smasher was gone, spreading his massive wings and taking off, flying down the wide hallway.

âœHello,â Bucky said to the colt. âœI donât know what to call you.â

âœWell, I will answer to most anything. Most just say âladâ or âladdieâ but some say âyou thereâ or âfang faceâ soâ really, anything,â the colt responded.

âœWell, I canât have you going around unnamed,â Bucky said.

The colt shrugged.

âœAre you supposed to stay with me?â Bucky asked.

The colt nodded.

âœI guess that makes it easier to give you errands or give you messages to take,â Bucky reasoned. âœLook, I have no plans to treat you badly or anything. Iâd imagine you are a bit scared right now.â

The colt heaved a sigh of relief and sat down, looking up at Bucky with wide yellow slitted eyes, his ears folded back against his skull.

âœIâve never seen a lunar pegasus up close before,â Sparkler said slowly.

âœThank you,â the colt said.

âœFor what?â Sparkler asked.

âœFor not calling me a bat pony. It is disrespectful,â the colt answered.

Sparkler nodded and looked at Rising Star, who was also studying the colt.

The colt yawned, exposing a mouth full of sharp teeth and long fangs.

âœWould you like a nap?â Bucky asked.

âœNo sir,â the colt replied, âœI am on duty. I await your orders.â

âœWell, I am going to into my room, I am going to settle into that pile of hay, and then I am going to get some rest before the big dinner that is planned for later. Come settle in with us,â Bucky invited.

âœYes sir,â the colt responded.

Bucky sighed. Some serious adjustments were going to have to be made to adapt to life here on the Isles. He had no idea what to do about Thistle. Or the nameless colt. Derpy was an emotional mess. Berry wasnât much better at the moment. Sparkler and Rising Star both looked like they were in shock.

Bucky realised that he was the only one holding all of the pieces together, and that scared him more than just a little bit.

Sparkler and Rising Star moved into the room, the colt followed, and Bucky trailed along after them, closing the door behind him.

Derpy was settled in the hay with Berry, their necks entwined, they were laying chest to chest, necks wrapped around, heads resting on each otherâs withers. The foals were under Derpyâs wings. Sparkler lay down close to Derpy, and Rising Star settled in a short distance away, looking quite shocked about sleeping in hay. The unnamed colt stood, unsure and a little afraid, looking at the group. Bucky planted a hoof on the coltâs backside and shoved him closer to Berry Punch, where he settled in and layed down, not too far away from the plum coloured mare.

Bucky went to the window and looked out, staring out at the village below, the woods nearby, and the rolling green fields. He turned and faced his family, and his errand colt. âœOne moment,â he said, his voice low. His horn flashed and he easily levitated the lot of them. The hay was compressed into a ball, and the ball flashed, becoming a large wide mattress. It was thin, and not very fancy, but the simple transmutation spell had done its job. Turning a rock into a tuxedo was not very practical, but rearranging the molecules in a pile of hay into a mattress was useful. He gently lowered the ponies back down to the mattress and stood gazing at them, all of them now quite wide eyed and stunned.

âœIâll make a better one later when I have more to work with,â Bucky promised, rubbing his head, which now hurt. His horn smoked and felt hot. He noticed the smoke coming from his horn and felt mildly concerned. âœSorry there are no sheets,â he added.

âœThat was amazing,â the colt gasped, his bat like wings flaring outwards slightly.

âœThat was something,â PiÃa agreed.

âœThat was deep magic,â Dinky said. âœI could feel it. Made my teeth tingle.â

âœYes Dinky, that was deep magic. You'll be able to do this someday if you study hard and dedicate yourself,â Bucky replied to his foal. âœNow settle in, and have a nap.â

Bucky settled himself in next to Derpy and Berry, easing himself down on to the mattress, and then he planted a kiss on each of his mares. âœWe will endure this,â he promised.

He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and began to calm himself.

Chapter 57

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Buckminster awoke, and began to look around through bleary eyes. The pile had shifted somehow while he had slept. Sparkler and Berry Punch were curled together, Rising Star was off by himself, and the lunar pegasus was nowhere to be seen.

He looked at Derpy and blinked. He blinked again several times. She was dozing lightly, Dinky and PiÃa both under one wing, and under her other wing was the lunar pegasus colt, looking at him with wide pleading eyes.

Bucky felt a chuckle escape him. âœJust humour her, okay?â he asked in a faint voice.

âœShe dragged me in sir, by the nape of my neck, and would not let me get away,â the colt whispered. âœShe growled terribly and then sat on me to subdue me.â

âœIs it that bad?â Bucky whispered back.

The colt shook his head âœnoâ and then went still, fearing further reprisal if he woke the mare.

The deep magic he had cast earlier left Bucky feeling starved. His stomach rumbled and gurgled to let him know that he needed food. Another soft laugh spilled out, Bucky feeling some sympathy for the coltâs plight.

âœWhere is the bathroom?â Bucky asked.

âœBathroom?â the colt replied. âœWhat is that?â

âœThe place where one relieves themselves?â Bucky asked.

âœThere is a bucket in the corner,â the colt whispered helpfully. âœSomepony will be along to empty it or you can just pour it out the window yourself.â

Bucky recoiled in horror at the coltâs words, and could not suppress the shudder of disgust that took over his whole body.

âœA lot of ponies just piss in the hall and leave the maids to scrub it up,â the colt added, still trying to be helpful. âœThey get upset if somepony craps on the floor though,â he warned.

Bucky arose, stretched, which caused his back to crackle and pop, yawned, and then moved over to the bucket. It was filthy. He felt a terrible feeling of apprehension. He still didnât even like the idea of somepony hearing him use the bathroom, which set off fits of neurosis. He glanced at the ponies on the mattress, and then back down on the bucket.

He peered out the window in disgust, looking down, and saw a copse of trees not all that far away. âœLook after them,â he commanded to the colt. And then, Bucky vanished in a bright flash of light.

He returned several minutes later in another bright flash of light, looking much better. âœIâm going to need to eat entire pounds of starches because of that,â he muttered to himself. He had a worrying thought. How much food was available here? He felt a miserable ache inside of his barrel, and his mind began to twist into knots of worry.

Derpy snorted herself awake and began to look around, smacking her lips. She lifted her tail, farted loudly, and then giggled from the tickle just under her dock.

The colt also giggled, and then his nostrils crinkled in disgust.

âœIâm not sorry,â Derpy whispered into the coltâs ear, causing him to giggle again.

Bucky felt his heart warm slightly. As bad as it might be, he could count on Derpy being a good mother. She looked much better now, although Bucky wondered how long it would last given the conditions, and what might set her off next.

Berry woke with a grunt, catching a whiff of something horrible. âœArgh, what died?â she groaned, shaking her head with disgust. âœIt is a little chilly in here,â Berry announced.

Bucky realised the room was a bit chilly. He looked at the pile of compressed peat bales and the fireplace. Seemed easy enough. He levitated a bale into the fireplace and then with a flicker of magic, set it ablaze. That should begin warming the room for the soon to arrive night he thought to himself. A second later, he regretted his actions. The burning peat bale smelled worse than pegasus flatulence. And pegasus flatulence smelled bad.

PiÃa awoke with a yawn, and Dinky wiggled free from between PiÃa and her mother. She stood and stretched her legs, and then wiggled her backside around.

âœWhat is that stench?â Sparkler asked sleepily.

âœThat is no way to talk about your mother Sparkler,â Berry teased.

âœYouâll all be heading off to the dining hall soon,â the colt announced.

âœWhat about you?â Bucky asked.

âœIâll get fed leftovers when everypony else is done,â the colt replied.

Bucky didnât like the sounds of that. And by the looks of it, neither did Derpy. She scowled and a low growl could be heard in her throat.

âœYouâre coming with us,â Berry insisted.

âœI canât,â the colt protested. âœIâll get punished if I go in there.â

âœNuh uh,â Derpy protested. âœIf somepony punishes you Iâll kick them.â

âœShe will,â Berry agreed. âœProbably right in the potato sack. Sheâs that kind of pony. Did anypony happen to notice that Keg Smasher is afraid of our little grey mare?â

Bucky winced at Berryâs words and nodded. Keg Smasher was indeed afraid of his little grey mare, and he had said so.

âœI need to pee,â PiÃa whined.

âœYeah,â Dinky added, now squirming.

âœLetâs figure this out,â Bucky said. âœSooner the better.â

The first thing done was Bucky herding all of the males out of the room to give the females some privacy. and they stood around the hall waiting. When the door was finally opened, the females moved out into the hall and stood with Bucky, while Rising Star and the lunar pegasus colt went into the room to attend to their business.

The bucket was emptied out the window several times, mostly by Sparkler, and once by Rising Star.

After everything was attended to, the ponies shuffled back into the room and waited for somepony to come and collect them.

The night drew closer.

The dining hall was large and open. There were several long tables. There were no chairs. No cushions. Just the stone floor. Bucky and his herd stood in the wide doorway, taking it all in, not sure what to think. The colt stood trembling, not wanting to enter, looking very afraid.

Derpy shoved him through the doors and hurried PiÃa and Dinky along. Standing in doors was rude, and blocked traffic. Derpy wanted to leave something of a good impression.

The colt protested several times, and finally Derpy slapped him in the rump with her wing, silencing him and making him slump in defeat. Bucky walked along behind them, Berry at his side, and Sparkler and Rising Star were just behind them.

There was no silverware. Bucky had a troubling thought. There was probably very few manipulation shoes here on the Isles, the special magical shoes that had a seed of magic inside of them that allowed for near field manipulation that allowed earth ponies and pegasi a degree of freedom and modern living without unicorns. The thought was depressing.

âœAye, welcome,â Keg Smasher greeted. âœI see you brought a guest.â

âœI did. And if you punish him, I will break your legs,â Derpy threatened.

âœOh my, sheâs feisty, ainât she? You had to find you one of them motherly pegasus types,â Keg Smasher said, looking genuinely worried.

âœI want my foals looked after,â Bucky stated dismissively, feeling genuinely uncomfortable with everything around him right now.

âœYou got lucky lad,â Keg Smasher said to the colt. âœYou be extra good to her, do you hear me?â he commanded, gesturing to Derpy.

âœYes sir,â the colt replied, nodding his head.

Bucky and his herd settled in at the table with Keg Smasher, and began to look around. There were surprisingly few ponies at the table.

âœWhere are your wives?â Bucky asked, unable to contain his curiousity.

âœTheyâre working. Marrying me doesnât mean a life of cushy relaxation. I expect servitude from my wives in exchange for the privileges afforded to them. Most of them right now are working as nurses in the humble little hospital we have, looking after the sick and the injured. Some are in outlying villages working as midwives. I donât lord over my ponies, I serve them. I work hard to try and make their lives better. I bust my arse every day trying to improve this sump-hole of an island,â Keg Smasher explained.

âœAnd he leads us into battle against our many threats,â a pony cried from another table. âœHeâs a damn good Laird.â

âœAye, I do that,â Keg Smasher admitted in humble tones. âœAinât right to ask my soldiers to possibly die for me and not go out there with them. Just ainât right.â

âœI have always felt that is how it should be,â Bucky replied, his voice low and quiet. âœIt was an opinion that put me at odds with my family.â

âœIâd imagine it would, Son of Avarice!â Keg Smasher bellowed.

âœNever call me that,â Bucky hissed.

âœAye lad, sorry, I meant nothing by it. Merely wanted to point out the contrast. Youâre a good sort, I can tell,â Keg Smasher replied.

âœI claimed you as one of our own,â Berry interjected.

âœIâd be glad to have you as a fellow Pickle,â Keg Smasher offered.

âœAnd I think I would feel much better being one,â Bucky agreed.

âœThat settles it then. Everypony in this room bear witness, Buckminster Bitters now exists in my house. He is a Pickle in all ways that matter by right of my might, and let no pony argue, unless it is by combat. Does any protest?â Keg Smasher announced.

The room fell silent. Heads lowered and ears dropped. Nopony dared make a challenge. Keg Smasher ruled in the only way that mattered. Absolute force.

âœAnd by the rule of my house, he retains his position of armiger. Piss him off at your own risk. Mess with him and his family at your own risk,â Keg Smasher decreed.

Dinky looked very confused, but remained silent. PiÃa however, did not.

âœWhat is an armiger?â PiÃa asked.

âœA pony at arms. A weapons bearer,â Bucky explained, not saying more.

âœA pony that can be trusted to kill other ponies for the right reasons and is immune to retribution,â Keg Smasher added.

âœA position that is all too often abused,â Bucky protested. âœI shouldnât be trusted just because of my birth or my bloodlines. Birth does not make me noble. Was a hard lesson for me to learn.â

âœNoble wordsâ spoken by a noble,â Keg Smasher replied, raising his eyebrow. âYou and I are a different breed.â

âœNo, I am not,â Bucky protested. âœI was just born lucky. Doesnât make me special.â

âœYes you are!â Keg Smasher bellowed. âœIâve heard about you and what youâve done. Celestia speaks highly of you. You are as noble as they come by word and deed, and I donât give two shites and a tinkerâs damn about noble birth. I was born to a common prostitute! I rule by right of might. I came home, back to these wretched Isles, and I killed the previous Laird for being a selfish tyrant and then I claimed my position. I slew him, I slew his treacherous wives, and I killed most of his court for the horrible things they did to their own ponies. Sickens me what they did. When I got done this fortress flooded with blood and ran down the halls and formed pools in the low places. Donât talk to me about nobility Buckminster Bitters, you have it in you to do much the same.â

Bucky sat in silent shock, his mouth hanging open. Derpyâs eyes were wide, and she stared at Keg Smasher. Berryâs gaze dropped down to the table. Rising Star sat and shook his head, unable to take in everything he had just heard. Sparker leaned on Rising Star and looked troubled.

Dinky and PiÃa clung to one another.

Earth ponies began hauling in carts of food and unicorns began to pile platters from the carts upon the tables. The food smelled delicious after not eating all day.

âœWhere is Thistle?â Berry asked.

âœIn the lake,â Keg Smasher replied. âœFeeling broken hearted and rejected.â

Derpy made a choking sound and covered her mouth with her fetlock.

âœSheâs nice. She brings me fresh fish,â the colt stated.

âœYou eat fish?â PiÃa asked.

âœFish?â Dinky repeated.

âœYeah,â the colt replied. âœAnd sometimes mice and rats if I catch them.â

âœOh grossââ PiÃa moaned.

âœYuck!â Dinky gasped.

âœSomething has to get rid of the rats, otherwise weâd be overrun,â Keg Smasher said in the coltâs defense.

âœIâm scared of rats,â PiÃa confessed.

âœIâll protect you,â the colt offered.

âœSee? Heâs a good lad,â Keg Smasher announced.

Bucky eyed an enormous bowl of hot buttery peas. His mouth watered. Not sure what the proper manners were, he took the bowl in his magic, poured some out on his plate, put the giant serving bowl down, and then stuffed his muzzle into his plate and began to gobble.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the others around him doing the same.

After making his peas disappear, he looked around for other things he liked. There was vegetable stew, gratin potatoes, mashed turnips, fried parsnips, bread, there was a surprising amount of food and variety.

âœNeeps and tatties!â Berry punch exclaimed happily, stuffing her face down into her plate and scarfing down a large pile of whatever neeps and tatties were. Bucky had no idea. But it looked good.

âœMead is what we need,â Keg Smasher said, glad to see the serving maids bringing drink. âœOver here lasses, do hurry!â

Derpy noticed that one of the serving maids left a small white flower next to the Lairdâs plate before she departed. She took it to be a sweet gesture and nothing more.

The hall was filled with the sounds of ponies eating and celebrating, making merry. The sweeps were over, and the oppressive penalty taxes were no more. There was a lot to celebrate, and many toasts were lifted to Berry Punch.

In the middle of all, a long wailing howl drifted through the hall, causing the room to fall silent, except for PiÃa, who shrieked shrilly and jumped upwards, landing on and clinging to Buckyâs neck. He braced a foreleg under backside to support her weight and realised she felt wet back there. There was a patch of wetness on the stone floor. The foal began to sob with fear, shame, and embarrassment, burying her face in Buckyâs neck.

âœI have you PiÃa, youâre safe,â Bucky soothed. âœDonât worry, nothing can hurt you when I am around. I will keep you safe.â

âœDamnable wolves,â Keg Smasher growled.

Berry fretted over her sister, but did not want to pull her away from Bucky. Not knowing what else to do, she continued eating, but kept glancing at PiÃa Colada and feeling worried.

The foal clung to Bucky, still sobbing, her little forelegs wrapped tightly around his neck. Dinky, worried about PiÃa, began to sniffle a bit, but she maintained her composure, knowing how important control was. She sat up a little straighter and her horn flared with light. âœIâll keep you safe PiÃa,â Dinky offered.

âœI can watch over you all night if you ask me to do so,â the colt offered.

PiÃa did not reply, but continued to cry, the emotions of the day now slipping out in one teary flood.

Dinky quietly made the puddle left behind by PiÃa evapourate, knowing how embarrassing it was to have an accident.

There was another long howl.

âœDamnit, the foals will be in a state tonight,â Keg Smasher swore angrily.

âœPiÃa, love, try to calm down, these wolves, they feed on fear,â Bucky whispered to the foal he held in his embrace.

Bucky looked over and saw that Derpy was in quite a state. Her wings were flared. Her muscles quivered. The emotions of the day had been hard on her as well. And now, her foals were threatened. He barely recognised Rising Star, who seemed like a completely different unicorn. Rising Star looked aggressive and not his usual happy go lucky self.

âœI might be able to help you with the wolves,â Bucky offered.

âœNO!â Derpy cried.

âœDerpy, be still,â Bucky said gently. âœKeg Smasher, I have powerful magic as I am sure you know. I might be able to help you. What are these shadow wolves and what can I do to help you?â

âœTheyâre terrible foes. Shadow and flesh. They tend to become insubstantial when you attack them, making them very hard to kill. They feed on flesh and fear. They became a real problem under the last Laird, and I just cannot seem to stem the tide of these horrible monsters,â Keg Smasher replied.

âœGive me time to settle in, collect my wits, and draw my strength. I can help you,â Bucky offered.

âœI am not comfortable with this,â Derpy growled.

âœWould you have me do nothing to protect the foals here?â Bucky retorted.

Derpy squirmed uncomfortably, a grimace upon her face. âœNo, because you probably can help them,â she muttered. âœYou are going to get an earful about this later though,â Derpy promised.

Bucky continued to hold PiÃa, and wrapped his other foreleg around her withers. She was slowly calming, but the sobs were still wracking her tiny body. She hiccuped from fear and was content to be held.

âœDerpy and I will keep our foals comforted and safe. Just donât do anything rash or stupid when and if you go out hunting,â Berry stated in low tones.

âœI told you that you were noble,â Keg Smasher said to Bucky, grinning, lifting his mug using his wing. He drained it in one long gulp.

Bucky ate, using his magic, still holding PiÃa, not letting her go. She had calmed a bit more, and he fed her a bit now and then we she pulled her face away from his neck. She was still damp back there, and would need a bath or at least a washing. Bucky realised he would as well.

âœI think I understand Derpyâs attraction towards you now,â Berry said to Bucky in a low voice. âœSeeing you comfort PiÃa is making me feel some very strong feelings towards you. Right now, I really want to reward you for being a good daddy,â she said in very low whisper.

âœYou and me both,â Derpy whispered. âœStill angry with him though.â

âœAw, donât be angry. He just wants to keep other foals safe,â Berry replied to her fellow-wife.

âœI donât want to lose him,â Derpy said in a choked reply. The grey mare grabbed her tankard with her wing, lifted it, and then guzzled her mead. She belched ferociously and slammed it down upon the table.

âœYour wife has excellent manners,â Keg Smasher quipped.

âœSheâs damn near perfect,â Bucky agreed.

âœWhat about me?â Berry questioned, glaring at Bucky.

âœYou are also everything I would ever want in a wife,â Bucky admitted.

âœGood answer lad,â Keg Smasher chuckled.

Berry relaxed her posture and resumed eating.

Bucky tried to relax and enjoy himself, glad to have a moment to bond so closely with his precious little PiÃa.

Chapter 58

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The morning was bitterly cold. As cold as any day of midwinter in Ponyville. And this was indoors, in a room, with the fire burning a compressed peat bale. Any sense of privacy or personal space had been abandoned at some point during the night, and everypony had moved into one big pile, pressed against one another out of sheer necessity. There were not even any blankets.

Bucky resolved to make a few changes this day. It was time haul back a few rocks, make a few sofas and couches, some blankets, a better mattress or two, and a few simple creature comforts.

The damp condensation on the walls had frozen into patches of ice.

There was a low growl from within the pile that was unmistakably Derpyâs. No doubt she had just noticed what Bucky had noticed, and that was that Sparkler was entwined with Rising Star in quite an intimate embrace. Bucky really hoped that Derpy didnât move suddenly. His potato sack was pressed against her delightfully warm wings, and they were the only thing keeping his most delicate area from the bitter biting cold.

It was at some point during his bleary examination of the grim morning situation that he noticed the figure by the window.

âœHave you been there all night?â Bucky asked the colt.

âœI promised wee PiÃa that I would keep watch over her while she slept and keep the wolves away,â the colt replied, his teeth chattering faintly. âœI have kept to my oath.â

âœYouâ you there, look, just get over here with us and get warmed!â Bucky insisted, his voice full of exasperation. He hadnât been aware that somepony had slipped away from the pile during the night. âœAt least stand by the fire!â

âœThe fire offers little warmth,â the colt replied.

âœLook, just get over here, now!â Bucky commanded angrily, rapidly losing his patience with this whole situation.

The colt walked over, stiff legged, but not out of a sense of challenge. It simply had trouble moving. Berry reached out and pulled him into an embrace, and she began to shiver when the coltâs cold body pressed against her own.

âœYou donât have any feathers for insulation,â Berry muttered, sounding Berry miserable about everything.

âœYou stood watch all night over my foals?â Bucky asked incredulously.

âœIt was the right thing to do. I was being groomed for good manners and compliancy, so when the sweeps happened, I might be able to grow up and guard Princess Luna. Many of us do. I wanted to see what I was made of,â the colt said, now shivering violently as the warmth from Berryâs embrace began to seep into his body.

âœYouâll make a fine sentinel someday, but for now, you are a colt. You pull a stunt like this again and I will work your backside over,â Berry threatened. âœI mean it. No sitting for a week!â

âœYes maâam,â the colt replied through now chattering teeth.

âœYou watched my foals,â Derpy said as she yawned.

âœSentinel,â Bucky stated. âœIf ever a name has been earned, it would be that one.â

âœWhat?â Berry asked.

âœI am calling him Sentinel,â Bucky replied.

The colt did not reply, but buried his head against Berry Punch and made odd grunting gasps.

âœIt suits him,â Derpy agreed.

âœI think heâs crying,â Berry said, her face pinched with concern.

âœDamnit, it is cold in here!â Sparkler hissed.

âœSparkler!â Derpy scolded.

âœColder than a windigoâs teat,â Rising Star stated poetically.

âœIt sure is,â Bucky agreed. âœAnd your grave is going to be even colder if you keep spooning belly to belly with my Sparkler. Do I make myself clear?â

âœAs sheet ice,â Rising Star returned, rolling over and curling into a miserable ball.

âœI have an overprotective daddy,â Sparkler announced in a matter-of-fact voice. âœThis is awesome. I donât know how to react.â

âœThere are no words for how much I love you right now Bucky,â Derpy mumbled dreamily. She raised her tail and farted, once, twice, and then thrice. And nopony seemed to mind. It was warm.

âœIs my pee gonna freeze?â

PiÃaâs voice came from somewhere beneath Derpy, it was muffled and somewhat smothered. It was the sort of innocent question that only a foal could ask.

âœThat is a very good question.â

Dinkyâs voice also emerged from under her mother, and both of the foals were extremely grateful for the broody nesting pegasus for once, even if it meant being squished under the over-motherly mare.

âœI understand now why herds developed,â Bucky grumbled.

âœAnd that is?â asked Berry.

âœTo stay warm,â Bucky returned.

âœAt this point, Thistle would be welcomed as another warm body,â Berry quipped.

âœBerryâ youâ meâ laterâ scuffle,â Derpy huffed. âœI canât feel my ears.â

âœThis is Equestria without the Princesses,â Bucky stated. âœThis is life outside of Equestria, and for many of the ponies all around the world.â

âœThis might be bad for you, but this is normal for me,â the colt, now named Sentinel, muttered as he huddled against Berry for warmth.

âœI wonder what is for breakfast,â Berry said and then yawned.

âœProbably oatmeal or pease-porridge. I might even get some that is hot today,â Sentinel said hopefully. âœThank you by the way.â

âœFor what?â Berry asked.

âœBeing kind to me. Giving me a name. Taking me in. Keg Smasher has been very generous to me, I cannot fault him. I cannot understand why strangers would be so good to me,â Sentinel said.

âœBucky is a good pony, and so are all of the rest of us,â Sparkler said.

âœI need a squire,â Bucky mused to himself.

âœWhat?â Berry asked. âœAre you serious?â

âœSentinel is already assigned as my errand runner, which is part of a squireâs many tasks. I need somepony to help me with my day to day affairs here, keep an eye on my family, and to assist me with whatever Keg Smasher is bound to ask of me eventually,â Bucky explained.

âœYou are serious,â Berry said.

âœSentinel, can you read or write?â Bucky asked.

âœOnly a little,â Sentinel confessed.

âœI canât have an illiterate squire. That will not do,â Bucky said. âœSparkler, Rising Star, I have a task for you. Help Sentinel become literate.â

âœHow? Rising Star asked. âœWith what? Do you see any books? Paper? Pens?â

Bucky sighed in exasperation. âœUse sticks in the dirt. Use charcoal on flat stone. I will make some ink and paper if necessary. I am sure there are books somewhere around here, and I know we brought a few. Theyâre in the trunk.â

âœIt will give us something to do,â Sparkler said to Rising Star.

âœWe are going to be here for a while,â Bucky said. âœThe issues with Thistle are not going to be resolved overnight. We are all going to do our part to help out around here. These ponies need us.â

âœI am low born, I-â

âœSentinel, Keg Smasher was born of a prostitute. I descend from the blood of ancient royalty. These things do not matter,â Bucky interrupted. âœYou stood watch all night because you made a promise to a foal. You took that seriously. I meant what I said. I will need a squire.â

âœI will serve,â Sentinel said, pulling his head away from Berry and looking directly at Bucky.

âœSo the new Armiger of Clan Pickled takes a squire,â Berry said, giving the colt a squeeze. âœDerpy, you had better get used to being called a Dame.â

âœWhatâs a dame? I always thought it was a harassing word for a lady pony,â Derpy uttered in confusion.

âœWell, with Sir Buckminster here taking his job seriously, we are probably going to be called âDameâ or âLadyâ by folk around here,â Berry explained.

Bucky raised his eyebrow and glared at Berry Punch.

âœLook, I wasnât trying to tease for once. I didnât call you Lord Buckminster because I know you hate that. Give me a little bit of credit,â Berry responded. âœAnd this might be very hard for both of you to understand, but these little titles can give ponies hope. They want to believe that somepony is out there, championing their cause for justice. Keg Smasher seems well loved, even if he did end the previous Lairdâs rule with a bloodbath. I donât like it at all, but pomp and circumstance has its place.â

âœYou just continue to keep surprising me Berry Punch,â Bucky said, completely flabberghasted.

âœI worked very hard to improve myself and make myself a worthy wife for some lucky pony,â Berry said in a small voice.

âœI am a lucky pony,â Bucky replied.

The peat bale in the fireplace burned low, and the sun began to shine through the window. There was no warmth yet, but there was the promise of warmth.

âœLet us take care of the biology goes into the bucket shuffle and start the day,â Bucky announced.

Breakfast was pease-porridge, which was every bit as awful as it sounded. Some of the ponies called it brosemeal, or peasemeal brose. The only thing to go on it was butter. Dried carlin peas, ground into a fine meal, and then boiled to a pasty consistency.

The only pony that seemed to enjoy it was Sentinel, who was quite thrilled simply because it was hot.

Warm food was nice. The entire castle was cold and damp.

There was no coffee. There was no tea. There was no orange juice, or apple juice, or grape juice. There was no white sugar, nor was there brown sugar. There was no maple syrup.

Bucky suffered a painful reminder of how his life was, back when he had eaten for sustenance and little else. Out of all of his family, he was the most prepared for this. Dinky and PiÃa were taking it hard, PiÃa actually crying a bit as she ate, while Dinky dutifully shoveled it in and stared blankly ahead.

Moving the rocks proved to be a far more difficult task when the time finally came. Buckyâs horn smoked and fizzled, sending off showers of sparks. Things that took considerable magical effort caused the alarming reaction.

Moving the rocks themselves caused many ponies to gasp. Strong unicorns were rare on the Isles. Most unicorns were taken during the sweeps, usually only leaving behind the type ones and occasionally a type two, usually because they were well hidden.

The rocks provided the raw molecular mass needed to transmute them into useful things. A pair of wide ugly grey sofas. A large thick mattress, complete with sheets and blankets. Bucky had considered a second mattress, but it was just too cold to break everypony up into two piles. A privacy barrier had been transmuted and stood near the bucket. Several cushions had been transmuted. The first mattress Bucky had made was turned into a pile of pillows. A low table was transmuted, because tables were useful for all sorts of things.

By noon, Bucky was ready to collapse from exhaustion. His horn was slightly charred, covered in black soot. It arced and made sizzling noises periodically, even though he was done casting.

A crowd of curious ponies stood outside their door, trying to peer inside whenever the door opened, hoping to catch a glimpse of the display of finery.

Berry felt guilty about having it when she knew that the others did not, but she said nothing.

Derpy had to sling Bucky over Berry Punchâs back to haul him to the dining hall for lunch. Both mares worried. Buckyâs magic wasnât acting right, and he had completely depleted himself to make his family a bit more comfortable.

Lunch was leftover pease-porridge and fried corn and oat cakes. Derpy actually had to feed Bucky, as he had become so unresponsive. After a large meal, he had perked up considerably, but had a headache.

Sentinel took every chance he could get to let the ponies around him know that he had a name.

Keg Smasher had stopped by in the afternoon to look at the remodeled room. He seemed impressed, more so about Buckyâs magic than the actual furnishings. Keg Smasher took the announcement about Sentinelâs squirehood very seriously, patted the colt on the head with a wing, and addressed him by name. Before departing, he gave one very serious salute and expected one in return.

Sentinel became aware that his world has just changed considerably, and now he had a very unfamiliar social circle to adjust to. Where before he was an orphan that had made himself useful, now he not only had a name, but a title, and he had been drawn into a very mature position that adults around him were going to expect a great deal more from him because of his status change. Sentinel realised that he had respect now, a tentative social agreement that he had no idea how to cultivate or maintain. The colt was terrified and quite unsettled, and it had been Keg Smasherâs salute that had pushed him over into fear and uncertainty.

All of this because of a promise to a foal he barely knew, he had only desired to bring a little comfort and security, something he often wished for his own situation. His mind was troubled as he slipped into a deep dark sleep, finally shutting out the daylight which had always bothered him.

After a bit of a nap, Bucky announced that he intended to to go the lake (or the loch in the local parlance) to visit Thistle, which completely destroyed the peaceful afternoon.

Chapter 59 (warning: delicate subject matter)

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Derpy Doo Hooves refused to leave the room. She chose to stay behind and look after the foals, including Sentinel who was sound asleep, as well as Sparkler and Rising Star who both felt awkward trying to wander around the castle.

Bucky and Berry Punch had gone off for the lake. Derpy, even in her foul mood, had kissed them both before they left, and had urged them to come back soon as well as stay safe. Upset or not, the pegasus still loved her mates.

The walk to the lake was pleasant, not too long, and they passed many ponies along the way. They passed an enormous distillery along the way, several gardens, and the more well to do houses existed as one drew closer to the lake.

Bucky was watchful and protective, and Berry stayed close. Close enough to steal a kiss several times. Berry Punch seemed to be genuinely enjoying herself. She beamed as she walked, obviously feeling self confident and quite good about herself.

As they walked, Bucky wondered about what was the worst that could happen if he simply placed his hoof down and agreed to marry Thistle. He wanted to go home, but he wasnât sure if he was that desperate. He did not know how to resolve this.

Eventually, they reached the lake. There was a dock, several boats, and a few ponies managing a large catch of fish, which baffled Bucky when he saw them.

âœWhat is with all the fish? Are there that many lunar pegasi around?â Bucky asked the fisher ponies.

âœNaw,â one replied in a thick accent. âœThe soil is poor and growing season is short. Even the earth ponies have a tough time with this soil. We catch the fish, grind them up, and use them as fertiliser to bring some life to the ground,â the pegasus fisher pony explained.

âœWell, that makes sense. You learn something new each day,â Bucky said.

âœDoes your Lordship need anything?â the pegasus asked.

Bucky squirmed uncomfortably, unsure of what to say or how to protest politely. This had suddenly become awkward and uncomfortable, and he wanted to simply slip away and avoid any confrontation. âœUm, yes actually my good sir. I am looking for Thistle.â

âœOver there,â the pegasus pointed with one gnarled looking hoof at a cluster of rocks. âœSheâs a bit distraught about things.â

âœThank you,â Bucky said graciously, heading off towards the cluster of rocks some distance away, Berry Punch right beside him.

He moved through the tall grass, feeling the damp fronds tickle his sides, and he saw her. She was leaning against a rock, sitting in the water, and she lookedâ different. A long tail was visible in the shallow water and the broad fin at the end splashed occasionally.

He moved closer, and Thistle had not noticed him. He felt Berry nose him gently along his shoulder, and then the entire side of her warm body pressed against his. He took a deep breath and steeled his nerves.

âœThistle?â Bucky inquired.

The filly had been crying. It was plain to see. Her cheeks were stained with tears and her eyes were bloodshot. She froze, looking terrified and embarrassed.

âœPlease donât swim away. We came to talk,â Bucky said in a gentle voice.

âœHave you come to make me your wife? Otherwise, there isnât much to talk about,â Thistle replied in wounded tones.

âœThistle, we need to talk about that,â Bucky stated gently, sitting down at the waterâs edge.

Berry sat down beside him and smiled a friendly smile.

âœI donât understand what there is to talk about,â Thistle muttered, a pout upon her face, her eyes threatening more tears.

âœWell, if this is going to happen, we need to get to know you first,â Bucky said in a patient voice. âœI love both of my wives a great deal, and I try very hard to get to know them and understand them. They are more than just a warm body for me.â

Thistle turned and looked Bucky in the eye, looking hopeful.

âœWe know nothing about you,â Berry said. âœEverything starts with friendship, if it starts at all.â

âœSo courtship is required,â Thistle huffed.

âœWell, yes,â Bucky replied.

âœNot needed. If you were to ask, Iâd lift my tail for you right now,â Thistle said suggestively. âœWell, Iâd need to take on pony form first.â

Berry covered her face with a folded fetlock and sighed.

âœAnd I would refuse you,â Bucky returned, shaking his head slowly. âœI cannot love somepony that is not my friend.â

âœI donât understand you,â Thistle replied, her voice flooded with confusion. âœIf I was to offer myself to you right now, you would refuse it? What if she wasnât here? Would your answer be the same? Or would you be on my back, grunting and huffing and puffing away?â

âœI am simply not like that,â Bucky stated.

âœI donât believe that for a moment,â Thistle retorted angrily. âœI bet if she wasnât here making you mind your manners, youâd already have me pinned face down in the grass pounding away on my backside-â

âœComing here was a mistake. I think I will be going. I thought I could deal with you as a somewhat mature young adult. I see now that I am dealing with a foal. This marriage is not going to work out,â Bucky interrupted as he rose, turned, and then began to walk away.

Berry rose to her hooves and began to follow her husband, looking back sadly one last time at Thistle and shaking her head.

âœDonât go! I am sorryâ look, I am a bit of a foal, alright?â Thistle called.

âœAnd now, you are just telling me what I want to hear. Good bye Thistle.â Bucky replied as he continued to depart.

âœHow do I fix this?â Thistle cried in panic.

Bucky halted so abruptly that Berry Punch bumped into his backside. âœWhy do you want to fix this exactly?â Bucky asked in a slow voice.

âœNo, noâ no please donât do that. I already know that any answer I give will probably be wrong because I tend to stick my hoof in my mouth. I just know that this needs to be fixed, please donât make me give reasons,â Thistle begged.

Bucky resumed his retreat, looking straight ahead.

âœThis needs to be fixed because I am the one with the problem!â Thistle cried, pulling herself out of the water and shifting form. âœOh feck, Iâve stepped in the shite now, Iâve gone and offended what might actually be a nice stallion,â she said in a hitching voice that was dangerously close to becoming sobs.

Bucky halted, and this time Berry Punch did not bump into him. He remained pointing ahead, while Berry turned and regarded Thistle.

âœThis needs to be fixed because I wanted to keep my expectations low so I wouldnât be hurt again. I donât want to be hurt again,â Thistle begged and confessed. âœIf I donât expect anything from you then it wonât hurt as much when I get nothing from you! I am a stupid filly and I had a bad experience and I still feel really ashamed about everything and it makes me feel better to simply say that stallions are the problem rather than admit my own faults.â

Bucky turned and looked at Thistle.

âœPlease give me a chance to fix this!â Thistle begged.

âœI am here and I am listening,â Bucky replied.

Thistle collapsed into the grass and began to sob. Berry, casting a glance at Bucky as she did so, went over to comfort the fallen filly. She sat down near her and began to stroke her gently with a hoof.

âœWas that necessary?â Berry asked Bucky.

âœYes,â Bucky replied. âœI thought it was.â

âœLook Thistle, just let it out, alright?â Berry said, still stroking the filly. She shot another glance at Bucky, raising her eyebrow.

Watching Thistle, Bucky moved closer and sat down.

The filly cried in the tall grass for quite some time, a combination of shame, raw emotions, and hormones all forming a perfect cocktail to cause a breakdown. Her belly was already showing and it was easy to see on her slender frame.

The mare and the filly had a bonding moment, both of them sharing something in common, even though the mare didnât know it at this particular moment.

âœHow many months?â Berry asked, hoping to distract the filly from her grief.

âœI am about five months along,â Thistle mumbled as she sniffled.

âœYou are awfully small for five months, you are such a little thing,â Berry soothed, her hoof still rubbing Thistleâs side. She moved her hoof downward and stroked Thistleâs belly. âœWhere is your father? Donât you have a herd parent around?â

âœMy mother never wed. She had several stallions she had foals with though, trying to increase the odds of another kelpie. There were some upset wives, but all was forgiven in time,â Thistle replied. âœI am not sure who my father is,â she squeaked embarrassedly.

âœIf you join us, you must never be unfaithful. If you are, if you break his heart, I will end you, next to last kelpie or not, do we have an understanding between one another as mares?â Berry asked. âœAnd you would want me to end you, because I would be merciful about it. You donât want to know what Derpy might do. I donât want to know what Derpy might do, but seeing as how she is a pegasus. I suspect she would give you flying lessons.â

Thistle nodded, her eyes wide. âœHe must be really good to you for you to love him so,â Thistle commented in a hitching series of gasps.

âœGood. We understand one another now,â Berry said.

âœWas that really necessary?â Bucky asked.

Berry shot him a glance. âœMare business. Between mares.â

âœYouâve scared her to death,â Bucky said, actually feeling sorry for Thistle.

âœAnd she was right to do so,â Thistle said. âœYou are a good sort, and she just proved it.â

âœI donât understand what just happened,â Bucky sighed.

âœMare business. Between mares,â Berry repeated.

âœStop saying that!â Bucky snapped, now slightly annoyed.

The unicorn sat and and the mares laid together in the tall grass, a bewildering amount of confusion going on. One male trying to understand the opposite sex, two adults trying to understand a filly in the throes of understanding her new sexuality, a filly who was trying to understand the foreign points of view of two mainlanders with very different ways, and one very confused and terrified earthworm that believed that if it bored through the ceiling, it would drop and fall away from the earth forever, falling into endless sky.

It was a bit more sentient than the average earthworm, as could happen from time to time in this amazing world full of magic and wonder.

âœThistle, I am going to ask you some very blunt and awkward questions,â Berry stated, her tone settling into a nearly flat monotone.

âœAlright,â Thistle agreed.

âœYou are still rather small. Does rutting hurt you?â Berry asked.

Thistle blushed, her face now a searing pink. âœYes. It did. There was some trouble. But I managed as you can see.â

âœThistle, I am a grown mare, and it still stings quite a bit when he takes me,â Berry confessed. âœSo I canât imagine what it might do to you.â

Bucky felt his ears catch on fire and his face felt uncomfortably hot.

âœOhââ Thistle gasped, her eyes wide.

âœIt isnât so much the length, it is more about the width. I have some serious concerns, and Iâd imagine that Derpy does as well. You are still very small and petite,â Berry explained. âœNeither one of us wants to see you hurt. Also, no matter what you do, Derpy is going to continue to see you as a filly and she is going to treat you like she is your mother. That is what she does.â

âœI am not some little filly though. I am going to be a mother myself,â Thistle retorted. âœAnd I donât want to be treated like a foal!â

âœI know, which is why I am trying to talk to you like an adult and give you the respect you deserve,â Berry replied.

Thistle calmed and a few fresh new tears rolled from her eyes. âœThank you, I guess. I didnât mean to be angry.â

âœYour little foalish mood swings and behaviour are going to trigger Derpyâs motherly instincts,â Berry warned.

Thistle started to spit out an angry retort but caught it at the last moment, biting down upon her lip and squirming in the grass.

âœThatâs better,â Berry praised, still stroking Thistleâs belly.

âœThat was hard,â Thistle confessed.

âœDo you have any interest in mares?â Berry asked. âœDerpy and I also take an interest in one another. All three of us engage in physical love with each other. It isnât exactly traditional, but if you want to be a part of this, you need to understand what you are being drawn into, if it happens.â

âœI donât know anything about mares. Iâve only been with a stallion a few times, and it was the same stallion, and to be honest, I am not sure what the big deal is about rutting because it hurt a fair bit and it was over in just a few moments,â Thistle admitted.

Berry smiled gently but said nothing. Buckyâs ears folded down against his skull and he found something interesting to stare at out on the lake, watching the sun sparkle on the water.

âœHave you ever orgasmed?â Berry asked bluntly.

Bucky choked, he was certain that at any moment his lungs were going to be coughed out, he could feel them in his throat. There was a painful feeling of constriction as he attempted to hack out his own lungs.

âœWhatâs that?â Thistle asked.

âœAfter rutting feels good for a while, you get tense, and then it feels really good, you shudder, you shiver, and you shake. And you want it to last forever,â Berry patiently explained.

âœNo, nothing like that happened. I just wanted it to be over because he kept drooling on my back and hurting me,â Thistle replied, closing her eyes, unable to look at Berry Punch.

Berry Punch sighed heavily and said nothing in reply.

âœIt actually hurt quite a bit. The skin caught and pulled. Everything felt really dry and rough. I endured it because it needed to be done. He said it was a mainland custom that if we shared drinks together, weâd be married,â Thistle whispered, her voice full of shame. âœThe first time tore me open a bit, and there was bleeding. The second time really hurt, but in some ways it was a little easier. After that, it just hurt a lot so I just thought about having foals and I managed.â

âœYou know Bucky, I say we go looking for this arse pimple once all of this is over,â Berry growled.

âœAlready thinking about it, having some very unpleasant thoughts that I am ashamed to admit that I am enjoying immensely,â Bucky said, keeping in mind what Bon Bon had said about honesty. âœReally terrible thoughts they are too. Thoughts involving hot lead and a funnel with a very narrow tip that can be inserted into a very tiny hole.â

Thistle looked horrified.

Berry pulled Thistle up into a hug and squeezed her tightly, her eyes shut tight. âœAnd that is why I love him more than life itself. I love his light, but I appreciate his darkness. It is well directed. He draws strength from his darkness, not weakness.â

âœThatâs horribleââ Thistle gasped.

âœSo is what was done to you,â Berry said, still squeezing the filly.

âœYou would do that for me?â Thistle asked.

âœIâd imagine he would. Heâs very protective. Sometime, I will tell you a story about what he did to rescue two foals. Before anything can happen between us, you need to understand why we love him,â Berry replied.

âœI donât understand,â Thistle said, fresh tears beading up in the corners of her eyes. âœMares are for chores and breeding. You are very strange Bucky. I donât understand you at all.â

âœI donât understand myself half of the time,â Bucky replied, looking down at Thistle who was held in Berryâs forelegs. For a brief moment, he felt a stirring of emotion looking at her, mostly pity. But there was something else as well, and he didnât know what it was. It felt awkward feeling it though, and he was forced to turn away.

âœWhere do you stay?â Berry asked.

âœIn the lake,â Thistle replied. âœSometimes I stay in the castle with Keg Smasher and he lets me sleep in a pile with his foals.â

âœIsnât it cold?â Berry asked.

âœCold water doesnât bother me. The cold up here on dry land does though,â Thistle answered. âœI donât like the cold. Which is why I stay in the lake.â

âœWell, one night soon, I want you to come out of your lake, and join us for a meal. And donât worry, I will make the pegasus behave,â Berry Punch invited and ended with a promise.

âœWe should be heading back Berry. Derpy will be worrying by now. Her nerves arenât well. Thistle, stay safe,â Bucky said.

âœI agree, Derpy is frazzled already. Thistle, it was nice to meet you and get to know you a little better,â Berry added.

âœIt was nice to get to know both of you. If you donât mind, Iâd like to walk back with you so we can talk just a little more,â Thistle replied.

âœI think that weâd like that,â Bucky said, looking down at the two mares in the grass. âœAt least you and Berry seem to be getting along. I donât know what to do with Mama Bird.â

Chapter 60

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A very nervous unicorn took a deep breath, and then opened the door. Inside, a pegasus instantly took notice of three ponies standing in the doorway and raised her head, her ears perked as her body went through the process of threat assessment.

A plum coloured earth pony blocked the retreat of a pale blue pony and herded her into the room, very much against her will, and the grey pegasus mare protested, shrill winnies and nickers filled the room.

The unicorn shut the door the behind him and magically secured it, looking very grim as he did so. This was perhaps, extreme measures, but this whole situation was nothing but extreme measures, and these were extreme measures of his choosing.

âœHello,â Sparkler greeted, nodding her head slightly to Thistle.

âœHello again,â Rising Star added, joining Sparkler in greeting.

âœBucky, unlock the door,â Derpy demanded.

âœNo,â Bucky retorted.

Derpy glared angrily at her mate, first one, and then the other.

âœHello,â Thistle said nervously, her hooves clattering skittishly on the stones.

âœThistle, this is Sparkler, that is Rising Star, Dinky, PiÃa Colada, Derpy, and you know Berry and I. Heâs hard to see, but Sentinel is over there,â Bucky said, pointing as he spoke each name.

Dinky wormed free of her mother, slid off of the mattress, and slowly crossed the floor to meet the kelpie. Dinky stood before Thistle, looking up, while Thistle looked down. The two ponies regarded one another.

âœYouâre cute as a button,â Thistle said, leaning down and briefly touching noses.

Bucky watched, his lips pressed together in a flat line as Derpy visibly relaxed just a tiny bit from watching the display. He said nothing, but shot a glance at Berry Punch, who gave him a faint nod and an ear twitch in recognition.

âœYou have fangs. Like Sentinel,â Dinky observed.

âœWe both eat fish,â Thistle said, plopping her plot down upon the stone floor and continuing to look at Dinky.

PiÃa broke free from Derpy, bounded off of the bed, and joined Dinky.

âœYou have plants growing off of you,â PiÃa stated, her eyes wide as she studied Thistle up close.

âœI am part plant,â Thistle said. âœMy presence cleans the water and makes it fit for life. Just like how pegasi manage the weather and earth ponies manage the land.â

âœSo where did all of your kind all go?â Dinky asked, her brow furrowed with curiousity.

âœI donât know,â Thistle replied. âœMy mother told me stories that at one time, there were many of us. And then, something changed. The waters which had always been our home began to kill us, and none of us knew why. Eventually, we became what we are now. Few in number.â

âœThat is very sad,â PiÃa said. âœThe lake in Ponyville became polluted when a bunch of junk and trash was thrown into it. It had to be cleaned up and now it is clean water again.â

Thistle looked very thoughtful at the foalâs words. âœClean water is a precious gift.â

Bucky, feeling a bit more at ease, went over to a sofa and settled in, flopping out and getting comfortable on his side, his head resting on the arm of the sofa. The fabric was weird and somewhat scratchy. He still felt pleased with his efforts.

Berry climbed onto the sofa with Bucky, reclining over his back half and making herself comfortable. She sighed. This was turning out much better than she had hoped. Buckyâs idea had seemed solid. Derpy was attracted to those who were good with her foals, and Thistle, unaware of what had been planned, had been performing nicely.

The pegasus mare seemed a little more relaxed now, watching the kelpie and her foals. She shifted her weight, Sentinelâs head was still under one of her wings, and the lunar pegasus was sound asleep.

âœI bet pollution had something to do with why all the kelpies vanished,â Sparkler said. âœMost ponies have no idea how much influence they have on the environment. Or how easy it is to contaminate the water. Iâve been studying natural water filtration in some of my geology university prep classes.â

There was a click from the door as Bucky released his magic from it. Thistle eyed the door, eyed Derpy, and did not move.

âœPlease stay,â Derpy invited. âœJust for a little while.â

âœDo stay,â PiÃa begged.

âœPlease?â Dinky asked.

âœYouâre fascinating,â Rising Star observed. âœYou are part pony, part plant, and a shapeshifter that lives on both land and water. A holdover from the old days when ponies adapted to deal with the land, the weather, and even the water, trying to bring harmony back to the world when it was full of chaos.â

Sparkler looked at Rising Star who was sitting on the sofa beside her, raising her eyebrow. âœYou keep surprising me,â she muttered.

Rising Star blushed and fell silent.

âœHow do you cook the fish when you catch them?â Dinky asked.

âœI donât,â Thistle replied.

âœOh yuck,â PiÃa gasped.

Thistle threw back her head and laughed. âœYon lunar pegasus loves raw fish. Donât hurt the poor ladâs feelings,â Thistle responded after she had a good laugh.

âœHow did you get your name?â PiÃa asked.

âœI earned it not too long before I left to the mainland. I killed one of the shadow wolves,â Thistle replied. âœA thistle is a pretty plant but they can hurt you. Keg Smasher named me himself after the fight with the wolf. I heard it creeping into a fisherponyâs cabin near the loch.â

âœYou could have been killed,â Derpy said in a worried voice. âœOne less kelpie in the world. Why take so much risk?â

âœFoals,â Thistle replied. âœAll we have of value in this world.â

Derpy nodded slowly. One eye was closed and she studied the kelpie carefully with her one good eye.

âœSo most foals donât have names until they are older?â Rising Star asked.

âœMuch easier to accept the passing or the loss of something with no name,â Thistle replied. âœSweeps, the plague, death, many are taken for whatever reason. Those that survive earn a name eventually.â

âœThatâs awful,â Derpy murmured sadly.

âœThatâs life,â Thistle stated, a hard edge present in her voice.

âœCome over here. Sit with me,â Derpy said. âœPlease?â

Thistle did as she bid, nervously approaching the bed. She stood at the edge, not sure what to do, and finally climbed up and settled in a short distance from the grey mare. She seemed surprised by the comfort of the mattress, and bounced slightly upon its surface.

Bucky watched the two carefully, his muscles tensing. Derpyâs moods were surprisingly mercurial lately. If Derpy became a bit too motherly, Thistle might take offense about being treated as a foal. Berry, still sprawled on his side, was rubbing his ribs with her forehooves, trying to make him relax. He could feel her teats pressing against the flesh near his cutie mark. It was a sensation that would have caused him to panic long ago, but now, it was oddly comforting somehow, even if Bucky could not explain why. Just the feeling of being so intimately close with somepony he loved dearly.

There was an almost painful silence in the room as everypony watched the two mares. Rising Star and Sparkler had scooted closer to one another and were watching intently, Dinky and PiÃa sat on the floor together, PiÃaâs foreleg thrown over Dinkyâs withers, and both foals watched the two mares on the bed with growing interest.

Bucky had a strange distracting thought of needing a bath.

Berry watched the two mares. Both were remarkably similar. Both were fiercely protective of foals, capable defenders, and had powerful maternal instincts that made them both exceedingly dangerous. They were both the prime examples of how ponies had survived in a world full of predators. Both had bodies remarkably well suited for violence, Derpy having hooves, powerful muscles, and flight. Thistle had a mouthful of needles and a wellspring of maternal ferocity that was probably endless.

Berry exchanged a glance with Bucky. If only they could get the two mares to see what they had in common. She felt very aware of the warmth of his body seeping into her soft feminine places as she sprawled atop him and continued to stroke and rub his side. She felt a powerful ache, a need for hearth and home, and it shuddered through her bones.

The silence became almost deafening, the room was flooded with it.

âœCome here,â Derpy said, her words firm, the silence finally broken.

Thistle crawled forward on the bed, her ears drooped downwards. She looked very submissive as she wiggled along her belly. She came close to Derpy and then froze, looking expectantly at the grey mare.

âœHow long?â Derpy asked.

âœAbout five months,â Thistle answered.

Bucky could hear the sounds of Derpy swallowing from across the room.

âœTeats sore?â

âœSome days.â

âœAny cravings?â

âœFish roe.â

âœUgh. Any kicking yet?â

âœSome.â

âœI donât hate you or anything. I want you to know that.â

âœOh.â

âœI bear you no real resentment at all. I just canât stand the thought of you going through this. I went through this when I had Dinky. I remember how hard it was on me and what it did to my body.â

âœWhat happened?â

The voice was timid and afraid, and it caused the silence to return to the room. Dinky and PiÃa abandoned their spot on the floor and climbed up onto the sofa with Sparkler and Rising Star, scooching their way in between the colt and the filly.

Berry tensed, and Bucky could feel the soft velvet hairs of her belly move as her stomach clenched. Bucky watched as Berryâs eyes closed for a moment, and her facial expression became one of extreme pain.

âœIt was very hard on me. I had a very rough pregnancy. I was bedridden near the end of it, and Berry Punch and Amethyst Star had to nurse me along. I was completely unable to care for myself.â

âœThat sounds bad.â

âœIt was. And it got worse. When I finally gave birth to Dinky, I couldnât get her out. She was small, but my pelvis just wouldnât allow it. There was nothing to kill the pain. They had to smash my pelvis and break it so I could give birth to Dinky. What was that called again Berry?â

âœSymphysiotomy. There wasnât time to do it the usual way either, they had to smash and go. Usually, they cut through a lump of cartilage and spread the pelvis that way. With Dinky so close to dying and Derpy as well, they had to take something blunt and crack her open to allow Dinky to slide out.â

Dinky curled against her sister and began to cry softly, burying her face into Sparklerâs side as she did so.

âœI wanted to die. You could hear Derpy screaming all over the hospital. It sounded like they were butchering her,â Berry said in a low pain filled voice as she shuddered from the memories. âœYou could hear every blow as they tried to crack her open and it took several.â

Derpy flinched, her ears splaying out sideways as Berry spoke, the memory clearly too much to bear.

âœMares die in childbirth all the time here,â Thistle announced in a hushed whisper, fear thick in her utterance. âœMany die from a lodged foal. I donât want to die. I need to live,â she whimpered.

âœWe need to get you away from here and to a place that has a good hospital,â Derpy said solemnly.

âœI canât pay for something like that,â Thistle stated.

âœWe can pay for something like that,â Derpy said. âœSomehow.â

âœBut you donât want me joining you,â Thistle returned.

âœI am willing to look after you, but I cannot allow you to join us, not in that way,â Derpy retorted.

âœI am not willing to be looked after! Iâve already done been diddled, you canât undo that. And Iâll not go with you so you can just treat me as a foal. Iâd rather take my chances here on the Isle than to be looked at as some kind of pitiful orphan!â Thistle shouted.

Sentinel awoke with a snort and pulled his head out from under Derpyâs wing. He looked around, blinking, trying to make sense of what was going on.

âœYou are still a foal! You are just a little filly! Just like I was! You need somepony to look after you just like I did, you have no idea what you are in for!â Derpy shouted, her temper finally breaking.

âœIâve watched so called fillies even younger than I am bear foals and raise families! So called foals still in their single digit ages! Youâre an outsider, you have no idea what life is like here! The moment you have your first heat you are just another mouth to feed and it becomes time to marry you off!â Thistle snapped.

Derpy jerked her head back, her eyes wide with horror and shock.

âœMy heat came later than most. Do you know how worried I was, when I reached the age I did and no heat came like the other so called foals as you call them? Little mares all around me, my own age, starting families and mine came late! The panic I felt! It was horrible! I cried every night thinking I was broken!â Thistle exclaimed.

Thistle thrashed on the bed and began to make her escape. Derpy lunged, tackling her, catching the filly in her forelegs, mindful of Thistleâs swollen belly.

âœNO!â Derpy commanded, pinning Thistle down. Thistle kicked and screamed, struggling against the much larger mare, but Derpy was much stronger. She let the filly kick and scream against her, until finally her rage was spent and the filly submitted to being held. She bawled while holding still, and Derpy wrapped he wings around her.

âœLeave us,â Derpy said.

Nopony moved, still in shock at the whole scene.

âœGET OUT!â Derpy bellowed. âœRIGHT NOW!â

Sparkler was the first on her hooves and pulled Dinky with her, Rising Star tugged gently on PiÃa, and then the four of them shuffled for the door.

Sentinel sprinted after Sparkler and her group.

Berry slid off of Bucky and made for the door, and Bucky followed after her as a moment later, casting a final glance at Derpy.

âœDerpy, please, love, be gentle,â Bucky said.

âœWe need to reach an understanding as mares,â Derpy grunted. âœNOW GET OUT!â

Bucky left, the last one to leave the room. He closed the door behind him.

Chapter 61

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The herd of ponies evicted from the room found themselves in the dining hall for lack of any better place to go. They sat around a table, looking at one another, still in shock over what had taken place.

Nopony quite knew what to say about what had taken place, and nopony was quite sure what was taking place in the room right now between Derpy and Thistle. It was a matter between mares and potential future fellow-wives.

Dinky and PiÃa both were sniffling a bit and on the verge of tears, the conversation and the sudden eviction piling on to the emotional overload currently in progress. Sparkler and Rising Star both did an admirable job of trying to comfort the foals, something Bucky noticed and was pleased about.

And it was during this moment that a young colt came up to Bucky and informed him that he was wanted in Keg Smasherâs throne room. Bucky was hesitant to leave his herd behind, but did so at Berry Punchâs reassurance that everything would be fine.

And so Bucky left, his squire right behind him.

Keg Smasherâs throne room was sparse. There was a large stone throne at one end, the back of the throne broken off and left laying on the ground behind the throne. Keg Smasher sat on the floor beside his throne, and beckoned to Bucky to sit beside him on the other side of the throne.

Bucky did as he was bid, and Sentinel sat beside him, looking very nervous. He had never been allowed in here before. The young colt trembled from jittery nerves.

âœI could use your help,â Keg Smasher requested. âœThis part of the job is as boring as shite, but it must be done. I am going to open the court for the afternoon. I need my new armiger and his noble squire.â

Hearing Keg Smasherâs words, Sentinel nearly fainted.

âœAlright, let us get this bloody business over with!â Keg Smasher shouted.

The door opened and the first group came forward, bearing a bundle wrapped in grey cloth upon their shoulders. Keg Smasher groaned when he saw it, and his wings fluttered fitfully.

âœOh gobshite,â the giant pegasus grumbled.

The group came forward, near the raised dais where the throne was, stopped, placed the bundle on the ground, and then unwrapped it.

At one point, it had been a foal. The front half was almost intact, but the soft flesh of the belly had been opened, the insides had been torn out, and the soft flesh around the haunches had been devoured. The hind legs were missing completely. All of the colour was gone from the foal. It was grey, as though all colour and life had been sucked from it.

Sentinel heaved, but to his credit, he did not throw up.

Bucky looked down upon the bloodied mess, his emotions seething, knowing that could be one of his foals. A long wisp of smoke trailed from his horn.

âœSomething must be done about the wolves.â

The earth pony speaking looked frightened and angry, and looked up at Keg Smasher hopefully. He gestured at the remains.

âœI know you are doing all you can, but more needs to be done. We thank you for doing what you have, but this is the fifth foal in as many nights. A pegasus found his remains for us after he had been dragged away. Alive.â

âœI am doing all I can do,â Keg Smasher admitted. âœTrouble is everywhere. I have every patrol out and guards are posted everywhere. There just isnât enough to go around.â

Bucky winced, realising that Keg Smasher had offered an army to Celestia had she needed it. An army that his own ponies desperately needed. An army offered as a gesture of goodwill and good faith.

âœAre there any unicorns out assisting?â Bucky asked.

âœNo,â Keg Smasher replied. âœWe lost a fair number. Afterwards, the decision was made to keep what few unicorns we have safe within the castle walls. They are too precious and too needed to allow them to potentially be killed.â

âœI understand,â Bucky said, his gaze falling once again upon the foalâs remains.

âœWhat do we do?â the earth pony demanded.

âœI donât know!â Keg Smasher bellowed.

âœI will go out tonight,â Bucky offered. âœI will need a contingent of brave ponies who are not skittish or spell-shy about combat magic. I donât mean the common zap spell either. I donât know if it will do much good, but it is a start. Maybe we will be able to kill a few.â

The earth pony looked at Keg Smasher and then at Bucky, warm gratitude visible on his face. âœThank you, good sirs, we thank you,â the earth pony said, bowing.

âœYon scary pegasus mare of yours is going to kick the shite out of you,â Keg Smasher grumbled to Bucky. âœIn my entire life, I have never met a mare I was afraid of. I donât know how you live with her. Sheâs gonna geld you for this.â

âœProbably,â Bucky agreed, as the ponies gently rolled the remains back up in the cloth and exited the chambers.

âœUgly business, Iâm getting tired of seeing all these dead. Next!â Keg Smasher shouted.

A single pegasus came forward. He was missing an eye.

âœWe need more workers,â the pegasus requested.

âœUgh, here we go,â Keg Smasher grumbled, rolling his eyes.

âœThe construction of the guard tower is going badly. Weâve had accidents. Some of the workers have been injured and killed. The tower itself is in danger of collapse, before it is even finished,â the pegasus reported.

âœOh shite,â Keg Smasher swore. âœIâll see what I can do. Ponies are scared to leave home right now and go and work because the wolves.â

âœThe tower should help with the wolves. You need to order ponies to go to work. Even if they donât want to,â the pegasus stated. âœHarder measures may be required.â

âœI donât want to do that,â Keg Smasher said. âœIâll try offering higher wages and Iâll see what thatâll do.â

âœThank you sir,â the pegasus said, bowing as he spoke. He turned tail and left.

âœOh shite and buggery, this whole damn Isle is a shitepile, and I have to fix it somehow. I made promises to these ponies,â Keg Smasher moaned.

Another group of ponies entered, led by a stout earth pony stallion. He slowly approached Keg Smasher and bowed his head low in respect.

âœWe have communications from Princess Mi Amore Cadenza of the Crystal Empire. She desires to take advantage of the current turmoil and get in the ground floor of a new trading venture,â the earth pony announced.

Buckyâs ears perked. This was interesting.

âœLetâs hear it,â Keg Smasher said.

âœPrincess Mi Amore Cadenza of the Crystal Empire, as a currently neutral party, wishes to secure our means to produce fine liquors and begin trade with the Crystal Empire, before Princess Celestia of the House of Two Lights secures our entire production. She is concerned that Princess Celestia will take everything we have to offer once it becomes available,â the earth pony explained.

Keg Smasher guffawed for several minutes, until tears finally began to stream from his eyes. He wiped his face with his wing and scratched his barrel with a forehoof.

âœShe is offering one million gold bits as an incentive to merely think about her offer, no strings attached. More bits forthcoming once we begin production,â the earth pony said in a flat voice.

Keg Smasher stopped laughing. âœFeck my arsehole, what?â he asked in disbelief.

âœOne million gold bits sir. As a good faith gesture, so that we might consider her favourably and deal with her in the future. No strings attached,â the earth pony stated. âœThe bits will be arriving with a contingent of armed guards, via chariot airlift.â

âœOh shite, I feel lightheaded,â Keg Smasher muttered.

âœPrincess Cadance really wants a chance at the booze before her aunt gets it all and doesnât share,â Bucky said, shaking his head in disbelief. âœPrincess Celestia is going to have fits if she doesnât get the ground floor deal.â

âœSend communications to the Empress of the Crystal Empire immediately. We accept,â Keg Smasher instructed. âœUse the bits wisely of course, but begin constructions of more distilleries right away. Send communications to Princess Celestia that once this war is concluded, we can match whatever we send to Princess Cadance barrel for barrel.â

âœAre you sure we can do that sir?â the earth pony asked.

âœWe need to make it happen, we have to survive. The only thing we have of value is our ability to make the best liquors in the world. Our good name and fine liquor is all we have to offer, and this shiteheap of an Isle needs to be modernised. If we donât make this happen, weâre buggered,â Keg Smasher replied. âœSo make it happen!â

"Yes sir, I will work to that end sir,â the earth pony said.

âœOh, and Sodbuster, do something for me,â Keg Smasher requested.

âœWhat is that sir?â Sodbuster answered.

âœGive yourself a fancy title of some kind. Prime Minister of Liquor Exports or some such shite,â Keg Smasher instructed.

âœYes your Lordship, I shall come up with something clever sir,â Sodbuster replied.

The earth pony and his group retreated.

âœYou know Keg Smasher, a thought occurs to me,â Bucky said, thinking out loud.

âœWhatâs that?â Keg Smasher asked.

âœYou no longer have to be Laird. I do believe a fancier title is in order. Something more befitting your new status. These Isles are yours now. Free and clear,â Bucky said.

Keg Smasher did not reply. He leaned on the broken remains of the stone throne, his face pinched with extreme worry and stress. âœI donât want these Isles to be mine,â Keg Smasher confessed now that the throne room was empty.

âœWhat?â Bucky asked.

âœI donât want them. I want to fix them, but once this war is over, I intend to petition Princess Celestia to become a province of Equestria. I intend to keep ruling, to see my dream played out, but I want these ponies to have a better life than I could ever hope to give them. Princess Celestia will heal this place. She will make it a good place to live. I merely want the privilege of being her servant,â Keg Smasher explained.

âœI see,â Bucky said. âœSo then, we need this war to end to make all of this misery stop and to allow for reconstruction to take place.â

âœDonât even try it, I am not backing away from my position about Thistle. I have you where I want you. As my armiger, if I canât end this war, then I use you to clean up these Isles. You will spend the rest of your life here, serving these ponies, and trying to give them a fraction of the life they could have if Princess Celestia set about trying to fix this place,â Keg Smasher said shrewdly.

âœFair enough,â Bucky answered. âœI will work to help you while I am here.â

âœSo, any idea for a title friend?â Keg Smasher asked.

âœDuke is appropriate and well suited,â Bucky replied. âœIf you intend to serve under Celestiaâs rule. A Duke would exist just below her authority.â

âœThat doesnât sound too bad,â Keg Smasher said.

âœI would back you in the court of peerage,â Bucky stated.

âœYou could do that?â Keg Smasher asked.

âœI was born with that right. Never saw fit to use it, never studied to use it, never saw much need for politics or getting involved in the political wrangling like my family did. I studied magic. I know what my rights are, or at least have a very general sense of what they are. I have these rights and privileges and mostly, I donât give a damn about them,â Bucky answered. âœI would help you though. You seem fair enough.â

âœYou wouldnât say that if you really knew me,â Keg Smasher said sadly. âœSomeday, Iâll tell you a story that will make you hate me,â he promised.

âœThese are trying circumstances. I doubt I would hate you for anything you have done.â Bucky said. âœDesperate times call for desperate measures.â

âœWe shall see. Squire Sentinel, you lucked out and found yourself a good noble to serve. Never take it for granted,â Keg Smasher said.

âœYes sir,â Sentinel replied, holding his head a little higher.

âœAre you learning anything here Sentinel?â Bucky asked.

âœYes sir, I am sir. I have learned that these ponies need hope. And you and Keg Smasher together are in a position to give them what they need,â Sentinel replied.

âœSmart lad,â Keg Smasher quipped. âœSend in the next supplicant!â

Chapter 62 (warning: unpleasant and unsettling)

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When the afternoon of politics was finally over, Bucky did not find his herd where he left them. He trotted back to the room where they were staying, hopeful to catch a nap so he would be fit to serve this evening. Sentinel was beside him, his head held high as he went down the halls.

âœSentinel, I want you to look after my foals while I am way this night,â Bucky said.

âœShouldnât I be with you, sir?â the colt replied.

âœNo. I need to have somepony I can trust looking after my foals if I am going to leave tonight. And I know you will keep to your word,â Bucky answered.

âœYes sir, of course sir. I will keep them safe and comfort them to the best of my ability. What do I do about the grey mare sir?â Sentinel asked.

âœDerpy? Humour her. Keep a brave face on and allow yourself to fall prey to her maternal whims. I am sure it isnât so bad,â Bucky replied.

âœIt is very nice actually sir,â Sentinel said with a yawn. âœBut she needs to understand that I am your squire and not your foal,â he added.

The unicorn smiled broadly but said nothing.

âœThis is what I wanted. A life with meaning and purpose. I had hoped to become a member of Lunaâs guard, but this is better. Serving a knight and being a squire. That is a lot better than just being a guard and standing around doing nothing. For my kind, this is a high honour. Well, what little bit I know about my kind. Honour is all we have really, my kind, or at least that is what I know from speaking with others like me that live here on these Isles. I am content to spend the rest of my life serving you and watching over everything you hold valuable,â Sentinel said, his voice wavering with barely contained emotion.

Buckyâs smile died and he stopped mid-stride.

âœDo you mean that?â Bucky asked, looking down at the lunar pegasus colt.

âœYes sir, I wouldnât say it unless I meant it. I am not thick headed and stupid. I am already aware that the grey mare that heads your herd wishes to keep me as her foal. And while that would make me very happy, I am not content to simply be her foal. Like all of my kind, I desire meaningful service. I am defined by my function and my ability to serve,â Sentinel replied.

âœI understand, Squire Sentinel,â Bucky replied, looking the colt in the eye. âœI accept your service. In a meaningful way. One that does not simply humour you. I took you as my squire with the intention that I would claim you as my own once we left these Isles. I did not understand the importance of this to you. I ask that you forgive me. Now, I shall accept you as my squire and I shall keep you as my squire, and give you all of the respect due for your service.â

âœSir, thank you, sir,â Sentinel answered solemnly. âœIt is all I have ever wanted, sir. We live to serve.â

Bucky once again took off at a trot, Sentinel at his side.

He pushed open the door and peered inside. There was no sign of Thistle. Several ponies peered at him curiously as he stood in the door. It was silent. Uncomfortably silent. Bucky was getting sick of uncomfortable silence.

âœDamn these uncomfortable silences,â said Bucky while stomping his hoof.

Berry Punch began to giggle.

âœWhere is Thistle?â Bucky asked.

âœWe reached an understanding. And she left,â Derpy replied.

âœWell?â Bucky asked.

âœWell what?â Derpy answered.

âœWhat is the understanding?â Bucky queried.

âœNone of your beeswax,â Derpy said dismissively.

Bucky heaved a sigh.

âœShe didnât tell me either, and I am a mare. Youâd think Iâd be privy to mares only business,â Berry interjected, looking Berry annoyed.

âœLook, I need a nap. I am going on patrol tonight to do something about the wolves. I donât want to be lectured. I donât want protests. Not one word. Not after what I saw today. One word, and I do mean one word of protest, and I will drag the lot of you to a funeral so you can see why I am doing this. Do I make myself clear?â Bucky stated, looking around the room.

There were several nods, except from Derpy.

âœCome over here and lay with me, so I can hold you,â Derpy invited. âœI need you.â

Bucky, saying nothing, walked over to the bed and flopped out beside the grey pegasus mare, who promptly began to snuggle him, rubbing her face up and down the side of his neck. A moment later, Berry was on the bed with both of them, holding them both close.

Soon, Bucky was completely buried under a pile. He felt warm and smothered. He realised that he would have to leave all of these ponies that he loved later, and he hoped that he would be able return to them by morning. It was a thought that frightened him as he slipped off into slumber, Pinaâs nose pressed tightly against his own.

Buckminster Bitters prepared himself for his grim task. He had eaten as much food as he could during dinner, trying to make sure he had the raw energy reserves he would need for long night full of the potential for spell casting.

He had kissed his family goodbye, each and every one of them, and had left final orders for Squire Sentinel that Dinky and PiÃa were to remain within wing-reach at all times during his absence.

He now sat in the gatehouse, waiting on the others who would be in the patrol this evening. He took a deep breath and calmed himself. The memory of the partially devoured foal was still fresh in his mind, and Bucky wondered what had caused the body to turn grey.

In the distance, a wolf howled.

Bucky had never fought shadow creatures. He knew only a little bit about them. He was well versed in magical theory, and creative applications of magical force, but actual combat magic, while he knew it in theory, was not something he was particularly skilled at. He hoped that what he did know would be of use.

More importantly, he hoped that he did not die.

He worried faintly about his problem with his horn, the smoking and arcing was a bad sign, he was channeling far too much power when he had to bring his full strength to bear. He didnât know what was wrong, but it worried him to no end. Having a split or cracked horn here on the Isles would be fatal, and he knew it.

He took another deep breath and heard the sound of a large group of ponies approaching. He looked up and saw Keg Smasher and ten other ponies, all pegasi.

âœOch, damnit, shown up by my own armiger, who just had to be here early. Youâre a right bastard you filthy git,â Keg Smasher grumbled.

Bucky raised an eyebrow and stared at Keg Smasher.

âœI have some of my best ponies here with me. All of them hard. All tried and true veterans, and not at all spell shy. Every one of them has a least a dozen kills owed to their name. Wolves, wyverns, those hideous things that crawl out of bogs and devour flesh, these ponies have faced it all, you can trust them Buckminster,â Keg Smasher promised.

âœJust keep in mind that I canât fly,â said Bucky, looking around at the battle hardened pegasi. âœI know a wing spell, but I donât have much practice with it.â

âœWe need to get you practiced then your Lordship,â one of the pegasi replied.

Bucky winced.

âœAlright lads, we move. Stay together, weâll make a long patrol around the loch, around the distant farms and fisherpony cabins where most of the trouble seems to be taking place. We need to help those that feel the most threatened and neglected,â Keg Smasher instructed. âœKeep a tight formation around Buckminster. We keep him alive, and I think heâll keep us alive.â

âœWE SERVE!â the patrol pegasi shouted in unison.

All around them was howling.

The patrol has moved together in formation around the loch and had encountered nothing. Farmers and fishers peeked out their doors at the passing patrol, looking relieved. Some saluted. It was just as important to be visible as it was to keep the wolves away. Ponies had to see that something was being done.

The pegasi moved with a pace that Bucky was unaccustomed to and he struggled to keep up. Keg Smasher seemed tireless, the giant pegasus moving ever forward and bellowing in his loud baritone voice, announcing their presence. Keg Smasher had no visible signs of fear. He walked with his head high, his wings folded confidently to his sides, and his ears straight up and erect.

The night was full of howling. All around them it could be heard, a terrible cry that carried with it magical fear that worked best upon the weak willed and simple minded. Bucky could feel the magical compulsion from each howl.

The wolves were feeding even now, gaining strength as they fed upon the fear all around them. Bucky thought of PiÃa, the feeling of her wet backside, and a low boiling rage filled his barrel. The idea of something feeding off of or feeding on one of his foals made him murderous.

âœWeâll be back to the castle by midnight,â Keg Smasher announced. âœAnd when we do, we will begin again on this route for another patrol. Double duty this night.â

All around them, the night was alive with sounds. Growls could be heard. Howls. Low cries. The patrol had halted and stood in formation, looking for black shadows against the dark of night, eyes straining and peering.

Bucky had his horn ignited, but the light seemed dim somehow. It illuminated only a scant circle all around him and little else. He could feel the fear within him, panic, terrible panic, was back again. He struggled to deal with the surge of emotions.

Now was not a good time for a panic attack.

Keg Smasher growled, it was a terrible sound that would make Cerberus, the Guardian of the Gates of Tartarus, tuck his tails between his legs and cower.

Bucky struggled to make more light. Shadows needed darkness to be strong.

There was a gurgling cry as one of the pegasi suddenly had his throat torn open by a swift moving shadow, a dark nightmarish blur that seemed more shadow than substance. Keg Smasher gave a cry and the patrol braced for combat.

The wolves came in large numbers.

They were only vulnerable for a brief moment as they became solid enough to do physical harm and then slipped back into shadow as they retreated.

Much to Buckyâs horror, his first volley of spellfire shot right through the shadowy shapes and did nothing. The wolves, sensing a much greater threat, moved to eliminate it, winking in and out of the darkness, slipping past the protective circle of pegasi all around Bucky.

When savage teeth clamped down upon Buckyâs haunches just below his cutie mark, he could feel the life being drained from him, and his light began to falter. Much to his horror, Bucky now understood why the foal had turned grey.

A pegasus stomped Buckyâs attacker, causing a large chunk of flesh to be torn free as the wolf was ripped violently away. Bucky staggered and tried to summon more light, a cry of pain escaping his lips.

âœDamn you all!â Keg Smasher growled, locked in combat with several wolves, hammering them while they gnawed upon his flesh.

Another set of teeth locked onto Buckyâs other hind leg, and then a set of jaws clamped down on one of his forelegs. He could feel himself being pulled down. He angled his head and shot a fiery blast downward. The wolf winked out and was gone, only to reappear a moment later and deliver another savage bite.

Another set of jaws locked onto the tender flesh just past his ribs on his left side.

Bucky felt himself being pulled down. He kicked and struggled, refusing to go down, and then the side of his face exploded with pain as a wolf clamped down upon his skull.

The fangs tore through his flesh and into his right eye, blinding him. Bucky felt the flesh being torn away from his skull as the wolf worried him, shaking him back and forth, trying to break Buckyâs neck.

Very much against his will, Bucky felt himself being pulled down. More jaws clamped down into his flesh. Each of his legs were being pulled in a different direction. All around him was the sound of terrible violence.

The wolves were many and had been prepared.

Bucky realised in some part of his fading mind that something was chewing on him, not even waiting for him to die. He felt something on his hind leg being torn free. Something was eating him. Bucky realised that a part of his body was now inside of another creature, lost forever. It was a terrible realisation that he had no means to deal with, no method to cope with.

Something deep inside of him broke.

There are light spells, and then there are the light spells cast by surging type four unicorns with faulty wiring. A massive burst of ultraviolet radiation exploded from Buckyâs horn, turning the night as bright as day, instantly giving every pony around him a terrible sunburn under their thick shaggy pelts, including Buckyâs own skin, and causing many of the wolves to burst into flames, light being their only real weakness.

Bucky stood on wobbling legs, his own blood pooling beneath him, his horn now a small miniature sun. All around him, wolves burned. Some ran. Others writhed. Some tried to escape.

They were not allowed to escape.

Bucky snatched them in his levitation, pulling them back. Some, he grabbed by each end and pulled until they were physically torn in half. Others, he simply crushed with unimaginable amounts of force.

The pegasi around him, those still living, went to work killing those that Bucky had not dealt with.

Yelps and whimpers filled the night, the sounds of lupine pain.

Dozens of dead wolves lay all around them, and of the ten ponies that had gone on patrol, three remained, looking battered and battle weary.

Finally, Bucky collapsed, his light fading.

âœWe need to get back!â Keg Smasher said. âœBefore more come!â

Spreading his bloody and tattered wings, he took to the air, hovered, snatched up Buckyâs fallen body, and took off for home.

âœGet some irons in the fire!â Keg Smasher shouted as he dropped Buckyâs body onto a long wooden table in the dining room. âœDamnit, somepony do something! Get bandages!â

Bucky lay on the table, unable to see anything from the right side. He was only vaguely aware that Keg Smasher was standing on the table above him. He could feel his own life ebbing out as his blood poured over the table and puddled onto the floor.

âœGet those irons HOT!â Keg Smasher barked. âœAnd find something clean to scoop the remains of his eye out with!â

Bucky groaned. More than anything, he wanted to see his family one last time.

âœLad, this is gonna hurt something awful,â Keg Smasher whispered into Buckyâs twitching ear. âœI wonât lie, this is going to be worse than the wolves. This is gonna be the worst moments in your entire life, but if we can stop the blood gushing out you will probably live. Think of your foals lad. Think of your mares.â

Bucky nodded. He wanted to live.

âœGet rope!â Keg Smasher shouted.

Bucky drifted in and out of reality, hearing shouts and cries all around him. He wasnât quite sure what was going on, or why rope was needed, he wasnât sure of anything really. He mostly felt sleepy.

He felt something rough brush up against him and a tight painful tugging. It hurt. Bucky just wanted the pain to stop.

âœFeck us all if he decides to kill us for what we are about to do. I hope heâs out of magic,â Keg Smasher warned.

Bucky came to the groggy conclusion that he was being tied down to the table. He couldnât figure out why. Nothing made sense right now. He tried to vomit, and found that he couldnât. His ripped open side spasmed painfully as his belly contracted.

âœWhashappening?â Bucky mumbled.

âœShush lad, this will be all over soon enough. Bite down on this,â Keg Smasher said, jamming the frayed end of a rope into Buckyâs mouth.

Bucky gagged and tried to spit the rope out. He couldnât. He felt his whole body tense when he saw Keg Smasher holding a white hot length of iron with his wing which was getting closer to his face. Bucky tried to shake his head no, tried to scream, tried to squirm away, a surprising amount of vitality suddenly coming back into his body.

And then, Keg Smasher vanished into Buckyâs blind spot.

A second later there was exquisite agony in the side of Buckyâs face as the white hot iron was pressed into the ragged gash, cauterising the wound and searing his flesh. Bucky felt himself gag once again, which caused a terrible pain in his side. A moment later the iron was pressed into his neck, sending another jolting pain throughout his whole body. He kicked and squirmed against the ropes to no avail. He tried to summon his magic and failed.

The smell of burning flesh and hair filled the room. Screams filled the dining hall. Not just from Bucky, but from others with extensive injuries as well.

Bucky kicked and struggled against his bonds as he felt something pressing into his eye socket and begin to extract the remains of his eye. A gagging cry exited from around the rope. He could feel the hot irons being pressed into his legs again and again.

The hot iron being pressed into his side, just behind his ribs, was the worst of them all. The pain was too much and finally, Bucky slipped into a peaceful void, his torment over. Each bite was carefully cauterised, to end the bleeding and to prevent infection.

Keg Smasherâs torment was only beginning. He was still bloodied from hoof to ear, his own wounds needing to be attended to, many of them needing to be burned shut as well, and he had the grim task ahead of letting Buckyâs family know what had taken place.

Keg Smasher felt as though he would rather face the wolves once again, genuinely afraid of the pegasus mareâs wrath. While the wolves had not killed him, there was a chance that the stormy little pegasus might.

âœFeck me!â he cried in frustration, hating how everything had gone wrong.

Chapter 63

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Bucky awoke and immediately wished that he hadnât. Without meaning to, he cried out and woke the others around him. He was wrapped in a bandages and a blanket, and there was warm bodies all around him. The room didnât feel nearly as cold as it had the first morning. The blankets and the thick mattress made a difference.

âœSay something Buckminster,â Berry said in a groggy whisper.

âœShite,â Bucky mumbled.

âœYou gave us all quite a scare,â Berry whispered.

âœI need to go,â Bucky said.

âœIâll help you,â Berry said.

Bucky felt the blanket being pulled away. His skin felt sunburned, and every inch of his body was feeling some kind of pain. He also couldnât see out of his right side. A hazy memory slowly crawled into his brain settled in.

âœMy eye,â Bucky whined.

âœYou and Derpy share something in common now," Berry said.

âœCan you get up?â Derpy asked.

âœI donât know, just donât touch me, please, everythingââ the effort of speaking wore Bucky out and his words faltered.

âœSparkler, we can do this,â Rising Star said, sliding out from under a blanket he was sharing with Sentinel.

Sparkler rolled out of the bed and landed on her hooves, her teeth almost instantly chattering from the sudden cold.

For Bucky, the cold felt kind of good against his fevered skin.

Bucky felt himself lifted up gently from the bed and set down carefully on his legs. Even in his addled state, he was impressed. Sparkler and Rising Star worked together perfectly. And didnât do anything bad like pulling him in half. Their magic held him steady while he tested his ability to stand.

He took a shaky step and then another, everything aching and throbbing. On the third step he cried out and nearly fell, the only thing keeping him aloft was Rising Star and Sparkler, who stood on either side of him, horns glowing.

âœWant us to carry you?â Rising Star asked.

âœNo,â Bucky muttered.

Berry gave him a once over. His bandages were surprisingly blood free. There was only a bit of spotting here and there. She didnât want to see what was under the bandages though. Keg Smasher explained what had been done. It made Berry feel sick.

âœYou did a brave thing. That is why I married you.â

Derpyâs voice was low but steady. It was filled with sadness, but also pride. The mare looked miserable, her ears drooping, one eye closed so she could get a good look at her mate. âœI am not upset with you,â Derpy mentioned. âœDonât get me wrong. I am upset. Just not with you.â

Bucky made his way behind the privacy barrier and stood over the bucket, Rising Star and Sparkler on the other side. There was a distinctive sound of urination and a long low moan.

Nopony said anything.

Bucky quietly shuffled back towards the bed, Rising Star and Sparkler keeping him steadied and some of the weight off of his hooves.

As Bucky was lifted and eased into the bed, there was a knock at the door. Berry went to answer, wondering who it could be. She trotted to the door and pulled it open, and Thistle came pushing past her.

Thistle froze.

âœWhat happened?â she demanded.

âœBucky went wolf hunting last night with Keg Smasher,â Berry explained. âœWhy are you here?â

âœThat is between Derpy and I,â Thistle said trotting to a sofa and flopping down. âœThis is a comfortable place to rest me arse.â

âœDonât ask. Mare business,â Derpy said.

âœAre you going to be okay? Is he going to be alright?â Thistle asked.

âœKeg Smasher said he should be fine. His eye is gone,â Berry answered.

Thistle hissed in sympathetic pain.

âœI am in pain, but to be honest, I think I felt worse when my horn was cracked,â Bucky admitted. âœI will survive this. I will endure and be made stronger. The loss of my eye bothers me though.â

âœLots of ponies around here missing eyes,â Thistle said. âœJust look around.â She rolled over on her back, getting comfortable on the sofa, and began to rub her belly.

PiÃa cautiously crept out from under Derpyâs wing and approached Bucky. She did not touch him, but lay down close beside him, shivering in the cold. A moment later Dinky abandoned her warm place and joined PiÃa and the two huddled together, both of them looking at their father with wide sad eyes.

Sentinel moved forward on the bed and quietly pulled Dinky and PiÃa to him. He wrapped a leathery wing around each one and hugged them close. âœI did as you asked. I watched over them. When PiÃa cried last night, I was there to comfort her,â Sentinel reported.

âœThank you,â Bucky said, falling over and resting his head on Derpyâs back.

âœI didnât cry much,â PiÃa protested.

âœNo, you didnât,â Sentinel confirmed.

âœI am going to need help after breakfast. I want to take Dinky outside. There is going to be a magic lesson today,â Bucky said.

âœNo,â Derpy said.

âœDonât tell me no,â Bucky grumbled. âœI can lay in the grass on a blanket and be comfortable, and still teach Dinky. But I am going to need another strong unicornâs help, and Dinky is the only one.â

Derpy grumbled wordlessly.

âœNothing that will put Dinky in danger,â Bucky promised.

âœFine,â Derpy grumbled. âœBut I am coming with you. We do this together or it doesnât get done at all.â

âœFair enough,â Bucky groaned. âœI wonder what is for breakfast.â

The sun was warm upon the ponies laying on the blanket in the grass. Bucky was made comfortable, a few pillows had been brought along, and he lay looking at Dinky with his remaining eye. Rising Star and Sparkler sat together, looking attentive, hoping to learn something. Derpy sat with PiÃa, and Thistle sat close to Derpy. Berry had wedged herself by Derpyâs side. Sentinel stood nearby flapping his wings for strength.

âœI made a terrible mistake last night Dinky. Do you want to know what I did wrong?â Bucky asked.

Dinky nodded slowly.

âœI allowed fear and doubt to get the better of me. I lost control. I let emotion hamper my ability to keep myself and others safe. I failed as a unicorn,â confessed Bucky, his voice filled with pain and anguish, both physical and mental.

Dinky blinked a few times and and let her fatherâs words sink in.

âœI failed to live up to my own teachings,â Bucky admitted. âœI did not keep myself grounded and under full control. I allowed fear to get the better of me. Now do you understand the importance of keeping your resolve?â groaned Bucky, his words having a dire effect upon their intended listener.

âœWe canât always be perfect,â Dinky replied in a small voice.

âœNo, Dinks, we cannot. But when we slip up, sometimes there are consequences. I was weak and bad things happened. Now I get to suffer and deal with the cost of my failure,â Bucky explained in an agony filled voice.

âœI understand,â Dinky said. âœEven if I donât mean to do it, if I make a mistake as a unicorn, and fail at my task, I can be hurt or others can be hurt.â

âœYes Dinky. I used to be a lot less emotional. I was cold inside before I met your mother. Now, things have changed. But I want to feel things now. I need to find a balance between the two,â Bucky stated.

âœYes daddy, I understand,â Dinky said, nodding her head.

âœI am going to test your emotions Dinky,â Bucky announced.

âœHow?â Dinky asked.

âœI want you to summon some bees for me Dinky,â Bucky replied.

âœNO!â Dinky replied, her eyes immediately flooding with tears.

âœDinky, my foal, please, be calm. See, this is what I mean. I will make sure that everything is fine. I am almost certain that they will not attack anyone. You are not angry at anyone. Just restore yourself to calmness, take some deep breaths, and summon me up a few bees,â Bucky instructed.

âœNo, I donât want to, the bees are bad,â Dinky whined.

âœNo Dinky, the bees are not bad. Not if you can control them,â Bucky said in a dry raspy voice.

Berry grimaced at the sound of Buckyâs voice. âœIâll be back,â she announced, getting up and trotting off towards the castle. For a moment, Bucky turned his head so he could see her out of his left eye and watch her go.

âœSquire Sentinel, go with her,â Bucky said.

Sentinel took off, flapping after Berry without protest.

âœNow Dinky, summon me a few bees,â Bucky instructed.

âœYou can do it Dinky,â Sparkler encouraged.

âœTo bee or not to bee, that is the questionââ Dinky announced.

Thistle lifted her head and watched the foal with great interest, her bright eyes focused on Dinky, her ears perked forward. Derpy turned and watched Thistleâs reaction, keenly aware of Thistleâs interest in her foal.

Dinky closed her eyes and her horn ignited. She took a few deep breaths, her barrel rising and falling, and the air filled with the distinctive smell of a type three charging up their magic, the air reeking with ozone.

âœSomething doesnât feel right,â Dinky warned, her voice wavering.

Derpy tensed, wondering if Bucky could react in time. His body was currently in bad shape, but he still had powerful magic.

A single bee popped into existence and then lazily buzzed off to a nearby patch of clover, zigzagging through the air.

âœI donât understand,â Dinky gasped. âœThat doesnât feel like last time, this felt all wrong,â she said in a confused whine.

âœLast time, you surged. This time, you had control,â said Bucky, turning his head so he could look Dinky in the eye.

Dinky closed her eyes again, and took a few deep breaths. Another bee popped into existence. âœI canât believe I was afraid of that,â she muttered.

âœCan you do anything with the bees?â Bucky asked.

âœLike what? Tell them what to do?â Dinky asked.

âœMaybe try seeing through their eyes?â asked Bucky in return.

âœOoooh!â Dinky gasped. âœI donât know, how do I do that?â

âœLots of concentration,â Bucky replied.

âœThatâs awesome,â said Sparkler, âœDinky can have spies.â

âœYeah, I can spy on you and catch you and Rising Star when you two are all smoochy smoochy!â teased Dinky, goading her sister on.

âœWhy you little monster!â Sparkler said, lunging for Dinky.

Dinky took off through the grass with her sister right behind her, and PiÃa broke away to join the chase. The adults watched the fillies gamboling in the grass. Dinkyâs bees popped out of existence. Bucky thought about calling Dinky back, but decided to let her play for a while.

He was content to rest his head and watch his foals. He was dizzy with pain.

Thistle took off, trotting after the foals, giggling as she went.

âœWhat went on between you and Thistle?â Bucky asked.

âœAn agreement,â said Derpy cryptically.

âœUgh, you are impossible,â groaned Bucky with a sigh of pain.

âœSo are you,â Derpy retorted. âœHow are you holding up? Donât lie to me!â

âœI am in pain of course. Everything hurts. I feel a surprising amount of clarity though. I donât know why. My mind, even though it is foggy with pain, it is like my thinking is really clear,â Bucky explained.

âœBeing near death can do that,â Derpy said. âœI had a spell when Dinky was born. My body was near useless, and pain made my mind a bit funny, but I had some very clear thoughts. I thought about motherhood and the sort of mother I wanted to be.â

âœYou may be a good mother, but you are a better wife,â Bucky said, complimenting the grey mare.

âœI know,â Derpy said in a matter-of-fact tone.

âœAnd so modest,â added Bucky with a grumble.

âœBerry is coming back. Looks like she has a jug perched on her back. And Sentinel has a pitcher I think,â Derpy announced, peering with her one good eye. âœI am going to chase my foals,â she announced, and then bolted suddenly, giving hoot and a holler.

Bucky couldnât help but notice that one of the ponies Derpy was chasing was Thistle. He realised he was probably making more out of it than there really was, but he still couldnât unthink the thought once it popped into his head. Derpy was beautiful when she ran, her wheat coloured mane and tail streaming into the breeze as she bounded. He continued to stare at the group for a long while.

âœI am back and I have brought mead. Sentinel has brought water. Bucky, drink some mead to dull the pain and drink lots of water. Sentinel can get more, he doesnât mind,â Berry said. She studied Bucky in the sunlight, looking him over.

She sat down on the blanket, unstoppered the mead jug, and poured the frothy golden liquid into a battered metal cup she had brought with her. âœDrink,â she commanded, hoofing the cup over to Bucky, who took it with his magic.

The first sip made his head swim.

âœSentinel, go play with the others, Iâll keep an eye on Bucky,â Berry said.

âœYes maâam,â Sentinel replied, bounding off to chase the others after he set the water pitcher down.

Bucky emptied his mead cup in one long pull, and started to feel a little better. Once Dinky had a good run to get her excess energy out of her system, he planned to continue to the magic lesson. For now, it was pleasant to watch his family play.

Chapter 64

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Derpy did not understand what was going on. What she did understand was that powerful magic was taking place. She could feel it thrumming in her bones and coursing over every hair on her body. She felt a mild bit of concern for her foals and Rising Star, all of whom who were held aloft in her husbandâs magic. He was doing something to them, something called communing. Buckyâs horn arced and smoked as he held several unicorns aloft in the air. For a moment, Sparkler opened her eyes. They were blank and white. Bucky had explained that rather than explain he was going to allow them all direct access to his thoughts.

Derpy had trouble understanding the magic taking place or the dangers involved, but she did trust in her husband implicitly. Whatever it was he was doing, he had felt it was necessary and that the risks were worth it. As she watched, a shower of sparks poured from Dinkyâs horn and the fillyâs mane stood on end. Dinkyâs lips were moving and unheard words were being murmured as Dinky endured whatever it was she was experiencing.

The earth all around them vibrated with raw unbridled power. Sparkler gave a faint cry and Derpyâs heart lept into her throat. Her breathing increased rapidly. But when she saw Sparkler, she calmed. Sparkler looked overwhelmed with joyful emotion, hugging her own barrel and her hind legs kicking the empty air as her horn glowed brightly.

✅ ley linesâ of courseâ I bet if I go where the ley lines crossââ

The words were cryptic and held no meaning for Derpy. She scowled. She didnât like not knowing things. It was hard to watch over and protect from things she did not know. This is one aspect of being married to Bucky that bothered her. Her husband had mysterious moments where she felt completely shut out and she knew that no amount of explaining would ever make her understand what was going on here.

Derpy turned her gaze over to Thistle and PiÃa, watching and studying their interaction. Thistle seemed to genuinely enjoy foals and didnât mind that there was an overly curious earth pony filly foal pressed against her belly. Derpy felt her muscles tense briefly as Thistle gently took PiÃaâs head and guided it to a different place on her stomach. PiÃaâs face was full of wonder, and the foal had completely forgot the magical spectacle going on right behind her. Derpy felt Berry nudge her and the two fellow-wives shared a glance with one another. It seemed Berry was also watching the interaction between Thistle and her sister.

A stream of bees shot out of Dinkyâs horn and began to dance and form strange shapes and symbols in the air, things that almost looked like letters. Dinky wiggled and kicked as though she was being tickled, and the foal began to giggle while suspended mid-air. Something was clearly happening.

Sparklerâs horn flared, a painful flash of piercing near blinding light, and a shower of gemstones shot from her horn. Berry moved to scoop them up, the earth pony very concerned and curious. Type twos were not supposed to be able to manifest physical objects and this was puzzling. Over a dozen gems of different sorts littered the ground and Berry carefully collected them all.

Somehow, Sentinel napped through the entire thing, snoring away with his head turned and tucked under one wing.

✅ making sunstonesââ Bucky muttered cryptically. ✅ she could be a type three if I could just make her channel more magicââ

Rising Star let out a surprised cry and fiery globes shot from his horn. They flew through the air, tiny burning meteors, shooting stars, and landed in the grass some distance away, exploding on impact with a dull thud and an orange gout of flame.

✅ if I could figure out how to change itâ I wonder if I can fix itââ

Derpy shot a worried glance at Berry Punch.

✅ I could fix what is wrong with meâ what is holding me backââ

There was no way for Derpy to know that Bucky had tapped into a nearby ley line directly, something only a type four could do, and that the universe was speaking to him directly, filling his mind with infinite possibilities and whispers of all things probable.

Type threes occasionally tapped into ley lines and went stark raving mad on first contact with the higher planes of energy in the universe. It was a constant worrying problem and something all type threes were warned about in school. The average mortal mind had trouble seeing forever, understanding infinite possibilities and infinite probabilities.

✅ this is what Princess Celestia did with Twilight Sparkleâ removed the blockage and allowed her mind to expand to full potentialââ

âœHeâs off somewhere, probably somewhere reserved for alicorns or something,â Berry Punch muttered in a Berry alarmed voice. âœWhat is happening to our husband?â

âœI donât know, but it is starting to scare me. I want to slap him out of it, but I am scared what it might to do him and my foals,â Derpy admitted.

✅ ascensionââ

There was another ejaculation of gems from Sparkler and Berry rushed to pick those up as well. The whole area thrummed with magic. It made the eyes water and made every hair on the body stand out.

Dinkyâs bees continued to form strange sigils and symbols, things almost like letters. Spiral shapes. Crosses. A sideways number eight. Dinkyâs lips were moving rapidly now, she was babbling unheard words to herself. The bees suddenly vanished.

And then, it was over. The magic ceased. Dinky, Sparkler, and Rising Star tumbled to the ground, all of them blinking rapidly and trying to recover their senses while Bucky went limp on the blanket.

âœBucky?â inquired Derpy in a worried whisper.

The stallion was asleep, his breathing deep and steady.

âœWhat happened?â Derpy asked.

âœI donât know, my mind is fuzzy and my horn feels itchy,â Sparkler replied.

âœMy brain feels like it is full of cotton and my horn feels hot,â Rising Star muttered.

âœI feel fine, like I am being tickled all over,â Dinky reported, running over to PiÃa and joining her. âœHi Thistle,â Dinky said, leaning on Thistleâs belly with PiÃa.

âœNuts,â Derpy swore.

âœYou summoned a fortune in gems,â Berry said to Sparkler.

âœSunstones,â Sparkler said, rubbing her head. âœSunstones,â she repeated. âœWe need to hold on to those. Father needs them. I donât understand how I summoned those. Father needs sunstones.â

âœBerry, are you sure that mead was a good idea?â Derpy asked.

âœMead is ALWAYS a good idea,â Berry answered. âœBesides, look at him now, he is comfortable and not in pain. Something happened.â

âœMy head is full of fuzzy thoughts that I canât quite remember, like a dream or something,â Rising Star said, collapsing into the grass and rubbing his head with both front fetlocks. He rolled in the grass, feeling the cool fronds against his pelt.

âœBees know how to find and follow ley lines,â Dinky said. âœI donât know what it means, but I can remember daddyâs voice inside of my mind sorta. He was talking to us. We were all talking together inside of each otherâs heads.â

âœYeah,â Sparkler agreed.

âœIâm hungry. I hope lunch is soon,â Rising Star muttered. âœEven if it is an awful lunch. I am too hungry to care. Food is food and a unicorn has gotta eat.â

âœI hope Bucky is alright,â said Derpy, the worry in her mind making her scowl unpleasantly as she spoke. Derpy felt annoyed because she didnât have a foal handy to mother. Both of them were with Thistle, trying to feel when her belly moved.

Lunch had left Bucky feeling uncomfortably full. His skin felt tight and feverish. He knew that he was rapidly approaching a deep state of intoxication as Berry Punch continued to bring him wine as well as mead to drink, and he didnât care. His earlier magical efforts had purged most of the alcohol from his body.

It had almost ended. Last night, everything had almost ended. If he and Keg Smasher had died, it would have been all over. Keg Smasher was needed for these Isles. Bucky understood that. Bucky was also deeply concerned that his family might have lost him. He sighed and took another drink, the strong wine dulling his pain. The idea that everything had almost ended remained lodged in his brain.

His skin was too soft. He was going to need tougher skin. A plan was already forming, but he wasnât sure that he had the raw skill or ability to pull it off just yet. He was going to need to find a way to protect himself from shadow creatures. He glanced at Sentinel, who lay napping, curled into a leathery cocoon made of his own wings on the corner of the bed. He was going to need some of Sentinelâs shadow essence somehow. He had the theory, just not the practice.

And then there was his assistants. He was going to need them. He wondered about the ethical and moral entanglements involved in elevating type twos into full fledged type threes. It seemed possible, in theory. He had made the leap from a type three, and a hazy understanding that he was truly a type four began to settle into his mind. He had tapped into the ley line and survived, which was all the proof he required.

What was holding him back was his horn. That needed to change somehow, but he did not know the means to do so. It was possible. Supposedly Sombra has ascended from humble beginnings and seized power the old fashioned way, through self experimentation and genius creativity that bordered on madness. He had destroyed his natural horn and replaced it with a focusing crystal.

It was a foolhardy thing to think about, and the thought would not go away. Even one simple error would be fatal in such an experiment. He would only get one try if he could even figure out how it could be done in the first place. Failure would mean his death, and his entire family would suffer for his mistake.

It bothered Bucky that the thought did not discourage him from his plans.

He heard a wet smack. He had to crane his head around to see, aiming his left eye to see what he had just heard. Berry and Derpy were kissing one another, more than just a friendly peck. Turning his head was agonising and caused the skin on his neck to pull painfully.

That was distracting.

Rising Star and Sparkler were gone, outside, exploring a little around the castle grounds while the sun still shone. Bucky trusted Sparklerâs safety with Rising Star. He was a good colt.

Thistle was in the room with them, talking to Dinky and PiÃa, answering a million questions as the foals continued to ask them. Thistle seemed good with foals, and that pleased Bucky. Derpy had warmed to him because he was good with foals.

It had to be the alcohol, but Bucky found Thistle attractive. He tried to push it from his mind, telling himself that she was far too young, but the thought persisted. Her wide pregnant belly confused him, sending messages to his brain about her status in his mind as an adult. Physically, he found her appealing and more than a little pretty. Mentally, he was repulsed by his own thoughts, desiring a filly Sparklerâs age was not within his acceptable morals. He cursed the wine he was drinking for weakening his resolve.

He took a long drink from his cup and let loose a thunderous belch that startled everypony in the room, every eye turning to look at him. He belched again to give them all a good show, poured more wine, and kept drinking.

Sentinel kicked and whimpered in his sleep, but did not wake.

The gemstones would be useful for creating sunstones. He had no intention of using them to power beer brewing. He was going to need a means to produce powerful light. Bucky took the loss of his eye personally and he was going to reclaim his pound of flesh from the creatures that had maimed him.

Off to his right, he heard the sounds of Derpy and Berry kissing again. Injured or not, in pain or not, there was a part of him that wanted to celebrate this new sensation of life with a good shagging. He knew he wasnât physically up for it and tried to dismiss the thought from his mind.

An odd struggle between elation and melancholy took place in his mind. On one hoof, he was glad to be alive. On the other hoof, he was missing an eye and was now probably hideously scarred from his injuries and the branding.

Everything hurt. He was covered in what felt like a sunburn over most of the top of his body, and his cauterised wounds had shrunk from the burning, so everything was pinched and pulled tight all over. He wondered how long it would be before his skin stretched back out and he would feel normal again. The cauterised places felt like hard knots where the flesh had simply melted together in lumps.

Tapping the ley line inspired Buckyâs sense of potential. He had to see what he was capable of, fizzling horn or not.

âœSentinel!â Bucky shouted, causing the colt to awake with a snort.

âœMmm?â the colt mumbled sleepily, lifting his head.

âœGo find Keg Smasher. Give him a message from me. I am going to help him with that tower construction project that there are some problems with,â Bucky said with a faint drunken slur. âœI am going to need help getting there though. Tell him I will be up for it tomorrow. Iâll need to be well fed.â

âœYes sir, right away sir,â Sentinel replied, leaping from the bed and dashing out the door, his hooves clattering over the stones.

âœAre you sure this is a good idea?â Derpy asked.

âœMy body is a bit messed up, but my magic is fine, and my thinking feels so clear right now, even if my mind feels a bit fuzzy from the pain. And the booze. You can come along and keep an eye on me though,â Bucky replied. He slugged down more wine.

âœSo we are having a family outing,â said Berry after she licked away some waxy drool from her lip.

âœDinky needs a practical display of what real magic is capable of and how unicorns can better assist the world provided they hold to perfect control,â Bucky stated.

âœSo you are going to build a tower? Thatâs better than taking on wolves, I canât really find any fault in that,â Derpy said. âœYou should be able to do that laying down.â

âœI canât wait to see this,â Thistle announced.

âœI plan to give quite a show. It is time for those ponies to have hope again. The fear is making the wolves too strong. We need to limit their food source,â Bucky explained.

Chapter 65

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The wagon was full of straw, a few ponies, and a very large lunch had been packed. The morning sun was warm and soothing. Bucky was already drinking, which dulled his pain. He would burn away the mind numbing effects of the alcohol soon enough. Dinky and PiÃa were in the wagon with him, and everypony else was walking. The wagon was being pulled by Berry Punch, who didnât mind a little hard work. As she plodded along, she was having herself a good think.

Without a word, Derpy took to the air, soaring and circling overhead. Sentinel also took wing, flapped a few times, managed to stay airborne for several minutes, and then came in for a stumbling landing. He looked up, frustrated, and resumed his walk by the wagon, grumbling all the while.

Thistle walked beside the wagon, occasionally giving a worried glance at Bucky, concern and worry was clear upon her face. The flower bud in her mane had bloomed, revealing a beautiful pink blossom, which smelled quite fragrant.

The scent was distracting and intoxicating for Bucky.

Rising Star walked with Berry Punch, looking sour, casting a backwards glance over his shoulder at Sparkler, who was walking and talking with a pegasus filly they had met yesterday when they were out exploring the grounds. Both of the fillies were giggling and glancing at one another, occasionally looking ahead.

The pegasus was named Loch Skimmer and she was the filly of a large family of fisherponies. She was charcoal grey and her mane and tail were the colour of straw. She seemed to be about Sparklerâs age, and both fillies behaved as though they had been friends forever.

The proposed site of the guard tower was only an hour or so walk from the castle, in a tiny hamlet whose main function was to grind grain. A windmill was located there, a collection of cottages, an inn, and two main roads crossed there. The area had been hard hit by wolves, and the population of millers had suffered tragic losses.

As she walked, Berry questioned the purpose of the guard tower. The shadow wolves, being shadow, could phase right through walls. They could teleport through solid objects. She wasnât sure how defensible a tower would be, other than to serve as a barracks for resting soldiers. She supposed if it was kept well lit on the inside that it would be defensible.

The earth pony crested the faint rise and the hamlet was before them, the windmill visible, and a collection of small cottages and buildings. The tower could be seen from the rise as well, and even from here, Berry could see that it was crooked. She sighed. It was like everything else on this Princess forsaken isle.

The plum coloured mare looked up at the grey mare circling overhead. There was something comforting about having a pegasus watching over you. Derpy was a much better flier than ponies gave her credit for, at least in open spaces. Her lack of depth perception was what made it difficult to fly in crowded spaces.

Sentinel took another attempt at flight, getting aloft, gaining some altitude, and then gliding for a spell. As he neared the ground, Derpy swooped down, grabbed him, flew him to a much higher altitude, and then let go. The colt was able to glide for a considerable distance, Derpy staying close in case something went catastrophically wrong.

Lunar pegasi took to flight much later than solar pegasi did, relying upon a different means of flight. Lunar pegasi, while not as fast as solar pegasi in general, were far more agile fliers in the air, able to change direction on a whim, due to adapting for flight in tight tunnels and caves, the dark places in which lunar pegasi tended to live.

As they traveled, Bucky thought about his plan. Today would be a good first step to see how much magic could safely be channeled though Sparkler and Rising Star. He was going to have to talk to them about what may happen in the future. Rising Star was level headed and well motivated, Sparkler was strong willed and well focused. Both would make good type threes, though Bucky did have some concerns about the increased levels of neurosis they were sure to have. It would be a long talk, of that there could be no doubt, and much of his future plan rested upon their shoulders. He wouldnât force them, but he did plan to be persuasive.

He wondered how Celestia would react to what he was planning.

âœFixingâ Dinky to draw her up to the next tier didnât seem possible. He had deduced that. Not with her physiology. For most, it seemed that a type three was the natural pinnacle of what the common unicorn was capable of. Rising Star and Sparkler could be âœfixedâ though. It was a matter of forcing the growth of a massive number of thaumaturgical neurons by carefully inducing a repeated series of controlled surges. Type ones probably didnât have a good physiological base for the âœfixâ having underdeveloped glands and systems, but type twos had all the right stuff, just not enough of it. Tapping his mind into the ley line had shown him so much, and Bucky now had a powerful understanding of magical theory.

He thought about the school Celestia asked him to head. He could do more than teach magic thereâ he could take unicorns with worthy gifts and develop them. If something could be done about the inherent neurosis issue, the type twos so common outside of Canterlot could be developed, greatly benefitting Equestrian society a great deal. Rising Star seemed so much more leveled out as a type two than a type two found in Canterlot. What was needed was a generation of unicorns with different perspectives and cultural outlooks. He hoped he could convince Sparkler and Rising Star to be the first.

Typically, the only ones who changed the world where the ones crazy enough to believe that they could, and the recent attack by the wolves as well as tapping into the ley line had driven Bucky slightly mad.

Dinky and PiÃa remained silent, watching Bucky, realising their father was deep in thought, and not wanting to disturb him. They watched the pastoral countryside roll by as the wagon moved down the lane. Dinky watched her mother fly overhead, occasionally swooping down to grab Sentinel and give him a lift. PiÃa occasionally watched Thistle, fascinated by the kelpie, mostly by the living plants that were part of her body. PiÃa didnât understand how a pony could be part plant, but it fascinated her.

It wouldnât be long until they reached the hamlet.

âœSparkler, Rising Star, Dinky, are you ready? We are going to commune again, and I am going to channel magic through you. Are you prepared?â Bucky asked.

The trio nodded in agreement, Rising Star looking serious, Dinky looking eager, and Sparkler curious.

âœMake sure everypony stays back,â Bucky warned.

The tower was partially built, and badly done. There was a rickety wooden scaffold around it, and the large stones had been lifted into place using block and tackle, strong earth ponies pulling on heavy ropes that were run through pulleys.

The entire structure was a death trap, and Bucky intended to knock it all down.

âœWe are NOT to be disturbed, no matter what. Make sure of that,â Bucky announced. âœCome close and you WILL die,â he warned.

There was a large crowd of ponies who had gathered to watch, all of them at what Bucky hoped was a safe distance. There was the tower, the scaffold, and the enormous pile of stone blocks, far more than what was needed to build a small squat tower. No doubt they would be used for town projects later. Bucky had other plans though.

Bucky took a deep breath, feeling slightly intoxicated, his body numbed from his alcohol intake. His faint state of drunkenness would be gone, burned away soon enough. He worried about his horn, but that was a distraction he couldnât afford. He shoved it from his mind.

He took another deep breath and looked at his family. Derpy and Berry Punch sat a safe distance away, PiÃa and Sentinel in between them. Thistle, not family, not yet, sat beside Derpy. Sparklerâs friend sat near Berry.

Drawing his third deep breath, he summoned the vast magic he held within, the sort of magic he had tapped into the day he had fended off most of the city of Ponyville. His horn ignited, burning bright, and smoke rose from the tip. He extended his will, reaching out and touching Dinky. In a moment, he had her mind connected to his own, and thoughts began to spill between the two of them. He could feel Dinkyâs love for him and it humbled him, even in this state of focus. Dinky was his ground and kept his mind leveled. She was the only one strong enough to counterbalance.

He tapped into Sparkler next, and the sudden intrusion of her thoughts pressing into Buckyâs mind was jarring at first, but smoothed out. Sparkler had a natural affinity for rock, and he was going to need that. For Sparkler, the rocks would answer, and the ground would do her bidding. Sparkler was a born geomancer, she just didnât realise her full potential just yet, Bucky hoped to one day open the door for her.

Rising Star was last, drawn in carefully. Rising Star brought calm and serenity, allowing the four connected minds to function together in something resembling harmony. Rising Star had an affinity for fire, fire that could mimic the blazing atomic furnaces of the stars. Rising Star was pyromantic, something that was held in check by being a type two. One day, Bucky hoped to free the fires within and allow Rising Star to experience his full potential.

As the crowd watched, the communing unicornâs eyes all went white, and the deep magic began to happen. Gravity relaxed its hold upon the four of them, and they rose up from the ground. Bucky remained locked in the center, Dinky, Sparkler, and Rising Star moving in orbit around him, drifting slowly through the air.

Bucky tapped into the ley line once again, feeling it surge through him, speaking to him, whispering about all things probable. He began to channel the raw energy into the others, doling it out carefully, tapping into their inner potentials and drawing their strength into their own. He clung tightly to Dinkyâs feeling of love. It balanced everything out, and kept him from the sirenâs call of becoming one with the ley line. Dinkyâs voice was much louder and far more appealing. Dinky was far more important than any promise of absolute power.

Bucky reached out with his will and with an explosive roar, the tower toppled. There was a gasp from the spectators, watching all of their hard work being undone in seconds. The stones collapsed into a heap.

Rising Starâs horn ignited and a stream of raw magic lanced forward. Sparklerâs horn blazed to life and also emitted a stream of raw magic, joining Rising Starâs in a common focal point. And finally, Dinky also contributed a stream of magic that joined the others, forming what appeared to be a small blazing sun, which Bucky contained in his own magic.

The heat was immense, and it was only through Buckyâs magic that the group did not combust and be incinerated. Many ponies in the gathered crowd began to back even further away, no one able to look at the nexus of magical fire directly.

Bucky lifted two stones in his magic, feeling their heft and their weight. It would take a half a dozen earth ponies to haul these on a sledge. He took up two more and they began to orbit around the magical nexus, gaining speed rapidly.

With an explosive thud, two of the stone blocks smashed together, instantly turned to dust from the force of the collision. Then, the other two were crushed together, the dust coalescing into a glowing cloud around the magical nexus. Bucky lifted four more stones and smashed them together, and the dust cloud grew brighter and hotter.

More stone blocks were crushed, and the dust cloud became a ball of liquid rock after a while, a tiny planet orbiting an artificial star, arcs of raw magic occasionally striking the ball of molten rock. Bucky kept adding more stones to the orbit, and eventually, he didnât have to smash them together. He smashed them into the blob of magma he had created and they melted, slowly absorbed into the bubbling mass.

Soon, he has a massive mass of roiling magma. He drew some of it away, holding it in a powerful telekinetic field. He shaped it into a ring, a massive stone ring that would form the foundation for the tower.

Bucky brought his own element into play, cold. He had a natural affinity for cold that was rare among unicorns, and he had always been able to cast cold spells better than anypony else he knew. A common cloud of cold would not do here. He summoned raw elemental cold and began to cool the stone ring carefully.

He set the stone ring down upon the earth and added more stone blocks to the magma orb. He crushed the orb with immense pressure, keeping it boiling. More stones were added, and then a few more.

Again, he drew some of the mass out, this time forming a flat disc, several feet thick, and the same size as the stone foundation ring. He blasted it with cold, cooling the seething mass, which smoked, sizzled, and popped as it cooled.

He laid the disk down upon the stone ring and added more stones to the writhing red and white mass of magma, increasing the levitating lump of liquid rockâs mass so he could create the raw material needed for construction.

Sparkler was writhing and moaning in mid air, a look of indescribable pleasure upon her face. She was a unicorn in throes of magical bliss, channeling her talent, and fulfilling her purpose. To those who didnât know, her writhing seemed sexual, but the truth was far more meaningful. Sparkler was experiencing something deeply spiritual that would profoundly impact her being and change her life.

Rising Star was doing much the same, his mane and tail were now gone, replaced with burning fire that did not consume him. Bright pink flames blazed from his white blank eyes and sparks shot from his hooves.

Dinky looked happy, holding herself and hugging her own barrel, raw magic coursing through her. She giggled occasionally, and make pleasurable little moans like she did when she was eating ice cream.

More stone blocks were added to the ball of magma to continue the process of building the tower, which was growing steady.

The next stone ring was almost âCâ shaped, open at one end for a door, it was cooled slightly, and then dropped upon the base. Another took shape, and then another, Bucky adding stones even as he shaped the sections,

The sections cooled into one another, forming a solid mass of stone, the tower already taking shape, the walls were several feet thick and smooth. There was no weakness in the construction, no imperfect stone blocks that brought about instability. The base of the tower was still terrifyingly hot.

The crowd could only gasp in awe as the unicorns did in an hour what would have taken months of work. The tower, only half formed, was perfectly straight and tall, seemed impregnable in its construction, and was an impressive looking structure already.

And it continued to grow, more stone rings being added, solid stone rings now that the door had been added. Stone stairs had been molded and fused into the structure. Narrow windows had been added near the higher levels of the structure. A solid stone disc had been added to form a second floor, the walls were built, and then another stone floor was added, the stairs snaking up along the walls, and small access points had been left in the stone discs forming the floors.

This was how much of Canterlot had been constructed, not so much stacked stone construction, but construction made by shaping the living rock and molding it like clay. Everypony in the crowd bore witness to the true might of unicorns. The tower would be completed before noon, even though it would take several days of cooling before it would be safe for a pony to enter.

Not content to merely build a tower, Bucky used the extra stones to build a large square stone building adjacent to the tower, a communal hall large enough for the entire hamlet to take refuge in if need be. He shaped several fireplaces, added chimneys to both structures, and left two partially finished buildings that would only need to have doors and glass windows added to complete them, as well as any furnishings that might be added.

Exhausted, he shaped the final remaining mass of magma into a statue resembling Keg Smasher and placed it upon the roof of the communal hall.

Bucky could endure no more. His horn was charred black and thick black smoke rose from it. He lowered himself gently to the earth and the others in his thrall as well. He released them, letting go of their minds, and released his connection to the ley line.

The last thing he saw before slipping into unconsciousness was Dinky looking down at him, her face furrowed with a mix of elation and concern. Before slipping away completely, Bucky was able to smile to let the foal know it was okay.

Chapter 66

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The time following the tower construction were ones of recovery for Bucky and rambunctious elation for the others. Dinky, Sparkler, and Rising Star could barely contain themselves, barely sit still, it was as though they had all eaten too much sugar. They ate, and kept eating, occasionally looking at what they had done. Even from some distance away, it felt like standing next to a hot oven.

The residents of the hamlet celebrated, and with good reason. Hope had ignited their passions, much like a spark does tinder. Genuine smiles were on their faces. For once, the future seemed to contain more than hard work, drudgery, and living in constant fear.

While Derpy was eating a cold fried oatcake, a young earth pony mare came up beside Derpy and dropped off a small pink wildflower. Derpy stared down at it for a moment, realised what it was and what it meant, and then she stared at the mare, the mare waiting in expectation. Derpy swallowed, looking around, smiled again, and not knowing what else to do, said âœthank you,â for the flower.

The mare retreated, looking disappointed. Derpy realised there were others.

âœWe seem to have become a desirable family,â Berry mused, sounding Berry intrigued by the proposal. âœDerpy, just accept it and be gracious about it. Consider their point of view about the whole thing. Think about what we just watched. I donât know about you, but I have a raging filly boner right now, I want Bucky to father my foals, and I am already married to him. They see a chance at a better life and there is going to be offers,â explained Berry as she shifted her sitting position, her filly boner throbbing like a second heartbeat.

The grey mare slumped in defeat. She couldnât fault somepony for wanting a good family, seeing as how that was all she wanted herself. Word was going to spread about what had taken place here, and would spread quickly if the landing pegasi guards were any indication. The soldiers viewed the tower and the communal hall from a safe distance, looks of awe upon their faces as they took everything in.

âœWhat is the mainland like?â

Sparkler turned to look at Loch Skimmer.

âœI want off of these Isles. The only thing that kept me here was the freedom to have to raise a family properly. And now a herd has come from the mainland to save us,â Loch Skimmer said.

âœA herd? To save you? I am not sure I understand. Bucky is the one doing the heavy lifting, weâre only helping him,â Sparkler said to her new friend.

âœHerds are one singular entity. The members draw strength from one another. Your father, look at his strength. Where do you think he gets it from? He is as only as strong as the friendships and love within his herd,â Lock Skimmer explained. âœAt least, that is how I see it. My dad says I am too smart for my own good and I think too much. Says Iâll be an unhappy mare when I get married.â

âœMy father wants me educated. He wants me to go to university. He expects for me to be smart. Bucky has been very very good to me and my mother,â Sparkler said.

âœI wish my dad was like that. He just wants me to have as many foals as possible now that the sweeps are over. He told me he is going to fix me up in a nice marriage, but I donât know with who,â Loch Skimmer said.

âœI think I know who I am going to marry,â Sparkler said in a low whisper.

âœIs he nice? I mean, he seems decent enough,â Loch Skimmer said, casting a quick glance at Rising Star.

âœHe followed me here. He didnât have to follow me. He could have stayed home, stayed safe and comfortable, but he came here. I love him,â Sparkler said. âœI plan to start a herd. I know what I want to do with my life. Well, I thought I did. For a while I thought I wanted to be a geologist. And maybe I still do, but my goal has changed. When I get back to the mainland, I am going back to school, and then I think I will help my father start his new school for magic when that happens, if he will let me. And then, I plan to settle in, gather up a few trusted mares, and begin my own family.â

âœThat sounds like a good life. Iâd love to go to school. My dad says schooling is foolishness that mares have no need of. We just need to be able to have foals and thatâs it,â Loch Skimmer said.

âœWant to learn how to read?â Sparkler asked.

âœIs it hard?â Loch Skimmer replied.

âœYou seem smart, it shouldnât be too hard. Rising Star and I need to teach Sentinel, you could join us,â Sparkler invited.

âœYou would do that for me? Iâm practically a strangerââ the pegasus filly asked.

âœYouâre my friend, and I could use the teaching practice,â Sparkler replied.

âœCould you teach my sister? Sheâs a year younger than me. Weâre the only fillies in our whole familyâ I want to do what is right for both us. There used to be moreâ but the sweeps happened,â Loch Skimmer said bitterly.

âœJust bring her,â Sparkler said.

âœHer name is Ripple and sheâs smart. She comes from a different mother, but weâre close,â Loch Skimmer explained. âœI intend to take her with me when I leave this place. Can I tell you a secret?â

âœOnly if you feel that you can trust me,â Sparkler said.

âœI do, I donât know why we say that whole can I tell you a secret lineâ I suppose it is just something we sayâ Ripple doesnât like colts. Sheâs into fillies. And sheâs going to be expected to leave home and start a family soon. And whoever marries her isnât going to care that she isnât into males. I donât want to see that happen to her. Being forced I mean. Iâve heard about it happening to other mares around here. The stallions call it âœbreaking her inâ or âœtamingâ and it worries me,â Loch Skimmer said. âœFoals are so important here that mares donât get much in the way of personal freedom. Only one thing is expected from us, and if we donât provide it willingly, we are made to do it. I understand the reasons, and I suppose I can endure it for myself, but I canât bear thinking about it happening to Ripple.â

âœThatâs horrible,â Sparkler said. âœMy mothers, I know they enjoy each otherâs company and do things with one another. I donât think I swing that way. I mean, I donât know, Iâve never tried it, it doesnât interest meâ I couldnât imagine being forced.â

âœYour mothers have a go at one another and are married to your father? There are ponies that go both ways?â Loch Skimmer asked.

âœWell, yeah. I mean, they all love one another,â Sparkler replied.

âœNever heard of such a thing. Maybe it happens around here, but I donât know anything about it. Usually the mares just share the stallion and ignore one another,â Loch Skimmer said.

âœThose three love one another madly,â Sparkler said. âœIt is the kind of love that fills me with hope. It is why I want to start a herd, even if I donât think I am into mares. I want the sort of love that is bigger than just two ponies.â

The two fillies lapsed into silence, occasionally looking at one another.

âœYou have all this freedom,â Loch Skimmer said, breaking the silence. âœI envy you. You are going to have this wonderful life and you are probably going to get everything you want.â

Sparkler did not reply, but chewed thoughtfully on an oatcake.

âœEven Thistle is going to get a chance to be happy. I think your family will do the right thing in time and take her in. Thistle is a good pony, even if she is a little odd sometimes. She saved one of my mothers from drowning after she accidentally got tangled up in a net and pulled under. There was somepony learning how to fish that day and he messed up his hold on the net. Sheâs saved a lot of ponies from drowning,â Loch Skimmer said.

âœYou could be happy,â Sparkler said. After speaking, she wiped the crumbs from her muzzle with a foreleg.

âœI have big dreams, but they wonât mean much if I am ran down and forced to marry. I am at that age and I hear about it every day,â Loch Skimmer said. âœFor all I know I might be getting introduced to my future husband and maybe even fellow-wives tomorrow. It is bound to happen sooner or later.â

âœYou would be forced?â Sparkler asked.

âœYes,â Loch Skimmer returned. âœThe fellow-wives are there to do the forcing. Iâve seen it happen. A chase happens, a herd of mares run the new mare down, catch her, then they start beating her into submission, and then the herdâs stallion takes the new mare and breaks her in if she keeps resisting. It is much easier on you if you just go along quietly and do as you are told.â

âœThatâs horrible,â Sparkler hissed. âœMy mother chased Bucky, but there was no violence involved. All three of them chased one another, and nopony was hurt. I canât imagine a chase ending in violence. Thatâs awfulââ

âœThere are not a lot of options here, which is why I want to leave. Before something happens. I want a family, donât get me wrong, but I want it on my terms, with the ponies of my choosing,â Loch Skimmer stated.

Sparkler said nothing, but her mind whirled with thoughts. There was so much she had taken for granted in her own life, as hard as it had been, it could have been harder. She wrapped a foreleg around her new friend and hugged her, wishing she had some kind of meaningful words to say.

âœLook at them,â Berry said in a quiet whisper.

Derpy closed one eye and squinted at Sparkler.

âœSparkler has a friend,â Berry said.

âœShe sure does,â Derpy said.

âœI remember becoming your friend. We had humble beginnings,â Berry said in a low voice. âœAnd now, I love you.â

âœFriendship is a funny thing. I donât think I would have made it without you,â Derpy admitted. âœI would have gave up. Might have given up Dinky and Sparkler and just tried to start over.â

âœBut we stuck together. Now weâre a family. We have Bucky. I get to spend the rest of my life with my best friend,â Berry stated.

âœStop, youâre gonna make me misty,â Derpy warned.

âœIf you give me a chance, I could make you wet instead,â Berry teased.

Derpy tittered.

âœNo, really, I need to blow off some stress,â Berry whispered. âœBucky isnât well enough to handle that. You and I need to slip off someplace and work each other over.â

âœIâm filthy. I havenât bathed in a while. Yuck, no,â Derpy protested.

âœA bath might be nice. I suppose weâll have to go to the lake,â Berry admitted. âœAnd then we can blow off steam.â

âœMaybe,â Derpy said.

Bucky reveled in his new sense of power. His plans were indeed possible. He could see that now. The tower was only the beginning. There were other things to do. Important things. He was going to have to figure out the next step. Talking with Sparkler and Rising Star would be a required step, and soon, and then the difficulty of figuring out the complex magics he would need to see his plan to fruition.

He needed to clear his head. It was time to brew some beer perhaps. Indulge in what he was meant to do, clear the cobwebs out of his mind, and take plenty of time to gain much needed perspective before taking the next step.

The tower was only the first step. Here, with protective sunstones, spells could be tested. Sparkler and Rising Star could be safe while raining down destructive magics upon the wolves. Luring them in might be difficult, but that could be figured out in time. Getting Derpy to agree to allow Sparkler to help was going to be far more difficult than fighting the wolves.

He would need Dinky to help him find where two strong ley lines crossed. That might require a bit of exploring. Dinkyâs bees were going to be immensely useful and powerful. Dinkyâs talent might just be one of the most powerful talents Bucky had ever encountered. It was a talent limited only by imagination, and Bucky was determined to make sure that Dinky was able to exploit her talent completely.

He also planned to use Dinkyâs bees to track the wolves during the daylight hours, to find out where they hid. He was going to have to teach Dinky to tap into the vision of her bees. Once found, Bucky hoped to sting the wolves and swarm them, weakening their physical bodies.

Bucky was expanding into his new type four physiology, and he felt a mischievous streak coming on.

Chapter 67

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The past few days had been a blur. Bucky kept drinking to dull the pain, and then relied upon communing with his fellow unicorns to remove the adverse effects of the alcohol. Communing was rapidly becoming his favourite way of teaching. He could share his thoughts directly, his feelings, show his experiences. Dinky was already learning a level of mastery far beyond what any filly her age should be capable of. Sparker and Rising Star were already exploring the limits of what type twos were capable of, and were hungry for more.

Which is what Bucky wanted. He had the means to offer more, and would do so in time, when he felt that they were the most open and receptive to what he had planned.

His empty eye socket felt dry and itchy behind his bandages.

The maimed stallion watched his family playing in the cold water of the loch with his remaining eye. They were bathing, or trying to, braving the cold water just to feel clean again. Thistle was in merpony form, swimming around them, and keeping the foals to the shallows. The water became deep quite suddenly past a certain point.

More than anything. Bucky wanted revenge. It was a petty feeling, something that should have been beneath him, but his eye was gone forever, and the memory of having something chewing on him was a nightmare that haunted his waking mind. The knowledge that something had torn a bite free from him and swallowed a part of him incensed the unicorn and stoked the fires of his hatred. The emotion was raw and unpleasant, and it made him shudder as he took a drink of wine.

Another memory tugged at Buckyâs mind. The corpses of the wolves. Horrible things that had been dragged back to the castle, hung on hooks in the central courtyard, and left on display. Some of them had been torn in half, ripped to pieces. Others were burnt to a crisp. There were dozens of bodies that had been brought back, and Bucky had carefully studied them all.

The corpses that were not burnt were grey and unnatural looking, drained of colour, and even the internal flesh was almost colourless. Magic lingered about them, unnatural magic that had warped them and made them what they were. Bucky had determined that after several moments of careful study. Dark magic.

It had been much to Buckyâs surprise that he had found a book about creatures corrupted with dark magic tucked into the trunk they had brought. A book he had not placed there, meaning that somepony had tucked it into the trunk, which was an intriguing thought. Somepony must have known about what he would face upon the Isles and had tried to prepare him. Bucky had several guesses, but his primary suspect was a large white alicorn.

The pegasi were out over the deep part of the loch, using nets to pull fish out of the water, flying in a carefully orchestrated dance. Bucky watched Sparkler, who was watching the group with a look of concern upon her face. Sparklerâs friend Loch Skimmer was out there with the group of fishers.

Derpy looked oddly swanlike in the water, or perhaps a duck. All four legs were below the waterline, leaving only her body above it. She swam in little circles, her tail streaming out behind her. Derpy was far more graceful in the water than she as in the air, and Bucky wondered if it had something to do with her cutie mark. Water droplets on her wings glistened like diamonds in the sun and Bucky felt a lustful longing as he watched her.

But the same could be said for both of his wives. His gaze fell upon Berry. She was busy scrubbing PiÃa, using her hoof to try and scrape away filth. As she scrubbed, her muscles rippled and moved under her taut pelt, and the water churned around her as she moved.

The water looked cool and inviting.

Bucky could take it no more. He knew he needed to keep his head out of the water due to his eye socket still healing, but the rest of him needed a bath. Using his magic, he ripped away the many bandages all around his body as he rose, and then he wobbled down to the water on trembling legs.

PiÃa shrieked a cry of alarm and then buried her face into Berryâs ribs. Sparkler choked, but did not cry out. Rising Starâs teeth were gritted together. Dinky burst into tears but said nothing. Berry sat down in the water with a splash, and clung to her sister, her eyes wide with horror. Sentinel looked pained but said nothing.

âœJust be careful, let me help you.â

The words came from Derpy, her eyes glistening with tears, but the grey pegasus contained her emotions. She splashed through the water, moving towards Bucky, trying to not look at him directly.

Thistle remained silent, not knowing what to say. She swam closer to Berry Punch and wrapped a foreleg over Berryâs withers.

Bucky turned his head and looked over the left side of his body. His cauterised wounds looked pretty bad, but did seem to be healing well. He couldnât see what the other side of his body looked like, he couldnât turn his head well enough.

âœIâm sorry,â Bucky apologised. âœI didnât mean to upset the foals,â he added.

âœTheyâre strong foals,â Derpy said, meeting her husband at the waterâs edge. âœCareful now, you arenât used to not having depth perception. Feel your way down with your hoof, and I will catch you if you stumble, but it might hurt if I do.â

Derpy stood, her wings extended, ready and waiting to catch Bucky if he stumbled. He took a cautious step downward, stumbled only slightly, found his footing, and then eased himself into the cold water.

Bucky sighed as the water cooled and soothed the hot feverish places where he had been sealed shut by burning hot iron. He pushed himself out to deeper water, standing shoulder deep, and then simply stood there, not moving, and keeping his head held up out of the water.

âœThat looks pretty awful,â Berry said softly. âœBut I donât love you any less. I donât care what you look like.â Berry paused for a moment. âœPiÃa, please donât cry. Sometimes bad things happen to good ponies,â Berry said, trying to sooth her sister.

âœYou were lucky,â Thistle said. âœScars are attractive on a mate. At least, I believe so. There is something appealing about a pony that you know can keep you safe, a fighter, not a talker.â

âœI have to agree with Thistle,â Derpy agreed.

âœIt is one thing to hear a pony talk about keeping foals and other ponies safe, it is a different matter entirely to see the evidence of it,â Berry explained. âœI find it desirable as well.â

âœIt is healing well,â Derpy said, gently planting a kiss on an area that wasnât covered in seared scar tissue. She touched Bucky with her wing, drizzling water over his back, dipped her wing in the water again, and then dribbled even more water over her mate. She continued her action of trickling water over Buckyâs back, soaking him down thoroughly, and Bucky moaned as the cool water soaked into his pelt and cooled his still burning skin.

âœMay I help you?â Thistle asked Derpy, not wanting to intrude upon what appeared to be a very intimate moment.

âœHow can you help?â Derpy asked.

âœCan I show you?â Thistle replied.

The grey pegasus mare nodded and Thistle moved swiftly through the shallows. She floated near Bucky, her fish tail swishing in the water, and she began to move her forehooves in a circle, her eyes closed and a look of concentration upon her face.

The water around her began to move, and then a round pillar of water began to rise from the surface. It moved slowly, causing every pony who observed it to gasp, and Thistle delighted in her water-shaping. She moved the mass of water near Bucky, where it loomed over his barrel, and then the tension holding the water broke, spilling a sizable mass of water over his back, causing Bucky to gasp. Bucky was thoroughly drenched now.

âœThatâs amazing,â Berry Punch breathed. âœKelpie magic.â

âœOh please do that again,â Bucky begged.

Thistle did not reply, but another mass of water began to rise. It took the shape of Thistle, resembling her head and neck, and it moved with beauty and grace. It loomed over Bucky for a moment, and then the water lost its shape, spilling out over Buckyâs back once again, the cold water washing over his skin and sluicing away dirt and grime.

âœThank you Thistle,â Derpy said.

The two ponies locked eyes for a moment, Derpy closing one eye to look at Thistle directly, and there seemed to be some unspoken communication between them. Thistle looked very serious and solemn, and after a moment, she nodded slightly.

âœIt is my place to look after the one that will look after my needs someday. How could I do any less?â Thistle asked.

Buckyâs quick mind caught the implication of Thistleâs words. The one that will look afterâ he repeated in his mind. He cast a glance at Derpy.

âœShut up. Not one word. Mare business,â Derpy stated. âœNot stallion business. I wouldnât be so rude to stick my snoot into any private arrangements between you and Barley,â the mare announced, cutting Buckyâs words off.

Bucky remained silent. He moved himself to shallower water, circled around a few times, he then folded his legs, easing himself down into the rocky shallows and laying down in the water. He sighed with contentment as he settled in and tried to get comfortable.

Dinky approached slowly, looking apprehensive, and when she was near, sat down in the shallows near her father, looking concerned. âœI know it hurtsâ how bad is it?â she asked.

âœBad enough to motivate me,â Bucky replied.

Dinky looked confused. âœI donât understand.â

âœI am going to exterminate every wolf on these isles,â Bucky explained.

âœHow?â asked Dinky as PiÃa settled in beside her and leaned on her.

âœI am forming a plan Dinks. A big plan. As you already know just a little tiny bit about,â Bucky answered.

âœThey hurt you so badly, if this happened to me, I would be too afraid to fight back,â Dinky admitted.

âœDonât say that Dinky. You have real strength. You are still a foal, so these things are bound to be scary, but do not underestimate what you are capable of,â Bucky instructed, leaning his head down a bit and planting a kiss on Dinkyâs nose. He then kissed PiÃa, who whimpered at his touch.

âœPiÃa, donât be troubled,â Bucky soothed.

âœPinaâs heart is far too gentle for these wretched isles,â Berry muttered. âœI worry her heart will harden during our stay here.â

Rising Star settled into deeper water until only his nose, his eyes, and his horn was visible. He let out a contented sigh and watched Sparkler.

Derpy resumed her swimming, keeping an eye on her foals, and enjoying her time in the water. It wasnât a bubble bath, but it would have to do until they were home. She watched Sentinel, who was out in the deep water, feeling mildly concerned. He kept diving under the water and re-emerging several minutes later, and Derpy did not understand what he was doing.

âœI want to go home,â PiÃa whined.

âœI know PiÃa,â Bucky replied. âœBut even if we could leave right now, I wouldnât leave because I have unfinished business here.â Bucky planted another kiss on PiÃa, kissing her cheek this time. âœI hope you can understand, but I am committed to a task here. I have ponies to protect. For the first time in my life, my title as an armiger means something. Back home, being born a knight is entirely meaningless, but here, here I get to make it mean whatever I want it to mean. Do you understand?â

PiÃa nodded. âœI think I do. A knight needs monsters if he is going to be a knight. Just donât get hurt any more. Doesnât a knight need shining armor?â asked PiÃa, wiping her nose with her foreleg.

âœYes my foal, a knight needs armor,â Bucky answered, a faint smile on his lips.

âœAre you going to make some armor?â PiÃa asked.

âœThat is my plan,â Bucky admitted.

âœSo no more getting hurt?â PiÃa questioned.

âœIf my plan works,â Bucky replied.

âœYou are going to do WHAT?â Berry gasped in astonishment.

âœBucky, what are you planning?â Derpy demanded.

âœI plan to show these wolves what a small group of dedicated and well educated unicorns can do. I am going to show these ponies that somepony cares about their troubles,â Bucky announced.

âœBut the wolves can pass through solid objects. How would armor help?â Berry queried, her tone Berry panicked. âœI am not insulting your intelligence, but I do hope you have a plan to deal with that fact.â

âœI do,â said Bucky, turning his left eye to stare Berry, but not not elaborating.

âœYouâ youâ I love you in ways that there are no words to express,â gasped Berry as she shook her head. âœYou are utterly mad. You BELONG in the pickle barrel with the rest of us,â she insisted. âœIf I wasnât already having your foals, Iâd want to have them right now.â

Bucky managed to give a weak chuckle.

âœI donât know if I want you doing this,â Derpy interjected. âœI canât bear to see you get hurt any more.â

âœThis time I plan to use my head before doing anything. I donât intend to get hurt again,â Bucky replied. âœI donât plan on giving them a chance to hurt me.â

âœI guess I have to trust you,â said Derpy with a tremor in her voice.

âœNo more carelessness. I do things my way now. Slow and cautious. Methodical,â Bucky stated. âœI want to watch Dinky and PiÃa grow up.â

There was a cry from out on the water and everypony turned their heads. Sentinel had a long fish flapping in his mouth, and he was swimming back to shore with his catch.

âœYuck!â PiÃa cried. âœHeâs gonna eat that.â

Bucky looked around the room. It was mostly empty, only a few things had been stored in here. It would have to do for a workshop and a laboratory. There was a squeak from somewhere as Buckyâs horn light flared, and Sentinel took off hunting.

The room was dusty and full of cobwebs.

Sentinel growled, spread his wings, pounced, and there was a shrill squeal of rodent terror. A second later, the lunar pegasus colt was slurping a tail through his lips while looking very pleased with himself.

âœGood work Squire Sentinel,â Bucky praised.

âœThis one was juicy,â Sentinel announced.

âœI am sure it was,â replied Bucky in dry tones. âœWe are going to do great things here,â he added. âœMeaningful things. This room is as good as any other. It was nice of Keg Smasher to provide it.â

âœPlus, there are snacks,â Sentinel mentioned as his ears perked, hoping for more squeaking or scurrying sounds.

âœSentinel, do you trust me?â Bucky asked.

âœOf course sir, with my life,â Sentinel answered.

âœBecause I am going to need something from youâ but I will not take it unless you give it freely,â Bucky stated.

âœWhat is it that you need sir?â Sentinel asked nervously.

âœSome of your shadow essence. You can shadow dive, like all of your kind can, correct?â Bucky responded.

âœYes sir, I canâ will this hurt sir?â Sentinel asked.

âœNo, I promise you, I will do nothing that will cause serious harm to you,â Bucky returned.

âœI seeâ what do you need my shadow essence for, and will it weaken me?â Sentinel questioned.

âœI am going to need to infuse a number of things with raw shadow essence so that the shadow wolves canât phase through them. Make a solid barrier against shadow. And no, it shouldnât weaken you. You draw strength from the dark. You might feel a little fatigue maybe, but time spent in a dark room will restore your essence. I understand that this is an extreme request,â Bucky explained.

âœThese are extreme times,â Sentinel replied. âœI will do whatever I can to contribute. I am your squire, and you work for the good of these ponies. I would be a terrible squire if I was remiss in my duties.â

âœThank you,â Bucky said.

âœDonât mention it,â Sentinel returned.

âœAnd everything I plan to do begins here, in this room,â the unicorn announced. âœThe war begins here. Once we clear it out and turn it into a proper place for magical research and experimentation, we take the first few cautious steps towards reclaiming the Isles. And I canât do this without you.â

âœI am honoured sir,â Sentinel responded.

The coltâs ears perked and his head jerked sharply off to one side. He sprang away, landed with a clatter behind a stack of wooden crates, and there was another scream of rodent agony, followed by the crunching of bones.

There was a loud belch from behind the crates.

âœIt is going to be dinner time soon,â Bucky announced. âœI hope you didnât spoil your appetite. Youâve been quite the hunter today.â

âœI was very lucky today,â Sentinel agreed. âœThe fish earlier, one small rat, one giant rat, actually, I am not sure if I am going to have room for dinner,â Sentinel admitted.

âœJust try not to eat rats in front of Derpy. Sheâ she would take it badly,â Bucky stated. âœShe is starting to become very attached to you Sentinel, and watching you eat rats would trigger her need to mother you and do what is best for you. I suspect that in her mind, eating rats would be bad for you.â

âœI understand sir,â Sentinel replied.

Bucky backed out the room slowly, the pain in his legs making him wince with each step. Sentinel followed. After the colt was in the hall with him, Bucky closed the door and magically locked it.

Chapter 68

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âœThere is no news of homeâ I feel so cut off here,â Derpy mentioned as she settled into bed. She snuggled under the covers and did her best to ignore the sounds of the wolves. The horrible wolves that had maimed her husband. Carefully, she approached Buckyâs blind side and surprised him with a kiss, her questing tongue probing between his lips and working its way around inside of his mouth. She felt funny, kissing him so intimately while her foals watched, but she needed this moment. She leaned into him, her lips pinching and giving a gentle tug to Buckyâs bottom lip. She finally pulled away with a wet sounding smack.

âœHow come you never kiss me like that?â Rising Star asked Sparkler. He froze, realising his mistake a moment too late. Five adult eyes focused on him. Two were Berryâs, two were Derpyâs, and one was Buckyâs. Out of them all, Buckyâs was the worst. Once, he had been afraid of Derpy, afraid of flight lessons, afraid that the pegasus might kill him. Now, now he was afraid of what he might live through with Bucky.

âœI smell aggression,â Sentinel warned in a low whisper to his bedmate, the two colts wrapped together under the same blanket. âœWatch out for the alpha.â

âœLookâ I love Sparkler and recent events have educated me that loving somepony is pretty much all that matters because you never know when they might be taken away from you without a single moment of notice. Of course, weâre kissing when you are not looking. It is what we do at our age. Stop looking at me like thatââ Rising Starâs brief moment of courage melted away under Buckyâs terrible one eyed stare.

âœOh stop that! Youâre threatening your own future son in law,â Sparkler scolded. She poked Berry Punch, who was beside her. âœSomeday, weâre going to be married, and one day there is going to be a lot more than just kissing going on. Heâs gonna be shagging my purple pink backside and I am going to be enjoying it… but heâs right. What if father hadnât come back that night? Would both of you truly be content with just your last kiss? Makes the ones you get now feel all the sweeter by comparison, donât they?â

Berryâs gaze dropped, her eyes cast downward, looking at the sheet beneath her. She heaved a sigh, taking Sparklerâs words into consideration. Without meaning for it to happen, a single tear beaded in the corner of her eye and rolled down her cheek, leaving a dark spot on the sheet beneath her muzzle.

Derpy closed her eyes and nodded, licking her lips briefly, thinking of the kiss she just had. She felt an uncomfortable tightness in her throat. She felt a burning sense of shame creeping up her neck.

âœMarriage?â Bucky asked after licking away the waxy slobber on his bottom lip. âœSparkler, what about school?â

âœYou know, I can be married and still go to school. I can use birth control. Barley and Princess Luna showed Rising Star and I a spell. Weâre not doing anything, not yet, heâs too scared and Iâm too nervous and I donât plan on trying anything until I am mature enough to think about it and not feel ashamed and start giggling,â Sparkler answered. âœPlus, weâve already been in a position where I had a lapse of judgement and it was Rising Star who preserved my virginity, so take that into account before you start doing the whole overprotective parent thing again.â

âœWhen?â Derpy asked.

âœThe other day. When we left to explore the grounds. We found a secluded place and I did my damndest to seduce him. He shoved me away and told me ânoâ and I was really angry with him for a while and we went and had a walk, and then we met Loch Skimmer,â Sparkler replied. âœI was conflicted. Father had almost died. It was all I could think about. What if Rising Star died out here in this horrible place and I never got a chance to express how I felt… I cried at him, I begged him, I used all of my feminine wiles, and Rising Star turned me down each time.â

Bucky settled his gaze upon Sparkler, an unknown emotion buzzing between his ears. He suddenly loved this filly a great deal. He had loved her for quite some time actually, but now, the feeling blossomed into something greater. Her honesty stoked something burning inside of him. She stared back at him, her gaze dropping away for an instant before she steeled her nerve and resumed staring back.

âœAll of this talk about sex makes me feel squirmy,â PiÃa politely interjected from beneath Derpyâs wing. She scootched and snuggled, feeling the firm flesh over Derpyâs ribs and taking comfort against the growing cold in the room. It was dark under the blanket, and only a faint light peeped in from where Derpy had her head raised, the blanket lifting as it wrapped over Derpyâs withers and crest. She felt Dinky snuggling in just beside her, both of them cuddling under Derpyâs wing together. She felt safe squished between Derpy and Dinky, the horrible howling outside didnât bother her nearly as much. PiÃa meeped when a wolf howl sounded just a little too close to the castle for comfort.

âœI am going to kill them all,â Bucky hissed, breaking a dozen chains of thought those around him as he did so. His remaining eye narrowed. He started to say something else, but Berryâs lips suddenly pressed against his, and her long orange tongue darted and flicked in and out of his mouth, distracting him from his vengeful thoughts. She moaned into his mouth as she angled her head for better suction. Bucky felt feverishâ not just in his burnt skin, but beneath it, heat rising to the surface from deep within.

Berry pulled away, leaving behind a thin strand of drool as she did so. She heaved a deep breath, rolled her eyes for a moment, and then shot a look at her fellow-wife. She felt Sparker give her a gentle nudge. The string of drool broke and two droplets fell to the bed below.

âœEach kiss could be your last,â Rising Star said sadly. âœThere are no guarantees of any future. There is only what we have now, in this moment, at this time. And at this moment, we have each other. It is all we have. It is the only measurable thing of value, the only thing that any of us treasure, the thing all of us are fighting for, striving for, hoping to preserve, We are made stronger because of the different connections of love that form the ties between the ponies in this room.â

âœHeâs a poet,â Sparkler whispered, her skin shivering from Rising Starâs well said words. She leaned over on to Berry Punch, feeling a close moment of love and kinship, the feeling that Berry was her mother stronger than ever.

âœWell, at least my future son in law is well spoken,â Bucky grumbled.

Derpy nodded. Her head then fell and rested upon her forelegs, her eyes closed, and one ear twitched as the compacted peat bale in the fireplace crackled and popped. Her breathing deepened. She had two foals under her wing, her husband near her side, a husband she wished she could press up against but didnât want to hurt him, and the events of the day were heavy upon her mind. As she began to drift away, she thought of Thistle, alone in her lake, all by herself in the darkness. For a brief second she wished that Thistle was here with them, perhaps curled up with Sparkler to keep warm, to be kept safe and secure. It was a passing thought, and Derpy slipped into slumber with a snort and a fart as her body relaxed.

Bucky listened as Derpy slipped into sleep. With his left eye, he gazed at Berry, who looked back at him. He felt Berryâs soft fetlock brush his face just below his left eye and he leaned into her touch. âœI love you,â he whispered. He lowered his own head down upon a pillow, closed his remaining eye, and waited for sleep to take him.

The brewery was large and filled with archaic equipment. Berry was right at home, but Bucky had no clue what was what. Bucky and Berry were alone together in the building, the rest of the herd back in the dining hall, Sparkler and Rising Star setting up a lesson in literacy. Before leaving, the pair had seen quite a few foals being brought to attend Sparkler and Rising Starâs impromptu class. Derpy was there with them, more than content to look after as many foals as she could. Thistle had opted to stay with the group and maybe even try learning something.

The smell of grain and beer clung cloyingly to the nostrils, a scent that made Bucky relax and feel calm. He could feel his own purpose all around him, and he looked forward to a little downtime.

First things first though. He snatched Berry in his magic and pulled her to him, her hooves skidding over the floor. He kissed her deeply, the movement making the seared gash on the side of his face ache, and after several moments of drinking Berry Punch in, he released her, leaving her feeling Berry frustrated.

He strode off slowly, stiff legged, his skin still feeling entirely too tight, looking at the equipment all around him. It was well cared for, well polished, and clearly the pride of this community. He heard Berryâs heavy breathing behind him.

âœThat isnât nice to leave a mare flustered like that,â Berry admonished.

âœI gave up on being a nice pony,â Bucky replied as he continued to explore the brewery. âœLook where it got me. Nowâ now the time of being a nice pony is over, and I get to be a bad pony for a while. I finally have a chance to let go. Release a little death magic. Perform spells that would get me locked away on the mainland. I am finally in a place to fully explore the depth of my abilities without fear or repercussions. Plus, I can do it and be a hero, rather than being called some crackpot hedge wizard. I can do very bad things and justify them by bringing about good ends.â

The earth pony mare did not reply. She paced behind her mate, watching him, feeling Berry attracted to him. Good Bucky was sexy. Bad Bucky was pure intoxicating lust. She walked just behind him, leaving a wake of well perfumed air, her tail swishing from side to side.

âœDonât get me wrongâ the only thing that truly matters to me in the long run is family. That will never change. But a little mad experimentation and the means to do so without boundaries, thatâs tempting. It is like you wanting to tie me up and have a little fun with me. I understand that Berryâ who can resist the siren call of being naughty once in a while?â Bucky turned his head so his left eye could take everything in as he spoke. âœI donât think I could tell Derpy this without feeling very uncomfortable, but you, I can tell you Berry.â

âœA wife for every need,â Berry replied. âœI like the darkness you have. It completes you. It makes you a well rounded pony. I hope you never feel the need to hide it from me. I hope our foals have some of your darkness. It will make them better ponies I believe, provided they are balanced out by some of your light.â

The unicorn inhaled deeply, taking in the scents of the brewery and the tangy whiff of Berryâs perfumed mare vapours. He paused, turned, walked around Berry, pushed her tail aside with his nose, and inhaled deeply, the rush of air causing Berry to hiss as it tickled over delicate places. Bucky pressed his nose gently into the gentle curvature of Berryâs haunches, planted a gentle kiss, and then he walked away, walking down the corridor between the giant vats.

Berry stood in place for a moment, shuddered, shivered, and then trotted after her mate. âœIâve been meaning to ask,â she stated, trying to distract herself from her powerful sense of need. âœWhy canât unicorns just transmute rocks into beer? I know they can turn rocks into objects and even foodâ but why not beer?â

âœComplexity. I probably could turn rocks into beer, but it would be undrinkable. Think about the sofas I made. The plain scratchy material of the fabric. The dull grey colour. I could change that, sure, but that would be a cosmetic change. It doesnât change the fact that the sofas are very crude and simple things. Bread made from rocks is hard, flavourless, and almost nutritionally worthless. Beer would be almost undrinkable,â Bucky explained.

âœSo why not take the raw ingredients and zap them with magic, and just brew beer that way?â Berry asked.

âœWell, Iâ uh, I have thought about that actually. I was going to experiment. I meant to experiment a few months ago. And then this really sweet grey pegasus mare chased me, a flock of pegasi harassed me, she introduced me to her best friend, both of them plotted against me, I had my horn cracked, fell in love completely, a war got started, I got married, and I just recently lost an eye,â Bucky responded.

âœBah, minor distractions,â Berry replied. âœStop making excuses,â she deadpanned.

âœBut both of you are so very distracting,â Bucky protested. âœLike right now, I would be shagging you until you bleated like the filthy little ewe that are you are if I knew it wouldnât hurt me so badly and we had told Derpy what we were up to before we left.â

Berry smiled warmly. âœYouâre getting better. Be patient. Keg Smasher did a really good job cauterising your wounds. I spoke with him briefly. He has had a lot of practice. Apparently the trick isnât to just press the iron in, but to roll it back and forth over the flesh to make a good seal.â

Bucky winced, recalling a painful memory.

âœSorry loveâ I didnât mean to make you hurt more,â Berry apologised.

âœNo worries,â Bucky replied. âœYou know, figuring out how to brew beer with magic would probably help me with figuring out how to assemble raw materials and help me with what I have plannedââ Bucky thought out loud.

âœIn the old days, they called a group of rogue unicorns a coven. Is that what you, Dinky, Sparkler, and Rising Star are going to become? Look, I am not stupid, I know you are planning something much bigger than some suit of armor. All of this talk about experimental magic and doing questionable things that would get you in trouble on the mainland. You are planning something, something I probably canât comprehend, arenât you?â Berry questioned.

Bucky sighed and thought about total honesty. âœI think I have a way to turn Sparkler and Rising Star into full fledged type threes. Sort of a smaller step of ascension. I am going to need them at peak power if I am going to accomplish what I have planned. Look, I am confident that it wouldnât hurt them. I am not going to rush into anything. Iâve already channeled immense amounts of magic through them and I know that they are physically capable. I am going to channel Sentinelâs shadow essence into objects that I craft, infusing them with shadow. It will not hurt him. None of these things will do any harm, but on the mainland, they would be morally reprehensible and I would face serious consequences if I did them there,â Bucky confessed.

âœWill it help you destroy the wolves?â Berry asked, her tone grave, all trace of merriment and arousal now gone. Her eyes glittered with unspoken rage. âœWill it destroy the wolves that took your perfect eye and maimed your body, which I love?â

âœYes,â answered Bucky, the word an exhaled whisper.

âœThen do what needs to be done, just like I did. I enjoyed kicking the crap out of your mother. Bad things happened, but good things are coming because I did it. Throw caution to the wind Buckminsterâ these are reckless times, and bold moves might be our best option. The greatest risks bring the greatest rewards. Look, I love you more than any words can explain, and with that love comes trust. I understand that sometimes, you gotta walk through a mile of shite before you can reach your goals. Life is about getting dirty. And I chose to get dirty with you,â Berry stated while looking Bucky in his remaining eye. She leaned forward and planted a gentle peck on the left corner of Buckyâs mouth. âœAnd while you are doing the mad scientist thing, replace your eye somehow. Even if you canât see with whatever you replace it with, just make something functional and practical.â

âœThatâs actually a very good idea,â Bucky murmured in reply.

âœNow, letâs see if we canât figure out how to brew beer using nothing but your magic. We will figure out how to do this together. You are going to need me,â Berry announced.

âœI will always need you,â Bucky admitted.

The noon hour approached. Bucky and Berry were still gone. All around her were foals, and Derpy was truly in her element. Much of the castle staff had dropped off their foals for the lessons, and Derpy was foal sitting the littlest foals that were too little for school, but had been brought anyway by hopeful parents.

The foals were fine, but Derpy was worried by the growing collection of flowers, which she had taken to eating. They were sweet and delicate, and the mare had a strong craving for fresh greens. The worst had been three mares, the youngest even younger than Sparkler, probably still in a single digit age range, all of them leading small foals and offering flowers. The youngest had stated that their husband was gone. All of them were sisters.

It had left Derpy heartbroken and confused. Part of her wanted to take them in, but not as fellow-wives. It was getting harder and harder to deal with the endless offers of flowers. There were foals having foals here. Thistle was actually a bit older than quite a few mothers Derpy had seen. Derpy settled into a soft pile of straw, tiny foals all around her in a pile. She covered as many as she could with her wings, and relished the broody feeling that permeated her down to the core of her being. She was warm and surrounded by little helpless bodies, little helpless bodies that needed her. The straw formed a comfortable nest. Derpy felt her hide being soaked by drool from little heads that rested upon her, and she didnât mind. Some of the foals were sprawled over her back, several of them in a pile with one another, and she could feel somepony breathing in her mane, slow steady tiny inhales and exhales which were warm, a constant repetition of breathing and the confirmation of life.

The broody pegasus desperately wanted to have another foal of her own. She did not know that even now, the beginnings of life were taking place deep inside of her, and that two new ponies would grace her world in little less than a years time. One foal was of the winds, the other graced with magic. Powerful hormonal changes were taking place within the pegasus, altering her moods, changing her behaviours, preparing her for the many changes that were to come.

Sparkler and Rising Star worked well together as teachers, complimenting each other nicely. Derpyâs sharp ears picked up their voices well, their gentle instruction, Sparklerâs endless patience that she had learned from looking after Dinky and PiÃa, and Rising Starâs enduring creativity, even in the swirling chaos of a mess of foals all wanting to get his attention.

Ponies were beginning to enter the hall to wait for lunch, which would be very soon. Some of them watched the lesson taking place, others watched Derpy and her careful mothering of a whole mess of foals, which were somehow quiet and well behaved for her.

Keg Smasher entered the hall, froze, and then tried to understand what he was seeing. He saw the improvised classroom. He saw the broody pegasus. He saw other ponies waiting for lunch and watching everything that he was trying to take in. Keg Smasher was covered with dozens of seared patches over his flesh and he was limping badly. He moved slowly towards the nesting pegasus, not wanting to do anything stupid, like spook her or invoke her sense of territory.

âœHello there stormy mare,â he greeted.

Derpy looked up at him, closing one eye to study the giant pegasus that was cautiously approaching her. âœFeeling better?â Derpy asked.

âœA little. How is Buckminster?â Keg Smasher replied. He eased himself down to the floor and scooted a little closer to the foal pile and the grey mare.

âœBucky is getting better, you did a really good job of closing his wounds. I canât thank you enough,â Derpy said, real gratitude in her voice. âœYou brought me back my husbandâ what was left of him.â

âœI know itâs rough. I want to thank you as well,â Keg Smasher stated.

âœWhat for?â Derpy inquired.

âœRight now, youâre sitting on the most valuable bit of treasure I have in my keep. The only thing I have of any real value. Without those, my ponies have no future,â Keg Smasher explained in reply.

Derpy blushed and looked down at a foal cradled in her forelegs.

âœWould you mind doing this every day? I hate to ask, but we all have to do our part around here. And ponies will work harder if they donât have to look after their own foals, or donât have to worry about their own foals being safe. Iâd imagine you foal sitting has raised the productivity around here just a little bit. The school here is a good idea. We have nannies and nursemaids, but they are few in number. One more such as yourself would be a powerful asset,â Keg Smasher said as he reached out and touched a foal with one wing, giving it a tickle. The foal hiccuped and rolled away, trying to avoid the irritating feathers.

âœDoing this makes me happy,â Derpy confessed. âœThis is the only thing that makes sense in the world.â

âœWell, sitting on them and making them are my two favourite activities,â Keg Smasher admitted. âœNo more sweeps. We get to keep each and every one of these.â

âœDoes it bother you that we intend to keep Sentinel? Do you feel we are taking one of your foals?â Derpy asked, raising her gaze towards Keg Smasher, closing one eye, and studying him.

âœNo. He is getting a good home. That makes me happy. It isnât the same at all. And the fact that you worried enough about it to bring it up, I donât have the words,â Keg Smasher replied. He returned Derpyâs gaze, looking into her amber eye. He watched the other eye open and easily saw why Bucky loved this mare so much. She was the embodiment of what Keg Smasher and Bucky both valued, a motherly queen nestled upon a throne of foals. Looking past the eyes, she looked regal, purposeful, a strong foundational cornerstone to build a herd upon.

âœYou keep staring at me,â Derpy stated.

âœJust seeing what Buckminster sees. I made the right choice and I know it now,â Keg Smasher returned.

âœWhat do you mean?â Derpy asked. âœRight choice?â

âœAbout Thistle. I look at you and I know I made the right choice. Donât get me wrong, Thistle is going to make a great mother, but I know her type. She is always going to be playful and foalish. She is going to want to be friends with her foals, rather than the much harder requirement of being a mother. She is going to make a great mother figure in any herd she is a part of, but she is going to need a real mother figure to be there and put her hoof down. Damn near a perfect herd structure. A strong mother, a playful mother, and an educator, which is what I am guessing that Berry is good at, based on what little Iâve gleaned about her,â Keg Smasher explained. âœA small but very functional herd ideal for raising foals.â

âœYou surprise me Keg Smasher,â Derpy admitted. âœYou are not the pegasus I thought you were.â

âœI surprise a lot of ponies,â Keg Smasher responded. âœIt is how I deposed the previous laird. I had myself and a few hard cases loyal to me smuggled into the castle here in giant kegs. We popped out and had us a party. He was a right bastard.â

âœDo you think you can fix this place?â Derpy asked.

âœI hope so lass, I hope so,â Keg Smasher replied.

Chapter 69

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Lunch was a simple affair. Mostly the leftovers from breakfast, some fried oatcakes, and there was some delicious bean and barley soup which caused Derpy to recall fond memories from when Dinky had been an infant. After lunch, the herd had split up, with Bucky no longer able to remain upright and needing to lay down. Berry, Derpy, and even Thistle had gone to join him, and they had taken the foals, Dinky, PiÃa, and Sentinel.

This left Rising Star and Sparkler by themselves, now free for the afternoon.

Early afternoon.

Sparkler giggled as she felt Rising Starâs lips moving up her neck. She leaned into him, feeling his warmth, not even minding that he was something of a stinky pony. Never mind the fact that she was probably a stinky pony as well. Mutual stinkiness was no match for love.

The pair stood in a small alcove off of the main courtyard, a tiny nook just large enough for several ponies to duck inside and get out of the rain if need be. At one point, there had been a tiny market tucked away in here, but it was long gone, now only a memory to the oldest of those on the isle.

Sparkler teasingly blew into his ear, which caused the coltâs body to stiffen and one of his hind legs kick the stone floor. âœBad filly,â he scolded breathlessly. âœDoes the bad filly want to go for a walk with me?â he asked.

âœYes, the bad filly would love for a chance to stretch her legs,â Sparkler replied. âœThe bad filly loves you a great deal, and hopes you understand just how much she loves you,â she breathed teasingly into Rising Starâs ear.

âœI would do anything for you,â Rising Star promised.

âœAnything?â Sparker replied, licking her teeth seductively.

âœYes, anything,â Rising Star answered. âœYou have but to ask.â

âœThen love me, that is all I ask forâ for now,â Sparkler stated.

Rising Star planted a firm kiss on her cheek, and Sparkler craned her head to press her cheek into his lips. The pair stood there for a moment, very close to one another, standing chest to chest, their forehooves touching.

âœNo more lapses in judgment,â Rising Star whispered.

âœNo, no more lapses in judgment. We both have big plans for the future,â Sparker agreed. The filly pulled away first, turning and heading out for the courtyard, leading the way. She flicked Rising Star with her tail as she departed.

Rising Star caught a whiff of something that made him feel excited from the tail flicking, and he moved to follow Sparkler, moving to take his place at her side. He brushed up against her briefly, and then flicked her with his tail, which had not been trimmed in a while and was getting long.

The pair moved through the courtyard together, their hooves clattering over the cobblestones, ponies nodding and even bowing to towards them as they passed. Sparkler gave it no thought and bowed her head slightly in return, not understanding the effect she had when she did so. She did not understand her social status as Buckyâs daughter, and the effects that it had upon the ponies around her. She did not understand that she was just as much as a symbol of hope as her father was, as word had spread about her role in the raising of the new tower.

Rising Star was also equally clueless to the level of respect being offered him.

The pair passed through the gate, turned, and began to walk along the outer wall, away from the actual wall, and keeping an eye on anything being poured out over the wall. An emptied chamberpot respected nopony and the rain fell on both the just and the wicked.

Sparkler broke into a run and Rising Star took off after her, both of them laughing as they ran at a full gallop, their hooves thudding upon the earth as they bolted. The field was full of tall grass and wildflowers. Not too far off, the first of the farmers fields began, and the one closest to the castle looked like oats.

Spring had faded and now it was summer, and the sun was very warm. It contrasted sharply with the nights, which were bitterly cold, but the summer nights were warmer than the winter nights, which were brutal.

All of Sparklerâs old insecurities were gone. She no longer wished she was a pegasus, or lamented that she didnât have wings, she was finally comfortable in her own skin, and she reveled in being who she was as she tore through the field at top speed, with Rising Star in hot pursuit. Today was the perfect day for a chase. Not that one was needed. Rising Star had already caught Sparkler in the most meaningful way possible. She was his by word, if not yet by deed. It had been his love that had made her finally feel comfortable in her skin, and Sparkler had grown as a pony because of his words and gentle affection.

There were other ponies out running through the fields enjoying the summer sun, the ones lucky enough to not have to toil all day. The clouds drifted by overhead, the local pegasi doing very little to control the weather here. There were just too many other things that needed to be done.

Later that afternoon.

âœI must confess, I feel myself growing very attached to all of you,â Thistle said in a hushed voice. âœI was very scared when Keg Smasher said I had to marry into your herd. I sort of figured Iâd be a broodmare or a servant and nothing more. I didnât know that all of you would be so kind.â

The two mares and the filly exchanged glances with one another. Bucky was asleep, worn out from the long morning and some magical experimentation in the brewery, and the foals were napping near him. Berry and Derpy sat on one sofa while Thistle sat on the other.

âœIâve figured out that part of both of your agreement was for Thistle to come and spend the day with us every single day,â Berry quipped in a low voice, trying not to wake the sleepers.

âœYes,â Derpy agreed, shifting in her seat and then leaning on Berry. She wrapped her forelegs around her fellow wife and pulled Berry close. She breathed in Berryâs scent, catching a faint whiff of arousal. âœBucky got you flustered, didnât he?â Derpy asked in a very low whisper.

Berry nodded in reply. âœSomepony is watching us,â Berry coyly announced.

âœLike what you see Thistle?â Derpy asked.

âœActually, yes,â Thistle whispered in reply. âœI had always seen rutting as a means to an endâ I wasnât aware ofâ this.â

âœCurious about being with a mare?â Berry asked.

âœWell, uh-â Thistle began.

âœSure she is,â Derpy interrupted.

Berry raised her eyebrow quizzically at Derpy . This wasnât like Derpy.

Thistle squirmed, looking flustered and embarrassed. âœI am open to the idea of being with a mare,â she admitted.

âœWell thatâs good, hey, is there something Iâm missing?â Berry asked, getting a peculiar feeling.

Derpy suddenly squeezed the earth pony hard enough to squish the air out of her, and Berry gasped. As Berry panted for air, Derpy moved in and planted a kiss with powerful levels of suction upon Berryâs lips, destroying Berryâs ability to ask further questions. Derpy pushed Berry down upon the sofa and settled her weight upon her, grinding her barrel against Berryâs. Derpy carefully brought a leg into play, sliding her hind leg along Berryâs lower belly, trailing over every delicate place below Berryâs navel, making the plum coloured mare hiss with delight.

Thistle squirmed in her seat and licked her lips, feeling an odd moist sensation deep within her nethers. A fire ignited in her loins and warmth spread through her belly. She watched as Derpy continued to dominate Berry, and with each moment began to realise that there was more to sex than just making foals. It excited her. She had only been kissed a few times, it more or less as an afterthought, but she had never been kissed like the two mares were kissing one another, and she felt strangely empty upon having that realisation.

Her entire sense of sexual culture was being torn down and rebuilt brick by brick, and Thistle was eager and willing to learn more.

Without meaning to, a faint lustful cry escaped Thistle lips, which caused Berry and Derpy to stop making out, both mares pausing to look at Thistle.

âœGo to her,â Derpy whispered in Berryâs ear. âœJust a kiss, nothing more, think you can handle that?â she asked in a very quiet whisper.

âœI thought you felt she was too young,â Berry replied in a soft whisper.

âœPlay between mares is different than between mares and stallions,â Derpy explained in hushed tones. âœThis canât hurt her.â

âœGood point,â Berry said, squirming free of Derpyâs embrace. She flopped off the sofa, crossed the room to Thistle, and then climbed onto the sofa next to Thistle. âœAre you comfortable with this?â Berry asked.

Thistle licked her lips, looking around nervously. She nodded briefly, looking scared. She opened her mouth to say something—

And Berry never gave her a chance. In a second, she was on Thistle, her muzzle pressed against Thistleâs muzzle, her forelegs around Thistle. The smaller filly was easy prey for Berry, who pushed her over and pinned her. One hoof slipped free from around Thistleâs neck and slid down her neck, over her barrel, and finally she rubbed her hoof in a slow lazy circle over Thistlesâ rounded belly. Thistle mewled with pleasure under Berryâs affectionate kiss, and one hind leg began to twitch.

Finally, Berry pulled away and both the mare and the filly were left gasping.

Thistle fanned herself with her hoof, and then used her other hoof to fan an entirely different set of lips. âœConfound it I am hot all over,â she muttered.

âœWhat about now Thistle, do you think you will be able to hold to our agreement?â Derpy asked.

âœOh yes,â Thistle heaved.

âœSo what is this agreement?â Berry whined.

âœOur business, for now,â Derpy replied. âœSorry.â

âœThistle, donât make me torture the answer out of you,â Berry warned.

âœDonât you dare,â Derpy warned in a loud whisper.

âœOh please torture the answer out of me,â Thistle giggled quietly and coquettishly. She wiggled against Berry in what she hoped was a seductive manner.

Berry planted a soft gentle kiss on Thistleâs cheek and patted her belly. âœOne day you will find out what a kiss feels like in other places,â Berry whispered hotly.

Thistle gasped and felt a tight pull in her nethers.

âœDerpy, I think I did my job too well, sheâs dribbling,â Berry reported in a low voice, hoping that the sleepers would not awaken.

âœGet over here Berry, letâs leave her with something to think about,â Derpy instructed.

Berry did as she was bid and retreated, leaving Thistle alone and flustered, Thistleâs cheeks as red as apples. Berry climbed up into the sofa and was immediately pounced upon by Derpy, who pulled their bodies tightly together and then lay still. âœI love you,â Berry whispered into the pegasusâ ear. âœBut I would love you more if you would just tell me what the agreement is.â

Even later that afternoon.

âœLoch Skimmer, slow down, stop crying, take a deep breath, and try to tell me what is wrong.â Sparkler instructed, gently stroking her friend. She wrapped a foreleg around Loch Skimmerâs neck and hugged her.

Rising Star glanced around nervously, a very distraught pegasus filly named Ripple clinging to his leg, bawling her eyes out, her condition even worse than her older sisterâs.

âœLoch?â Sparkler soothed. âœTalk to me Loch,â Sparkler coaxed.

âœM-m-m-marriage,â Loch Skimmer stammered.

Sparkler felt her heart sinking.

âœFor Ripple tooâ I canât think about what is going to be done to her,â Loch Skimmer wailed. âœWeâre being traded for food. The farmer is really cruel, he whips his mares and makes them pull plows.â

Sparkler felt sick suddenly, a hot wave of nausea washing over her. She pushed herself away from Loch Skimmer and a moment later, she was throwing up in the grass and gagging, her legs wobbling and threatening to give way beneath her.

Rising Star was at her side in a moment, giving her something to lean on, Ripple still clinging to his leg.

Sparkler gagged again, heaved, and then spewed out the rest of her lunch, vomit shooting from her mouth and her nostrils. She shook her head, strangling, trying to breath, her airways gunked up with hot chunks. Finally, she snorted and cleared her nose, then drew a shuddering breath.

âœYou gonna be okay Sparky?â Rising Star asked in a very worried tone. He was so scared that he sounded almost foalish again, every bit of maturity gone from his voice.

âœRape,â Sparkler gasped. âœRipple is a foal.â

Ripple did not reply, but continued to bawl, never once letting go of Rising Star, her face buried into his leg.

Sparkler made a loud âœHURK!â sound and then dry heaved for a while, her eyes bloodshot and her legs trembling.

âœPlease be okay Sparkler, I am so sorry for bringing this up, but I had to tell you. I wonât be coming to school anymore,â Loch Skimmer said, her voice hitching somewhat and her tears still falling.

Sparkler raised her head, anger clouding her features. For a moment, she looked very much like her adopted mother, a storm passing over her face. She coughed and spat out the remains of the vomit in her throat and then took a deep breath.

âœRising Star, you said you would do anything for me,â Sparkler said. âœDid you mean that?â

âœOf course Sparkler, I wouldnât have said it otherwise,â Rising Star said.

âœGood, weâre forming a herd,â Sparkler said.

Ripple let go in a hurry and stumbled away. âœI donât wanna!â she bawled.

Loch Skimmer tackled her sister and pinned her down. âœNo, you listen to me Ripple, stop, stopâ STOP!â she cried as she pinned down the screaming filly. âœHe wonât hurt you, heâs not that type, look how sweet he was with Sparkler.â Loch Skimmer paused and looked up at Rising Star. âœLook, you can do whatever you want with me and I will not stop you, but you PROMISE ME that you will not touch my sister, and I will agree to this,â Loch Skimmer offered.

âœBut I donât want to touch you either, I really donât know you!â Rising Star retorted.

Ripple began to calm slowly, her face pressed into Loch Skimmerâs neck.

Sparkler gagged again, her stomach still roiling with worry.

âœLook, Iâll do this because it is the right thing to do and I couldnât live with myself if I had a chance to stop a filly from beingâ beingââ Rising Star began to gag himself, feeling quite sick with revulsion. He staggered away from Sparkler and heaved a few times, almost vomiting but managing to hold it together. âœBy the stars I hate this place,â he cried after a long painful heave.

Sparkler composed herself, her rage making her spine stiff, once again looking very much like her adoptive mother. She stared down at the two pegasi in the grass, feeling an odd sense of responsibility for both of them, and wondered if this is what her mother felt about Berry. And maybe Thistle.

âœRipple, you are under my protection,â Sparkler said. âœI will not allow harm to come to you.â Sparklerâs mind underwent a subtle shift, acknowledging her own authority, cementing her position as the alpha female. She stood protectively over both of the pegasi, her horn glowing. âœAnything I canât deal with, my father will deal with,â Sparkler stated.

âœSo how are we getting married?â Rising Star huffed.

âœKeg Smasher,â Sparkler said. âœCome on, weâre going.â

âœWhat if he says no?â Rising Star asked.

âœThen I grab a wing and begin twisting until he agrees,â Sparkler said forcefully, gritting her teeth, now sounding very much like her mother, her voice one of command.

âœCome on, both of you, Ripple, you can ride on my back if you would like. You donât look well,â Rising Star offered.

Ripple smiled faintly, her face soaked with tears, her eyes puffy and also bloodshot. She nodded, unable to reply with words, and her big sister Loch Skimmer eased Ripple onto Rising Starâs back, where the filly straddled him and wrapped her forelegs around his neck, holding on so she wouldnât fall off.

Sparkler stood silent, trying to take everything in, understanding on some level that the ponies here believed Ripple to be adult enough for marriage because she had experienced estrus. But Ripple was small and delicate, and very much underdeveloped, likely due to malnutrition.

âœI have my own conditions,â Sparkler announced.

âœThose are?â Loch Skimmer replied.

âœBoth of you are to continue school. I will not have illiterate herdmates. There will be no foals, not for quite some time. Ripple is to be treated as a foal, not a fellow-wife. She will not have a say in herd issues, and will be subject to our authority. She is to be loved, protected, and respected as a foal would be,â Sparkler instructed.

âœAgreed,â Loch Skimmer said.

âœOkay,â Ripple whispered, hiding her face in Rising Starâs mane.

âœWe will sort out all of the other details between ourselves,â Sparkler said. âœNow letâs go,â she instructed.

Very late in the afternoon

âœFecking aye, you want me to do what?â the giant pegasus asked.

âœYou heard me,â Sparkler replied.

âœOch, your mother is gonna-â

âœMy mother is the least of your worries, you should worry about what I am going to to do to youâ and before you think about threatening me, remember who my father isâ you have no options. I will tear the wings off of you like a fly if you donât give me what I want, and you are in no position to say no,â Sparkler threatened, completely unconcerned that she was one third of the size of Keg Smasher.

âœDamnit lass, this is why I am afraid of your mother, Iâd expect this sort of outburst from her!â the pegasus roared.

âœLook, I know I canât fix everything here,â Sparkler snapped, âœbut I do know that I can prevent at least one foal from being raped and maybe sleep a little better at night!â

Keg Smasher rubbed his head with his wings, his eyes were closed and he looked troubled. âœLook lass, life here is different and hard. I am working on changing things, but change is slow and things are the way they are,â Keg Smasher said, trying to diffuse some anger from the situation.

âœWaitâ how young is your youngest wife?â Sparkler demanded, stomping up and getting into Keg Smasherâs face. She stood nose to nose with the giant pegasus, looking up at him, completely fearless, and her horn glowed with alarming intensity.

âœWoah, now you stay out of my business or I will risk your fatherâs wrath and give you a good thumping,â Keg Smasher retorted, now beginning to bristle with anger.

âœDo it,â Rising Star said, his horn glowing. âœIâll teleport away your filly wrecking pecker,â he threatened. âœItâll be real messy too, Iâll take it balls and all!â

âœSHITE!â Keg Smasher swore, backing down. âœLook, Iâve taken a few young wives but Iâve never touched them until they were olderâ can we stop threatening to tear off wings or geld somepony please and be reasonable?â

âœIâM DONE BEING REASONABLE! THESE ISLANDS ARE INSANE!â Rising Star screamed.

âœI KNOW THEY ARE, THATâS WHY I AM FIGHTING TO FIX THEM YOU BIG DAMN NUMPTY!â Keg Smasher bellowed.

Several guards moved around the throne room, unsure of what to do. A fight between the armigerâs daughter and the Laird left no easy side to pick. It was safer to stand around and look like you were doing something.

âœGive us what we want, and we can all walk away from this happy,â Sparkler said.

Keg Smasher groaned and pranced around on his hooves. âœRipple, do you feel safe with these ponies?â he asked, his anger gone and his tone surprisingly gentle. âœDo you think you can trust them?â

Ripple nodded.

âœNo lass, I want to hear you to say it,â Keg Smasher instructed. âœNow come on, be a good wee filly,â he said in a soothing voice.

Ripple whined and buried her face into Rising Starâs mane.

âœLook lass, I have a filly about your age, and somepony doing something with her scares me something awful,â Keg Smasher confided. âœSo this is for my own peace of mind. Do you feel safe with these ponies?â

âœYes sir,â Ripple said in a very small voice.

âœFine then,â Keg Smasher announced. âœYouâre all married.â

âœThatâs it?â Rising Star asked.

âœMy word is law,â Keg Smasher replied.

âœWe accept,â Sparkler said after drawing a deep breath. âœWeâll have another ceremony when we get back to the mainland. My mother is going to want to make sure I have a proper wedding.â

âœYOU BE GOOD TO HER!â Keg Smasher snarled with bellicose fury at Rising Star, trying to reclaim some of his lost sense of authority. He did not make clear which filly to be good to.

âœThank you,â Loch Skimmer said timidly.

âœLass, you look after your sister. See that she is happy,â Keg Smasher instructed.

âœI will sir,â Loch Skimmer said.

âœWeâll, donât just stand there like a bunch of slack jawed nitwits, you have to kiss another. And I hate to bring it up, in fact I feel like a real shite about bringing it up, but you are going to need to think about consummating this marriage. If their father challenges this union, it will be your only recourse,â Keg Smasher said in a very low voice. âœIâll give my word about Ripple being bred, but the rest of you have to go about it honest. Youâll need to sort that out.â

âœHow will they know?â Sparkler asked.

âœI have you locked in a room overnight and the next morning some very skilled midwives have a look at your dainties to see if you show signs of being bred the night beforeâ theyâre damn good at what they do,â Keg Smasher replied.

Sparkler blushed, Loch Skimmer suddenly found her front hooves quite fascinating, and Rising Star found something very interesting on the ceiling. Ripple was still hiding her face in Rising Starâs mane.

Rising Star, realising he had a task ahead of him, maneuvered around and kissed Sparkler, a quick nervous kiss on the lips. He turned to Loch Skimmer, smiled, and then planted a swift peck on her cheek, making her blush almost invisibly under her dark grey pelt. âœLook, weâll sort this out,â he whispered to Lock Skimmer. âœBut please donât feel threatened by me.â

âœI love you Rising Star,â Sparkler whispered in a low voice. âœAnd yes, we will sort this out.â

Early that evening

Sparkler paced about the room, nervous, unable to sit still, feeling frightened. Loch Skimmer and Ripple had gone home to say goodbye to their parents, and had insisted on going by themselves. Now, sundown was approaching and her herd was not together. Tears welled in her eyes, and she felt like she had failed.

She still had not told her parents.

She glanced at Rising Star, who was sitting by the fire, jerking whenever there was a noise. She looked at the window, and the shadows were getting longer.

âœFather, I need your help,â Sparkler said, her emotions finally cracking.

âœSparkler?â Bucky asked.

"Sparkler, what is wrong?â Derpy questioned.

âœWhat happened Sparky? Berry queried.

âœLook, I donât have a lot of time to explain, but there are some ponies I need to collect and make sure they are safe and secure before the sun goes down. My herdmates,â Sparkler replied.

âœWHAT?â Derpy screamed, leaping on Sparkler and driving her to the floor. She stood over her daughter, one eye closed, the other focused on Sparkler.

âœLook, mother, I am sorry, but they were being traded for food and Ripple is even younger than Thistle and bad things were going to be done to them, they were going to be traded to a mean farmer that whips his mares and makes them pull plows, and Rising Star and I were married with Loch Skimmer and Ripple because we didnât want them getting raped,â Sparkler babbled in fear.

Derpy began to slap Sparkler with her wings, spitting out wordless mutterings, her face purple with rage. She slapped and slapped, each slap a stinging reprimand on Sparklerâs hide.

âœMother donât be angry with me for getting married,â Sparkler begged.

âœI AM NOT ANGRY WITH YOU FOR GETTING MARRIED! I AM PISSED WITH YOU FOR NOT COMING TO ME! IF YOU WOULD HAVE TOLD ME EVERYTHING I WOULD HAVE HELPED YOU! I AM FURIOUS WITH YOU FOR NOT TRUSTING ME!â Derpy shrieked. She collapsed on Sparkler and squeezed her, the punishment over. Both mother and daughter clung to one another, sobbing.

Rising Star watched them but said nothing. His eyes glanced at Bucky.

âœDerpy, thatâs enough. Time is of the essence. Sparkler, we need to bring our herd together before the sun sets. Derpy, Berry, stay here with the foals. Sentinel, watch my little ones. Rising Star, Sparkler, we are leaving. NOW,â Bucky ordered.

Derpy gave one last squeeze to Sparkler and then let her go. âœBring our family back,â Derpy said tearfully.

âœI am sorry, you are right, I should have trusted you,â Sparkler apologised while her mother wiped away her tears with her wings. âœPlease forgive me mother,â Sparkler begged.

âœAlready forgiven, now you need to go,â Derpy said, now scrubbing at her own eyes with her foreleg. âœBring back your herdmates so I can protect them.â

âœWe are going,â Bucky commanded, heading for the door with his stiff legged gait. âœOur herd sleeps together or we donât sleep at all,â he barked.

Sparkler kissed her mother one last time, kissed Berry, waved at the others, and left to follow her father. Rising Star scooted after his wife, aware that Berry and Derpy were staring at him.

âœWeâll be back soon,â Rising Star promised.

He shut the door behind him.

Just a little later that evening.

Bucky approached the door of the stone cottage where Loch Skimmerâs family lived, two of Keg Smasherâs guards following behind him. The big burly pegasi were in a bad mood. Earlier, they had watched Buckyâs daughter in a shouting match with the laird. Now, they were helping her.

It was never easy being a guard.

Bucky did not knock, he simply battered the door open with a magical blast, nearly tearing it from the hinges as he did so. He was greeted with screams and a bellow as he entered the door.

âœWHERE ARE THEY?â Bucky demanded, using the royal Voice.

A group of mares were clustered in the corner, a few small foals peeping out, all of them piled on straw.

âœI gave my word,â a pegasus growled. âœI gave my word and my bitch daughter made me break my word.â

âœWHERE ARE THEY?â Bucky demanded again, still using the voice. A foal squealed in terror.

Loch Skimmer pulled free from the pile of mares, Ripple following behind her. One of Loch Skimmerâs eyes was swollen shut and she limped on three legs. âœI tried to come to you,â she whimpered to Sparkler.

âœWhat did you do?â Bucky asked the pegasus, his quiet voice now far more terrifying than the royal Voice he had used previously.

âœOh shite, somepony has set off the armiger,â one of the guards muttered.

âœCome here,â Bucky said to Loch Skimmer.

Loch Skimmer meekly complied. Bucky lifted her face up with one foreleg, looking at her carefully, observing the quarter moon shaped gash under her eye.

âœYou bucked her in the face. That curve would match the curve on your hind hoof I think,â Bucky said in a small quiet voice that tremored faintly.

âœHis other hoof got me in the foreleg,â Loch Skimmer murmured, swooning with pain.

âœCome here,â Bucky commanded, not waiting for the stallion to comply. He pulled the stallion forward by an ear, making the pegasus cry out in pain. âœHow could you harm your own flesh and blood like this? Is this what you think your word is worth? Give me one good reason why I shouldn't turn you into an ash pile right now.â

Bucky struggled to control his rage. He thought of Dinky, and of a lesson not long ago about about power. Real power was the ability to do something and then not do it. Bucky gritted his teeth.

âœFair is fair,â Bucky growled. His horn flashed.

The stallion went flying across the room, slammed into a wall with a violent thud, and then slid to the floor. He writhed, squealing with pain, clutching his face with his forelegs as his hindlegs kicked in the air.

âœI hit you with about as much force as you struck your own flesh and blood with,â Bucky hissed. âœYou did this to herâ how do you like it? I am not going to kill youâ but I wonât stop my daughter or my son from doing it.â Bucky turned and stormed out of the cottage.

The pegasus writhed and flopped around on the floor, braying and yelping with pain, still clutching his face.

âœI should kill you,â Rising Star spat. âœYou struck my wifeâ but my father left me a good example.â With a flare of his horn, he gathered up Ripple and placed her on his back. âœSparkler, help Loch Skimmer, one of the guards can carry her, I am sure they wonât mind.â

âœBe glad to sir,â one volunteered.

Sparkler helped Loch Skimmer onto the guardâs back using her magic, and then turned and faced the pegasus still on the floor. âœI love my father a great deal, but I also respect the lessons my mother taught me,â she snarled. She crossed the room, her legs stiff, her horn flaring with an eye burning light. She whirled around once she reached the pegasus, she hiked up one hind leg, and then brought it back sharply in the stallionâs groin.

A high pitched keening whine filled the cottage.

âœTouch my herdmates again and my mothers and I will stomp your bones into jelly,â Sparkler warned. She spat on the stallion and stomped off, glaring at the mares in the corner. âœShame on you all. Mares are supposed to look after one another,â Sparkler scolded. She stormed out the door and slammed it shut behind her.

The sun would be setting soon. There was still enough time to get back to the castle if they hurried. The group moved as fast as Bucky could walk, and Bucky cursed every step of the way, feeling horribly conflicted about what he had and had not done. As they walked, Bucky tried to comfort Ripple, even though he did not know her. She was just a year or two younger than Sparkler, but small and delicate.

Ripple took well to Buckyâs kindness and felt comforted riding on Rising Starâs back. She heaved a sigh of relief, thankful that her nightmare was over.

Chapter 70

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The doors of the dining hall slammed open and Bucky entered, leading a small group of ponies behind him. The room was full of ponies expecting to eat dinner, almost all of which looked very alarmed when the doors burst open.

âœKeg Smasher, we have a broken leg here!â Bucky exclaimed. He glared at the occupants of a table and they all skedaddled in a big hurry. It was obvious the pony at arms was in a bad mood and it would be insanity to provoke him further.

Cautiously and carefully, Loch Skimmer was lowered to the table and laid upon it, on her side, the side with the bad leg facing upwards. She whimpered, now full of fear. The dining hall around them began to bustle with activity.

Ripple slid from Rising Starâs back and stood near her sister, silent, panicked, and confused.

âœGet rope!â Keg Smasher bellowed. âœAnd fetch Wildflower!â

âœWhat happened?â Derpy asked, catching Bucky by surprise when she approached on his blind side.

âœRising Star, comfort your mare,â Bucky instructed, ignoring Derpyâs question for now. A pegasus had flown back into the hall with rope. âœDerpy, I need you to go, take the foals and go,â Bucky pleaded.

âœNo,â Derpy retorted.

âœLook, please donât argue, this isnât going to be pretty,â Bucky begged.

âœNo, we stay together,â Berry argued. âœThe foals need to know how the world can be, it will be awful, but it will be better for them in the long run.â

âœWhat she said,â Derpy added.

âœWhat do I do?â Rising Star asked.

Loch Skimmer began to panic and squirm when she saw the rope, and little whimpers of fear spilled from her throat. She kicked a bit, and then shrieked when the rope was set down on the table next to her.

âœNo!â she cried.

âœJust comfort her,â Bucky instructed.

âœTie her down,â Keg Smasher commanded.

Bucky took the rope in his magic and as gently as possible, began securing Loch Skimmer to the table. He secured her three good legs, and then her body.

Rising Star had moved to the head of the table and stood with his nose inches away from Loch Skimmerâs. He stared into her wide panicked eyes. âœThis will be over in a just a little while, be strong,â he soothed.

âœNo, please no,â she begged, struggling with her binds.

âœThis is all my fault,â Sparkler cried. âœIf I had trusted my mother, my parents, I get the feeling that my mother would have never allowed Loch Skimmer and Ripple to leave. How could I be so stupid?â Sparkler burst into tears, watching her new fellow-wife being tied to a table with the promise of terrible things to come.

Derpy pulled Sparkler in with her wings and hugged her, trying to calm the now sobbing filly. Another body pressed between them, and Sparkler realised it was Ripple. The three held one another, trying to deal with this troubling moment.

Rising Star continued to gaze into Loch Skimmerâs and talking in a low voice to her as the commotion continued all around them.

Berry Punch sat on her haunches a short distance away, PiÃa one side and Dinky on the other. Sentinel sat with a wing wrapped protectively around PiÃa.

âœLooks like a fairly clean break. See, look, you can see the lumpy area where the break is,â Keg Smasher explained, pointing with a wing as Bucky watched. âœThink you can use your magic to pull her leg straight?â

âœMagic?â Bucky asked.

âœWell, the alternative is we get a section of rope, tie it tight around her fetlock, and give it a good yank,â Keg Smasher replied.

Upon hearing Keg Smasherâs words Loch Skimmer began to wordlessly scream, her panic peaking. She struggled against her bonds, and urine trickled off of the edge of the table.

âœPoor lass,â Keg Smasher muttered.

âœHer own father did this,â Bucky snarled.

âœIs he still alive?â Keg Smasher inquired.

âœYes,â Bucky hissed.

âœYou let that piece of shite live?â Keg Smasher said, shaking his head.

âœYes,â Bucky growled. âœIâm not proud of it.â

âœWeâll deal with your failure later,â Keg Smasher grumbled.

Bucky did not reply, but did wonder if he had made a mistake.

âœYou can feel things with your magic, right?â Keg Smasher asked. âœLike touching?â

âœCorrect,â Bucky replied.

âœGood, feel around, press on her skin, see if there feels like any broken off shards of bone. It looks clean but we need to check,â Keg Smasher instructed.

âœBut that will be agonising,â Bucky protested.

âœAye, it will. Sheâll feel it,â Keg Smasher admitted. The pegasus took the end of a rope in his feather tips and gently placed it in Loch Skimmerâs mouth. âœBite down lass,â he said in a shockingly gentle tone, his angry bellowing now replaced with the voice of a concerned father.

Loch Skimmer squealed around the rope and stared into Rising Starâs eyes.

At that moment, both of them experienced the creation of a bond that would endure for the rest of their lives. They did not know it, or understand it, but it was a bond forged in the fires of fear and pain. It was the sort of bond that endured, as Loch Skimmer could clearly see Rising Starâs own pain from watching her. It was a powerful subtle moment, the sort of moment where life changes.

And then, when Bucky applied a little pressure to feel with his magic, the bonding moment was gone and replaced with a different moment.

Loch Skimmerâs howls filled the dining hall.

Bucky probed, trying to feel for splinters or broken off bits. He didnât feel anything, but he could feel the sharp edges of broken bone just under the skin. He took her whole leg in his magic, applied a gentle pressure, and pulled until the leg was straight. Loch Skimmerâs frantic gagged screams pierced his ears, and he too, without realising it, had a bonding moment, one that would alter his relationship forever with Loch Skimmer, and he had no way of knowing that one day she would treasure him as her father and trust him completely.

For now, in this moment, there was only screaming.

Rising Star gently pressed his snoot against Loch Skimmerâs and murmured words of comfort that could not be heard over the commotion.

Other foals in the room were crying now, and so were many adults. Pain such as this was entirely too common and even with all of the sufferings, there were still so many tender hearts that were so easily wounded.

Bucky carefully twisted the leg until it looked straight, hearing a terrible grinding sound over the screaming as he did so. He felt sick, but dared not allow himself to lose control. Panic rose in his mind, and he crushed it down with his recently found sense of iron will.

âœAh, Wildflower,â Keg Smasher announced.

Bucky turned his head, focusing his left eye on the new arrival. There was a very old unicorn, her mane mostly gone, and patches of her pelt were missing. She had one white milky eye. She had a pony femur as a cutie mark. She teetered along slowly, and it was obvious she was nearly blind as one of the guards led her along.

âœPoor dear,â Wildflower said. âœI can feel so much pain right nowâ and from you tooâ whoever you are.â

Bucky didnât care about his own pain for a moment.

The old unicorn sat down on her haunches, her spine crackling as she did so, and began to pull stuff out of a battered bag. A large bowl, a metal container, and rolls of gauze.

Water was brought to her, which she placed in the bowl, and she dumped in some white powder. She hummed to herself as she worked, which had an amazing calming effect upon all those around her, and she stirred and mixed the pasty white mixture in the bowl.

She touched Loch Skimmer with her magic, feeling her way around the broken leg, and gently lifted it and held it up in the air.

Loch Skimmer was still bawling with pain.

She dipped the gauzy cloth into the white paste, pushed it around, nodded to herself contentedly, and then began to wrap the white pasty cloth around Loch Skimmerâs leg. She moved quickly, adding more strips of cloth to the bowl, soaking them, and then applying them, and a simple white cast quickly began to form around Loch Skimmerâs leg.

Bucky watched, committing every little detail to his memory, believing this would be a good skill to have.

Eventually, the old mare was done, and the cast was drying.

âœI want to go now, I donât like crowds,â Wildflower announced. âœTake me back to my room,â she instructed. She began to pack things back into her bag, leaving the bowl out. It was encrusted with the old plaster of countless casts, and the current damp layer would dry and form another layer of history for the bowl.

Eventually, the elderly mare teetered off with a guard.

Loch Skimmerâs cries were beginning to subside a little, and Bucky loosened the ropes. Rising Star sat down on the floor, leaned on the table, and took Loch Skimmerâs head gently into his forelegs. He kissed her softly just between her ears, and cooed at her that she had done well. A moment later he was joined by Sparkler, and then by Ripple, and the group had an intimate moment of bonding together.

âœCome morning, I want her father brought here, to me,â Keg Smasher instructed to one of his guard. âœNo more of this shite, time for a change,â the big burly pegasus growled. He stomped off to his usual spot at his usual table, sat down, and waited for food.

âœWeâll need to construct a sling,â Bucky announced. âœMeanwhile, Sparkler, Rising Star, carry her whenever she needs to be moved. Rising Star, you did good.â

The colt straightened from the unexpected praise. âœReally? I felt so powerless,â Rising Star confessed.

âœYou were there for your mare, that is all that matters,â Bucky stated.

Loch Skimmer was panting now, free from the rope, and she laid on the table, not moving much.

âœIs she going to be okay?â Derpy asked.

âœI think so,â Bucky replied. âœHow are the foals Berry?â he questioned.

âœA little emotional, but they are managing,â Berry reported.

âœGood, letâs eat,â Bucky said. âœAll of us, together. Rising Star, Sparkler, grab Loch Skimmer, letâs go over with Keg Smasher, and you two prop her up. Ripple?â

Ripple looked up at the unicorn addressing her.

âœAre you going to be okay?â Bucky asked, reaching out and gently stroking the young fillyâs cheek with his fetlock.

âœI think so sir,â she sniffled in reply.

Bucky wiped away a few tears and a dribble of snot. At one point in his life, such an act would have sent him into paroxysms of neurosis, but now, he barely paid it any mind. âœSquire Sentinel, make sure this one is looked after. Sheâs been traumatised badly. Make sure she stays comforted,â Bucky instructed.

âœYes sir,â Sentinel replied, snapping out a leathery wing in salute.

âœRipple, you are nothing but bones, when was the last time youâve eaten?â Bucky asked.

âœI had some grass earlier, I ate when I was walking home from here, just before we found out about the trade,â Ripple replied.

âœWhen have you had a meal?â Bucky inquired.

âœBeen a while,â the filly replied, turning her gaze down to the floor.

The one-eyed unicorn heaved a sigh. âœI want you to eat as much as you can tonight, do you understand me?â Bucky asked.

âœYes sir,â Ripple replied meekly.

Bucky watched as his herd gathered around Keg Smasherâs table. It had grown. There were a lot of lives that he was responsible for now, lives he had to protect. Lives he had to live for. Lives he had to improve. Derpy. Berry. Dinky. PiÃa. Sparkler. Rising Star. Loch Skimmer. Ripple. Sentinel. And probably Thistle at some point. It was a lot to live for.

âœOur herd has grown,â Bucky said to Derpy, who was beside him.

âœIt has,â Derpy agreed.

âœHow are you taking this?â Bucky whispered.

âœHard,â Derpy admitted.

âœGoing to be okay?â Bucky queried.

âœEventually,â Derpy answered.

âœBerry?â Bucky asked to the mare on his other side.

âœWhat?â Berry replied, watching as food was being brought out.

âœHow are you holding up?â Bucky asked.

âœI am fine,â Berry said. âœA little shook up maybe,â she mentioned.

âœBerry, they are going to need your help,â Bucky stated.

âœI know,â Berry answered. âœIâll sit down with them and help them hammer out some ground rules for making it work. Personally, I think this worked out for the best.â

âœHow so?â Bucky asked.

âœSparkler wanted a herd. She formed one with members who are going to be very appreciative of being rescued from a bad situation. Going to be a powerful bond there, might even rival ours,â Berry said with a forced sounding chuckle.

Derpyâs ears perked.

âœSo how does this work?â Bucky asked. âœAre we two herds or one herd?â

âœOne,â Berry replied. âœOne herd with extended family. One day, they might leave us, but for now, we are one herd.â

âœI see,â Bucky quipped.

âœThe bed is going to be crowded,â Derpy announced.

Bucky nodded and eyed the food being set out upon the table. Tonight was sure to prove interesting.

Chapter 71

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âœFather?â

Bucky awoke somewhat, aware of Sparklerâs voice. It was bitterly cold in the room, and Sparkler was sitting near his head, shivering. He looked up at her with his left eye, and saw her horn was faintly lit.

âœSparky?â he replied groggily.

âœI was having a nightmare, it scared me,â the filly said, leaning down and speaking softly into Buckyâs ear.

Even with his sleep addled mind, Bucky came to the realisation that Sparkler had come to him, and not to Derpy. It was a thought that bothered him faintly.

âœHe was beating her, and I couldnât make it stop,â Sparkler whimpered. âœAnd then other things happened. Bad things, and I was forced to watch.â

Bucky peered around, looking at the piles of ponies around him. Berry was on his left side, Derpy was on his right, he knew the foals were with Derpy, and Sparklerâs herd had their own pile under their own blanket.

âœCome here Sparky,â Berry said groggily, she stood up, letting a flood of freezing cold air under the blanket. She pulled Sparkler under her, and then laid down on top of her, squashing her into the bed. Sparkler did not protest as Berry squeezed her.

âœI didnât mean to wake everypony up,â Sparkler whispered.

âœI think it is just us,â Bucky replied quietly.

Sparkler shivered under Berry, grateful to be comforted by the mare she loved. She cried softly, the tears finally coming, and she pressed her face into Berryâs foreleg. âœI hate this place,â Sparkler sobbed.

âœThen make it better,â Berry whispered into Sparklerâs ear.

âœI failed them, I should have trusted in my family, and I didnât. And somepony got hurt. I am a terrible alpha,â Sparkler cried softly. âœI failed to keep them safeâ my herdmate has a broken leg and it is my faultâ mineâ how do I keep them safe father?â

âœYou focus on building a bond with them, and I will focus on keeping you safe,â Bucky whispered as he leaned down and kissed the wounded filly that he called his own. âœAnd donât make the same mistake twice.â

âœI feel so ashamed, I canât bear to be in my own skin right now,â Sparkler confessed.

âœI am not ashamed of you Sparkler. You did something very brave, you took a leap of faith. So what if you stumbled a bit, the point is, you took that leap,â Berry whispered into Sparklerâs ear. She kissed the ear that she spoke into and then gave a loving nuzzle to the fillyâs cheek, wiping away tears with her snoot. âœOur failures are what make us great, not our successes. When we get things right on the first try, we learn nothing of value. It is only when we screw up repeatedly that we learn stuff. Trust me, I know, Iâve spent my whole life learning things the hard way.â

âœAnd Rising Star must love you a great deal to agree to this, so look at the good to be found,â Bucky encouraged. He suffered a sharp stabbing pain in his eye socket and his head felt swimmy. The cold was biting into the dried out and taut flesh inside of his eye socket. His head wobbled on his neck and he saw Berry shoot him a worried glance. âœJust hurts sometimes,â he whimpered, laying his head down and waiting for the pain to pass.

Sparkler continued to sob quietly as the ponies around her continued to slumber. Berryâs forelegs were soon completely soaked, but Berry did not mind. âœKeg Smasher said her father might challenge the marriage if we donât consummate itâ I donât want Loch Skimmer to be traumatised any more than she already is, she and Rising Star barely know one another,â Sparkler said in a sobbing heaving whisper.

âœIf he challenges it I will freeze him solid and kick him into shattered chunks,â Bucky replied in a wavering pain filled whisper. âœNopony threatens what is mine. Make no mistake, Loch Skimmer and Ripple are now mine.â

âœThat makes me feel better,â Sparkler murmured from beneath Berry.

âœNothing threatens my fillies or my colts,â Bucky muttered, still sounding woozy from pain.

âœKilling him wouldnât solve much, but it would make me feel better,â Berry admitted.

âœI kicked him in the potato sack,â Sparkler sniffled.

âœGood girl,â Berry whispered.

âœFather unloaded several hundred pounds of force onto his face and sent him flying,â the still sniffling filly added. âœHe cried like a foal.â

âœI matched the amount of force used to wound Loch Skimmer,â Bucky explained in an unsteady whisper.

Berry nodded in dark and then resumed her nuzzling, trying to comfort Sparkler. She could feel Sparklerâs barrel beneath her, still hitching and expanding greatly as she heaved deep breaths as her emotions flooded out from her eyes.

âœI see the moon, the moon sees me

shining through the leaves of the old oak tree

Oh, let the light that shines on me

shine on the one I love.

Over the mountain, over the sea,

back where my heart is longing to be

Oh, let the light that shines on me

shine on the one I love.

I hear the lark, the lark hears me

singing from the leaves of the old oak tree

Oh, let the lark that sings to me

sing to the one I love,

Over the mountains, over the sea

back where my heart is longing to be

Oh, let the lark that sings to me

sing to the one I love.â

Berryâs voice was gentle and melodic, and halfway through her song Bucky fell into slumber with a soft snort. She felt Sparkler going limp beneath her as she sang faintly into Sparklerâs ear, her gentle song lulling the troubled filly into sleep.

Finally, everypony around her was asleep, and Berry drifted off into slumber as well, still piled atop Sparkler, feeling warm, safe, and secure. Even the wolves howling outside couldnât bother her as she drifted off into a contented sleep, surrounded by those she loved, and those she would soon learn to love.

The skies were grey and threatened rain, a wild natural storm blowing in off the sea. The morning was cold and bleak, unusually chilly feeling for a summer morning, unless you were an inhabitant of the isles, and then it still felt pretty warm. As with everything else, it was all about perspectives.

The crowd in the courtyard was immense, and it was packed wall to wall with ponies. Everypony had been gathered. The ones that didnât fit in the courtyard stood on the ramparts and the walls. Others stood on top of roofs. Still more were packed all inside the gate entrance, and every face looked curious about what was about to happen.

The Laird was about to make an announcement.

Bucky sat on the raised platform reserved for the local nobles, of which there were a few, all of them looking very much like soldiers, ponies that had earned their place and position. All of them were covered in scars, and many were missing bits and pieces of their bodies. It was disturbing to Derpy just how well Bucky fit in with his new peers. All of them looked grim and hard faced, the ones that still had whole faces. There were a few that were only a mass of scars, including Bucky, who had one half of his face mutilated, still hidden under bandages.

Nothing was given on the isles, everything was earned.

At the other end of the platform, Loch Skimmerâs father was chained to a post, blindfolded and bound.

Keg Smasher stood nearby, his breath visible in the cold. In the grey light, he was an imposing figure, impossibly large by pony standards, even larger than many lunar pegasi, who were considered huge. Even the second largest pegasi in attendance was only half of Keg Smasherâs immense bulk. Keg Smasher began to pace over the platform, walking to and fro, flexing his albatross like wingspan as he did so. He was still covered in fresh cauterisation marks and part of his sunburned skin had began to peel.

âœThings must change,â Keg Smasher bellowed over the sound of the crowd. âœThe old ways need to goâ we live in a different time now. We have a future we need to make. We have an impossible task ahead of us, and we need every able bodied pony we have to do it. To this endââ

Keg Smasher paused and looked out over the crowd, meeting the eyes of several ponies. He then turned his head and looked at his collection of nobles.

âœTo this end we can no longer afford to lose able bodied ponies to needless cruelty. I ainât saying you canât set your foals straight, but there is a big difference between a stinging slap and breaking a leg. To this end, injuring a foal, or family member, be that a mare or a stallion, will be met with harsh punishment. This sort of shite ends today,â Keg Smasher announced.

There was a loud rush of sound from the crowd, astonished cries, and a few angry protests.

âœSHUT YOUR HOLES!â Keg Smasher commanded in a loud shout.

The crowd quieted somewhat, now a low dull roar.

âœToday, an example is going to be made. Yes, I understand that what I am about to do is going to cause grievous injury and will go against my own goals, but the example must be made,â as he spoke, he pulled a long cat oâ nine tails out from a chest sitting on the raised platform and held it in his wing. The ends fell to the ground with a collection of thumps.

âœFor the crime of permanently scarring such a beautiful face with a mark that will never go away, two lashes,â Keg Smasher bellowed.

âœNO!â Loch Skimmer begged. âœNO! PLEASE!â She was sitting between Sparkler and Rising Star, her front leg in a sling tied around her neck. Tears were falling down her face now, and she shot a glance to her mothers who were sitting in the front, near the raised platform, all of them looking terrified.

âœYou wretched piece of shite, how it must shame you to hear your own filly beg for mercy on your behalf after what you did to her,â Keg Smasher snarled. âœFor the crime of breaking her leg, five lashes!â

The crowd fell dreadfully silent and guards moved to take position on the front of the raised platform. A silent crowd was never good.

âœBuckminster!â Keg Smasher shouted. âœI want you over here!â

Bucky rose. âœWhat do you want?â he asked.

âœFor your failure to adequately punish this filly beater for harming one of your herd members, you are to deliver the punishment,â Keg Smasher demanded.

âœNo,â Bucky stated flatly.

âœNo?â Keg Smasher asked. âœThat wasnât a question. That was an ORDER! If you donât punish him, then I crush his head under my hoof.â

âœI can stop you,â Bucky said in a low voice.

âœYou could lad. You could kill me. But who will look after these ponies? Because if you try to stop me, I will make you kill me,â Keg Smasher announced. âœThis is for the good of everypony. Nothing here will change unless brute force is applied. You know it too, which is why you are scowling right now. In the future, we can enact gentle measures, once there is a new generation born to appreciate them. But for now, we have to speak a language these ponies of this generation will understand.â

Bucky snarled wordlessly.

âœBucky, my love, listen to me,â Berry begged. âœI know this will be awful, but this needs to be doneâ not for vengeance, but to give ponies something to be afraid of so they donât do this again. Keg Smasher is right, an example needs to be made.â

âœDerpy?â Bucky asked, turning to somepony else he loved and trusted.

Derpy dropped her gaze to the platform and her ears drooped to the sides of her face. âœHe harmed a foal. A foal. And a lesson must be taught that this is not alright. I donât like the punishment, but I agree that it needs to be done. It is going to be awful, but if one pony has to take a flogging to prevent other ponies from being beaten or seriously hurt, that seems like a fair exchange,â Derpy said.

âœThistle?â Bucky asked, looking at the kelpie.

âœYou are asking me?â she replied.

âœYes,â Bucky answered. âœIf you are to be a part of this herd, I want to see if you are mature enough to be a worthy member.â

Thistle was silent for a moment before answering, her face thoughtful. âœSometimes sacrifices have to be made for the greater good,â she said softly. âœI understand this better than most ponies. I know what I have had to endure for a cause greater than my own life.â

âœI am sure you do understand Thistle, thank you,â Bucky acknowledged. He turned his head to Sparkler. âœSparkler?â he asked.

âœIf I was asked I would do it myself,â Sparkler spat, fresh tears now running down her face.

âœRising Star?â Bucky asked, turning his left eye upon the colt.

âœI hope it kills him,â Rising Star growled. âœWhat I saw in Loch Skimmerâs eyes last night when she was tied down to the table haunts me. Tying down a pegasusâ I donât know what hurt her worse,â He gently wrapped a leg around Loch Skimmerâs withers and glared at the pegasus chained to the post.

âœLoch Skimmer?â Bucky asked finally, looking into the fillyâs eyes.

She said nothing, but leaned on Rising Star while she wept. She closed her eyes and Sparkler gently leaned up against her. After a long painful moment, the filly nodded her head but said nothing. Ripple buried her face unto Sparklerâs side and howled.

Bucky heaved a sigh of resignation and looked at the crowd, who was staring at him expectantly, and still frighteningly quiet. He turned to look at Keg Smasher, who was waiting patiently. The chained pegasus wasnât going anywhere, and Keg Smasher was in no big hurry.

Bucky walked forward, stiff legged, his head held high. He snatched the whip from Keg Smasher and recoiled in horror as he took it into his magic. It was leather, made from the skin of some creature. It felt wrong in his magical grip.

He realised that Sentinel was standing beside him, looking solemn and serious. âœGo sit with the others,â Bucky instructed.

âœNo sir, I cannot,â Sentinel replied. âœI am to remain at your side during times of trouble, and this is trouble.â

Bucky heaved another sigh and nodded his head slightly in acceptance. He hefted the whip in his magic, getting a feel for it. It was leather, long, and had nine ends, each end having a tiny lead ball at the end. There was dried blood on the braided leather, it flaked, crackled free, and then drifted to the platform below.

âœI personally do not agree with this, but I accept that it is necessary,â Bucky announced. âœPrepare yourself you wretch. I hope all of you watch this and understand your fate if you abuse your foals. Or use them as trade goods. As a father, I cannot imagine doing something to harm my own foals. Or my mares. I would never in good conscience harm one hair on their bodies. They are my everything. My reason for living. The reason I draw breath. I worship them and would die for them without question or hesitation.â

There was a hushed murmur in the crowd.

Bucky swished the whip in the air a few times, getting a feel for it. He took an experimental lash in a direction where nopony was standing, and there was a supersonic crack that made the chained pegasus cry in alarm.

He stood in silence, dreading what he must do next.

Swiftly and suddenly, he lashed the cat oâ nine tails forward and it connected with the chained pegasus. There was a gibbering cry of pain and the bound pegasus thrashed against his bonds, trying to be free. Several feathers fell to the platform and several drops of blood trickled down.

One.

He hurled the whip again, and it thundercracked against the stallion, splitting flesh and opening fresh wounds over the pegasusâ back. One wing now hung at an odd angle.

Two.

The whip sprang forward once again, several of the ends wrapping around the stallionâs hind legs and biting deep. The pony threw himself weakly against his bonds and howled for mercy, his voice a ragged scream.

Three.

This time some of the tails landed on his withers and wrapped around the base of his neck and his chest. The pegasus went limp in his bonds, whimpering now, and unable to speak.

Four.

Some of the heads came down upon the stallionâs spine, and more feathers were torn from the bound wings as the other heads tore deep into the flesh of the pegasusâ wings.

Five.

The crowd cried out as the whip connected upon the stallionâs croup and some of the heads tore into the side of the hip, ripping away some of the stallionâs mark.

Six.

The crowd had turned away now from the bloody mess, and even Bucky could no longer look at what he was doing. When he brought down the lash this time, it sent spatters of blood flying all the way out to the wall as it traveled through the air. It connected with a terrifying âœCRACK!â and Bucky winced, unable to look at the damage done.

Seven.

Bucky tossed the bloody scourge down upon the platform and looked at Keg Smasher. âœHas justice been properly applied?â he asked.

âœAye, I think it has,â Keg Smasher agreed. âœAnd to everypony present, this could be you. Donât think I won't do it!â

Bucky strode towards his family, feeling strangely numb, unable to comprehend what he had just done. It was an unimaginable act of cruelty, and even as he walked, he could feel it changing him profoundly. âœNever again,â he muttered to himself. âœNever againâ I will not bring harm to my fellow ponies ever again,â he swore. This one act of violence was rippling through his brain, and his entire psychology shifted as he tried to take in exactly what he had done.

âœKeg Smasher, never ask me to do that again, or else I will take my family and we will goâ I do not care about the long term consequences. If Equestria will not take us, we will go to other lands and this war can rage forever for all I care. I swear upon my mares and my foals that I will never harm one of my fellow ponies ever again. Do I make myself clear?â Bucky said as he stormed across the platform.

âœAs the waters in the loch,â Keg Smasher replied. âœAnd I will do as you ask, since you have done as I have asked. I will never ask you to do this again and no conditions or threats of coercion will be applied.â

Bucky looked at his foals, the little ones, Dinky and PiÃa had their faces buried under Derpyâs wings. They trembled and there was a wet puddle under PiÃa that made Bucky feel ashamed of what he had done.

âœTake up Loch Skimmer and the little ones. We are leaving,â Bucky announced. âœLet us be away from this horrible place.â

Chapter 72

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Bucky was almost back to his room when the tears started. It was a few at first, and then a chuffing sob, and then he very nearly collapsed upon the floor. Rising Star and Sparkler were busy carrying Loch Skimmer, and it was very difficult to get everypony safely into their quarters.

Derpy and Berry both had seen their husband cry before, but never like this. He cried like a kicked foal, deep horrible sobs that were utterly incapacitating. Berry had the presence of mind to understand that this was healthy on some level, his pain hadnât manifested as a panic attack or a total shut down, but knowing it and seeing it were two indispensably different things.

Bucky curled into a fetal position on the bed and continued to wail pitifully, and Berry gently tried to comfort him with a soft touch, trying to touch the places that were the least injured.

âœWatch him,â Derpy commanded. âœI have to go take care of something.â

âœYou are leaving?â Berry asked.

âœJust for a moment,â Derpy replied, and then she was gone, flying out the door, one eye closed so she could see properly.

The grey mare flew down the hall with astounding speed, down some stairs, down the length of hall leading to the dining hall. She peered around and found nothing. She went careening down the hall at breakneck pace, went through the doors, and peered out into the courtyard. Still full of ponies, but not her target. She turned and headed back inside, her wings beating frantically, and she cracked her fetlocks in a most disturbing way.

She burst through the throne room doors a few moments later, a grey blur, and without a single word of warning, flew at her target like a dart. She connected solidly with one front hoof, sending Keg Smasher flying backwards, flipping over, and landing on his back.

âœOch, stay back!â the prone stallion commanded to his guard as he tried to shield his face with his forelegs.

âœYou son of a bitch,â Derpy growled. She unleashed a flurry of blows, some of which Keg Smasher blocked, others connected solidly with his jaw. âœMy husband has done nothing but help you, and this is the thanks you give him? You broke him!â One particularly hard punch landed solidly and there was a sickening crunch.

âœYOU COWARD!â Derpy screamed. âœYou know you have to stay here and rule. So you made Bucky bear the horror of your terrible act, knowing that he would leave someday and take the fear of what was done with him!

Derpyâs hoof slipped past Keg Smasherâs defenses and connected solidly with his snoot. There was another terrible cracking sound as the ridge of his nose broke.

âœYOU HURT HIM! INSIDE! YOU BROKE THINGS! NOW TAKE YOUR OWN PUNISHMENT!â Derpy hollered. One hoof moved, it was blindingly fast, as only a pegasus hopped up on magically charged adrenaline could be. It connected with the side of Keg Smasherâs jaw with a crack that echoed through the throne room. âœBECAUSE OF YOU HE IS DISFIGURED ON THE OUTSIDE AND ON THE INSIDE!â

Derpy rose into the air, her forehooves bloody. She glared down at the pegasus below her, and in the ultimate of all pegasus specific insults, pissed on him to establish her own dominance. It was a crude and terrible act, usually reserved for the worst of foes. Stories say that Commander Hurricane pissed on several dragons he had vanquished, and more than a few griffons. Pissing on your enemy, while alive or dead, was considered just about the worst thing any pegasus could do.

Finished, Derpy landed, extended both wings, and then presented her middle central primary feathers in the second worst of all pegasi insults. The guards were standing in wide eyed shock, completely unable to take in what they had just witnessed. The mare had just shot their Laird a double birdie after laying him low.

Keg Smasher lay on the ground groaning. He turned his head to one side, spat out a tooth, hawked in the back of his throat, and then spat out a large gout of blood and several more teeth. âœAye, I suppose I deserved that,â he grumbled.

Derpy stomped stiff legged towards the door, lifted her tail, farted, and then stormed out of the room, leaving behind one battered pegasus with a broken nose and several missing molars, a group of shocked guards, and a large puddle of piss.

Past the doors, she took wing and then flew off to be with her family, feeling much better now that she established a new pecking order of the flock on this island.

Sparkler looked down at her mother and her motherâs bloody hooves. She didnât know what had taken place, and she wasnât sure she wanted to know what had taken place. Her mother was broody and was hugging PiÃa and Dinky fiercely, something that made both of the foals feel better and calmed the outraged pegasus.

âœWe need to get ready,â Rising Star announced quietly.

âœReady for what?â Sparkler inquired.

âœSchool,â Rising Star stated.

âœAfter everything that just happened? I donât think anypony is up for it,â Sparkler said flatly.

âœBut it needs to be done. Especially after what took place. So pack up, grab our materials, and letâs head for the dining hall,â Rising Star said patiently.

âœI donât know if this this a good idea,â Sparkler protested.

âœLook, we owe it to those foals to make a difference, and our time here is limited. We must make every day count, even the bad days. Now come on, I am not asking, I am telling, so grab our stuff, grab Loch Skimmer, get Ripple, get Dinky, PiÃa, and Sentinel, and we will head to the dining hall. And ponies will bring their foals, even with everything that has taken place this morning, and we salvage what is left of the day. Am I understood?â Rising Star announced.

Sparkler did not reply. She glanced briefly at her parents. Berry was still comforting Bucky. Bucky was still curled up and crying. Derpy was trying to comfort herself by comforting others. Sparkler stomped a hoof and lunged forward, kissing Rising Star passionately, leaning in and giving him the sort of affection she felt he deserved.

âœYouâre right,â she agreed after pulling away from the kiss.

âœI am not sure I am up for school today,â Loch Skimmer said weakly.

âœTough,â Rising Star retorted abruptly. âœYou were just going to lay in the bed anyway, might as well be learning something.â

Loch Skimmer scowled, but then her face softened. âœThe distraction would be nice,â she admitted.

Thistle did not comment, but pranced in place nervously.

âœI will come with you,â Derpy said. âœBerry, try to get him out and about. Even if it means being a little rough with him. Donât let him sit in here and stew.â

âœGood idea,â Berry said as she gently trailed a hoof over Buckyâs belly where he wasnât sunburned or horribly chewed on and then burnt. Her touch was having its usual effect on Bucky.

âœWhat is it with earth ponies?â Derpy asked. âœYou and Bon Bon both. Ever notice that?â

âœYouâre right. I wonder what it is?â Berry asked.

PiÃa broke free from Derpy, squirmed over to Bucky, and gently placed her hooves on a spot on his barrel where she wouldnât hurt him. âœFeel better,â she soothed. âœWe need you.â

The unicorn did not reply. His remaining eye was shut and he continued to cry miserably.

âœLet it out,â Berry said. âœJust get it all out, better than how you used to hold it all in,â she whispered into Buckyâs ear. âœThis is a good moment for you, you finally have let yourself show a little real weakness around us.â

âœI cry all the time,â PiÃa sniffled. âœIt feels good to let it out.â

âœCome on, hurry up, quit dragging your hooves,â Derpy said.

PiÃa reluctantly shuffled off towards the door, Dinky following after her, and Sentinel marching behind them both. Ripple strode beside Sentinel, trying to mimic his unusual walk, holding her head high. Her face was still stained with tears, but she was determined to establish herself within her new herd. The slight looking filly was also charcoal grey like her older sister, but had a light blue mane and tail instead of straw coloured.

Derpy leaned down over her husband. âœSpend some time with Berry. Maybe spend some time in the brewery. Or just some time together. I love both of you,â Derpy said as she planted a kiss on her fellow-wife and then her husband.

Loch Skimmer watched the display of affection. âœMy father and my mothers never behaved like that,â she commented in a low voice.

âœLearn from our example,â Derpy stated. âœBe good and gentle to your husband. He is a good colt.â

âœSheâs right,â Berry replied. âœBehind every good stallion there is a good mare or a herd of good mares. Well, in a family sense. You get the idea.â She planted a kiss on Buckyâs twitching ear and continued to rub his belly.

Berry watched as the crowd cleared from the room, leaving her alone with Bucky. She listened as their hoofbeats echoed down the hall, and eventually the room was silent. She let Bucky continue to cry, content to be a good wife and soothe her husband.

The sky still threatened rain as Berry led Bucky gently along, occasionally nosing him. He still hadnât spoken a single word, and his remaining eye was dull and glassy. He was dull and listless as he moved slowly through the grass, the cool air soothing on his fevered skin, but painful on his eye socket.

The stallion seemed inconsolable and Berry wasnât sure what to do.

âœBucky, maybe we should consider accepting Thistle into our herd. I know we could talk Derpy into it. And then maybe we should go. This place is getting to us all. Even me,â Berry stated.

There was no reply. Bucky continued to move mindlessly through the grass, wobbling about unsteadily, still looking vacant.

âœThis is an awful place. It does bad things to ponies,â Berry commented.

Bucky continued to be near catatonic, and he stumbled through the grass, his face strangely blank. He was walking in wide disoriented circles, kept moving only by Berryâs nudges.

âœBucky, damnit, say something to me!â Berry shouted.

The stallion fell over into the grass and began to sob again. Berry eased herself down beside him and rubbed him gently along his lower barrel. Berry felt Buckyâs snoot press into her neck and she could feel his hot heaving breath as he wept.

âœFeck everythingâ I hate this place,â Berry muttered. âœJust let it out. Let everything out. Donât let it poison you,â the mare cooed as though she was talking to a foal. The grass was damp all around them and there was no sun. The skies were grey and full of clouds which were turning darker and darker. The air reeked of ozone and not from unicorn magic. A wild storm was brewing, like the ones that occasionally blew out from the Everfree and it promised to be interesting. The air was also filled with the smell of moist earth, old rotten fish, sewage from the castle, and the sweetness of the grass. The wind whipped Buckyâs jet black mane and tail all around them, and Berryâs own raspberry coloured mane also rippled in the breeze, not having been styled or cared for in quite a while.

âœDo you need me Bucky? Derpy told us to spend time togetherâ I know you are in a fragile state right now, but I am sure we can find a way for you to have a release,â Berry offered.

There was no reply, Bucky just continued to lay there, unresponsive and weeping. Berry did feel his leg brush up against her briefly though. She rolled him on his back and began to rub his belly and his barrel, avoiding any places with cauterised bites. The grieving stallion responded somewhat, looking up at her briefly, before closing his remaining eye and succumbing to his sorrow once again.

âœIt is everything hitting you all at once, isnât it? In such a short time, you were married, your life changed, you came here, lost your eye, and now I donât even know what it is that youâve lost, but it was something important to youâ and everything is coming apart right now, isnât it?â Berry asked as she rubbed her hooves in slow lazy circles along his flesh. âœTry not to think about what youâve lost. Think about what you have gained. You have two mares that love you, and there will probably be a third soon. You have two little fillies that adore you, you are everything to them, you have a young colt that sees you as a father even if he doesnât want to say it and would rather remain your squireâ and then there are Sparkler and Rising Star. Sparkler came to you last night for a reason. You donât know it but Rising Star watches everything you do and listens to every word you say. Loch Skimmer and Ripple both seem comfortable around you and trust youâ even after the events of this morning. Surely you can take some comfort what you have gained,â Berry said as she leaned down and kissed Bucky on the underside of his jaw and then planted a few more for good measure.

The first raindrop splashed down, cold and wet. Then a second one struck Bucky on his navel. And then, the torrent opened and the storm began to rage, instantly drenching the pair. The rain was cold and soothing, and washed away much of the unicornâs hurt, both inside and out. He looked up at Berry, whose mane was plastered over her eyes.

âœNever again,â he whispered as lightning crackled overhead.

Chapter 73

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Change is a funny thing and perhaps the only constant thing that exists in the universe that continues to happen with any regularity. Everything continues to change, shaped in part by the changes that take place around it and the environment in which those changes happen.

There was once a unicorn, born to the worst of unicorns, the son of a long line of terrible unicorns, all of whom were born under a dark cloud that shadowed their destinies. Any of these promising sons that showed potential lived interesting lives, lives full of tragic circumstances that drove them towards their destiny, creating within them the opportunity for change.

And without fail, every one of these promising sons fell into darkness, broken by the times they lived in, taken down by the inherited destiny that they carried upon their shoulders. It was a series of changes that broke them, a perfect chain of events that struck upon their every weakness, shattered their resolve, and then it was a terrible change that brought them to their ruin.

And surprisingly enough, many met their ruin upon the Isles, drawn by simple twists of fate to the wretched land they were responsible for creating. It was a place that broke ponies, crushed their spirits, and ground even the strongest wills down into broken states of total failure.

This unicorn, born to the worst of unicorns, found himself in the lands his forefathers had created, like many of his own forefathers before him, and he had been drawn to the very edge of what he could endure. What remained was a broken heap, a collection of ragged tatters, chewed flesh, and a soul on the verge of breaking, a thin fragile connection remained that kept this unicorn from falling so completely into darkness.

This son, much like his forefathers, found himself unable to pull himself back from the brink, slowly sliding into his dark fate, but that thin connection was surprisingly strong, and it connected to not one, but two mares of surprisingly hardy stock, both born survivors and fighters, both also products of change. One was earthen, a product of these cursed lands herself, stubborn, resistant yet open to change, fierce, gentle, and very much in love with the unicorn sliding into darkness. The other was wind personified, also a creature born of change, and the embodiment of what she represented. She was change, a relentless wind that one had to be flexible to endure or else face breakage as the raging storm swirled all around. She was also a fierce protector, possessive, and had the stubbornness to match her earthen counterpart. She too loved the unicorn, and tried to keep him within the calm eye of her storm. She was not content to let him go; and, to keep the one she loved, she offered him her life, a home, and foals, powerful incentives that gave the unicorn something to strive for.

It was here that this son, born to the worst of unicorns, succeeded where his forefathers had failed. He had created bonds with those who would not let go of him, and during the moment where he had failed completely, when he hit the broken place like so many of his ancestors, he had the strength of others to fall back upon. When he could go no further and do nothing to save himself, he had others willing to shoulder the terrible burden he carried, to try and save him from his fate, not knowing what awaited him or what they were saving him from.

And so, the terrible repetition of destiny suffered change for the first time.

Over a week had passed since the flogging. Each had dealt with the awful event in their own way. Bucky remained in a state of near silence, saying very little, trying to deal with everything that had happened in such a short period of time. Berry focused on being a good wife, understanding there was something about her touch that kept Bucky going. Derpy focused on the new herd members, bringing them in and making them feel welcomed. Thistle had turned into one of Buckyâs constant companions, something that the grey mare had noticed and approved of.

Rising Star was experiencing a major shift in his personality. In some ways, he became even more poetic in his nature, but also more serious. It settled upon his shoulders that he was no longer a colt, not in the sense that he had a been a colt, a rollicking free spirit with no real responsibilities. Now, he was a husband and one of the two heads within a herd. He approached his new role cautiously and openly sought advice from Berry, and he was resolved not to fail those whom he was responsible for.

Sparkler focused on her new role, also seeking advice from Berry, and sometimes talking with her mother, trying to make amends for her mistake. While Derpy had forgiven her, Sparkler was having a great deal of trouble forgiving herself. Her mistake had brought terrible consequence, and Sparkler was determined to make restitution for what she had done. As a result, her friendship with Loch Skimmer had grown a great deal in a short time.

Loch Skimmer focused on her place within her new herd, as a fellow-wife, an older sister, and now a daughter to parents that she had trouble comprehending. The open affection was disarming, and there had been several instances where she had trouble adjusting to her new life. There was a time when Bucky had kissed her affectionately on her cheek and she had frozen, perhaps expecting something else, not sure what had gone through her own mind exactly. Up to this point in her short life, Loch Skimmerâs experiences with males had all been relationships based on fear.

Ripple fared a little better, openly welcoming her new herd-parent's affections, forming a strong bond with Derpy almost right away, and much to everyponyâs surprise, a fast friendship with Sentinel. The two had quickly become an inseparable pair, with Ripple rapidly sliding into the role of a big sister to the younger lunar pegasus. Ripple also quickly took to Dinky and PiÃa, glad to watch over them and spend time with them.

Sentinel poured himself into his schoolwork, and had shown much improvement in just a few days. He was bright, attentive, and motivated far beyond the usual standards of most colts his age. He had aspirations and dreams, and they required literacy and education. He had begun saluting more, giving Bucky and others the respect that he felt they deserved. He had sworn yet another oath, this time to Ripple, to keep her safe from the rats that terrified her. It was a service with its own reward.

Dinky was content that something resembling school had returned into her life, giving her the sense of routine that she needed. More than anything though, she desperately wanted to commune again, to tap into magical forces and gain new understanding. The communing had taken away the itching need for mischievous pranks. Dinky was enthralled by the idea of power; not raw magical power, but the knowledge of how to use power, to bend it to her will, to shape the world around her and to have some sense of control over life. Her pranks had been lighthearted and had provided a few laughs, which were much needed right now.

Out of all of them, PiÃa had been the one most affected by the flogging, second only to Bucky. While she loved Derpy and her sister Berry a great deal, and had always gone to them for comfort, lately she had been spending more time with Bucky, quietly curled up with him, neither one of them talking very much or needing to talk, but simply content to spend time with one another in silence. Their relationship had shifted, and even though the words had never been said, Bucky felt that out of all of his herdmates, PiÃa alone truly understood what he felt about what he had done. PiÃa had a strong sense of right and wrong, a truly prodigious sense of right and wrong, and she knew what it was like to punish oneâs self for being bad.

It was a quiet afternoon of rest. School was over, lunch was done, and the entire herd was gathered in their quarters, enjoying a bit of quiet time with one another. Sparkler and Rising Star were playing chess against one another, the chessboard and pieces constructed by Sparkler. It was crude but serviceable. Sentinel was napping, Ripple curled up against his side, her head resting on his withers as she dozed as well. Dinky had conjured up a tiny raincloud and was making it rain into a large clean bucket for drinking water. She was struggling to keep the cloud together with her magic, and Derpy was providing some gentle advice as well as giving an occasional nudge to the cloud to make it behave. The last cloud Dinky had summoned had been a little stormy and had zapped Dinky on the nose for meddling with nature. PiÃa was curled up in between Buckyâs forelegs, and was currently a pillow for Buckyâs head, which rested on her back. She was watching Berry and Thistle as they talked about something boring.

Berry and Thistle discussed foal rearing techniques and practical approaches to presenting a united front to a small army of foals that was sure to happen in the near future. Berry and Thistle both felt this was important, as both understood that foal armies were vicious little tyrannical mobs that had to be carefully dealt with. Berry had some practical hoofs on experience with her own siblings, mainly PiÃa, and Thistle had some small amount of experience through her own siblings and observations.

Loch Skimmer was on the bed, sprawled out, her broken leg propped up on a pillow, watching the different ponies in the room do different things. She occasionally wiggled a little closer to Bucky, who was also on the bed, completely unaware that she was doing so.

Bucky snored, having consumed a vast quantity of wine and some mead, and was now blissfully unaware of his own pain. His horn poofed out a ring of smoke occasionally in his sleep and, according to Berryâs observations, looked a bit like a dragon protecting its hoard as he slumbered.

Time passed, and things changed very little.

Dinky was still managing her raincloud, listening to her motherâs patient advice about dealing with nature and raw elemental forces, and the importance of having some respect for lightning.

Rising Star had lost yet another game of chess to Sparkler.

Thistle and Berryâs conversation had shifted towards the finer points of give and take within a herd and Berryâs observations on her admittedly short marriage.

PiÃa had fallen asleep in between Buckyâs forelegs, feeling safe and secure in the daylight where there were no wolves howling.

Loch Skimmer was now very nearly touching Buckyâs side, laying close to him and drowsing slightly, also feeling very safe and secure.

Ripple and Sentinel had shifted positions slightly, and now, Sentinelâs wings were wrapped around his head in a cocoon to block out the light. Ripple had mimicked his actions with her own wings to a small degree, and her head was covered by her feathers. The malnourished pegasus farted with every shift of her body, her innards still adjusting to eating something other than grass, and her belly was still swollen from lunch, where she had gorged on leftover pease porridge and fried oatcakes.

It was during this moment of relative peace and calm that there was a faint rapping upon the door. Sparkler rose from her game and approached, unlocking the door and cautiously pulled it open. A pegasus guard stood outside the door, and he bowed his head low when he saw Sparkler.

âœMaâam, you have visitors,â the guard said and stepped aside.

Sparkler gasped when she saw the two ponies who stepped into the doorway.

Bon Bon and Lyra were filthy, covered in mud and worse, and both looked very tired. Sparkler didnât care about the mud, she threw herself at them, a cry in her throat that woke everypony in the room.

A lot of things happened all at once, a very confusing series of events that had a final result of Lyra and Bon Bon being buried under a mass of ponies. After several minutes, the unicorn and the earth pony were pulled into the room and the door was closed, Sparkler thanking the guard before locking the door once again.

Bon Bon, already emotional, lost it completely when she saw Bucky, she stumbled and fell upon Lyra who tried to catch her. Nopony said anything while the pair clung to one another and sobbed for a time, but Berry did go to them and wrap her forelegs around them both.

Derpy sat nearby, unsure of what to say or do, Dinky and PiÃa both clinging to her forelegs.

Finally, Sparkler could take it no longer. âœWhy are you here? How did you get here?â she asked, still in shock from seeing the pair.

âœWhat happened to Bucky?â Lyra asked with a pained sniffle, completely ignoring Sparklerâs question. âœHe looks awful! What did that to him?â she asked while pointing to Bucky who was still on the bed.

âœBucky was savaged by the shadow wolves,â Berry stated softly. âœHeâs lost his eye and his wounds had to be cauterised shut to stop the bleeding.â

âœOh thatâs awful,â Bon Bon whispered. âœSo many ponies I donât know.â

âœI donât care how you got here, I am really glad you are here, we need you both,â Derpy said, her wings fluttering from barely contained emotion.

âœBefore anything else is said, we beg your forgiveness,â Bon Bon said in a choked whisper. âœWe made a terrible mistake and we hope that you will forgive us.â

âœMistake? Forgiveness? For what?â Berry asked.

âœWe wanted to be a part of your herdâ we wanted a part of what you had, your happiness, and then we let you go off and face this wretched place all alone. We wanted to share your happiness, but we didnât join you in your suffering. I feel terrible!â Lyra confessed, her tone heartbroken.

Derpy came forward, gently pushing Dinky and PiÃa aside, she closed the distance between her and Lyra. She leaned out and gently kissed Lyra on her cheek, and then leaned over and kissed Bon Bon.

âœWe felt awful,â Bon Bon continued. âœWe let our best friends go off without us, our friends that we wanted to be herdmates with. We were so foolish,â Bon Bon admitted. âœCan you forgive us?â she begged.

âœThere is nothing to forgive,â Derpy soothed. âœBut we do need to get you two cleaned up a bit.â

âœI canât believe you are here!â Sparkler cried.

âœWe missed you Sparky,â Lyra replied. âœWe missed all of you.â

âœWe left just a few days after you did, and we went through a lot of trouble to get here,â Bon Bon stated.

âœTell us later, letâs get you two cleaned up and settled in,â said Derpy as her nose crinkled. She remembered what the wagon had to roll through to get out of the harbour city. The pair were muddy up to their hocks and beyond. Only Derpy knew it wasnât just mud. And some of it was now on her own grey pelt. She eyed Dinkyâs raincloud and had an idea.

The damp group of ponies were nearly dried from Dinkyâs magic. It was a good lesson in fine control. The conjured raincloud had been used for showering. It had been a bit hesitant about giving up the goods at first, but a good scowl from Derpy had set it straight and made the cloud let go.

Or made the cloud widdle as PiÃa delicately put it.

Introductions had been made, and Bon Bon and Lyra were shocked by the size of the herd and how much they had missed. They were surprised by Sparklerâs marriage. The amount to take in was overwhelming.

âœSoâ how did you get here?â asked Bucky, who was still reclining on the bed. His voice was different now, it was resonant. Commanding. Something had changed him. Where once his voice usually wavered a bit from continual nervousness, now his voice had settled, becoming sonorous, and it had smoothed out into something that was truly pleasing to the ears in a quiet and dignified sort of way. His reedy baritone had become a low rumbling baritone that came from deep within his barrel, it was the sort of voice any patrician would make deals with the dark denizens of Tartarus for.

Bon Bon was quite taken by the change in Buckyâs voice and apparent temperament. She didnât know everything that had taken place, but Bucky had changed and Bon Bon couldnât help but think that it was for the better somehow, something akin to a gut instinct that resonated deep within her.

âœWe left just a few days after you did,â Lyra said as she settled onto a sofa.

âœWe figured out we made a mistakeâ we couldnât sleep. We couldnât eat. We let our friends that we loved dearly go off to some horrible place. I havenât been here since I was taken in a sweep a long time ago, but I have memories,â Bon Bon added as she clambered up onto the sofa next to Lyra and began to stroke Lyraâs side.

âœWe were halfway to Baltimare when a pegasus told us that Baltimare would be the last stop. He intercepted the train to tell all of the passengers. Baltimare and Fillydelphia both had suffered total collapse. There were riots. There was a bunch of stuff in the newspapers about corruption and it apparently set everypony off. Princess Celestia gave orders that all of the train service was being cut off. Baltimare was a scary place. You could see the city was on fire, and there was smoke rising up into the sky. We never did go into the city proper. We got off at the train station in a little farming community just outside the city,â Lyra explained.

âœWe stayed the night with a very kind farmer that lived near the train station that let the passengers use his barn to sleep in. The next morning we saw a newspaperâ it said that Princess Celestia had closed all of the harbours and ports. Nothing was going in or out. I thought our journey was done, and we should try to get back to Ponyville somehow, but Lyra said no, we had to go onward,â Bon Bon continued.

âœI led us to the coast. With the harbour closed, there wasnât a lot of boats. I found a group of griffon fishers that were heading northward towards Manehatten and I talked them into giving us a ride,â Lyra said, relaxing into Bon Bonâs embrace.

âœAnd by talk, she means used mind control magic to make them agree,â Bon Bon said sourly. âœI still feel badly about it. We made it to Manehatten. I wish we hadnât,â the mare said sadly.

âœTotal breakdown,â Lyra announced.

âœThere were some ships anchored off of the coast trying to figure out what to do next,â Bon Bon explained. âœThey couldnât drop their goods off in Manehatten with the harbour closed. Lyra sweet talked one of the captains into bringing us here,â she continued.

âœAnd now, we are here,â Lyra said.

âœAnd this place is even worse than I remember,â Bon Bon stated as she cringed. âœI came from Isle Fishhead. This is Isle oâ Groats. Iâve never been to this isle until just today. Lyra cried when she saw the harbour city.â

Lyra gave a haunted nod but said nothing.

âœI canât imagine somepony going through so much trouble for other ponies,â Loch Skimmer said in a soft quavering voice.

âœThey are our friends, we love them, and we hope they will be family,â Bon Bon replied nervously. âœAlthough I am not sure we deserve it. I feel awful abandoning you. We should have boarded the train with you.â

âœOh stop!â Derpy snapped. âœI am not angry. You shouldnât feel bad about it,â the grey mare said in a more soothing tone.

âœThey are here now, we need to decide what to do with them,â Berry said. âœIt is my opinion that by coming to us, they have proven their worth. I know I am not an alpha, but I want my opinion known,â Berry announced, nudging Derpy softly and then gesturing at Sparkler.

âœOh, yes, thatâs important,â Derpy said, cottoning on quickly. âœHerd communication. Wellââ the mare paused and licked her lips nervously after she spoke. âœAfter hearing Berryâs opinion, and carefully considering it, I find I am in a place to agree,â Derpy announced.

Bon Bon and Lyra both heaved a sigh of relief.

âœI have a condition,â Bucky stated.

âœWhat?â Derpy questioned. âœThis is mare business. They are not coming in as fellow-wives, but as extended family.â

âœI still have a conditionâ more of a request really,â Bucky explained.

Derpy scowled, put on the spot by her husband. She wondered what he was up to. âœThis is mare business and my decision,â she stated. âœBut I will take your request into consideration,â the mare added, shooting a quick one eyed glance at Sparkler.

âœIf they are going to be in the herd, fellow-wives or not, the price of admission is having one of my foals,â Bucky said with a certain sound of finality.

âœWhat?â Bon Bon asked.

âœHuh?â Lyra grunted.

âœWHAT?â Derpy demanded.

Berry wisely chose to stay silent and give Bucky the benefit of the doubt.

âœLook Bucky, in case you missed it, they arenât interested in stallions,â Derpy said protectively, her wings flaring out slightly. One eye was closed as she glared at her husband fiercely.

âœAnd I would never force myself upon them, you should know me better. But there is artificial insemination. I am not asking both of them to do so, only one of them, and it is a very simple request,â Bucky explained. âœWell, simple request with some long term complications.â

Derpyâs ruffled feathers smoothed out a bit but she still looked a little uncomfortable and flustered.

âœActually, Lyra and I have talked about insemination or adoption for a while, we couldnât find a worthy donor and I have problems with orphanages because I want to take all of them home with me,â Bon Bon replied.

âœThis doesnât seem like such a big deal to me,â Lyra said.

âœBut why Bucky?â Derpy asked.

âœBecause recent events have taught me to revere life,â Bucky answered. âœIt is fragile and precious, and I want as much of it as possible,â he explained. âœWould you deny me that?â

âœWell, noâ no I wouldnât do that, but if they are bearing one of your foals, which would make it one of my foals, then I want them married in as wives, not just as extended family,â Derpy argued gently. âœWe are all trustworthy adults, and I think we can reach an agreement where they can be privately left alone to love one another and still be wives.â

âœI am fine by that,â Bucky said, turning his head and focusing his left eye on the pair of ponies clutching one another.

âœIf we are going to be wives, then we want access to Bucky for the purpose of fathering more foals if we should so desire,â Bon Bon stated boldly.

Derpyâs muzzle scrunched and she looked thoughtful.

âœI understand I havenât secured my place in this herd as of yet,â Thistle said in a soft timid voice full of fear. âœBut I would like to say I support their right to have foals and request to have a good father that will provide for them. They are going to share the workload in raising your foals, correct?â

Berry nodded.

âœSo this arrangement isnât about rutting, but what is best for any foals that come along because of this agreement. If I was a member of this herd, my own needs and feelings would be secondary to the needs of potential foals. Foals are all that matter,â Thistle stated timidly.

Bucky nodded and looked at Thistle appreciatively.

Derpy stared at Thistle for a long silent moment, the only sounds to be heard was the breathing of many ponies packed into a room. The mare and the filly regarded one another, Thistle constantly averting her gaze and staring down at her hooves as Derpy studied her.

âœCome here Thistle,â Derpy commanded.

Thistle did as she was bid, her steps were shy and nervous, and she fearfully approached Derpy on the sofa. Derpy leaned forward and pulled the pregnant pony up onto the couch with her and cuddled her closely, wrapping her forelegs around Thistle.

âœWe understand one another,â Derpy whispered into Thistleâs ear. âœThat is the most grown up thing you have said so far. You are getting very close,â Derpy said sweetly as she smoothed away Thistleâs concerns.

Berry raised her eyebrow at Derpyâs words but said nothing.

âœDo we have any say in this?â Dinky asked.

âœI want a say in this,â PiÃa requested. She poked Sentinel. âœSay something,â she whispered.

âœWhat? What do I say? I serve, I donât make demands, what is there to say?â he asked the earth pony foal poking him.

PiÃa rolled her eyes and gave up, hugging Sentinel instead. âœMy brother is a dope,â she muttered.

âœI am not,â Sentinel protested, wrapping a wing around PiÃa.

âœI am all for anything that would give me more mothers,â Dinky stated when nopony replied to her question. âœAnd Lyra makes all kinds of silly voices for characters when she is reading to me.â

âœYeah, thatâs important,â PiÃa chimed in. âœPlus, Bon Bon makes candies.â

âœChocolate candies,â Dinky added. âœWhich are really good for pregnant ponies,â she pointed out with a hoof gesture.

Bon Bon giggled and her ears splayed out sideways.

âœIt would be really good for Ripple to have to mature role models,â Sparkler said, her voice cutting through the giggles. âœRipple doesnât know much, but she knows that she likes looking at fillies more than colts,â Sparkler announced.

Ripple blushed under her dark pelt and covered her face with her wings.

âœI want Ripple to see that it is perfectly okay and natural for her to feel this way. She is still young enough I think to develop a healthy outlook on her sexuality. This horrible place hasnât yet broken her spirit completely. I want what is best for her, and having Bon Bon and Lyra around would give her somepony to talk to and go to for advice. I know she could go to Derpy or Berry, but my mothers swing both ways, while Lyra and Bon Bon only go one way. Ripple could get better perspectives from them I feel,â Sparkler explained. âœAs alpha of my own herd, and the daughter of this herd, this is my opinion.â

Rising Star looked at his wife thoughtfully, his eyebrow raised. He said nothing but nodded in agreement.

âœI am having trouble taking this in,â Loch Skimmer said. âœTo take in two mares and then not rut themâ I never never heard of such a thing,â she stated in strained voice.

âœEven more of a reason then,â Sparkler announced. âœTo show Loch Skimmer what family can be, to give her a better example than what she has seen so far.â

âœAnd we just wanted candy,â PiÃa whined, looking dejected. She leaned into Sentinelâs embrace and began to sniffle.

âœAnd this is how a herd should function,â Berry quipped.

Derpy realised everypony was now looking at her intently. She could feel their eyes, all of them waiting on her decision, her choice, her words as alpha.

âœI will agree to all of this, with one additional condition. Sparkler brings up a very good point. Bon Bon, Lyra, I want both of you to be Rippleâs caretakers. She might be Rising Starâs wife, but she isnât ready for that now, and wonât be for a long time, and she could learn from our arrangement how to be a good fellow wife even if she only likes mares. Agree to this task and you are in. We will have a proper ceremony when we get back to the mainland,â Derpy announced.

âœAgreed,â Bon Bon replied.

âœTotally agreed,â Lyra answered.

âœWelcome to the family,â Derpy stated.

âœSo what about Thistle?â Berry asked.

âœWhat about Thistle?â Derpy repeated in reply.

âœWell? Can we take her in?â Berry questioned.

âœWe shall see,â Derpy said, squeezing Thistle in a gentle embrace. She kissed Thistle gently on the cheek and Thistle blushed. âœYou did good,â Derpy whispered.

Berry glanced over at Bucky to check his expression. He seemed pleased with everything that had happened, and looked happier than he had been for a while. Her eyes traveled over the faces of everypony in the room, trying to find any hidden unhappiness with the recent arrangement. She found nothing.

Things were beginning to look up, or so Berry thought, feeling Berry confident about the future.

Feeling better about everything, she took advantage of the fact that Thistle was currently pinned in Derpyâs embrace. Raising an eyebrow that she hoped that Derpy would notice, she leaned in and planted a slow smouldering kiss on Thistleâs lips that made the filly squeal and stiffen in Derpyâs forelegs.

Berry pulled away after a very torrid moment and shot Thistle a come hither look. âœJust to keep you motivated in your agreement that you have with Derpy,â Berry explained as Thistle fanned herself, her face now as red as an apple.

Derpy slowly ran her forelegs over Thistle, feeling around, stroking her soft pelt, until her legs were wrapped around Thistleâs belly. She gave a gentle loving squeeze. âœI know you want what is best for this foal,â Derpy said in a low voice. âœYou really did impress me today. You deserve to be rewarded, as we agreed upon. You can go over there and try to kiss Bucky if you would like, if he will let you,â Derpy consented.

Thistle slid down eagerly from the sofa, paused for a moment, slowed down, tried to hide her fillyish glee, and then slowly crossed the room, trying to move as slowly and carefully as possible. Every eye in the room was watching her, and Thistle felt rather nervous all of a sudden.

She cautiously approached the bed, her breathing heavy, watching as Bucky cast his one eyed gaze upon her. She kneeled down, planting her front half on the bed, and moved her head in close to the unicorn that made her feel butterflies in her stomach. She licked her lips faintly, and then realised that she was completely terrified. She very nearly bolted right then and there, and she knew that Bucky had seen it in her eyes. She trembled, having suddenly lost her nerve. A moment ago she could barely contain herself after she had slipped off the couch, and now she wasnât sure if she could go through with it.

On the other side of the room, Loch Skimmer watched everything that was happening with wide eyed concern, knowing that a similar task awaited her. She worried that Sparkler would feel jealous. She worried that Sparkler would hate her. Her own mouth felt incredibly dry. She cast a nervous sideways glance and looked at Rising Star, who was watching Thistle intently and her interaction with Bucky.

Derpy watched as Thistle froze, and she felt a pang of worry. Sex and love were two very different things. Thistle had been bred, but she had not been loved. She reached out and grabbed the nearest thing she could, needing to be physical right now, and what she grabbed was Berry Punch, who fell into her embrace without protest. Derpy squeezed the solid earth pony and practically held her breath, hoping that Thistle would pass this little test. She hoped her husband would reciprocate.

Dinky, tired of waiting, took matters into her own hooves, and began to march forward quickly. She moved with the sort of speed only a foal on a mission seems to have, and her mission was to get this awkward moment over with as quickly as possible.

âœNo Dinky!â Derpy cried, realising Dinky was up to no good.

Too late, Dinky had reached Thistle. Reaching up, Dinky gave Thistle a good shove on her backside, causing her to pitch forward onto the bed.

Thistleâs lips smooshed into Buckyâs lips for a moment, and Bucky gave a faint cry of surprise. Thistle smooshed her lips around a bit, not sure what to do, not sure what she could get away with, and then melted when she felt Bucky kissing her back. He knew what to do Thistle thought to herself as she felt the warmth spreading through her muzzle.

Finally, out of breath, and not thinking of breathing through her nose, Thistle pulled away, hearing a giggle from behind her. She stood there panting, feeling warm and flustered.

Dinky bounded up onto the bed and flopped down near Bucky, beaming a broad smile and looking very pleased with herself.

âœThank you Thistle,â Bucky said, looking Thistle in the eye. âœDinky, you messed up,â Bucky informed the foal.

âœI did?â Dinky replied, her smile fading. She didnât want to be scolded.

âœMagic would have served your purpose much better and you could have attacked without warning,â Bucky instructed.

âœOh,â Dinky answered, her smile returning. âœIâll keep that in mind for next time,â the foal promised.

âœYou do that,â Bucky said as he chuckled. âœOr there will be consequences.â

Chapter 74

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The nighttime brought the horrible howling. It was present through dinner, lingered through the late evening hours, and as it grew darker, the howling grew worse and worse. Watching the effect upon the herd she was now a member of drove Lyra Heartstrings to distraction. She was silent through dinner, irritated afterwards, in a foul mood as evening turned to night until she finally lost it.

âœBucky!â Lyra barked.

Bucky looked up from the book about shadowy creatures he was studying and regarded his fellow unicorn and now fellow-wife.

âœThat damnable howling! How have you lived with it?â Lyra questioned, trembling and looking quite distressed.

âœIâve tried soundproofing. Nothing blocks it,â Bucky said patiently, aware that Lyraâs distress was causing distress in others around the room.

âœSoundproofing wonât block that,â Lyra commented. âœBut I can block that. I thinkâ you have to fight sound magic with sound magic. A pony named Vinyl Scratch taught me that when we were in Celestiaâs school together,â Lyra added.

âœThe howling causes a terrible fear, and the wolves feed on the fear. It is wearing all of us down I think,â Bucky explained.

âœItâs awful,â PiÃa agreed. âœIâve had accidents because of it,â she whispered in a small voice full of shame.

âœNot your fault,â Lyra reassured. âœIt is the magic having an effect on you.â

âœThat makes me feel betterâ accidents are embarrassing and Iâve been feeling so ashamed,â PiÃa confided.

Lyra had a grim and determined look on her face. âœThis reminds me of something that I canât remember,â she said cryptically, looking very puzzled and confused. âœShadows. Darknessââ Lyra muttered. Lyra closed to her eyes and began to concentrate, and her horn glowed gold.

Above her, a phantom lyre appeared, it was shining bright and golden, it radiated what felt like sunshine and filled the room with faint magical warmth. It began to make music, sweet beautiful music. The mint coloured unicorn scrunched up her face, looking irritated, and she began to mutter to herself.

âœNo, thatâs not doing it, not even close,â Lyra mumbled to herself.

The music shifted, it was still beautiful, but now it was poignant and sad, and it made everypony in the room think of loved ones and lost ones. Lyra waited, still feeling the faint nagging magical compulsion brought about by the howling, and she shook her head in irritation.

The music changed dramatically, becoming a vaguely militaristic melody, something stirring that inspired courage and made the heart soar. Lyra felt a little better, and she studied the faces of those around her, all of whom were listening to her music and watching her.

Finally the music became almost like a lullaby, sweet and soothing, bringing with it a sense of relaxation brought about by magic. Lyra felt it. It vibrated through her being like a harp string. It was the perfect counter to the current magical spell.

The effect upon the ponies around the room was immediate and noticeable.

âœI am really tired, I canât keep this up all night, but I can give us a little rest,â Lyra offered. âœOnce I get rested and settle in, I can stay up all night and keep this going to protect us from the fear.â

âœThatâs weird,â Derpy announced.

âœWhatâs weird,â Bucky replied.

âœThe heat from the fire,â Derpy said.

âœWhat about it?â Bucky inquired.

âœI can feel it. It is always so cold in here at night, you can stand next to the fire and still freeze, but I can feel the heat of the flames right now,â Derpy observed.

Bucky paused, learning a long time ago to trust in pegasus observations. He carefully considered everything his wife had just said. The room was always cold at night, and then warmed up rapidly during the day. He realised he could feel the heat from the fire. The room was warm. Cozy. Snug even.

âœLyra, stop the music,â Bucky commanded.

Lyra did as she was bid, tilting her head to the side and watching Buckyâs reaction. She too noticed a chill settling over the room.

âœI donât feel the hot heat of the fire anymore,â Derpy announced. âœNow it only feels like faint faraway warmth," the grey mare reported.

âœIâll be damned,â Bucky spat. âœLyra, a little music if you please.â

Lyra brought her lyre back to life, filling the room with life affirming sound, and, after a few moments, with the sound came warmth.

âœThe cold is magical in nature,â Lyra gasped. âœIâve never heard of a magic that not only brought fear, but leached heat from the air as well. The howling is what is bringing about this unnatural cold.â

âœYes it is,â Bucky confirmed. âœDinky!â

âœWhat daddy?â Dinky replied sweetly.

âœSummon some beesâ I have an idea,â Bucky instructed. He shuddered. He still didnât like bees, but he had an idea.

Dinky did as she was instructed, bringing the bees into existence with ease. A small swarm moved above her, changing shape and mass as they moved about.

âœDinkyâ make the bees buzz with Lyraâs music. Make them sing!â Bucky instructed.

âœOoooooh thatâs a good idea,â Dinky agreed as she set herself to her task. The little unicorn went to work, trying to will what she wanted to the bees, and the bees responded.

At first, there was no effect, but eventually the buzzing became almost kazoo like, a faint thrumming sound. Dinky was lost in her magic, conducting to her chorus of bees, one foreleg raised and moving as a guide.

âœWaitâ wait, Iâm feeling something,â Lyra announced. âœKeep doing whatever it is you are doing Dinky, music is a special magic all of its ownâ I am going to have to teach you some music theory.â

âœSing your bumblebye,â Dinky demanded of her bees.

Bucky could feel something happening all around him. Not one, but two sources of music working in harmony. Harmonious magic working together with another harmonious magic was a mysterious subject and there was still much that wasnât known.

The fire released a roaring heat now, the compressed peat bale in the fireplace radiating so much heat that it made sweat bead up on the pelts of several ponies that were too close.

Bucky felt elated, feeling a distinct sense of triumph. There was a weapon now against the wolves. A feeling of hope flooded through the room, washing away fear and doubt. Muscles relaxed. Tension fell away. Bucky realised that Lyra couldnât keep it up all night, but the reprieve, however brief, renewed strength. He felt the pain in his body subsiding a bit, and his head didnât feel so swimmy.

âœMy Lyraâs beautiful music is a weapon,â Bon Bon quipped, feeling a fierce sense of pride for her mate.

âœThe fear is what kept me from having total control over my magic on the night I went out,â said Bucky as a pained expression settled over the visible part of his face. âœI couldnât keep my light spell going properly. The fear gnawed at me like a living thing,â he confessed.

âœIt is meant to,â Lyra answered. âœI find it amazing that you could use magic at allâ the willpower needed to focus even just a little under direct exposure of this spell is unimaginable.â

Bucky took solace in his fellow unicornâs words. He laid his head down upon the bed, feeling the soothing warmth of the fire, and oddly enough, missing the cool air upon his many seared places. The warmth felt good to his injured muscles, but the cool felt good to his still too tight skin and the many cauterised places, which were healing nicely. He would remain hideously scarred, just like Keg Smasher and so many others all around them, but he was starting to become proud of his marks. He had survived, and the scars were undeniable proof of being a hard case.

âœI feel warm again,â PiÃa announced.

âœIâve never seen such magic,â Ripple said, entranced. She came over to sit down near Lyra, and then she looked up at the magical lyre plinking away overhead. âœSo beautiful,â Ripple breathed.

One by one, Dinkyâs bees blinked out and Dinky heaved a disappointed sigh. âœI canât keep going, this is very tiring,â the little unicorn foal complained.

âœI can keep this up for a while longer, but I am exhausted,â Lyra said to reassure everypony. The mint unicorn smiled at her herdmates, feeling a new sense of empowerment, knowing that she was needed, that she had a place in this herd. A meaningful place. It moved something deep within her equine being, and soothed her troubled mind slightly.

Loch Skimmer felt inspired by the music, and courage flooded her pegasus heart. She looked at Rising Star, her husband, and felt a longing deep within her, a need to show her appreciation and her growing affection. She hadnât kissed him properly since their marriage. Oh, there had been little pecks on the cheek and chaste kisses he had planted on her.

She moved swiftly and without warning, the music flooding her body with courage. Her wings snapped out, wrapped around Rising Starâs head, and dragged him in for a brief kissâ Loch Skimmerâs first real kiss, and she didnât know what she was doing.

The colt froze for a moment, not fully registering what was happening, but then rapidly took control once he felt Loch Skimmerâs lips against his own. He gave her a nibble, the same way he nibbled Sparklerâs lips, as though he was pulling in a sugar cube or something sweet with his lips, and the tilted his head to the side to achieve a proper seal for better suction.

Finally, after one very long and sloppy inexperienced kiss, Loch Skimmer pulled away with a breathless gasp, fanning her flushed face with her wing. Her backside fell to the floor and she sat there panting, her eyes closed in from the sort of bliss brought about by oneâs first real kiss.

âœAw, that was sweet,â Sparkler said as her thoughts raced. At first, she worried that she would feel jealous when this happened, and her thoughts turned to Apple Cobbler, the earth pony filly back in Ponyville that had set her off. But there was no jealousy. There was a genuine feeling of joy that her fellow-wife felt loved and secure in her relationship. There was relief that the kiss had finally happened, finally revealing the true nature of Sparklerâs feelings for her herdmate.

âœAnd you are getting better at hopping around on three legs,â Rising Star commented, which made Loch Skimmer blush.

âœAbout time that happened,â Berry observed. She leaned back on the sofa and realised that for the first time since coming to the Isles, this room finally felt like home. It was full of warmth finally, and life. The bed was going to be horribly crowded, the room was beginning to feel crowded, at least to Berryâ she was aware that families much larger stayed in little stone cottages and cabins much smaller. This room felt like a sanctuary, a place where the horrible world outside couldnât reach her, at least at the moment. She missed Thistle, who had returned to her watery home.

It was in this moment of peace and comfort that Berry felt a strange feeling, something nagging at her earth pony sense, the odd psychic nudges that all earth ponies had to some degree. Berry struggled to make sense of her feelings, brought about by an odd mixture of magic and biology. She had a vibrating feeling deep within her frogs, and she did not know it, but special hormones were flooding through her body. She had a powerful urge to run her hooves all over her husbandâs body and to draw him close. Berry realised it wasnât so much a sexual urge, but it was a very powerful compulsion. She abandoned her sofa, crossed the room, mounted the bed, and gently laid a hoof on a spot that wasnât cauterised. The dreadful sunburn had faded, but his skin was still sensitive. She pushed him down and began to rub him along his spine, her hooves kneading deep into his flesh, and Berry noticed that her frogs felt oddly sweaty.

Bucky melted under Berryâs touch, some of his pain fading away as she rubbed his back. He felt a flood of emotions. There was the need to protect, but it felt stronger. He was filled with a sense of love for her, for all of his herdmates at the moment actually, and he felt strangely drunk even though he hadnât been drinking for hours.

Bucky had no idea that he was being doped to prepare him for fatherhood, all he knew was, what Berry was doing felt really good. He heaved a sigh of contentment, feeling very much in love with Berry right now.

Derpy watched the interaction with interest, and her instincts, her powerful instincts that governed so much of her life, told her that what was happening was vitally necessary. She shifted her position, trying to get comfortable. Her teats had been a bit sore lately, and she attributed it to not being able to stay as clean as she liked. The dirty pelt of her legs rubbed and chaffed everything that was delicate.

Derpy was desperate for soap, so desperate that her cutie mark itched.

âœI want to go to bed while the music is still playing,â PiÃa begged while giving Derpy a prod with her small hoof. Derpy reached down and pulled PiÃa up into her forelegs, cradling the foal.

âœI think we can do that,â Derpy crooned. She cuddled PiÃa for a while, kissing her on her head and squeezing her, offering comfort for the foal who had been so troubled lately. She rose into a hover, carrying PiÃa with her, and carefully crossed the room to the bed. She eased herself down, settling into her spot, and kissed PiÃa once more for good measure.

Dinky bounded to the bed, jumped over Bucky and Berry with one spectacular leap, and landed next to her mother and PiÃa. She squeezed PiÃa violently, as sisters tended to do, and PiÃa squeezed back, briefly engaging in a contest of wills, and finally they both let go after Dinky farted, PiÃa proudly flashing a victory grin.

Bon Bon, yawning, approached the bed sadly, not sure where her spot was. Derpy patted the bed next to her, on the other side of the foals, and Bon Bon quickly settled in. There would be just enough space for Lyra if the unicorn was extra snuggly between Bon Bon and the edge of the bed.

Bucky crawled along to his spot next to Derpy, settling in beside the grey mare, and then he felt Berry sprawling out next to him. Sentinel, who tended to go to whatever spot he was welcomed, was pulled in by Berry who claimed him for the night. He squirmed a bit as Berry smooched him, but did not protest.

Lyra continued to play, but settled in next to Bon Bon, and a blanket was settled over the ponies on one half of the bed, held in the blue-green glow of Buckyâs magic.

On the other side, Sparkler settled into her spot, Rising Star beside her, and then Loch Skimmer settled in next to Rising Star, moving gingerly because of her cast, and this night there was no hesitation to curl up against him. Ripple eased in next to her sister, and flopping her body down caused her to poot noisily, which made several foals hidden under a blanket giggle. Loch Skimmer used her sister as a prop for her bad leg, and Ripple did not mind. Rising Star pulled a blanket over his herd, and there was much squirming as the edges were tucked under different bodies to keep out the cold.

One by one, they drifted off to sleep, and Lyra waited as long as she could, fighting off the need to nod off, keeping her lyre going for as long as she could to provide comfort for the herd as it drifted off into sleep. The unicorn felt a grim sense of resolve, and she would reclaim the night from the wolves, no matter what it took to do so.

The morning was one of failure, but that was okay. Bucky expected failures. He had been in the brewery again, trying to perform complex molecular assembly from raw materials, trying to brew beer from the raw materials needed without equipment.

It had been Star Swirl and some other unicorn that Bucky could never seem to remember that had created most of the transmutation spells and passed them along. Creating an entirely new transmutation spell was rare, but sometimes new ones did appear due to accident or chance. Star Swirl was a unicorn that would not be denied his creature comforts, and had left behind an entire library of transmutation spells.

So Bucky didnât feel too bad about what it was that he was doing. His cutie mark had itched promisingly today, and he had produced something that was almost something that might resemble beer as it might be served in Tartarus and even had a noticeable twang of alcoholâ but it tasted indescribably awful.

He swam through the water, he and his herd now in the loch, Derpy trying to do everything she could to get clean. Bucky paddled through the water, moving slowly, out past the shallow edge of the water. Thistle was swimming nearby, ready to snatch anypony that went under suddenly.

She was beautiful in her merpony form, half pony, half fish, and her scales were mirror-like. They shimmered like diamonds when she surfaced. Bucky could no longer deny feeling an attraction for her, especially now that Derpy had sent a subtle indicator that it was okay for him to do so. She was delicate and graceful moving through the water, and there was a noticeable bulge around her middle, a bulge that Bucky found himself distinctly attracted to and protective of.

Off in the distance, there was fierce muffled cry of accomplishment from Sentinel. He was lugging back a monstrous trout, a catch that would have to have been seen to believed, and it was slapping him in the face as he brought it to shore. He emerged from the loch, shook his shaggy coat free of excess water, and then proceeded to beat the fish to death against a rock for nearly slapping him senseless. He let out a small roar of triumph and then savaged his prize, ripping into it as it still wiggled somewhat.

The roar was an indicator of what he was and what he would be. It wasnât so scary now, but when he was older and had gained several hundred pounds of solid muscle, it would be a sound that would even make a manticore think twice before doing anything stupid.

Bucky was counting on the roar being well developed by the time Dinky and PiÃa reached the age where they took an interest in dating.

âœLook,â PiÃa said from the shallows, pointing up on shore at Sentinel.

Bucky craned his head, trying to see what PiÃa was pointing at. The others were looking as well. Derpy was out of the water, shaking herself much as Sentinel had done, and was peering at the lunar pegasus with one eye.

âœSentinel,â Derpy announced in a proud sounding voice, still shaking water from her wings. âœSentinel, there is something different about you."

Sentinel paused and lifted his head from his yard long catch. He was chewing fish flesh, bones and all, and his tufted ears perked at Derpyâs voice. His slitted eyes were wide with excitement.

âœThatâs a brown trout,â Thistle observed, gesturing at Sentinel.

Sentinel looked down at his catch, froze, and then slowly turned his head to look at his own rump when he registered that everypony was staring at him. His tail twitched once as he turned, and then he saw the mirror image of the fish he had just caught mirrored on his backside, a brown trout.

âœYou have your mark,â Thistle congratulated. âœA worthy reminder of such a memorable catch. To drag in such a monsterâ so succulent lookingââ Thistle licked her lips.

Sentinel beamed. âœDo you want some?â he asked Thistle. âœI ate lunch in the castle, I could eat all of this but I would be miserable,â Sentinel explained.

Thistle was on dry land in a moment, joining Sentinel in his catch, and Sentinel oh so sweetly offered her the head, which she gobbled down in apparent ecstasy, keeping her eyes on the ponies in the lake as she chewed.

Derpy watched as the pair ate, and realised that Thistle was needed in this herd for other reasons. Eating was a social activity, and a meal like that would be a lonesome activity for Sentinel. She sighed as she took another step closer toward Thistleâs acceptance. She was also immensely proud of Sentinelâs cutie mark.

Bon Bon floated on her back, drifting in the water, and Lyra was sitting in the shallows, watching the fisherponies work their nets way off in the distance. The pair were quiet, still settling in, and where clearly relieved to be among their friends once again.

âœI think I will be heading back to the castle for a nap,â Lyra announced, breaking her silence. âœI plan to pull an all nighter,â she added.

âœIâll come with you,â Bon Bon offered, paddling around, still on her back.

Sentinel gulped down a large bite of fish. âœIâll come withâ Iâll stay up all night and keep you company,â he said after his mouth was emptied. âœHere Thistle, finish this, I gotta go keep Lyra and Bon Bon safe,â he added, offering the remains of his catch to Thistle.

Derpy felt a smile creep across her face as she heard the coltâs words.

Thistle kissed Sentinel on the cheek in thanks, and then tore into the fish in such a way that only a pregnant carnivore could tear into such a meal, devouring it with much slurping and gnawing.

Lyra and Bon Bon emerged from the loch, together, and then they shook the excess water in their pelts out. Lyra surprised her mate with a kiss, leaving poor Bon Bon gasping, and the unicorn trotted off along the trail that led to the castle.

âœIt is like he barely even noticed,â said Bucky to Derpy as he approached her side. âœHe earned his mark and then went about his business, I donât understand.â

âœHe already knows his purpose,â Berry replied in a thoughtful tone. âœHis talent in to catch fish. Really big fish. That fish was longer than he was. His purpose is something else entirely, something of his choosing.â

âœShouldnât we be celebrating?â asked Bucky, cocking his head to one side so he could see Berry better.

âœMaybe, but I get the feeling they donât celebrate that here. Havenât you noticed that most of these ponies donât even have marks?â Derpy said with a deep sigh. âœI am very happy that he has it though.â

âœWe never did get around to celebrating Dinkyâs,â Berry quipped.

âœAt the time, I didnât want to celebrate mine,â Dinky replied in a soft sad sounding voice.

âœBut you like your cutie mark now, right Dinkeridoo?â PiÃa asked.

âœIâve learned to like it, daddy has shown me I can do good things with it,â Dinky replied as she scrubbed a sticky spot on her barrel with a hoof.

âœThis is a land where few ponies realise their great potential,â Bucky said philosophically.

âœThink Iâll ever get a mark?â Ripple asked.

âœSure you will,â Sparkler replied in a gentle encouraging voice. âœJust be brave enough to dream a littleâ try new things. You never know when it will just pop up. Mine showed up when I was reading my geology textbook.â

âœI donât remember getting mine. I woke up in Las Pegasus and there it was,â Berry muttered.

âœSometimes a mark is just a mark and nothing more I guess,â Rising Star said as he drew near the group at the waterâs edge.

âœWhat do you mean?â Sparkler asked.

âœLook at Buckyâs mark. To look at him youâd think he was a unicorn with a knack for brewing perhaps,â Rising Star stated. âœBut if you assumed that, youâd be wrong. Look at what he has done. What he has taught us. Heâs a devoted father, a husband, our teacher, but what does any of that have to do with hops?â

âœOr bubblesâ everypony knows my motherâs talent is putting the mother back into smother,â Sparkler added.

âœOh hush Sparky,â Derpy tittered in embarrassment.

âœSometimes a cutie mark isnât the final destination of your journey, it is merely a sign postâ a landmark to help you find your way as you travel towards your destiny. At least, that is what I believe,â Rising Star stated as he waxed philosophical. âœOnce, I wanted to be famous. Now, I donât know. I have three stars on my backside that are supposed to be meaningful. Recently, I realised I have three wivesâ my bright shining stars. Three lights to guide my way. The meaning Iâve been looking for in my life. I want to be a good husband. I can make three lives betterâ I hope,â he finished.

âœI think you already have,â Sparkler said, a tear forming in the corner of one eye as she spoke.

âœI feel like I should say something but I donât know what to say,â Ripple admitted, swirling a hoof in the water and looking down at the ripples.

âœDonât feel bad,â PiÃa said as she stroked Ripple. âœI feel like that all the time. Sometimes there are no wordsâ there are only things like hugs and kisses the little things that say everything that words canât,â PiÃa explained.

âœWhile we still have plenty of daylight, I want us to spend some time communing,â Bucky announced as he pulled himself out of the water. âœThere is much I want to teach you, and I have a special lesson planned for today. PiÃaâs words have given me a bit of inspiration.â

Bucky gingerly shook the last of the water from his hide and prepared to teach what he hoped would be a valuable lesson.

Chapter 75

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Bucky held his fellow unicorns in his thrall. This was rapidly becoming his preferred way of teaching. Words were inconsistent and could only convey so much. Direct mind linkage was efficient, and there was a certain clarity that was only available by giving his students access to his thoughts. He was not aware that the ability to commune and link minds was a rare gift. He had experienced it in school with an elderly mare who had been one of his favourite teachers, and the encounter had left a lasting effect upon him.

And now, as a teacher, Bucky used his rare gift to provide his fellow unicorns with a lifetime's worth of experience in moments, allowing all those connected to his mind to rapidly gain information. Bucky's own wealth of knowledge passed easily to Dinky, Sparkler, and Rising Star. Dinky was already far advanced for her own age, having a depth of magical theory that should have been impossible for a foal her age. Where foals Dinky's age struggled with learning the basics, Dinky was struggling with advanced concepts like remote viewing and the application of willpower to increase spell output, something she would have not learned until she was practically an adult.

The group was in the grass, under the protection of the other herd members. Their eyes were closed, and each one of their horns pulsated in synchronisation with one another.

âœToday, I am going to offer you something special,â Bucky said in a low voice, speaking so the others around him could hear his words. âœPiÃa was very wise to bring up that words can't always say what you feel… at times they fail to express the true depth of your emotions. To that end, there is something I want you to experience with me. I am trusting you to venture into my most private thoughts, the inner recesses of my mind,â Bucky explained.

The unicorn extended his will, grabbed both Derpy and Berry, and then using his magic, he pulled them close to him, close enough to reach out to touch them. He sat back on his haunches and touched both of them briefly, resting his hooves upon them, feeling them both. He took a deep breath and flexed his will once again.

âœThis is my love,â he said softly. âœThis is my strength, this is what sustains me, this is why I have endured. This is the essence of what I am, the foundation of my being,â he explained. He snatched up PiÃa and drew her near. âœAnd this is pretty special as well,â he added. âœI don't think I'd get by without this one.â

PiÃa giggled as she felt the warm tingle of Bucky's magic. She reached out and clung to her sister, delighted that she was the center of attention for a moment.

Bucky opened his mind, hiding nothing, offering unfettered access to those he loved and trusted. His emotions spilled into their minds, raw, almost overpowering, and there were little gasps and murmurs from the other unicorns he was linked to.

Derpy watched her mate, trying to understand exactly what was going on. She touched him gently on a place where it was safe, stroking him gently with a fetlock, understanding that something of serious importance was going on. She turned to Berry for a moment, winked, and then she surprised Bucky with a soft gentle kiss on the lips.

The unicorn trembled slightly from the kiss and those connected to him mirrored his reaction, the strongest reaction coming from Dinky, who let out a surprised cry.

It was a profound moment of realisation for Dinky. Bucky's strong emotion for her mother nearly caused her mind to overload, and in this moment of exchange she also felt Bucky's love for her. With the exchange came the knowledge that these feelings were powerful assets. It was almost too much to take in all at once. Her mind reeled as she tried to understand the depth of what was being shown to her. She felt small and humbled, but she also felt the siren song of power… Bucky had tapped into a powerful resource, something potentially even stronger than the ley lines he had been channeling. The feeling brought stability, something that unicorns needed. Dinky realised this was the magic of friendship, taken to its logical extreme. A part of her own mind focused on PiÃa, her constant companion, her best friend, and now a sibling of sorts.

Bucky's realisations also had a profound impact on Sparkler and Rising Star, both of them understanding now just how much potential power they could draw from one another, how much strength, and the much needed element of stability. Peering into Bucky's mind was eye opening in more ways than one, and it allowed both Sparkler and Rising Star to learn from his mistakes, his many mistakes, and a chance to look directly into the center of Bucky's own weaknesses.

Bucky's solution for his own neurosis was total surrender of self to his mates and a state of dependence upon them, the realisation that he was not a whole creature, and the acceptance that he needed his mates along with what they offered to complete him as a whole pony.

It was a powerful revelation to the three unicorns connected to Bucky, something potentially life changing. All three of them considered Bucky their strength, but to sense his weakness, to feel it, for him to bare himself so completely to them, it brought the understanding that their real strength lay with their love for one another.

Bucky's magic suddenly fizzled and a column of black smoke rose from his horn. He blinked several times, shaking his head, and then focused on the world around him. âœThat was intense… sorry about the overload. Is everypony okay?â he asked in concern.

âœI'm fine. I feel really dizzy and lightheaded, but I am fine,â Sparkler replied.

âœI'm good,â Rising Star reported. âœFeel like I gotta sneeze though, which is weird.â

âœMy ears are ringing, but I am alright,â Dinky announced.

âœMaybe I shouldn't have kissed you,â Derpy said, her tone one of concern. She touched Bucky's face with her wing, stroking the good side.

âœNo, actually, I am glad you did. They got a chance to feel what I feel about you…â Bucky replied. âœTwilight has proven that friendship is magic… and magic is fine and good. Love is power though. I really began to realise that when Cadance had us all in her spell when we were married. Cadance is a creature of immense power and it isn't because she is an alicorn. I used to hunger for understanding, and I suppose that I still do… but now, I hunger for power as well, now that I understand where I can draw from a nearly infinite wellspring of raw primal power. All of you are my strength. This is why I requested a foal as the cost of entry from Bon Bon and Lyra. I must confess, the feeling of power is intoxicating.â

âœThe feeling of love is intoxicating you mean,â Berry quipped.

âœThe two are indistinguishable for me,â Bucky replied.

âœI see,â Berry said.

âœI think I understand,â Derpy said slowly. âœYou draw your power from us, so increasing your family size-â

âœSo much more than that though,â Sparkler interrupted. âœI get it now… it isn't just power, it is stability as well. Father is at his peak power when he is stable, and he has been drawing in all of the things he is missing as a pony from all of us… we are his stability as well as his source of empowerment. It is so difficult to put into words, but I felt it and now I want it for myself,â the filly admitted.

âœI too, think I finally understand what it is I want from life,â Rising Star muttered, rubbing his head. He fell over into the grass with a groan.

âœThis is going to be very important for both of you,â Bucky said to Sparkler and Rising Star. âœI have a plan, and it involves both of you. I believe I can jump both of you to type threes.â

âœWhat?â Sparkler asked.

âœWill it hurt them?â Derpy asked in concern.

âœHow?â Rising Star asked.

âœI will explain how later, no my love, it will not hurt them, but it will cause them some issues… dealing with that much power can be tricky and it requires a very focused mind. Which is why I wanted them to see where I draw power from now, and how I am learning to stay focused and bear the mental load I have to carry,â Bucky explained. âœI will not force you, this is your choice, but I know that I can unlock your full potential. Sparkler, as a type three, you would be able to summon gems, as you have seen when I channeled strong magic through you. Rising Star, you… you might actually lose a little magic stepping up to a full blown type three.â

âœWhat? How?â Rising Star said, lifting his head and blinking at Bucky in confusion.

âœYou have an inherent pyromantic nature. Your current magic limits what your pyromantic nature can channel, so it manifests as common magic as an outlet. A jump to a type three would free your magical focus, so more of your magic would focus into pyromancy, which might actually weaken some of your abilities. I think. Think of it as diverting power from one area and refocusing it to another,â Bucky explained.

âœWould it be like adding more light bulbs to a circuit and then the light bulbs would grow dim?â Rising Star asked.

âœSomething like that, I think. I am not sure I fully understand what will happen. Pyromancy is different that harmony magic. It is chaotic… primal. A raw base element. Celestia would know more, she is the alicorn of pyromancy. She has both types of magic available to her,â Bucky replied.

âœSo I would have harmony magic and pyromancy?â Rising Star asked.

âœWell, you have it now, but it is nearly dormant, you lack the physiology to channel it fully,â Bucky answered.

âœI see,â Rising Star said. âœWell, that settles it, I'm in,â he announced.

Sparkler looked apprehensive. âœI won't tell you what to do, but I plan to think about it a bit,â Sparkler said, her ears folded back against her skull. âœI will probably do it, as I understand that it needs to be done, but I want to make sure I am doing this for the right reasons and I understand fully what it is I am getting into.â

âœThat seems wise,â Bucky stated, giving Sparkler a nod.

âœI am not making this decision lightly,â Rising Star said, feeling a need to defend his choice. âœI understand what we are up against here. I have three wives to worry about. My own concerns are small, weak, and meaningless compared to what it is I need to do to provide for all of you. Pyromantic magic would probably be very useful for dealing with the damnable wolves. There are far too many other ponies that could benefit from what I have to offer, so for me it becomes the needs of the many outweighing the needs of just one. All I have to offer right now is myself, it is all I have to give, so I offer of myself freely.â

Sparkler sighed but did not reply.

âœI think I understand,â Ripple said, cautiously approaching Rising Star. âœYou are doing what needs to be done now, and you will deal with the consequences later.â

Rising Star nodded.

âœI understand that all too well,â Thistle quipped.

âœI suppose you would Thistle,â Rising Star said to the kelpie.

âœWhen the time comes I would like to follow my husband's example,â Ripple said in a small voice full of resolve. âœIf there is something I can do, I will. I am small and weak, but I am determined to help.â

Loch Skimmer shot Sparkler a concerned look and the two fillies exchanged a glance. Nothing was said between the two, but Ripple asserting herself into the herd had been noted.

âœWhat will Princess Celestia say about all of this? Bucky, I am almost certain that she is not going to be too pleased about you bypassing biological restrictions and jumping your fellow unicorns into something far more powerful… I will support you with whatever you do, just as you have supported me, but by the time this whole awful mess is over, most of this herd is going to be in hot water with the crown,â Berry said.

âœYou did the right thing Berry, and I am confident that I am doing the right thing as well, when and if it happens. We do not have the luxury of second guessing ourselves right now,â Bucky replied. âœAll bets are off. I lost my eye and bits and pieces of my body. These wolves are a menace to these ponies. These are extreme times… and I plan to use extreme measures. If Celestia wants to fault me for what I am going to do, let her. In the end, I don't answer to her, I answer to my mares.â

âœWell, I trust you to do the right thing,â Derpy stated. She leaned over and planted a soft peck on Bucky's cheek.

Berry nodded and heaved a sigh. âœAll is fair in love and war,â she muttered.

Chapter 76

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The dining hall was packed with ponies as the group entered, and Bucky was immediately approached by Keg Smasher. The room was filled with the sounds of happiness and laughter echoed up to the rafters.

âœWhat is going on?â Bucky asked, looking at Keg Smasher, and still feeling more than a little resentment.

âœNew foal has been born. Unicorn. The family is being moved to the castle to keep them safe. That night when the wolves attacked us, the way they went after youâ I am worried they will go after the foal. Iâve been on patrol several times since that night and nary a peep from those damnable monstrosities. They avoid us,â Keg Smasher explained.

Derpy was already gone to look at the new foal, taking the others with her. She and Keg Smasher were not on speaking terms, and the grey mare made it known that she generally despised the pegasus laird. This left Bucky by himself with Keg Smasher.

âœSo the wolves go after unicorns you think,â Bucky asked.

âœSeems that way. It is what my gut tells meâ look, I wanna talk to you for a moment, I have something that needs saying,â Keg Smasher said to Bucky as he reached out a wing and rubbed an ear.

âœIâm listening,â Bucky answered, assuming a defensive posture that was almost pegasus-like, a near copy of how Derpy might of reacted. All he lacked were the wings.

âœI want to apologiseâ really, I did a bad thing and I see that now,â Keg Smasher confessed.

âœLook, I know what my wife did, and if you are trying to humour me, Princess Celestia help you because she will thrash you again if you upset me,â Bucky warned.

âœI ainât trying to humour you,â Keg Smasher returned. âœI really do feel bad. Yon grey mare was right. I wanted all those who saw what happened to be afraid of youâ theyâre already afraid of me and I didnât want to make it worse. I didnât want to deal with the fallout from the lashing myself, because I have plenty of other things to answer for. I heard about what it did to you, and I was wrong to force your hoof on the issue. I made an error in judgment. I screwed up. I stepped in the horseapples,â he explained.

âœI accept your apology,â Bucky said in a soft voice.

The big and burly pegasus heaved a sigh of relief and looked down at the floor. âœI wonder sometimes if I am fit to lead nowâ things are changing. We need to do more than just survive, we need to move into the future. So much needs to change. Sometimes I ainât sure if I am the one to do it. Making the mistake like I made with you doesnât sit well with me. Fills me with doubt. I understand that a message had to be delivered, but I chose the wrong messenger, and that reflects poorly on me,â Keg Smasher confessed as he kicked at a bit of straw on the grey stone floor.

âœI forgive you,â Bucky stated as he sat down on the stone tile.

âœThank youâ I mean it, coming from you that means something,â Keg Smasher replied as he took a seat himself.

âœSo you think the wolves are targeting unicorns?â Bucky asked.

âœI do. That night went we went out, the wolves came at us and they came at us hard. They wanted you. Iâve never seen anything like that. Usually, the wolves avoid the patrols, but sometimes we catch them out in the open and get a good fight started. We kill a few. Mostly, the wolves avoid the patrol though. It bothers me how canny they were that night. Too damn smart for rough beasts. What they did was outside the normal scope of intelligence for their kind, whatever in Tartarus they are, ye ken?â Keg Smasher said in a low voice, speaking to Bucky and trying not to disrupt the ponies celebrating in the room.

âœSo what are you saying? Are you saying that something is controlling them Keg Smasher?â Bucky questioned, his tone quizzical.

âœAye, you believe me, I can hear it in your voice. Most of my advisors think Iâve gone barmy and paranoid,â Keg Smasher replied in relief. âœI am a lot of things, and I might be a little bit crazy, but I have lived as long as I have for a reason.â

âœI am inclined to agree with you. I shall have to spend some time assessing this idea,â Bucky said to the pegasus. âœAlso, I have a new weapon in the war on the wolves. Lyra Heartstrings. She can make music that counters the fear effect. It also counters the heat leaching. The terrible cold at night is caused by the wolves howling. Thatâs why the fires give no heat,â Bucky explained.

Keg Smasher grunted. âœOf course, why didnât I think of that, seems so obvious now,â the pegasus growled.

âœKeeping everypony in a state of fear, wearing down their minds, their will, keeping them from a good rest, I think some of the ponies behave the way they do because of the effects of the fear spell and all that goes with it,â Bucky explained.

âœThat makes some sense,â Keg Smasher admitted.

âœLyra is an extremely clever ponyâ who is also now one of my wives,â Bucky mentioned as he shook his head. âœShe and Bon Bon came so far just to be with my family.â

âœA stallion is only as good as the wives he has supporting him,â Keg Smasher said sagely. âœAt least that is what I believe. Most round here only see mares as a source of extra labour or a resource.â

âœThat needs to change,â Bucky quipped.

âœAye,â Keg Smasher replied. âœYou have a small army of mares now, ye mind me asking how it feels? Celestia told me a bit about you, and how you used to be, seems to me youâve changed.â

âœI have,â Bucky confessed. âœI draw my strength from them. All of them. All of them have something I am missing, something I need. All of them are somepony I can go to for different things. All of them want different things from me. All of me is appreciated, if not by one, then by another.â

âœAs it should be,â Keg Smasher agreed. âœI need to goâ do me a favour, when you get back to the mainland, do what you can to restore herds. Equestria is going to need them.â The pegasus rose, bowed his head slightly, and then departed out the door, several of his guard following him.

Bucky sat in silence, pondering the pegasusâ words.

The room was warm. Almost too warm. The ponies in the bed sleeping had no blankets and had sprawled out comfortably in peaceful slumber. The howling could not be heard at all, and Lyra was enjoying her victory against the wolves immensely.

The same could not be said about her chess game with Bon Bon. The unicorn could not bear another loss. She stared down the board and scratched the back of her head with her forehoof.

âœHow?â Lyra protested in a whisper.

Bon Bon did not reply but gave Lyra a smug look.

Sentinel studied the board, still trying to learn the game. His head was cocked to the side, and his wide eyes reflected the firelight. His thinking was interrupted when Bon Bon snatched him up suddenly to snuggle him.

âœUrf!â Sentinel gasped as the earth pony squeezed him.

âœYouâre so squeezable,â Bon Bon whispered. âœYour coat is so long and soft and shaggyâ it isnât like ours at all. And you are so warm,â Bon Bon gushed.

âœGlad to be of service milady,â Sentinel said as he struggled to breathe. âœI am glad I have the privilege of protecting you from the cold.â

âœAnd so polite, nopony has ever called me âmiladyâ before,â Bon Bon said as she rubbed her cheek up against Sentinelâs tufted ear.

âœI am Buckminsterâs squire, a failure in my social graces would reflect poorly upon him and I would be shamed,â Sentinel explained as he was being snuggled to within an inch of his life by an overly affectionate earth pony.

âœOh I am going to like having you as a son,â Bon Bon admitted in a low squeak. The mare lifted her head away for a moment, looked down at the colt foal in her forelegs, and then kissed him in between his ears.

Lyra watched her long time mate squeeze the foal and felt a stirring in her heart. They had long discussed having foals but nothing had ever come from it. Now, they were the mothers of several foals, and Lyra felt a strange feeling of contentedness that she had never felt before. Seeing Bon Bon happy made Lyra happy in a way she had never experienced.

âœBonnie?â Lyra asked.

âœYes Lyra?â Bon Bon replied, still snuggling Sentinel.

âœWho gets to be first?â Lyra asked.

âœWhat do you mean?â Bon Bon replied in a confused whisper.

âœTo be pregnant. When we have foals. Because I think Iâve changed my mind. I think Iâd like to see what it is like,â Lyra explained in a low voice. âœI am still scared about what pregnancy might do to my mental state, but I am surrounded by family now, so no matter what happens, I know I will be looked after. I think I feel safe.â

Sentinel felt something wet splash on his ears. He angled his head upwards, saw Bon Bonâs eyes glistening in the firelight, then, even as he watched, a tear formed, rolled down her cheek, and then splashed on his snoot. He reached up slowly and wiped Bon Bonâs face with the side of his fetlock. A second later, all of the air whooshed out of his lungs as the mare squeezed him in thanks for the touching gesture.

âœThere is no reason why we canât do it together,â Bon Bon whispered. âœLike weâve done everything else. We started this journey together, weâll do this together, everything will be okay,â Bon Bon promised.

âœWho will take care of us?â Lyra asked. âœIf were both pregnant, how will we take care of one another?â

âœWeâll have to depend on others to look after us if it comes to that Lyra,â Bon Bon replied.

âœI will aid you, you need not even ask,â Sentinel offered.

âœSee Lyra? We have this adorable colt to look after us,â Bon Bon declared in a soft whisper. The peat bale in the fireplace popped and crackled and Bon Bon rocked Sentinel back and forth in her forelegs. âœHow late do you think it is?â the mare asked.

âœIâd say about three oâclock or so. Look at them, slumbering so peacefully,â Lyra answered. âœIt feels good to be useful,â the unicorn added.

âœIt sure does,â Sentinel agreed, resting his head against Bon Bonâs neck.

âœI guess weâll wait for breakfast and then go to bed for a while. Wake up, have lunch, spend a little family time if possible, and then get more sleep so we can pull an all nighter again?â Bon Bon asked.

âœThat is the plan Bonnie,â Lyra replied. âœI am taking back the night.â

âœI will stay with you,â Sentinel offered.

âœWhat if Bucky needs you during the day?â Bon Bon queried.

âœThen I will do my duties as expected before returning to bed,â Sentinel replied, still content to be held by the earth pony.

âœSuch a serious young colt,â Lyra stated.

âœAnd adorable! Look at those tufted ears,â Bon Bon said in a rather loud whisper which earned her a scowl from Lyra. The mare quieted but shuddered from her barely contained emotions and feelings of adoration.

Sentinel sighed, resigning himself to be treated like a foal. Derpy did it too. So did Berry on occasion. He hoped that at some point, these mares would understand that he wasnât adorable, he was scary. But for now, he supposed he had to be patient. He was a horrifying terror in the night, a fearsome predatory beast, and a squire to a proud and noble knight. He really hoped that someday, hopefully someday soon, these mares would stop nattering on about his tufted ears and how snuggly he was. It did feel nice to be cradled in the mareâs forelegs though, to be warm, sheltered, and secure.

âœIt is funny Bonnie, as miserable as this place is, this is the happiest Iâve been in quite some time. Our journey, joining the herd, finding purpose. I am finally doing something that matters Bonnie. I donât know how to feel and it scares me,â Lyra admitted, the firelight reflecting in her golden eyes and making them glitter.

âœLyra Heartstrings, everypony needs purpose. Bucky had to learn that lesson and it seems you do as well,â Bon Bon replied.

âœYou are Buckyâs bard,â Sentinel quipped. âœHe has a faithful squire, but a knight needs a devoted bard,â the lunar pegasus foal explained.

âœI can be a bard,â Lyra announced. âœI like the sounds of that,â she added.

âœHe is going to need more than a bard,â Bon Bon said. âœI suspect that the time is coming where Bucky is going to go to battle for us, he is going to need you Lyra, he is going to need your strength.â

âœI have no strength without you,â Lyra admitted, following Bon Bonâs policy of total honesty.

âœOh, I intend to be there with you,â Bon Bon said. âœI am a cuss headed lass and I am spoiling for a good fight.â

Chapter 77

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Berry Punch awoke, feeling more refreshed than she had for a long, long time. She yawned, licked her lips, and then kissed Bucky lightly on the corner of his mouth. There was no blanket over her and the room was very warm. She heard the faint sounds of Lyra's lyre still playing. The early morning sun was streaming through the window. She looked around her and saw the bed was already partially emptied, Sparkler and Rising Star were already awake. Loch Skimmer and Ripple were still asleep. Berry crawled forward on her belly to Ripple, planted a soft kiss on the filly's cheek, and the did the same with Loch Skimmer. She then rolled on her side, stretched out her legs, and then the earth pony farted, which caused Bucky to snort, but he did not awaken.

Still feeling affectionate, the mare crawled back towards Derpy, planted her lips on the pegasus' lips, and then woke the grey mare with a probing kiss that made the other mare awaken with a low squeal of glee. Berry felt Derpy kissing back after she became aware of what was going on, and then finally, Derpy pulled away gasping and needing air.

âœGood morning,â Berry said with a seductive lift of her eyebrow to the grey mare.

Berry watched as Derpy looked at Bucky, checking on him, and then she watched as the grey mare kissed her still sleeping mate. The earth pony mare's nose crinkled as Derpy released her usual morning blast, a blaring trumpet of malodorous feculent fury.

Dinky awoke with a soft cry of alarm, blinking her eyes and trying to gather her senses.

Beside Dinky, PiÃa awoke with a whine of protest, after which she buried her face into Dinky's side, mumbling about how it wasn't time to wake up yet. The two filly foals had their own wake up routine, and Berry found it Berry enjoyable to watch them as they tried to clear the sleepy from their heads.

Bucky continued to snooze, his withers rising and falling with each breath, and Berry took the opportunity to look over his wounds closely.

âœI need a snob over here,â Berry said, smacking her lips slightly, feeling a little thirsty from being in such a warm room.

âœWho you calling a snob you numbskull?â Sparkler replied as she came over to the bed.

âœI need a light,â requested Berry, speaking to the filly she now called her own.

âœSure, I can do that,â Sparkler offered, her horn now flaring to life.

The earth pony mare peered at Bucky's wounds, noticing that the cauterised places were healing nicely. The skin was still red and tight, some of it was still quite gnarled and puckered, but it was healing. New skin was growing. She gently rolled the stallion on his side and checked the wound just past his ribs, clucked her tongue, and then she smiled warmly. âœThank you Sparky,â Berry said just before she kissed the unicorn filly to thank her for her assistance.

âœHe's looking better. The missing chunk out of his leg still looks pretty bad though. Part of the muscle looks like it is gone. Every time I see him limping a bit it makes my heart hurt,â Sparkler stated as she peered over Bucky's body herself.

âœHe's still alive though, that's all that matters to me, call me selfish, but I want to keep him,â Berry admitted in a soft whisper.

âœI feel -urp-nauseous,â Derpy announced. The grey mare's ears drooped down to the sides of her face. âœI really don't feel good.â

âœI don't either,â Berry agreed. âœI woke up feeling a little weird. Really thirsty. I think it is because the room stayed so warm all night,â Berry speculated.

Derpy arose, stumbled off of the bed, nearly falling on her face had Sparkler not caught her with her magic, and then she hurried off behind the privacy barrier to the bucket. In a moment, there was retching and gagging from behind the barrier.

âœMaybe she ate something that doesn't agree with her?â Rising Star said with some concern. âœMom?â he asked.

âœI'm -urp-fine,â Derpy replied, her breath heaving.

There was more retching from behind the barrier.

âœI hate -urp-the dry heaves,â the pegasus protested.

The earth pony felt a brief twinge of panic but could not figure out why or what was causing it, but she felt something deep inside of her trying to give voice to something, something that was a fundamental part of her earth pony nature. She tried to listen to her body, tried to fathom the message she was being sent from deep within her inner self, and failed.

All Berry knew was that she was Berry Berry horny and felt the need to make more ponies. Like right now. This moment. Ponies watching or not. Although the ideas of ponies watching sort of titillated the mare, but not the foals. She was capable of sinking low, but she had a few precious standards to which she held true.

Also, her teats were sore. But she figured that was because they had been rubbing on the rough sheets all night long because she had slept sprawled out on her belly.

Thistle emerged into the room, she had stopped knocking some time ago, and the kelpie paused as she felt the radiant warmth of the room. She couldn't say anything because there was a large fish her in mouth, a gift for Sentinel. She laid it on the floor and raised her head. âœI brought breakfast for my colt,â she offered.

âœOh thank you!â Sentinel said, squirming off of the couch where he had been sitting with Lyra and practically running over to the fish.

âœAll yours, I had a huge breakfast,â Thistle stated. âœIt is really warm in here, I am glad I came. It is cold outside. There is frost on the ground.â

âœIt is summer,â Rising Star said, looking confused. âœThis will kill the crops if this continues,â he added in a tone of alarm.

âœThe earth ponies here will be able to revive the plants just so long as it doesn't get too bad,â Bon Bon said reassuringly as she watched Sentinel eating his fish. âœUgh, he's swallowing it whole, he just jammed the head down his throat and now he is sliding the entire fish down his gullet… you can see the tail sliding into his mouth… argh,â she commented as she watched the gut churning sight.

There was a yawn from the bed as Ripple awoke. She peered around, looking a little bleary, kissed her sister affectionately, which was becoming a new habit she was developing as she watched the others, it was not something she had done in what she called her old life, and then she stretched her wings out. Barely awake, she was promptly snoot-bumped by Dinky, and then by PiÃa, both of whom were becoming very close to the pegasus filly.

Loch Skimmer awoke to the sounds of three fillies giggling with one another, and she came to her waking state with a snug feeling of security knowing that her sister was safe as well as happy. She closed her eyes to yawn and felt somepony snoot-bump her. She opened her eyes and saw Ripple, their snoots still touching. Ripple was cross eyed and waggling her ears. Loch Skimmer giggled once her yawn ended and then she was assaulted by Dinky and PiÃa, who awoke in affectionate moods.

During all of this commotion, Bucky awoke. The moment he lifted his head, before he even had a chance to awaken fully, he was beset by three giggling fillies, Dinky, PiÃa, and Ripple, who kissed him all over the good side of his face. And then they were gone, off to mob somepony else. Bucky slowly opened his eye and peered around, craning his head to get a good view. As soon as his head turned, he was kissed again, and based upon the wiggling tongue invading between his lips, he knew it had to be Berry Punch.

After several increasingly hot moments, the mare pulled away and allowed the now flustered stallion to catch his breath. Bucky blinked several times, craned his head to one side and then the other to stretch the stiffness out of his neck, and then he heard the sounds of retching from behind the privacy barrier.

âœDerpy?â Bucky inquired, his ears splaying out sideways.

âœShe's fine,â Berry replied reassuringly to her mate. âœYou look much better after a good night's rest,â she commented.

âœI feel better,â Bucky admitted. âœMy head feels clearer than it usually does,â he continued in a low voice. He yawned again, started to rise, and was caught off guard by another kiss from Berry Punch.

âœI don't know what's come over me,â Berry stated after she broke away from the kiss. âœI am in one of those moods today,â she added, her voice a low seductive whisper.

âœAnd I am in the mood for breakfast,â Loch Skimmer said as she wiped her eyes with her wings. She then slid off of the bed and wobbled around on three legs.

âœI am in the mood to be breakfast,â Berry mentioned in a very low whisper to Bucky. Her low whisper was not nearly quiet enough though, and several ponies turned to stare at her. âœWhat?â she said defensively. âœI woke up with needs… surely some of you can understand that. Poor Bucky's been out of commission, Derpy has been busy, and we haven't haven't had any private time alone with one another… I just got married not all that long ago. I should be getting shagged regularly like a proper newlywed… instead I am so flustered that I just about can't stand myself right now,â explained Berry in an exasperated voice of frustration.

There was no reply, just many wide staring eyes blinking at the plum coloured earth pony mare, and many ears were perked forward. Dinky and PiÃa turned to look at one another, and then at Berry Punch, afterwards, they both fell into a fit of the giggles.

âœWell, other than poor Berry, her needs, and my mother feeling queasy, how is everypony else feeling this morning? Because I feel wonderful. Lyra's music made all of the difference last night. I woke up and I feel rested. Renewed. I feel like I could do anything right now. I am going to be the best school teacher ever today. Thank you Lyra,â Sparkler said sheepishly, trying to change the awkward subject to something else.

âœDon't mention it,â Lyra replied, and after she finished speaking she punctuated her words with a huge gaping yawn that ended with a slight squeak.

âœOther than the queasiness I do feel well rested,â Derpy said as she emerged from behind the privacy barrier. âœI do believe that the worst is over,â she added as she wiped her mouth with her foreleg, muffling some of her own words.

As the ponies all around him continued to chatter loquaciously, Bucky gathered his thoughts for the day. He was unsure of what the afternoon would bring, but he was looking forward to another morning in the brewery, getting himself immersed in trying to brew beer. Today, he planned to tweak the time fluctuations inside of the spell bubble, allowing for greater time to pass inside of the spell compared to outside of the spell. The complexity involved was immense, but he felt confident in his abilities, doubly so now that he felt so clear headed after sleeping so well. After figuring out the magical riddle of brewing beer in a self contained spell field, he could move on to other things of similar complexity.

At some point in the very near future, he needed Dinky and her bees to find where the ley lines intersected. He knew it had to be near, he could feel both of the lines, and he was going to need that intersection and its associated nexus for his plans.

It was already taking too long Bucky felt, more had died and he had done nothing, and a nagging feeling of guilt lingered in his mind. Progress needed to be made. He had no intention of leaving this wretched place until all of the wolves had been eradicated. He felt confident about Thistle earning her place within the herd. When that finally happens, they would be free to go, but Bucky had no intention of leaving, not until certain bloody revenge had taken place and the ponies here made safe.

Princess Celestia had clearly known of the problems here, of that Bucky had no doubt. The book about shadow creatures slipped into the trunk was proof of this. He was one of Celestia's students, he had graduated from her school, and a part of him felt flattered that she believed in him enough to deal with the situation.

Some of his self confidence flagged though knowing that he was almost killed on his first encounter with the wolves. He had nearly made his mates widows, and the thought weighed heavily upon his mind during his moments of reflection. He hoped that he would never have a close call like that ever again. He was going to have to apply his cautious methodical nature to the problem.

âœBucky?â

The unicorn looked at the grey mare who had just pulled him from his state of reflection. She was gazing at him intently, lovingly, and he felt feathers caressing the side of his neck.

âœYou looked kinda lost in the moment,â Derpy commented as she stared at her mate. The pegasus looked concerned. âœYou looked angry for a moment there,â she mentioned.

âœI was thinking about how I almost made you a widow…â Bucky half explained.

âœThings happen,â Derpy said gently. âœSometimes bad things. But you are still with us, you shouldn't be angry about that. Nopony could have known what was going to happen that night.â

âœYou said it yourself, the fear messed with your magic… but you still managed to save yourself and probably Keg Smasher and the others as well, even with the fear holding you back. You are looking at this all wrong,â Berry chided.

âœWhat she said,â Derpy added.

âœI do not intend to make the same mistake twice. I finally have what I want in life… something I didn't even know I wanted. All of this… all of you…â Bucky said, his voice low and soft.

âœThis will all be over, we just have to endure this trying time and stay close to one another. And then, when this is over, we can go home, have foals, and grow old together,â Berry stated.

âœAs bad as this has been, we are all stronger for it,â Derpy said. âœI don't know about the rest of you, but I have learned a lot about myself here. I will never take my life for granted ever again or how good I had it. I remember struggling as a single mother… the money troubles… everything. I thought I had it so bad. By comparison, that was nothing. But here, I have learned what sort of pony I am. I am a wife and a mother. I am the matriarch of this newly founded clan.â The pegasus mare paused, struggling to find a way to put her thoughts to into words, something that had always eluded her to some degree. âœI have discovered my strength… who and what I am as a pegasus. I feel a lot better about myself.â

âœI think by the time we leave here, we will all understand ourselves far better than most ponies back home,â Rising Star said, his voice raised to be heard over the sounds in the room. âœThis awful place is acting like a crucible for us, and right now we are melting away the dross… when we finally do get out of here, the full depth of our characters will be fully tested. I know I have been made wiser than most colts my age. I've learned about duty, about obligation, I have learned about devotion, love, and respect. I have learned about dedication. I have learned that I had a lot of growing up to do, and I still do. But most importantly, I have learned that I am capable of so much more. Right now, I am learning that love is a choice, it is something you have to make happen, while you can fall into it, you can also build it up like a fire, carefully applying a spark and nurturing the precious little flame when it happens. It's funny… I have known Loch Skimmer and Ripple for only a short time, but already I would do anything for them. Choosing to make love happen is hard work… and I don't know where I am going with this and everypony is staring at me… oh my,â Rising Star said. He slowly met the gaze of everypony in the room, all of whom were staring at him.

With the room now totally silent, Ripple slowly walked to Rising Star. Upon reaching him, she shyly raised her head, kissed him on the cheek, nuzzled his neck, and then sat down beside him, saying nothing.

âœAnd this is why we came here,â Bon Bon said, breaking the silence. âœTo be a part of this. Some ponies are destined for greatness… and that is fine and good. But a family destined for greatness, that is something I want to be a part of. Even if it means just growing old together and raising foals.â

âœSome of us are still learning what family means,â Sentinel said, looking at Ripple and Loch Skimmer. âœAnd we are truly blessed to have been welcomed into a family that loves us and accepts us,â he added, his tufted ears folded back against his skull and his gaze cast downwards. âœIt is very humbling when I think about it,â the colt confessed.

Chapter 78

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It was another day in the brewery, almost like any other. Bucky was driven by a desire to understand something he could barely even put into words, and as of late it had bordered on mania. Today, Buckyâs mind felt much clearer. Lyraâs vigil through the night had allowed him to get the deep restful sleep he had so desperately needed.

He discarded the dregs of another failure and heaved a sigh. He felt a nudge from Berry, her hoof rubbing a spot that wasnât covered in burned over scar tissue. The faint bit of irritation he was starting to feel dissolved with her touch, as it always did. It was something Bucky intended to study later, when life settled down a bit, the touch of earth ponies and their seemingly calming effect upon other ponies. The effect that Bon Bon and Berry Punch had on him couldnât be mere coincidence.

âœLook, that batch was drinkable, it really wasnât bad, you are getting closer,â Berry encouraged. âœCare to tell me more about what you are trying to accomplish here, other than creating beer using nothing but raw ingredients and magic?â

âœMolecular assembly,â Bucky muttered.

âœI know that you big snob,â Berry quipped. âœYouâve mentioned wanting to create steel. Look, if I canât get you inside of me, then I want to be inside of you. Let me inside of your head. I am a big filly, and I am capable of understanding all those big brainy concepts you have floating around between your ears.â

Bucky smiled faintly. âœI worry sometimes that you might actually be smarter than I am,â Bucky admitted.

âœOh, I donât worry about that at all,â Berry retorted. âœI already know I am smarter than you are. Which is why you should talk to me. I might not know magic, but I might be able to help you.â

Bucky chuckled, his mood improving. âœIf I can manage to work through the complexity of beer brewing, I should be able to understand the theory of how to make other complex items. In particular, steel. The iron here on the island is both soft and brittle. It is unsuitable for my purposes. I am going to need to refine it into steel. And there is no foundry. There is no ironworks here capable of such a thing. I am hoping that by learning to manipulate pressure, time, heat, cold, all of these things in one contained sphere, I will be able to work molten iron, add charcoal for carbon, remove the slag and the impurities, and then form the basic components into carbon steel. Something light, strong, and sturdy.â

âœAnd with this steelâ you intend to protect your precious skin,â Berry stated, her words slow and carefully spoken.

âœCorrect,â answered Bucky as he looked into the eyes of the earth pony mare he so loved.

âœAnd the wolves wonât be able to phase through the metal because you intend to imbue it magically somehow,â Berry said thoughtfully. âœYouâre a clever pony.â

âœI try to be,â Bucky acknowledged.

âœSo you protect your skin, you eradicate the wolves, remove the threat they pose, Derpy seals whatever deal she has with Thistle, and we can go home, right?â Berry questioned.

âœThat is the general idea,â Bucky replied, now eyeing the beer in the crude glass he had created. âœThis batch turned out a toasty red colour,â he commented.

âœYou know, you canât do this alone Bucky,â Berry warned in a soft voice. âœAs much as I know you want to, there is still the matter of the magical fear the wolves generate. What if your spells fail again? What if the wolves still have some magical trick you are not aware of?â

âœI have been giving that a lot of thought. To be honest, I am not sure of the solution. I refuse to put anypony else at risk, but I do acknowledge that I will probably need the help. I just havenât figured out a way to keep my helpers out of harmâs way just yet,â Bucky admitted.

âœHelpers?â Berry asked, raising an eyebrow. âœWhy do I get the feeling that Derpy is going to be giving you a thrashing when she finds out about this?â

Bucky grimaced at Berryâs words and his remaining eye squeezed shut.

âœOh, you are planning exactly what I think you are planningâ you do intend to bring Sparkler and Rising Star along donât you?â Berry questioned. She reached out and carefully stroked the good side of Buckyâs face.

âœYes, if I can figure out a way to keep them safe and out of harms way somehow. Lyra too now that she is here. Putting them all in armor seems like one solution, but I am not sure that it is a good solution. I have been wracking my way trying to find some means of keeping them safe, it is driving me crazy,â Bucky confessed.

The earth pony mare heaved a sigh. âœIt was really nice having you as husband. You are awesome at sex. Derpy is going to kill you. I mean she is probably going to actually kill you if you spring this on her,â Berry quipped.

Bucky looked up at Berry and focused his remaining eye on her.

âœSheâs been so stressed out over everything. She almost lost you. Sparkler went off and got married. She worries for Thistle and if Thistle and the foal are healthy. She worries about you constantly. She worries that Sentinel hasnât had time to be a foal and he acts entirely too grown up and it bothers her a great deal. If you break this to her, she might just go berserk. A pegasus will do that you know. You know what she did to Keg Smasher. Derpy is still having trouble accepting that Sparkler is growing up. She doesnât say anything of course, but I know my best friend. But to put Sparkler in harms way?â said Berry as she shook her head.

âœI know,â Bucky replied in a weak doubt filled voice, a voice that sounded more like his old wavering and worry filled voice, his deep confident baritone now gone. âœBut I canât do this aloneâ and I have to do this. It is more than just revenge, although I will admit that revenge is my motivation. I want to hurt them for what they did to me,â Bucky confessed. âœAnd I will. But I canât do this alone.â

âœSo what we need is a means to keep the others out of reach,â Berry said, using her gift to state the obvious.

The unicorn gave a hesitant nod.

âœI have an idea,â Berry whispered, her eyes widening as her mind raced.

âœWell, donât keep me waiting,â Bucky grumbled.

âœWe put them where the wolves canât reach them,â Berry announced.

Bucky gave a frustrated snort and said nothing in reply.

âœWhat we need is an airship,â Berry quipped. âœA small one. A floating platform held aloft by a gasbag. I know the wolves can teleport and shadow wink, I have been reading that book as well. But if the platform is well lit the wolves will have no power if they manage to make it up there. Lyra can be up there, and so can Rising Star and Sparkler. We probably donât have the time or the resources to make arcano-tech engines for mobility, but thankfully we have a few pegasi in our herd. We can use them to maneuver the craft around,â Berry explained.

âœYou are beautiful and clever,â Bucky gasped.

âœI know,â Berry replied nonchalantly. âœDerpy and I are the best things that has ever happened to you.â

âœNo, really, you are a rare prize among maresâ there are times I feel so undeserving of you and Derpy,â Bucky stated.

âœOh shut up you loon,â Berry growled. âœEnough with the neurosis, it no longer suits you.â

âœI could act as bait and they could rain down death from above,â Bucky said, thinking out loud, Berryâs idea filling his brain with creative inspiration.

âœThe term is âcarpet bombingâ and unicorn airships did it during our last war with the griffons. I learned about it in history class in university,â Berry explained.

âœI love you to death and I want to have foals with you,â Bucky whispered.

âœAw, youâre so sweet sometimes, telling a mare just what she wants to hear,â Berry replied, her words ending with a coy giggle.

âœSo a floating weapons platform. It would also allow us to go from island to island in our hunt for the wolves. It could be used to rapidly deploy me to an area, I could drop down from there, draw in the wolves, and then we can collectively blast them into smithereens. I can keep them busy on the ground, cluster them up into tight groups, and then death and fire could be rained down upon them from above,â Bucky said, his eye going wide with excitement.

âœPlus, I think Derpy would let you live,â Berry added. âœWhich is a good thing, because I really want to have some foals with you.â

âœI could enchant my armor to protect me from all kinds of spells and I can magically shield myself. Those above could rain down destruction with impunity,â Bucky said, his ears quivering with barely contained excitement.

âœAnd then we can go home,â Berry sighed. âœI really hope that Derpy allows Thistle to come home with us.â

âœI take it you and Thistle are becoming close?â Bucky asked.

âœYes, Iâll admit, I like her. I think she will be a good addition to our herd,â Berry answered.

âœI will admit, I find myself with a troubling attraction to her,â Bucky confessed.

âœSheâs pretty,â Berry agreed. âœIf I might ask, what do you find attractive about her?â asked Berry in a quizzical tone.

Bucky felt heat bloom through his face and in his ears. âœOh, it is sillyâ I donât know if I can talk about it,â he said sheepishly.

âœLook, I have ways of making you talk,â Berry threatened as she sat down beside Bucky, tired of standing on her hooves.

âœIt is her belly,â Bucky admitted, his voice barely a whisper. âœThere is something about pregnancy that I find-â

âœYou have a pregnancy fetish,â Berry interrupted.

âœI dunno, maybe?â Bucky sighed.

âœImagine Derpy and I all fat with your foals,â Berry said seductively. âœOur bellies all huge and round, our teats swollen-â

âœStop! Oh please, this is torture!â Bucky pleaded.

Berry guffawed, her whole body shaking with laughter.

âœI didnât even know this was a thing,â Bucky confessed. âœI suppose it is.â

âœYes, it is. So we have finally found your special kink. Mine is rope, yours is pregnancy, we still need to discover Derpyâs I think,â Berry announced.

âœAnd Thistleâs as well if she is to be a part of our herd,â Bucky stated.

âœI suppose so,â Berry agreed. âœYou know, this is a good thing.â

âœIt is?â Bucky asked.

âœMost mares get a little emotional during their pregnancy. They feel fat and unattractive. It has been my experience that a mare really needs to be feel sexy and good looking to her mate during those moments, and having a pregnancy fetish is bound to make things better for all of us,â Berry explained.

âœIt is my fondest wish that you and Derpy become pregnant,â Bucky said, baring his soul. âœI want to be a father and do all of the things my father never did. Dinky and PiÃa are wonderful, and Sentinel is great, but I want more foals than I know what to do with,â Bucky confessed.

âœYou and Barley both,â Berry acknowledged. âœWe should call it quits. Today, you came closer than any of your previous attempts. Letâs head back and check out how they are doing with their school. Derpyâs probably got a pile of foals and I really need to cuddle something before I lose my mind. I donât know what has come over me lately. I think all of this hardship has me wanting to reaffirm life.â

âœActually, I think we got a lot accomplished here today. I have the missing piece in my plan,â Bucky stated. âœAnd thatâs important. I am going to need your help getting Derpy to agree with this.â

âœI will help you. I understand the necessity of why you need Rising Star and Sparkler,â Berry offered in reply.

âœBerry, look out the windowâ do you see what I see?â Bucky said, craning his head.

Berry looked out the window and saw the sky was filled with pegasi pulling chariots and sky wagons. Her mouth dropped open.

âœWe need to get back to the castle immediately, come on, letâs go,â Bucky urged.

The earth pony mare said nothing in reply but rose to her hooves and took off in a hurry, eager to return home.

Cadanceâs convoy had arrived.

Chapter 79

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The field was full of chariots and sky wagons. Bucky walked slowly through them, looking around at the crystal pegasi, Berry following along close behind him. Some were still landing, circling overhead until a suitable landing location had been found. There were crates and boxes of all kinds secured to the vehicles.

And then, he saw her. A powerful jolt went through Buckyâs body, it was almost painful. Every muscle spasmed and seized and there was an odd thought that rushed through his mind that concerned him greatly. Destroy her, destroy the usurper who has taken what is yours some voice within his mind commanded. Bucky blamed it on his latent neurosis and shoved the unwanted thought away.

As he drove the unwanted thoughts out of his mind, something else settled in to take their place, and he felt a strong sense of love for the pony he was looking at, and who was currently looking at him, her eyes wide in shock and horror, tears already welling in the corners.

âœBuckminster?â Cadance whispered hoarsely.

âœPrincess Cadance, it is good to see you,â Bucky greeted, bowing his head slightly. He saw her wing extend and then he felt feathers brush the side of his neck, a gesture that he understood now as pegasus affection, something only done for those who were truly close. He felt confused, as he barely knew Princess Cadance, and struggled to understand why she would be so affectionate.

âœBuckminster, what has happened to you? Your faceââ Cadance murmured in shock.

âœHe was mauled by the damnable shadow wolves that haunt these isles,â Berry explained, now standing beside Bucky, looking at Cadance.

Shining Armor, who stood beside Cadance, gave his wife a glance and then continued to study Bucky.

There was a commotion in the crowd and a large burly pegasus was approaching the group. Keg Smasher parted the growing crowd all around him as he pressed forward, and, as he approached the group, he raised his wing in salute.

âœPrincess Cadance, Prince Shining Armor, welcome to Isle oâ Groats,â Keg Smasher greeted.

âœGreetings Laird Keg Smasher,â Cadance returned.

âœGlad to have finally met you,â Shining Armor replied.

âœI am surprised to see you here, I understood you were sending payment, but this was unexpected,â Keg Smasher said.

âœI came at my auntâs request,â Cadance said, her voice easily carrying over the growing noise of the crowd. âœCelestia wanted me to check up on the state of things here and to check on Buckminster here and see how he and his family are doing.â

Keg Smasher started to say something, his mouth opening, but then he fell silent. One wing twitched a bit, one ear quivered, and he flicked his tail nervously.

âœThe state of things here is intolerable,â Bucky said flatly.

Keg Smasher gave a grunt but remained silent.

âœHow could the princesses allow things to get so bad here?â Berry demanded, never one to hold her tongue.

Cadance said nothing, and Shining Armor looked down at his own hooves, his face contorted in what appeared to be shame. There were several grunts from the guard surrounding them.

âœLook, I understand that Celestia canât set a hoof on this isle because of whatever cockamamie reasons cooked up by the treaty, but how could she let things become so bad here?â Berry demanded.

âœIn time, there will be answers for that, but not now,â Cadance replied in a flat monotone.

âœNo time like the present. Somepony needs to be held accountable,â Berry insisted, her voice raising to a level that the sizable crowd could easily hear her.

âœThe time of accountability is already at hoof,â Shining said in a choked voice as he raised his head high. âœYou have no idea what is taking place.â

Bucky was startled as Ripple landed suddenly beside him on his blind side, and he had to crane his head to see her. He felt her nuzzle him briefly, and he began to feel a little calmer.

âœOut of the way!â Sentinelâs voice demanded. The lunar pegasus foal was pushing his way through the crowd, a group of ponies behind him. âœMake way for my masterâs family,â he growled as he flapped his wings and tried to look very intimidating.

Cadance looked very confused for a moment, seeing the large group of ponies approaching. Clearly, a lot had taken place.

âœSeems there is going to be a lot of explaining to do all around,â Keg Smasher commented.

Bucky felt his family members begin to crowd around him. All of them. He could see the startled look of surprise in Cadanceâs eyes and took a secret glee in seeing her shock.

âœNow, before anypony says anything and this all becomes confusing, we should give Cadance and Shining Armor some time to settle in and get some rest. There will be time for explanations later,â Keg Smasher stated, knowing a tense situation when he saw one.

Cadance nodded but said nothing in reply.

Berry grunted, realising that no answers seemed to be forthcoming.

âœDid you have a nice meeting with Keg Smasher?â Bucky asked.

âœYes,â Cadance replied, sounding tired.

âœSo, any good reasons as to why the Princesses left these isles to rot?â Berry asked acerbically.

The afternoon sun was warm and shone upon all the ponies sitting in the meadow. Cadance and Shining Armor were sitting on a blanket together, and neither one replied to Berry. The group was surrounded by pegasus guards.

âœThere are reasons,â Cadance replied, her voice somewhat halting. âœMore will be made clear in time,â Cadance promised.

âœI suppose Iâll have to be content with getting the runaround,â Berry snarked sourly, rubbing along Buckyâs spine with one hoof.

âœAn explanation would be nice,â Bucky added politely.

âœCelestia was not made fully aware of just how bad things had become here until just recently,â Shining Armor stated. âœShe was lied to about a great many things. There are other factors as well. Trying to keep the peace. Political stability.â

Lyra Heartstrings gave a snort but said nothing.

âœBefore we left, there was no political stability,â Bon Bon muttered.

âœHow are things?â Bucky asked diplomatically, trying his best to not sound cynical and bitter. He felt that Cadance deserved that at least.

âœThings are bad,â Cadance replied.

âœThere is currently no government,â Shining Armor added.

âœEquestriaâs financial system is in ruins. House Avarice was pretty much the governmental treasury and the bank of Equestria. The courts no longer exist. The accusations of scandal and corruption have made everything boil over. The truth about this place, and everything that has taken place here, it has all came out. House Avarice has holed up inside their most fortified compound in Canterlot, and they are currently under siege from several other houses. They are well defended, the compound was protected by some very powerful spells from the ancient days. They are waiting for what they call the âpeasant revoltâ to be over,â Cadance explained.

âœMost of the Canterlot unicorns are more about politics than practical spell casting. The siege hasnât gone well,â Shining Armor mentioned. âœThere is a stalemate. Basically, House Avarice has become prisoners in their compound. Nopony can root them out, and they lack the means to break the siege.â

âœPonyville is pretty much the only place of peace and safety. The guard who were taken prisoner there have been training the local militia and turning them into a formidable fighting force. They keep the peace and keep Ponyville well defended. Luna is there as well, and she has become something of a symbol of hope. She finally has what she has always wanted, the love, respect, and admiration of her fellow ponies. Lunaâs Marauders bring food, water, and supplies to the surrounding refugee camps that have formed outside of Ponyville. They also keep order. Desperate ponies sometimes do foolish things,â Cadance said as she tried to meet the eyes of all the ponies currently looking at her.

âœBarley OâBlivion has become the representative of the refugees, he goes around to the various camps speaking to the leaders of the camps, and he acts as a liaison to my sister Twilight and Luna, things would have fallen apart a long time go without him I think. He is an amazing individual. Heâs used his friendship with Luna as leverage to get ponies to behave themselves and listen to him, and to talk to him as well. He makes sure that things get done,â Shining Armor stated.

âœCelestia hasnât even been in Canterlot for a while now, she has been in Fillydelphia trying to restore order. The charges of scandal and corruption have hit there there hardest. Some of the better citizens have seized control of the government offices and are trying to save as much of the paperwork and documentation as possible before it was destroyed. Even with everything going wrong, really good ponies have been coming forward to do the right thing, it has been amazing and inspiring to watch as everything unfolds. Mister Rich has been feeding the refugees for example, using what remains of his wealth and resources after the financial collapse. It hit him pretty hard, but he took it all in stride,â Shining Armor continued to explain.

Bucky heaved a sigh and looked at his foals. Dinky, PiÃa, and Ripple were all in a pile together. Dinky and PiÃa both looked quite distressed, and Ripple was trying to comfort them. Sentinel sat a short distance away, watching Princess Cadance with some kind of moonstruck wonder, his eyes wide his face full of awe.

âœI hope we have a home to return to,â Derpy said in a small voice. âœBut no matter what, we have each other, remember that,â she added, her voice becoming firm.

âœSo much more has happened,â Cadance continued. âœBut you will find out more when you come home. It seems a lot has happened for you as well. I feel so much love coming from all of you. Your family has grown! I cannot believe how many of you there are.â

âœThey are my strength,â Bucky stated.

âœSparkler got married. There were some troubling circumstances and she wanted to save her friend,â Berry stated, offering a half hearted explanation, still miffed that her concerns were not properly addressed to her satisfaction.

âœLyra and Bon Bon joined us after a long adventure to get here,â Derpy said.

âœI am Buckminsterâs squire,â Sentinel explained.

âœAnd this is Thistle, whom I know you know about,â Bucky said, nodding his head in Thistleâs direction.

âœThis is Loch Skimmer and Ripple, my wives,â Rising Star said to the royal couple. âœYou already know Sparkler,â he mentioned.

âœYou are blessed with an extended family,â Cadance said, a broad but tired looking smile spreading across her features.

âœWeâre very sorry, but we need to go. Lyra and I need our sleep,â Bon Bon stated to the group.

âœI am coming with you!â Sentinel quipped. âœOnce again I will guard you through the night.â

Cadance watched as the trio departed.

âœLyraâs music counteracts the magical fear and cold from the wolves,â Bucky explained.

âœI know a little about the wolves,â Cadance said. âœLook, I cannot tell you everything, but you are here for a reason Buckminster. You have a formidable task ahead of you. Our time is short here, and we must leave before the sun sets. I have aid for youâ I have brought books. Spellbooks. Other books about what you face here. There is a trunk full of comfort from home. Foodstuffs and things you are probably missing. I wish I could tell you more, but Bucky, as a scion of of the Platinum bloodline, youâ you are the only one who can put an end to what is happening here.â

âœWhat?â Bucky gasped.

âœLook, I canât tell you much. There is a book in the trunk you need to read. More will be revealed in time. Celestia has faith that you will succeed where so many others have failed. You have always shown so much promise she said,â Cadance said to Bucky.

âœAre you saying that Bucky was fated to come here?â Berry asked in a tone of disbelief.

âœAnd probably to marry you as well,â Cadance replied. âœYou are just as much a part of this as he is.â

âœWhat in Tartarus is going on?â Berry demanded.

âœI honestly do not know,â Cadance confessed. âœI only know a little. Celestia was tight lipped.â

Berry Punch grunted but said nothing in return.

âœBucky, you have something that others in your position did not have,â Cadance stated. âœA family that truly loves you. Look around you. Celestia is confident that you will succeed. And when you have, Celestia promises to explain everything to all of you.â

âœSo Celestia knew that eventually all of this would land on my shoulders and Iâd be here?â Bucky asked.

âœYes, and she tried to prepare you,â Cadance replied. âœShe had an inkling at first, and then knew for certain when you fended off all of Ponyville and cracked your horn. There is a lot of that in your bloodline.â

âœAre you saying this is a curse?â Bucky queried.

âœYes, you could call it that,â Cadance answered.

âœSo she placed Bucky in our care hoping that we would bond?â Derpy asked, her muzzle scrunching in confusion.

âœShe was indeed hoping for that,â Cadance admitted.

âœSo I am cursed,â Bucky stated, still trying to grasp the situation.

âœOr you could say you are destined for greatness,â Shining Armor offered.

Bucky did not reply.

âœStupid curse canât have him,â Derpy growled. âœHeâs mine.â

âœAnd mine,â Berry quipped.

âœOurs,â Derpy corrected.

âœAnd my foal needs a father,â Thistle added.

âœYeah it does,â Derpy added without thinking, causing Thistle to have a very hopeful look spread over her features.

âœWe look after our own,â Sparkler insisted.

âœSo fate has brought us together,â Bucky said thoughtfully.

âœTwilight believes that fate is what brought her and her friends together, and she usually doesnât believe in intangible things that she canât see, feel, measure, or study,â Shining Armor said. âœSo take hope Buckminster. I personally do not feel that fate would bring all of you together only to have you fail.â

Bucky did not reply. The recent events all seemed so confusing, and everything felt jumbled. He tried to focus his mind, and then he thought about total honesty. He remembered his first reaction to seeing Cadance, and a question formed in his mind.

âœAre you tied to this curse as well Cadance?â Bucky asked.

Cadance looked startled and her wings flapped. âœHow? How did you know?â Cadance asked.

âœWhen I first saw you earlier I had thoughts in my head to destroy you. Something in my mind called you an usurper, that you took what is rightfully mine,â Bucky admitted. âœI attributed it to my neurosis.â

âœI am part of this indirectly,â Cadance confessed. âœOur fates are linked.â

âœThis is distressing,â Berry said, her voice full of worry.

âœWhat do you have that is mine?â Bucky asked.

Cadance squirmed and looked very uncomfortable.

âœLook, some things canât be answered right now, but answers are coming,â Shining Armor interjected.

âœStay strong in your love for one another,â Cadance insisted. âœOur time grows ever shorter.â Cadance smiled sweetly, looking at both Derpy and Berry. âœBesides Buckminster, I know another good reason why you must endure,â Cadance said in a faint teasing tone.

âœAnd that is?â Bucky replied.

âœYou are going to be a father,â Cadance answered.

Chapter 80

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Bucky remained silent and in shock. Cadanceâs revelations had left him disturbed and unsettled. She and Shining Armor were already gone, offering a tearful farewell before departing. The sun would be setting soon. He sat on a couch, reclining against the arm, watching his family plunder the trunk and pulling out various goods.

It was Derpy who noticed that he was not with them, and, seeing him alone on the sofa by his lonesome, had come to join him. She eased herself onto the sofa beside him, carefully wrapped her forelegs around him, and pulled him close.

Bucky allowed her to squeeze him. It hurt a bit, but he was far too distracted by everything else to notice. He moved swiftly and suddenly, locking his own forelegs around her to return her embrace, holding her as close as possible, his breath catching in his throat.

âœIâm scared,â he whispered to the grey mare holding him.

âœI know,â she answered, also in a whisper.

Berry turned to watch the pair, and then her thoughts turned to the foal in her belly. More than anything, she wanted to be away from this horrible place and to be home. She became distracted by happy squeals from Sparkler.

âœCookies!â PiÃa cried happily.

âœIâve never had a cookie,â Ripple admitted. âœBut I have heard ponies that have been to the mainland talk about them.â

âœYou must have a cookie then,â PiÃa suggested. âœThese are fudge dipped shortbread. And those are ginger snaps! I love ginger snaps!â

âœThere is all kinds of junk food in here,â Rising Star announced. âœLoch, you are going to love some of this stuff,â he quipped.

âœMore books,â Dinky mentioned as she peered over the edge. She leaned too far over and fell in. âœNopony saw anything,â she grumbled from inside the trunk.

âœI saw everything Bumblebutt,â PiÃa teased.

âœOh shut it,â Dinky retorted and she blew a raspberry at PiÃa after getting herself upright once again.

From on the sofa, Derpy watched her brood rummaging through the trunk and continued to comfort Bucky. âœYou are going to be daddyâ well, you have a few foals already but you know what I mean,â Derpy whispered.

âœI know,â Bucky breathed in return. âœI am actually very happy, I am just having a hard time taking everything in. I am worried about what I must do and what will happen if I fail. Failure scares me now more than ever,â he confessed.

âœI get to be a mommy again. Dinky has grown up so much. I miss when she was so small and so needy of me. I want that again,â Derpy whispered into Buckyâs ear. She planted a kiss just behind the dead spot on the left side of his face, just below his ear.

Bucky shivered from her touch and felt an electric tingling in his dock. His mind thought of earlier and the idea that he had a pregnancy fetish. He felt the first hot flash of arousal and suddenly he wanted to do a whole lot more than just hold Derpy.

âœChocolate covered cherries!â Bon Bon cried.

Bucky turned to look at his grey mare and he struggled to raise his eyebrow. âœThe trunk certainly has raised spirits,â he quipped.

âœSure has,â she replied.

âœIt almost feels like Hearthâs Warming Eve,â Bucky commented.

âœYeah, sorta,â Derpy agreed.

âœToo bad I already came down your chimney and left you a gift,â Bucky whispered suggestively.

Derpy tittered loudly and several eyes turned to look at her and Bucky.

âœYou two sure look cozy,â Sparkler announced. âœAnd mom is blushing.â The filly paid little mind to the two adults and went back to pillaging the trunk.

âœYou donât say dirty stuff often enough,â Derpy murmured softly into Buckyâs ear. âœI like it when you get flirty,â she admitted.

âœNeonatal vitamins!â Berry crowed. âœSomepony really was thinking about us!â

âœThere are some letters here,â Dinky said from inside the trunk. âœIn envelopes. All tied together with a ribbon.â She lifted them out using her magic and set them carefully on top of a pile of books.

âœDehydrated fruitâ whole compressed bricks of the stuff. And pineapple too!â PiÃa Colada cried in a shrill overly excited voice.

âœSoap!â Berry announced.

âœSOAP!â Derpy shouted in reply, startling poor Bucky when she did so in his ear. He tried to squirm free of her grasp but she held him and refused to let go. âœSorry about that,â she whispered. âœBut soap is big deal for me. I like to be cleanâ soap soap soap,â she muttered, mostly to herself.

âœI donât feel right about this,â Dinky announced, the happiness in her voice gone. âœNo, this is wrong.â

âœDinks, what is wrong exactly?â Berry asked.

âœWe have all of thisâ ponies like Loch and Ripple and Sentinel have never had any of this stuffâ cookies and jelly beans and all of these candies. It feels wrong to have all of this knowing that there are foals all around me that donât have anything. Or have to eat grass to get full,â Dinky answered, a tear beginning to well in the corner of her eye. âœI donât think I want any of it.â

âœDinky, come here,â Derpy said, gesturing at her foal.

Dinky crawled out of the trunk, crossed the room, and climbed onto the sofa with Bucky and Derpy. She curled into her motherâs side and sat silently.

âœWeâll share some of this stuff with the foals when he teaches school. It will make them work harder,â Derpy said as she rubbed Dinky with her foreleg. âœAnd you are a very good foal for thinking of others. I am proud of you.â

âœAnd so am I,â Bucky said to the troubled foal who sat sniffling at her motherâs side, a few tears now beginning to fall.

âœI donât want any either,â PiÃa grumbled as she sat down on the floor, her face pulled into a pout. âœDinky is right. I feel awful,â she admitted.

âœWe can wait until to tomorrow to have some,â Sparkler suggested. âœWhen we can share it.â

âœThat seems wise,â Rising Star agreed.

âœI concur,â Lyra quipped.

âœIâm with Lyra,â Bon Bon announced.

âœWeâve gone so long without, I suppose it really doesnât matter,â Berry stated.

âœSo when am I going to have a little brother or a little sister?â Dinky asked as she poked her motherâs belly with her forehoof.

âœProbably next spring,â Derpy replied, her features breaking into a smile.

âœWell, we made them together, here is to hoping weâll have them together,â said Berry as she crossed the room to join the others on the sofa.

âœThat would be nice,â Derpy agreed as Berry took a seat beside her.

âœFeels strange not having Thistle here,â Bucky announced. âœShe is alone, off in her lake. We just had this moment of family bonding and she wasnât here. I understand she isnât family yet, but letâs face it, she will be. I mean, I just got done mentioning how this felt like Hearthâs Warming Eve. That is a time when family should be together.â

Derpy heaved a sigh but said nothing.

âœBucky is right. She belongs with us,â Berry stated.

âœI like Thistle,â Dinky said to Derpy, looking up into her motherâs eyes.

âœI like the plants that grow out of her. Makes my earth pony sense tingle,â PiÃa admitted.

âœYou have an earth pony sense?â Dinky asked.

âœSure do,â PiÃa replied.

âœCare to explain?â Dinky inquired.

âœI dunno how to explain. I just touch certain plants and I get tingly all over,â PiÃa answered with a shrug.

âœNeat,â Dinky quipped.

âœMaybe it will prove useful,â Berry said with earnest seriousness to her little sister. âœMaybe you have a special gift to develop.â

On the bed, Lyra yawned and lifted her head, watching the commotion as the trunk was fully explored. Bon Bon, beside her, continued to rest her head on Sentinel, using him as a pillow. Sentinel was awake but had his eyes closed. It took him a while to adjust to the light after waking up.

âœThere is a lot of mail here,â Sparkler announced. âœBucky, you have letters from Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Princess Twilight Sparkle, and Princess Cadance left you a note as well. A lot of important ponies seem to want to communicate with you,â Sparkler quipped. âœBerry, mom, there is a letter here from Barley to both of you,â Sparkler continued. âœPiÃa, Dinky, there is a letter here from Diamond Tiara for the two of you, and Lyra, there is a letter here from Princess Celestia for youâ I donât know how she knew you were here,â Sparkler finished.

âœIâll look at it later,â Lyra replied nervously.

âœI donât think I can deal with anything else today,â Bucky said in reply. âœIâll look at the letters tomorrow.â

âœTheyâll be there waiting,â Derpy said soothingly. âœYou just take your time. You look frazzled,â the mare stated. To help him relax, she began to plant little kisses along Buckyâs neck, which made him shake in her embrace.

Dinky looked up at her mother and her father, watching the affection taking place between them, and then settled once again against her motherâs side, feeling that everything was alright with the world.

âœI wonder what Princess Cadance and Keg Smasher talked about,â Rising Star said, his eyes lingering on the wealth of goods contained in the trunk.

âœIâd be curious to find out about that myself,â Berry replied. âœI wonder if she told Keg Smasher anything about what is going on here,â the mare continued.

âœIt is becoming more and more obvious that there are forces at work bringing us togetherâ usually Bonnie dismisses my hunches as paranoia, and most of the time Bonnie is right for doing so, but this canât be mere coincidence, I mean, my talent, my ability, my music being able to hold back the fear magic of the wolves. All of us are meant to be here, all of this is happening for a reason,â Lyra explained.

âœI think you are right Lyra,â Bon Bon agreed.

âœAnd Berry was meant to kick the horseapples out of Buckyâs mother,â Derpy murmured as she continued to cuddle with Bucky on the couch.

Berry, sitting next to Derpy, with Dinky squished between them, nodded. âœSomepony had to kick the snot out of her,â Berry agreed.

âœBut thatâs over,â Derpy said soothingly. âœOur job now is to be good wives and mothers. To raise foals,â the grey mare whispered into Buckyâs ear.

âœOh, Iâll be happy to help you all be good mothers,â Bucky returned. âœJust let me know when you need my help,â he offered.

âœThistle is going to make a good mother, and she is going to need a good husband,â Derpy stated. âœHow do you feel about that Bucky?â Derpy asked.

Bucky heaved a sigh. âœI have some mixed feelings,â he answered.

âœI know,â Derpy replied to his soft words.

âœAre you finally going to tell us about your agreement with Thistle?â Berry asked, sounding Berry hopeful.

âœNope,â Derpy answered.

âœBugger,â Berry swore, causing Dinkyâs eyes to go wide and a faint pink blush to appear on the fillyâs cheeks.

âœIâve said it before, I am willing to take her in,â Bucky stated. âœNow more than ever though. The events of this damnable place are always going to haunt me I fear. I will never be able to get the image out of my mind of Keg Smasher approaching me with that glowing hot iron as I was tied downâ as it got closer and closer to my face and I could feel the heat coming off of it and I couldnât get away. And that is just one of many memories I wish I didnât have. But once I leave this place, I would like to have the reminders of something good from here. Sentinel of courseâ I suppose I would endure being burned with hot irons to have Sentinel, and Thistle too I reckon. Iâd like to show them a good life. Ripple and Loch Skimmer as well. Sentinel, Ripple, and Loch, I cannot help but feel that they are just as much my foals as Dinky, PiÃa, and Sparkler. And I canât forget Rising Star, who has found his way into my heart,â Bucky explained. âœAnd I guess coming here was worth it for the sense of family that has been created. That reason alone makes it all worth it,â the unicorn finished.

âœAs important as all of that is, I want to hear from you directly how you feel about Thistle,â Derpy insisted. âœI donât want to be distracted by pretty words.â

âœSorry,â Bucky grumbled. âœLook, I find myself becoming very fond of Thistle. I could see myself loving her just as much as I love the rest of you. Even if it is a little weird right now, she will grow up. I think it would be better for her to grow up with us, knowing that there is a place for her and her foals in our herd. And here is the weird part, it almost sounds like parenting or somethingâ ugh,â Bucky said with a shudder. âœShe will grow up knowing exactly what is expected from her and more responsibilities can be given to her as she is ready for them,â Bucky finished.

âœLike me,â Ripple stated. She shot her sister a glare that silenced Loch Skimmer before anything could be said. âœLook, like it or not, I am married into this herd as well. Thistle and I have a lot in common and weâve talked,â Ripple admitted. âœAnd I donât want to reveal Thistleâs secrets so I am going to shut up now,â Ripple added.

Derpyâs brows furrowed and a faint noise of indescribable concern resonated in her throat.

âœSometimes a filly or a colt has to grow up before they are ready,â Bucky said trying to sooth Derpyâs ruffled feathers. âœI know this for myself. I was about Sparklerâs age when my parents and I were at the therapistâs office that fateful dayâ and I was told by my parents that they resented me for being born and disrupting their lives. After that, wellâ I do believe the bonds of family were broken at that point. We drifted apart. I stayed at Celestiaâs school. And I had to grow up and take care of myself because, well, I didnât have anypony else. Or so I thought. I was so hurt and confused. I didnât realise at the time that Celestia and my teachers were trying to look after me. I pushed them all away. I became a very grown up little colt and I made my way into the world. The world as it once was, ponies like Sparkler and Rising Star are ready to begin a familyâ like it or not, they are old enough. At least in a sense. As a society, weâve extended foalhood greatly, trying to protect them from the world as long as possible. Look around you at all of the herds here. Maturity comes early to many, at least here it does. Maturity came to me early. I had no choice but to grow up and take care of myself. Sparkler is more level headed than most adults I know. Sure, she makes mistakes, but Sparkler learns from her mistakes, which is more than I can say for a lot of adults I know who keep making the same mistakes over and over. Thistle is a little naive but she is ready and eager to be a parent and take responsibility for not only her life and her foal, but for the lives of our foals as well. Think about how intimidating that must be for her, to be in her position, to be a mother as young as she is, and to not only embrace the idea of motherhood as much as she has, but to be willing to take on all of the extra work of looking after Dinky and PiÃa as well,â Bucky said, his many words all coming slowly and carefully. âœNow tell me my little storm cloud, when you were her age, as scared as you were back then, would you have been so willing to take on all of this responsibility and hard work or was Dinky enough?â Bucky asked, putting Derpy on the spot.

Derpy squirmed

âœBucky brings up a very good point,â Berry said as she brushed a fetlock against Derpyâs wing and smoothed out her feathers.

âœI donât think I would have taken on the challenge of having a whole family,â Derpy admitted, shame readily apparent in her voice. âœI would have ran away. Dinky was all I could deal with. I lost almost all of my friends. Dinky consumed so much of my life. I gave everything I had to look after her. I never thought of it this way,â Derpy confessed. âœI need to talk with Thistle tomorrow.â

âœWhen you put it like that, it does give a very different view of Thistle,â Rising Star mumbled, speaking mostly to himself. âœHere Iâve been scared of just being married and being responsible for a few wivesâ I never thought about Thistleâs view of having to be married and deal with what is sure to be a small army of foals,â he continued.

âœMakes my own concerns feel kinda trivial,â Sparkler admitted.

âœAnd mine,â Loch Skimmer agreed.

âœI was already aware of this because Iâve been talking to Thistle,â Ripple said, looking around the room as she did so. âœAnd while I will not betray her trust, none of you have any idea of what this is doing to her. She might be a âfillyâ to most of you, and you might not see her as an adult, but she knows exactly what she is getting into and we both talk about these things together when we get the chance.â Ripple paused, her muzzle scrunching in concentration as she wracked her brain for the right words. âœBucky is a very good pony for trying to see Thistleâs point of view. I am glad to have him as my father,â Ripple said with a sniffle, her eyes beginning to mist over. She scrubbed at her eyes with her foreleg and gave a grunt, refusing to allow her emotions to get the best of her.

âœI just realised, I used to see the world only through my own point of view. And then, I met the most wonderful pegasus ever, and there was a very comical misunderstanding between the two of us. And then I met an earth pony mare that completely baffled me. Between the two of them, I had to work so very hard to understand what was going on,â Bucky stated.

âœYou know,â Rising Star interjected. âœI really lucked out with Ripple. Sheâs amazing.â

âœAw, thanks,â Ripple replied shyly.

âœI am the one who lucked out,â Bucky stated. âœI have all of you.â

Chapter 81

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The compressed peat bale in the fire popped and crackled, causing Bucky to lift his head. Most of his family was in the bed, sleeping peacefully, warm, content, and secure. Lyraâs spell kept the effects of the horrible howling away.

It was an odd arrangement, having both Bon Bon and Lyra as wives, but not as lovers. Still, Bucky didnât mind. He loved them both, a conclusion he reached after a great deal of inner reflection. There were different types of love, and Bucky was open to experiencing them all.

The firelight twinkled in his remaining eye as he took his letters into his magic and pulled them closer. One ear twitched slightly as he heard Bon Bon and Sentinel talking very quietly to one another. Lyra giggled softly at something Sentinel said, but Bucky didnât quite catch what was spoken.

Bucky drew forth a letter and saw that it was from Princess Luna. It had a wax seal upon it, the parchment was ivory coloured and it was written in indigo ink. He carefully opened the folded paper.

Dearest Buckminster,

I know what you fight. I wish there was more that I could do to help you, but I have only recently became aware of the shadow wolves. Powerful magics have been placed to block my perceptions and prevent scrying. I hope you will believe me when I tell you that my sister and I had no idea just what was going on out there on the isles.

I wish I could come to help you, however, I have come to the same understanding as my sister, and that is that you must face this with your herdmates. Keep your wits about you. I have sent several books to help you, and I am trusting you with powerful spells that very few are trusted with.

Do not disappoint me.

Princess Luna.

Bucky sighed and read the letter again. Luna clearly wasnât one for mincing words. He heaved another sigh and set the letter down on the sofa beside him.

âœYou look and sound tired, you should get some sleep,â Bon Bon coaxed. âœLook over there on the bed, there is a spot for you right there between Berry and Derpy, doesnât that look inviting?â she inquired.

âœMy mind is full of thoughts,â Bucky admitted.

âœI could imagine,â Bon Bon whispered in reply.

âœThere seems to be more at stake than I am aware of,â Bucky stated. âœWhat if I fail?â he asked in a soft wavering whisper. âœWhat dreadful consequences await us all? Failure is bad enough when it is just me experiencing it, but I am afraid that if I fail now, all of us will suffer the consequences in some wayâ part of me wishes that I had simply stayed alone and not brought anypony into my apparently screwed up destiny,â Bucky explained.

âœShutâ up!â Lyra snapped in angry quiet voice.

âœLyra!â Bon Bon hissed.

âœYouâ moron!â Lyra began. âœDonât you understand, if you had been alone, if you had stayed alone, that would have been failureâ donât you get it?â

âœLyra, you have no right to talk to him like that,â Bon Bon chided.

âœShe has every right, leave her be Bonnie,â Bucky interjected.

âœButââ Bon Bon said in a faltering voice.

âœBut nothing, I value Lyraâs honesty and straightforwardness. Just like I appreciate Berry giving me a kick to get me moving in the right direction,â Bucky stated. âœAnd you are right Lyra. Still, I donât like the idea that all of you are probably going to suffer for this somehow if I fail.â

âœSo then we suffer,â Lyra said, blinking her eyes slowly as she did so, her golden eyes reflecting in the firelight. âœBut remember, all of us chose this life. We chose to be with you, every single one of us. Sometimes having an extraordinary mate means having to endure some extraordinary circumstances, isnât that right Bonnie?â

Bon Bon nodded, thinking back to the broken state in which she had found Lyra. She felt the hot sting of tears working their way to her eyes, but she held them back with a repressed shudder.

Sentinel removed himself from the sofa with Lyra and Bon Bon, crossed the small gap between sofas, and settled in next to Bucky, sitting close but not touching. He said nothing, but silently stared at Bucky, his eyes wide and his slitted pupils narrowed from the flickering firelight.

âœWell, this has become somewhat awkward. I am going to go back to reading my mail,â Bucky whispered.

âœDo not dismiss us or the effort we have expended in being here for you,â Lyra insisted, a faint hint of anger still in her voice.

âœLook, Lyra, you are right. Absolutely right. Can you forgive me?â Bucky begged.

âœThat depends,â Lyra replied.

âœLyra, what has gotten into you?â Bon Bon asked.

âœAlright, what do I need to do to be forgiven?â Bucky inquired.

âœStop being a dunderhead,â Lyra demanded.

âœBut I am a dunderhead Lyra,â Bucky said in his own defense. âœFor all of my own cleverness, I am a few slices short of a pie.â

Lyra cracked a wry smile.

âœLook, I say really stupid stuff all the time. I do really stupid things. This is why I need all of you. For a pony who is supposedly intelligent, I do some really stupid things. I always have, and I probably always will,â Bucky explained.

âœThen I guess I will have to forgive you because you are feeble minded,â Lyra acquiesced.

Bucky snorted and gave a soft chuckle as he lifted the next letter, this one from Celestia. He set it down and lifted Twilightâs letter instead.

Bon Bon looked confused and bewildered, this was a side of Lyra that she really hadnât seen before. She looked at Bucky, who was opening his mail, and then looked at Lyra who was looking back at her.

âœWhat?â Lyra asked.

âœParts of you remain a mystery to me,â Bon Bon admitted.

âœAnd I remain a mystery to myself,â Lyra returned.

Bucky noticed that Sentinel was even closer to him on the sofa now, peering up at him, looking at him and his mail curiously.

âœYou are enamoured by royalty and nobility, arenât you?â Bucky asked of his squire in soft voice.

âœYes sir, I am sir,â Sentinel replied. âœMeeting Princess Cadance today will likely become one of my fondest memories.â

âœYou will be seeing her again,â Bucky said to Sentinel, his words soft and kind. âœAnd before all of this is over, you will probably meet all of the other princesses as well.â

âœI would like that very much,â Sentinel admitted.

âœThe idea of service really is deeply ingrained in you, isnât it?â Bucky inquired.

âœYes sir, it is,â Sentinel answered. âœFor my kind, what little I know of my kind, service is our highest honour. It is what we do. We were made to serve. To have honour. I wish I knew more about my kind. I feel like I know so little. But the things I do know I hold to very closely, because it is all that I have that makes me what I am.â

âœYou are well spoken,â Bucky stated.

âœI was being groomed for service sir, so when I was taken I would have a good chance of being taken on as a guard,â Sentinel replied.

âœI know that,â Bucky returned. âœBut all of the grooming in the world doesnât help a pony that isnât meant to be well spoken.â Bucky paused for a moment, cocked his head to one side, and focused his gaze upon Sentinel. âœYou were clearly meant for better things. It seems to me that everypony in this herd was meant for better things,â Bucky stated in a matter of fact sort of voice.

âœI think I understand sir,â Sentinel answered. âœI have always hoped I was destined for better things. I want to leave these isles. I want a life of meaning and of service. Keg Smasher once told me that he got to where he was because he serves others.â

âœThere is some truth to that,â Bucky agreed. âœKeg Smasher took it upon himself to return home to his roots and take on an impossible task that offers little thanks in return and leaves a lot of ponies upset with him. We have our differences he and I, but I do respect him a great deal. We understand one another.â

âœWhen you and I return to the mainland, will you help me find others of my kind so that I might learn from them? I know there are others like me here, on the isles, most of them are on Crescent Isle, but I worry that we might not be as well connected to our history here. There are so few of us, most of us leave. Very few of stay to continue our practice of herding. The lure of the mainland and the call of service is so strong,â Sentinel said in a quiet whisper filled with regret.

âœYes, I will help you Sentinel. You have done so much and have asked for so little in return,â Bucky responded. âœHow are you doing in school?â

âœI am doing fine. I can write my name even better than before, I can read entire sentences, I can write entire sentences but I am slow at it, and Sparkler even has me helping her teach the other foals. Mostly I show them how to write the alphabet,â Sentinel replied.

âœVery goodâ as my squire, it will be one of your duties to help me with my correspondence,â Bucky said with a faint smile.

âœThat would be a privilege sir,â Sentinel replied, a soft eagerness creeping into his voice.

âœLike these letters here,â Bucky said, nodding his head at the letters on the sofa beside him. âœDo you think you could read my mail to me?â Bucky asked.

âœYou want me to read letters written to you by the princesses?â Sentinel asked, his voice a faint whisper full of awe.

âœDo you think you can read that well? This is a very important task,â Bucky replied. âœThis is why it is so important to pay attention in school. I might even ask you to compose a letter for meâ important correspondence to the princesses. And then ask you to deliver them for me personally to make sure my messages are safe and securely delivered,â he added.

Sentinelâs eyes went wide and the colt remained completely silent, unable to reply. He trembled, and his ears fell down to the sides of his face.

âœFlying from Ponyville to Canterlot might take you a few hours. You would have to be swift and strong. And when you get there, Celestia might be a very busy ponyâ you might be requested to take a letter for her as well,â Bucky explained. âœShe might also want you to read it. And you wouldnât want to screw up in front of her would you?â

Sentinel slowly shook his head no, a look of sheer terror spreading over his features, his ears bobbing slightly as his head shook from side to side.

âœJust think about how embarrassing it would be to flub something in front of Princess Celestia or Princess Luna,â Bucky mentioned.

Sentinel gulped loudly, his eyes somehow went even wider.

âœAnd then there is Princess Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Books. She is the librarian of Ponyville, where you will be living. So you had better be paying attention in school,â Bucky added.

Sentinel nodded slowly and licked his lips nervously.

âœCare to try and read Twilightâs letter to me?â Bucky inquired.

Sentinel emitted a high pitched squeak of fear and could not make a verbal reply. His wings fluttered at his sides and his forelegs trembled.

âœNow now Sentinel, I have faith in you. Please read this for me?â Bucky asked.

âœYes sir, I will do as you bid sir,â Sentinel replied in a nervous whisper. The colt extended his wing and grasped the letter between his central knuckle and his opposable digit. He lifted the letter up, peered at the paper, and then cleared his throat.

âœTo Buckminster,â Sentinel began. âœHey, this isnât so hard,â he said, interrupting himself, and causing Bucky to smile faintly in the firelight. âœI know what is like to have des-des,â Sentinel paused and stared at the page, trying to sound out the word to himself. âœDestiny,â he continued. âœI know what it is like to have destiny thrust upon you. You and I do not know each other very well, but that will probably change when you come home. I wanted to take this op-op-op,â Sentinel stammered, and looked visibly frustrated. âœI am sorry, I have failed. I cannot read this,â Sentinel admitted.

âœOpportunity?â Bucky guessed.

âœO-p-p-o-r-t-u-n-i-t-y,â Sentinel said, spelling out the letters.

âœThat is opportunity,â Bucky replied.

Sentinel made a few mental notes and then plowed onwards. âœI wanted to take this opportunity to offer my friendship to you. When you return I get the feeling that you and I will be getting to know one another better. Princess Celestia has big plans for you when you return home vic-vic,â Sentinel paused, stymied by a large word.

âœBreak it down into smaller words,â Bucky said helpfully.

âœVic-tor- victorious?â Sentinel said slowly.

âœSounds right,â Bucky replied.

âœWhen you return home victorious. There is a pleasant surprise waiting for you. Even with all of the trouble happening at home, we have managed to get a lot done. Please, stay safe. I have in-in-included some books for you to read. I think they will help you. Your friend, Twilight Sparkle,â Sentinel finished.

âœYou did very well,â Bucky praised.

âœI made mistakes,â Sentinel protested.

âœSo what, you did well. And you handled your mistakes well,â Bucky said.

âœThank you sir,â Sentinel said, setting the letter down.

âœThere is still the letter I have from Celestia,â Bucky said, casting his gaze downward at the other letter.

Sentinel heaved a nervous sigh. âœI feel very ashamed of the mistakes I made sir. I said that I was doing well in school and now I fear it looks like I have lied,â the colt said in a fearful voice.

âœSentinel, do not be like that,â Bucky soothed. âœYou did fine, you make a few mistakes. So what? I still stumble over words when I read outloud.â

âœYou do? But youâ butâ but you are educated sir,â Sentinel stammered.

âœDoesnât mean nearly as much as you think,â Bucky answered.

âœBut sir-â

âœHush Sentinel,â Bucky interrupted.

The colt fell silent and looked rather dejected.

âœYou did fine. And you will continue to do better with practice. Speaking of practice, how is your flying?â Bucky asked, changing the subject.

âœI am getting better. Derpy is a very patient teacher. Sheâs given me a few lessons. We have different wings, and that makes things tricky,â Sentinel replied.

âœYou donât start off as a perfect flier, and you will not start off as a perfect reader. Both things take practice. Just allow them to happen and donât be so upset if you make a mistake. I was ribbing you just a little bit earlier about flubbing a word in front of the princesses to make you want to take your schooling a little more serious. You are to make your education your top priority,â Bucky stated.

âœYes sir,â Sentinel replied. âœI will dedicate myself to education. And not to argue with you sir, but my first priority is Dinky and PiÃaâs safety and well being. But donât worry, I have it within me to perform both duties,â Sentinel continued.

Bucky looked up at Bon Bon and Lyra sitting on the other sofa. Both were reading. He gestured at them. âœThey are bound to be lonely during their nighttime vigil. I know it is a lot to ask of you, but I want you to keep an eye on them as well. They are special and very dear to me. And Iâd imagine that you are going to be a little sleepy in school during the day. So what I want you to do is to ask Lyra and Bonnie to help you at night when you are awake and aware. Lyra is a very good teacher and she enjoys teaching. You are to make your nights productive, do you understand me?â Bucky asked.

Sentinel nodded. âœYes sir. Very wise sir. With me being the only foal awake at night, Lyra will be able to give me one on one lessons.â

âœYes she will. And I will speak to her about this as well. But I know you will make her very happy if you ask her about lessons to help you fill the night,â Bucky whispered in a low voice. âœNow, about this letter,â he added. Bucky cracked the seal using his magic and handed the letter to Sentinel, who took it slowly from Bucky.

The colt raised the letter so he could see it, peered at the fine print, and then looked at Bucky. âœIt is very short,â Sentinel said.

âœOh?â Bucky replied. âœRead it.â

âœDearest Buckminster,â Sentinel started. âœI have faith in you. You are one of my best students. I know things are very hard for you right now, but I know that you will not fail. Re-re-mem-ber what your new family means to you. I will tell you everything when you come home. I have sent as much aid as I could offer. Love, Celestia,â said Sentinel, who shrugged after reading it.

âœThat was short,â Bucky agreed. âœI suppose it is the thought that counts,â he muttered quietly, a faint hint of annoyance in his voice.

âœShe was your teacher and she is a princessâ how does she find the time?â Sentinel asked.

âœI donât know,â Bucky replied. âœShe had Twilight as her personal student. I suppose she just made time. She also gave me some private instruction.â

âœWhat was that like?â Sentinel asked.

âœOh, it was silly actually,â Bucky replied. âœI was a foal. I was just starting to learn about my elemental connection to cold. Iâd sneeze and it would start snowing in the room. Iâd accidentally freeze liquids all around me. My instructors all tried to help me get control, and none of it helped. I donât actually remember what Celestia did to bring me under control. She told me she used hypnosis. I canât remember our sessions as at all. She did make the fear go away though, I guess that helped.â

âœThe fear?â Sentinel asked.

âœI can barely even remember it,â Bucky replied. âœWhen I came to the school, I had terrible nightmares. Really bad nightmares. One night, at school, I had a dream about the boogeypony. I really donât remember it very well. A black and shadowy figure. Burning red eyes. And green. The whites of his eyes were green and sickly looking. And he had a big red horn,â Bucky struggled to recall old memories, and they seemed elusive and out of reach in his mind. âœI can hardly even remember,â he admitted. âœBut the boogeypony scared me. One night, he scared me so badly that I encased my entire room in ice, and my roommates were all frozen. Celestia had to come and thaw them out using very powerful magic. I had nearly killed them. My instructors realised they couldnât help me, and Celestia went into my mind. She made the boogeypony go away.â

âœThe boogeypony is a unicorn?â Sentinel asked.

âœI suppose he was. At least for me. Doesnât really matter, the boogeypony isnât real. Just a figment of my imagination. And nothing to be afraid of. Celestia helped me to get rid of my fear and gain control. I will admit though, he used to scare me so bad that there were a few times that I thought I was going to wet the bed. Seems so silly now, being afraid of something that doesnât exist.â

âœA lot of ponies think my kind are boogeyponies,â Sentinel whispered. âœI guess it is because we look scary and eat meat,â he added.

âœAw, youâre still a pony. And so is Thistle. Our differences make us special, but we are all fundamentally the same,â Bucky replied.

âœEven if the boogeypony isnât real, there are plenty of other terrors in the night. I hope that one day, I will get a chance to fight them. Buckminster, will you make sure I get combat training?â Sentinel inquired.

âœYou keep up with your schooling and I will make sure you get combat training,â Bucky promised.

âœThank you,â Sentinel replied.

âœI am going to go to bed. You do as I have asked and talk to those two,â Bucky stated.

âœYes sir, I will,â Sentinel replied. âœSleep well sir.â

âœHave a nice night,â Bucky said as he slid from the couch and made his way to the bed. As he crawled into bed, he shuddered for a moment, having only the vaguest memory of how much the boogeypony used to scare him as a foal. Most of the memories were gone, faded away with time, but the fear still lived on. Bucky understood the true terrors in the night, but he supposed the imaginary terrors were still somehow scarier. He smiled as he settled in between Derpy and Berry, glad that his foalhood fears were no longer anything to worry about.

Chapter 82

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The morning had nearly been perfect, and the afternoon was shaping up to be even better. School had been surprisingly pleasant, with treats for everypony who attended. Dinky prowled the halls of the castle, exploring the enormous building, finally free of adult supervision. With her were PiÃa, and Ripple. Dinky was determined to explore every nook and cranny after she was finally free to do so. It had taken an endless amount of pleading to be allowed to go off and explore.

They saw maids cleaning, some of the nobles had gathered in one room and were discussing really boring adult stuff, and then there was Keg Smasher in his throne room, holding court.

Dinky wasnât too fond of Keg Smasher.

âœThis place is huge,â PiÃa quipped.

âœSo, I have been meaning to ask, what is a PiÃa Colada exactly?â asked Ripple as they trotted down the hall together.

âœIt was my motherâs favourite drink,â PiÃa replied. âœIt has booze in it.â

âœOh,â Ripple replied.

âœAnd Dinky is called Dinky because she was so big when she was born that her mama couldnât squirt her out,â PiÃa explained, offering information nopony asked for.

âœPiÃa!â Dinky exclaimed.

âœWhat noodlehead?â PiÃa returned.

âœI donât think many ponies come here to this part of the castle. Look how dusty everything is,â Ripple commented, cutting off Dinkyâs snarky reply. âœCobwebs.â

âœI hope there isnât any spiders,â PiÃa whimpered.

âœDonât worry PiÃa, I will keep you safe from spiders,â Ripple offered.

Dinky pushed open a set of double doors and entered into a large room. There was a ruined looking tile floor, set with black and grey tiles in a checkerboard pattern. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling. The walls were lined with bookshelves, but there were no books.

âœThe bookshelves are burnt looking,â PiÃa commented.

âœYeah they are,â Dinky said as she ignited her horn and peered up at the empty shelves. âœEverything is all sooty and black.â

âœLooks like a fire happened here,â Ripple announced.

âœLibraries with no books makes me kinda sad,â Dinky said as she looked around.

âœLetâs keep exploring someplace else, this place is creepy,â PiÃa whispered fearfully.

âœPiÃa, you have the right idea,â Dinky agreed and she led the trio back down the hallway.

Bucky flipped the page in one of his new books about shadow creatures, taking in a wealth of new information. Curled up near him where Lyra, Bon Bon, and Sentinel, all sleeping the afternoon away, and the room was quiet, which allowed Bucky to study. He lay in the bed, the book opened before him, and he enjoyed the peace and quiet.

Lyra whimpered in her sleep, looked frightened for a moment, and then Bon Bon shifted in her sleep, brushing up against Lyra, who quieted. Bucky watched as this happened and felt a pang of sympathy for Lyra.

He flipped another page and found a long well written note, the note mentioned a spellbook and several page numbers, and it was signed by Twilight Sparkle. Much to his surprise, Twilightâs note mentioned that the wolves could be hurt by cold, his specialised element, but one would have to be a master to cut through the shadow creatureâs innate cold resistance. They were much more susceptible to fire based attacks, telekinetic blasts, kinetic pulses, and for very powerful unicorns, being physically crushed or torn apart. And then there were light based attacks, which the shadows could actually resist from weaker unicorns.

Bucky remembered tearing a few apart, ripping them asunder in his fury after they had nearly brought him down.

The most interesting fact mentioned in the note was that the wolves could not be natural, they had to be created. They were regular wolves, or had been at some point, and something had been done to forever alter them into the monstrous abominations that they now were. Twilight cited a passage in the book he currently had open.

Bucky sighed. Somepony was creating the wolves. Which meant that somepony was hiding on this island somehow. He thought about Lunaâs letter and the difficulty she mentioned in scrying. Could another pony be hiding here? Bucky felt a nagging suspicion that he was going to run into a member of his family here. He didnât know how he knew, but it was more than mere intuition.

Several questions formed in his mind. How were they remaining hidden? What were they eating? If another pony was here, causing all of this, using this much magic, they would need a prodigious amount of food.

There was a small chance that the pony responsible was still on the mainland, but hiding that much magic directly under the princessesâ noses seemed almost impossible. Plus, magic grew weaker over distance. No, Bucky thought to himself, the signs indicated the pony responsible was here.

Perhaps the wolvesâ den was also the location of the hidden provocateur. Bucky scowled, realising how absurd that was, but he supposed it could be a reasonable assumption. If they were creating and controlling the wolves, they would be in no danger from them.

Still, there was the issue of staying hidden for so long and not being found. The need for food. Water. Sustenance.

Sentinel made a faint whimper in his sleep. He was currently being held in Bon Bonâs forelegs, and his tufted ears twitched in time to Bon Bonâs inhalations and exhalations. Bucky smiled to himself, glad to see Sentinel looking content.

The door opened and Bucky looked up. Sparkler stood in the doorway, looking at him intently. She said nothing, but made a gesture for Bucky to follow her.

Berry Punch watched Derpy and Thistle, who were sitting in the meadow some distance away, talking privately amongst themselves. Berry couldnât really hear them, and she was tempted to eavesdrop being the overly curious mare that she was. The foals were exploring the castle, Bucky was studying, Sparkler had left for some reason, and Berry was bored, which was a terrible state of affairs for Berry Punch, who did not like boredom.

She turned and watched Rising Star and Loch Skimmer, who laying close to one another in the grass, giggling about something. They were getting closer, and Berry was pleased to see them bonding.

Berry rolled over on her back, exposing her belly to the sun, and she rubbed her belly with her forehooves. She lay on her back, sprawled open and exposed, not caring who saw her at this point. She was bored. She was feeling peckish, even though she had just eaten lunch not that long ago. She was horny, and there were itches that needed scratching.

The sun was warm and soothing on her belly, and the warmth permeated into her hips as she lay supine.

Berry realised in a perfect moment of clarity that her own earth pony sense had been trying to tell her that she was pregnant. The need to bond with Bucky. The need to be with her mates. Whatever it was that made her an earth pony was aware of the life that was growing in her belly. She hummed to herself, and continued to rub her stomach. Her stomach was flat, still taut, smooth, and covered in only a thin layer of velvety hairs. She lifted her head and looked down there. She wasnât showing, not even in the slightest, but she wished that she was, mostly because she knew that Bucky had something of a pregnancy fetish going on.

Some ponies put on clothing to be sexy, others used bondage gear like ropes and bridles, but Berry took a small amount of satisfaction in knowing that all she had to do to get Buckyâs attention was to be pregnant. Which of course took getting Buckyâs attention, but that wasnât a difficult thing to do. At least not anymore. She thought about a very sick Bucky lying in the bathtub in Derpyâs embrace, and how she had tried to get him to look at her exposed filly bits, and how he had resisted. Now, she noticed that he took every opportunity to have himself a peek, and she gave him plenty of chances.

She rolled and wiggled in the grass, trying to get rid of an itchy spot on her back, and she snorted and grunted in frustration. She had itchy places everywhere, and the worst itch was one that she just couldnât scratch. At least not alone.

She turned her head and looked at Derpy. Derpyâs morning sickness had been pretty bad this morning, and the poor mare hadnât eaten much for lunch. Berry watched as Derpy gently kissed Thistle on the cheek, and then nuzzled the filly. Berry silently wished that it would just be over with and Thistle would just be accepted into the herd. She understood though that Derpy had her reasons and wanted the best for Thistle.

Bucky was what was best for Thistle though, and Berry had reached that conclusion on her own some time ago.

Berry wiggled, dragging her croup over the ground, trying to get an itch worked out at the base of her spine, just above her dock. What she needed back there was Buckyâs belly, rubbing and grinding away on that particular portion of her anatomy. There was nothing quite like a stallionâs weight applying delightful pressure on your croup and sliding back and forth, building up friction on that particular patch of skin.

âœWhat is she doing?â asked Loch Skimmer, eyeing Berry Punch as she spoke.

âœNo idea,â Rising Star replied.

âœShe looks very silly,â Loch Skimmer murmured.

âœWell, thatâs Berry for you. She frequently looks silly,â Rising Star explained in return. âœHow is your leg? Are you in much pain?â Rising Star asked.

âœIt hurts a bit, I wonât lie,â Loch Skimmer replied.

Rising Star frowned. âœIâm sorry, I wish there was something I could do for you,â he offered, his tone sincere.

âœYouâve done plenty,â Loch Skimmer said reassuringly.

âœI have?â he said in reply.

âœYouâve been a very good husband,â Loch Skimmer said, a faint hint of the ghost of a giggle in her voice. âœTell me, do you find me attractive?â the filly asked.

âœOh great. Another insecure teenaged filly wondering if I find them pretty,â Rising Star grumbled.

âœThat was not an answer,â Loch Skimmer said, now pouting somewhat.

âœAnd if I tell you that I find you pretty, you will accuse me of saying only what you want to hear, I know how this game works. So here is what I will do. I will explain my position. I am a teenaged colt. If the breeze blows just the right way, I become aroused. I find every filly attractive. It is due to my raging hormones and horny colt biology. You could do pretty much anything, anything at all, and I will find you irresistible. My brain is hardwired to find something that I like about you. So get back to me in about ten years or so when I am hopefully a bit matured, and I am no longer brain damaged by my biology, and I will tell you how pretty I find you, and I will be able to say it honestly. I hope,â Rising Star replied.

âœFair enough,â Loch Skimmer answered. âœSoâ I was wonderingââ she said, her words trailing off.

âœWhat?â Rising Star asked.

âœWhen the time comes, since we havenât done anything, uh, how are we going to handle this?â Loch Skimmer asked.

Rising Star stared at the filly blankly.

âœYou know, marriage. And that thing that we need to do. Together. How are we going to handle it. Who goes first? Do we do it all together or apart? Do you deal with us one at a time? Sparkler and I have talked a bit, and I am not sure if I am interested in fillies like my sister isâ and talking about this makes me feel really weird,â Loch Skimmer blurted out.

âœOhââ Rising Star exhaled as he took in Loch Skimmerâs words. âœOh yeah, that. I donât know,â he replied.

âœSparkler isnât here, so maybe this isnât the best time to talk about it,â Loch Skimmer admitted.

âœI really need to talk to Bucky about all of this before I do something stupid,â Rising Star mumbled to himself.

âœSo am I in?â Thistle asked directly, no longer mincing words.

âœYes, but we are not going to announce it for a while,â Derpy replied.

âœThank you for talking to me so openly,â Thistle said. âœAnd why arenât we going to tell them?â she questioned.

âœI want Bucky to continue to try and earn your trust and affection,â Derpy answered. âœYou deserve to have him try and woo you a bit. Iâll let him know it is okay to try and romance you,â Derpy explained. âœHe is very sweet. And I know he will be very gentle with you.â

âœOh, that actually makes sense,â Thistle said thoughtfully.

Derpy looked at the young filly. There had been a long talk between the two of them, and the grey mare had struggled at many points to find the right words. It hadnât been easy, but Ripple and Bucky had exposed the situation for what it was, and Derpy was grateful. âœSo are you comfortable with our agreement?â Derpy asked in a soft whisper.

âœYes, I am agreeable to our agreement,â Thistle replied. âœWhat is Berry doing?â

âœBeing Berry Punch,â Derpy said as she watched Berry rolling in the grass.

âœSheâs funny,â Thistle quipped. âœYou know, I feel very happy knowingâ thank you by the way. So are you going to have Berry to try and romance me as well?â Thistle asked.

âœI think she already has been trying,â Derpy replied. âœBut yes, I will make it clear to both of them that it is safe to try and win your affections.â

âœWill you ever tell them about the nature of our agreement?â Thistle asked.

âœNo,â Derpy answered. âœBut they will know in time.â

âœYeah, I suppose they will,â Thistle agreed.

âœAre you clear about what is expected of you?â Derpy asked.

âœYes, I am,â Thistle answered. âœI need to thank Ripple,â she remarked.

âœYou and Ripple seem to be very close,â Derpy commented.

âœWe have a lot in common,â Thistle stated. âœRipple is a clever filly.â

âœShe is,â Derpy said in agreement, nodding her head somewhat as she did so.

The mare and the filly fell silent for a moment, and Thistle cuddled closer to Derpyâs side. Derpy gave the filly a nuzzle along the side of her neck, and enjoyed the warmth of her body.

âœI am so scared,â Thistle said, finally breaking the silence after several minutes.

âœI know,â Derpy whispered soothingly into the fillyâs ear.

âœWhat if something goes wrong?â Thistle whimpered. âœMy life has barely started, I donât want to die or anything,â she said in a wavering voice, her mood shifting completely.

âœI think weâll be away from here soon,â Derpy soothed. âœBut I donât know that the mainland will be any better. Everything sounds pretty bad there right now. But we will all take care of you. If something goes wrong, we will find a way to get through it.â

âœYou are supposed to tell me that nothing will go wrong and everything will be fine,â Thistle said as she sniffled and snuffled a bit.

âœThat would be lying, and that would hurt you,â Derpy replied.

Thistle quieted and tears continued to roll down her cheeks.

âœBucky is going to love you, and you are going to know what it feels like to be loved,â Derpy said, continuing to try and sooth the upset filly. âœAnd not just in a physical sense. Once Bucky warms up, he is very affectionate in his own way, and he is very attentive to the needs of others.â

âœI donât just want his love,â Thistle mumbled.

âœI know,â Derpy whispered into the fillyâs ear. âœYou are ours now. You will be loved.â

Thistle drew in a deep shuddering breath but said nothing in reply.

Bucky stood in the room that was to be his makeshift laboratory, watching Sparkler as she paced back and forth. It was the only place he could think of for total privacy, which is what Sparkler wanted.

âœI donât know how to talk about this,â Sparkler began, shaking her head and her brows furrowed with worry.

âœLook, if you donât want to do this, I will not force you or try to make you feel guilty,â Bucky stated.

âœBut I do want to do this,â Sparkler admitted. âœI am just very concerned about the consequences. And what it will do to me.â

âœI think things will be a little different for you. You are not a Canterlot unicornâ we always seem a little worse. That said, there are bound to be some trying moments. Being a type three is a difficult thing,â Bucky stated.

âœIâve watched how Dinky has changed. Sometimes, she is still the same, but there are other moments whereâ whereâ where she is no longer the innocent foal that she used to be and you can just see the weight crushing down on her shoulders when she realises how responsible she has to be,â Sparkler said. âœSheâs become twitchy and a bit jumpy.â

âœBut Dinky is also very well rounded. At her age, I was impossibly screwed up. I think having a family around has made the difference. At her age, I had family, but I was alone. Utterly alone. I had to face it all alone. I had to carry the weight all by myself. Dinky has ponies she can turn to for support,â Bucky said in return. âœTo be honest, I thought Dinky would turn out much worse, but she is thriving for being a type three.â

âœI think the communing helps,â Sparkler stated.

âœI think so too,â Bucky agreed. âœDinky is learning both emotional control and how to turn to her fellow ponies for support. Everything for Canterlot unicorns is all about control, and isolation.â

âœSo then you donât actually know what this will be like for me or Rising Star?â Sparkler asked.

Bucky shook his head. âœNo. No I donât. Everything I thought I knew has been torn apart and I am not sure what I know anymore,â he admitted.

âœSo I get jumped into being a type three, and then I have to find out what works for me, to keep me leveled off and not be overwhelmed,â Sparkler summarised.

âœBut not alone,â Bucky pointed out.

âœYes, there is that,â Sparkler acknowledged.

âœEverything has changed. I feel remarkably stable for being what I am. There is no doubt any more, I am a type fourâ and I feel more secure in myself now than I ever was as a type three. Sure, there are some mental snags, and the pressure is still there, no doubt about thatâ but your mother and everypony else keeps me leveled out. I think the trick was to admit that I couldnât do it on my own and to surrender myself to them. I want to talk to Twilight Sparkle when we get home and ask her if she has discovered something similar. Surely her friends are the ones that keep her even keeled,â Bucky theorised.

âœBut there are still dangers to being a type three,â Sparkler stated.

âœYes,â Bucky admitted. âœBut there are also better ways of dealing with those issues now I think. We are in uncharted territory hereâ we are making up a new way of life and abandoning the old ways that have got us this far, but I feel have ultimately failed.â

âœSo when you become the headmaster at this new magic school, you are going to apply everything youâve learned right? Create an entirely new way to live? How to deal with being a type three and finding a unicorn support group?â Sparkler questioned.

âœYes,â Bucky answered without hesitation.

âœI am a wife now, an alpha no less, and someday, I will be a mother and I will be giving you grandfoalsâ and there is a lot on my shoulders already, and I have been very worried about adding further trouble by being turned into a type three,â Sparkler confessed.

âœWoah there sweetheart, I am way too young to be a grandfather at the moment,â Bucky protested.

âœI didnât say it would happen right away, but it is bound to happen,â Sparkler said gently. âœI intend to finish school.â Sparkler paused for a moment, looking at Bucky, staring at him with a focused look. âœLook, there is a condition for my consent,â Sparkler announced.

âœAnd that is?â Bucky asked.

âœRising Star and I have been talking about this, whenever we have a private moment,â Sparkler stated. âœIf you are going to jump us up to type threes, than we both want something from you in return,â she added.

âœYes, we have established that,â Bucky replied.

âœWe like being teachers,â Sparkler admitted. âœAnd we are going to finish school. And after we finish school, we want to be teachers. Now, I know there is a heap of trouble on the mainland, but that trouble canât last forever. Things will settle down, and life will continue. And when weâve completed our schooling, we both want positions in your school. Look, I know you will have it eventually, even if the current troubles cause a bit of a delay.â

âœI find your terms agreeable,â Bucky stated. âœBut I have caveats,â he added.

âœCareful with your caveats,â Sparkler warned. âœI will add my own.â

Bucky smiled. âœMine are not onerous,â he said with a chuckle.

âœFine. Letâs hear what you got,â Sparkler said with one raised eyebrow.

âœI intend to be family focused. My plans are still pretty half baked, but I want my teachers to showcase lifeâ and family. In the classroom,â Bucky said.

âœI am confuzzled,â Sparkler replied.

âœIf I have a mare as a teacher, and she has a foal, then I donât want her leaving the foal at home while it is youngâ I want her to bring to school with her. I want my students to be able to observe the bonds of family in action. And for this, I want very loving and devoted parents. I suspect that many of my students will be Canterlot unicorns, and I donât want to just tell them the importance of family bonds, I want to show them,â Bucky explained.

âœI think I understand. You want them to see how other ponies live. How we are. You want them to see the love and affection they might not be getting at home,â Sparkler summarised.

âœYes. And I donât intend for this school to just be for unicorns. I think that is the problem. I think the separation is a bad idea,â Bucky said.

âœSeparation, more like segregation,â Sparkler interjected.

âœYes, and it is a problem,â Bucky replied. âœI think magic instruction should take place in a classroom, and that young unicorns should begin their long journey of magic with their friends. It might be a little dangerous, but I think continuing the current methods are even more dangerous in the long run.â

Sparkler nodded. âœWell, I want in on it. Just let me know when you are ready to attempt this,â the filly stated.

âœSoonish,â Bucky replied. âœI am going to need your help for what I have planned.â

âœThis castle is boring,â PiÃa complained.

âœYeah, you always hear about how exciting and wonderful castles are in storybooks,â Dinky quipped. âœBut this castle is a snorefest.â

âœThe top of the tower was nice, there was quite a view,â Ripple said to the two fillies that were her companions.

âœNo no no,â PiÃa protested. âœI donât think I like heights.â

âœThatâs because you are a scaredy pony,â Dinky teased.

âœAm not!â PiÃa retorted as she trotted down the hall.

âœIt is okay to be afraid of things,â Ripple stated. âœI am afraid of wide open spaces. I always feel exposed and vulnerable. Well, on the ground anyway.â

âœThatâs because there are things that will gobble us right up,â PiÃa acknowledged. âœThat isnât something to be scared of, thatâs just smart.â

âœIf something tries to gobble either one of you Iâll make them pay,â Dinky said, and there was no hint of playfulness in her voice. The corner of her eye twitched slightly and one ear quivered.

âœDinky, calm down,â PiÃa said soothingly, spotting the warning signs that Dinky was having a unicorn moment.

Dinky visibly calmed at the earth ponyâs words. The little unicorn filly took a few deep breaths and closed her eyes for a moment.

âœYou alright Dinks?â PiÃa asked.

âœI donât know what came over me for a moment there,â Dinky replied. âœI thought about something hurting youâ and then I wanted to do bad things. I wanted to smash things. Crush things. Set things on fire. I wanted to make everything around me afraid of me so they would be to afraid to hurt youâ I donât know what just went through my mind.â

PiÃa leaned over and kissed Dinky on the cheek. She peered at her best friend, trying to determine if Dinky was okay. âœYou know, when you donât have adults around, you become a very different filly,â PiÃa observed.

âœHow so?â Dinky asked.

âœI think having Bucky or Berry or Derpy around allows you to feel safe,â PiÃa said carefully. âœAnd when they arenât around, you get weird.â

âœWeird?â Dinky repeated.

âœYou know, like how Bucky was weird,â PiÃa replied.

âœOh,â Dinky answered. âœThe unicorn thing. I suppose that is the reason why they didnât want to let us go off alone and explore,â the filly concluded.

âœThe day you had your magic surge, I was hurt by Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara,â PiÃa mentioned softly. âœYou know, I am bound to get hurt again. Life happens Dinky. I am going to grow up, and there are going to be bad moments, and there are bound to be things that are going to hurt me, and you canât just set things on fire or smoosh things to keep me safe,â PiÃa continued.

âœI know,â Dinky said with a nod. âœYou donât know what it is like though PiÃa, to have all of this powerâ and the need to let it out. I want so badly to keep you safe from the things that scare you.â

âœAnd what if it is you that is scaring me?â PiÃa asked bluntly.

Dinkyâs eyes instantly clouded over with tears.

âœLook, you donât scare me Dinky, I just wanted you to think about it,â PiÃa said soothingly to her best friend.

Ripple watched the exchange and thought of her own sister, and how close they were. Loch Skimmer had always been there to look after her. âœYou two are sisters in every way that matters,â Ripple observed.

âœI know,â PiÃa answered.

âœYeah, we are,â Dinky said in a quavering voice. She wiped her nose with her foreleg and sniffled a few times.

âœYou two are very lucky to have one another. Just like I am really lucky to have my sister,â Ripple stated.

âœWant to join our secret sisterhood?â PiÃa offered. âœDinky and I would kinda like Sentinel to join, but heâs a colt. You could join us though. We need a pegasus of some kind to round out our group.â

Ripple laughed and it echoed through the halls as the group continued back towards the dining hall.

âœA unicorn, an earth pony, and a pegasus. That is is what you need to form a good group,â PiÃa insisted. âœBack home, there are a group of fillies called the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Apple Bloom is an earth pony, Sweetie Belle is a unicorn, and Scootaloo is a pegasus. They have adventures and do crazy stuff together.â

Dinky nodded.

âœI would be glad to join both of you to have adventures. Somepony is going to have to show me how to live on the mainland,â Ripple replied.

âœBut no acting like an adult just because you are older,â Dinky quipped.

âœI like playingâ I never had much of a chance to do that,â Ripple said.

âœThatâs awful,â PiÃa replied. âœThis island is messed up. No toys, hardly anything fun to do, this whole place is just terrible.â

âœYes it is PiÃa,â Ripple agreed.

âœWhen we get home, once things settle down I guess, weâll have to show you how we have fun. Like take you to a movie,â Dinky offered.

âœJust donât go to a movie with Derpy and Berry together. They like kissie kissie smoochy smoochy movies,â PiÃa quipped.

âœUgh, grossââ Dinky groaned.

âœSo, are you ever going to try kissing Rising Star?â asked PiÃa who said it rather bluntly.

âœI suppose at some point. Kissing him couldnât hurt. But I am not into colts. Still, he is my husband now, and he has been very kind to me,â Ripple replied.

âœYou could try smooching Sparkler,â Dinky said wickedly, a nearly maniacal cackle punctuating her words.

Ripple blushed enough that it was visible through her dark grey pelt.

âœDo you think Sparkler is pretty? I think you do,â PiÃa teased.

âœSparkler is prettyâ but I donât know if she is into fillies. And even if she was, I am not sure I am ready for smooching just yet,â Ripple admitted.

âœMust be strange to be married at your age,â PiÃa commented.

âœIt isnât so bad,â Ripple replied. âœAt least this marriage is nice. There was the alternative.â The filly shuddered silently as she continued down the hall.

âœIf you could have your first real kiss with Sparkler that would be pretty romantic,â Dinky said as she turned to look at Ripple. âœWe could help you,â she offered.

âœWhen you are older of course,â PiÃa added.

âœYeah, older. For now, weâll just focus on having fun together,â Dinky stated.

âœAnd we should bring Sentinel with us on our adventures. Heâs a colt, but he is a good colt,â Ripple replied.

âœYou really like him, donât you?â PiÃa asked.

âœYes I do. I donât know why. I suppose it is because he was so kind to me when I first came to be with all of you. He let me cry and get snot all over him and he never complained,â Ripple explained.

âœHeâs a good colt. I like him. I have grown very fond of him actually,â PiÃa admitted. âœI like having him as a brother.â

âœHe is also very well behaved,â Ripple stated.

âœWell of course he is,â Dinky replied.

âœNoâ I meanââ Ripple stammered, her words faltering as she tried to speak.

âœWhat?â PiÃa asked, halting in place, no longer trotting forward, which caused everypony else to stop.

â Sentinel is non threatening,â Ripple murmured.

âœI donât understand,â PiÃa said in return.

âœLook, you little fillies, you need to be very careful going off by yourselves around here. In the castle, I think weâll be fine, but I know from experience that some of the colts around here areâ wellââ Rippleâs words died in her throat.

âœWhat?â Dinky asked, her voice held a tremour of fear as she spoke.

âœSome of the colts around here, even the younger ones, the ones you would think were innocent, they want to prove how tough they are and how grown up they are,â Ripple said slowly, trying to choose her words carefully.

âœUhââ PiÃa said, her eyes wide, and her breathing becoming somewhat panicked.

Ripple swallowed, a hard gulp that could be heard quite clearly in the hall. âœSome of the colts are very eager to prove themselves. Which is why you two need to mind your parents and stay inside the castle unless you are with them. I had a group of colts chase me, run me down, and then one tried to mount me. He didnât know what he was doing, but that didnât stop him from trying. And I wasnât much older than either of you when this happened. I snuck away from my mother and put off doing my work for the dayâ and if Loch Skimmer hadnât of found me when she did, something very bad would have happened,â Ripple explained.

âœWhat did Loch do?â PiÃa asked in a trembling voice.

âœShe beat the stuffing out of all of them and then held me while I cried,â Ripple replied.

Dinky shook her head. âœI donât like it here,â she muttered.

âœI donât think Sentinel would ever do something like that,â PiÃa commented.

âœNo, no he wouldnât, which is why I like him. A filly needs to know that she can trust a colt, or so my sister says,â Ripple said.

âœWhen he wakes up, I am going to hug him to death,â PiÃa said.

âœIâll help,â Dinky offered. âœIf he gets squirmy, itâll take two of us to hold on.â

Ripple heaved a sigh of relief, feeling better about sharing her secret with the two fillies. âœPlease, donât tell anypony what happened,â she begged. âœI donât want anypony else knowing.â

âœSisters keep secrets,â Dinky replied as she resumed her trot back to the dining hall.

âœWell, there are exceptions, like Cheerilee said. Never keep a secret that might hurt somepony,â PiÃa said. âœBut we'll keep your secret.â She took off after Dinky, moving swiftly to keep up.

âœThank you,â Ripple said in return to the two fillies as she followed after them.

Chapter 83

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âœHow do I do it?â

Bucky studied Rising Star carefully, focusing his remaining eye upon the colt. Rising Star had come to him not too long after he had returned to his room to study, wanting to talk to him. Now, once again, Bucky found himself in what was going to be his makeshift laboratory, talking to a pony.

âœI mean, how do I make each one of them feel loved? I am scared out of my mind Buckyâ I donât want one to feel more loved than the other. I donât want to feel like I am playing favourites. I want all three of them to be happy. This pressure is driving me crazy. I am so worried that Loch Skimmer is jealous of Sparkler and I because Sparkler and I know each other better and we are closer, and I really have been trying to get to know Loch better and Ripple is off limits, but I still try to make her feel special, and I am so afraid that I am going to screw up and all three of them are going to hate me,â Rising Star said, his last few sentences practically panted out as he slipped into a panic.

Bucky eased his backside down to the floor and sat on his haunches and the cool stone felt pleasantly soothing to his many mangled and disfigured places.

âœHow do you do it? I mean, you seem so close to Berry and Derpy? How do you divide yourself between the two of them? And now there is Lyra and Bon Bon. And Thistle. I donât understand how you can take all of this on and not fall apart like I am about to do,â Rising Star continued, becoming more and more frantic with each word.

âœCalm down Rising Star,â Bucky said in a low voice.

Rising Star took a few deep breaths and tried to calm himself, but the young colt remained frazzled. âœI donât want to fail themâ I barely know Loch and Ripple, but I find myself loving them, I really do. I love them enough to know that I donât want to hurt them,â Rising Star said, now trying to speak slowly and carefully.

âœDerpy and Berry both have very different needs. I try to fulfill those needs. You canât worry about dividing yourself among them, I worried about the same thing, really I did, and then I realised that they didnât want half of me between the two of them, they wanted all of me. The trick to keeping them both happy was to give myself over to them completely, and then find what makes each one of them happy. Berry and I engage in more intellectual pursuits. Sheâll talk my ear off if I let her, and I will do the same to her. With Derpy and I, talking isnât as important. Derpy has more physical needs, and I am not talking about sex either. With Berry, a conversation keeps her happy. With Derpy, it is a nuzzle or touch. Also, to keep Derpy happy, I have to look after her foalsâ that is probably the single most important part of my end of our relationship, being good to the foals,â Bucky explained carefully and patiently.

âœI bet this is really hard on Derpy right now. You being all covered in burns and being injured. No wonder she seems stressed,â Rising Star said thoughtfully.

âœSo you do understand,â Bucky replied with a slow nod of his head.

âœSo this is why she snatches any foal within reach and tries to cuddle them. I am guessing that she really wants to hold you,â Rising Star stated, one eyebrow now raised as he struck a thoughtful pose.

âœYes,â Bucky agreed. âœHer needs are remarkably simple. Berryâs needs are a bit more complex. Lyra and Bon Bon, well, in time, I will find ways to make them happy and I will do what I can to make them feel wanted and needed in our herd. And Thistleâ well, I still donât know how Derpy feels about Thistle, but I hope she relents and allows Thistle to join us. I think she will. And in time, I will figure out her needs and what I need to do to provide for them.â

âœLoch is a bit more physical than Sparkler I think,â Rising Star said in a low voice. âœThere has been some really awkward moments where she presses up against me and I feel panickyâ I want to be close to her, I want to get to know her, but when those moments happen, I tense up and I panic, and I donât know how to act. I am not even sure why I react the way I do. I keep thinking it is because I havenât known her long enough. This is really difficult to talk about,â Rising Star muttered. The frustrated colt puffed out his cheeks and took a few deep breaths. âœPart of it isâ well, you know, after this talk, I am worried that things will not be the same between you and I, and I am scared out of my mind right now, but here goes. With Sparkler, I can be close to Sparkler. We cuddle together and weâve spooned a bit, and I have mostly behaved myself. There have a been a few moments of arousal if you know what I mean, but I am comfortable with Sparkler. With Loch on the other hand, when she rubs up against me, with the way she movesâ how she moves, the way she walks, I have a very hard time being a good colt when she flops out against meâ uncontrollable bonersâ I mean, there is something about her thatâ thatâ something about her that just makes me so very aroused, but I am not comfortable being so aroused around her, I donât want her thinking I am a horny bastard that just wants her around for sex, but it is so very hard to control myself when she comes near, and I am worried that she feels I am pushing her away. I mean, I am in a really tight spot. On one hoof, she really turns me on, on the other hoof, I donât want her to think poorly of me. Yet I am pushing her away from me, and I know I am doing it, and I keep constructing all of this horrible scenarios in my mind of all the horrible things she must think of me, and I donât know how to talk to her about-â

âœRising Starâ stop,â Bucky interrupted.

Rising Star fell silent and took a few deep inhales and exhales.

âœTell Loch the truth. Just tell her everything you just told me, but try to trim back the words a bit. Let her know that there is something about her that really turns you on, explain to her that you arenât trying to be a pervy bastard, and then the two of you will be on even footing. Let her know that you find her desirable, but that she means more to you than just a sexual object. Just be your poetic self. Let her know that you find her beautiful and that she has this effect on youâ she will appreciate the fact that you find her desirable and that she has the power to give you âuncontrollable bonersâ that makes you feel awkward,â Bucky explained.

âœI am worried that Sparkler will be jealous though. I can mostly behave myself around Sparkler. There has been a few, uh, incidents between us, but I have been able to control myself mostly. Loch on the other hoof, hot damn,â Rising Star muttered.

âœSo have a talk with Loch and make sure Sparkler is present. Explain yourself to both of them. Make sure you let Sparkler know that you donât want her to be jealous. Just be honest. Let them know that you respond to both of them in different ways,â Bucky stated.

âœSo you want me to have both of them present and then tell them that one of them gives me uncontrollable bonersâ but the other doesnât?â Rising Star asked.

âœYes,â Bucky replied.

âœAnd what do I do when they kill me?â Rising Star questioned.

âœIf they kill you, then they obviously didnât love you as much as you thought,â Bucky replied in sage tones.

âœAnd there is the question of what we are going to do to uh, well, you know, consummate our marriage. Who goes first and all that. I am so scared that one will resent the other and I donât know what to do about this whole mess,â Rising Star blurted out in a nervous high pitched voice that cracked several times in an adolescent squeak.

âœIf you are careful and patient, and if you keep in mind that each of you are supposed to love one another, all of these things will sort themselves out. After we were married, it was Derpy who took my virginity. Berry was with us and eased us both through those first awkward moments. Afterwards, things just happened. We are so focused on making each other happy that we donât really keep score on who is doing who and how many times. We donât hide sex from one another, and make sure that the third always knows that the other two are getting busy. Weâve all been together as a threesome and I have also had private time with each of them. Weâve managed to sort everything out. Jealousy is not an issue for us. I will admit, I am worried about adding Thistle into the mix. Weâll have to establish boundaries and explain our expectations to one another,â Bucky explained, trying to smooth over the coltâs frazzled nerves.

âœI am not ready to be an adult yet,â Rising Star confessed. âœI thought I was. A few months ago, I would have told you that I was. I would have told you how mature I was, how suave I was, how sophisticated I was. I thought I was so grown up. Now, I wake up and I am afraid. I wake up and there are three lives that I am responsible for. I was barely responsible for my own lifeâ my mother cleaned my room. She fixed my meals. My mother looked after all of my needs. But nowâ now there are three lives that require that I be responsible. When I get home, I am going to have to find some way of feeding them. Keeping a roof over their heads. And school. I have no idea how I am going to manage all of this,â Rising Star mumbled as his eyes began to water.

âœRising Star, you donât need to worry about all of that,â Bucky soothed.

âœYES I DO!â Rising Star snapped.

âœNo, you donât. When we get home, we, as in Derpy, Berry, and I, we are going to talk to your parents. And then you and your herd are going to stay with us. And you are going to continue school, and there will be food, and a roof over your heads so you donât need to worry so much,â Bucky explained patiently.

Rising Star broke down completely and the tears finally came. He cried, heaving loud sobs wracking his body, and Bucky sat silently watching him, saying nothing, and allowed the colt to let it all out. After several minutes, Bucky rose from where he was sitting, took a few small steps, sat down beside Rising Star close enough to be touching, and wrapped a foreleg over Rising Starâs withers.

âœLook, Sparkler told me about your plans to be a teacher,â Bucky whispered. âœAnd it is a good plan. And I am going to make sure that it happens for you. You have my word.â

âœYou shouldnât have to be responsible for us,â Rising Star said between sobs.

âœWell, I am. You did a brave thing Rising Star. You didnât have to be responsible for Loch Skimmer and Ripple. But you made that choice. And now, I am choosing to be responsible for you. And you are going to be okay. There is going to be some rough moments, but you will get through this. You will be a good husband. One day, you will probably be a good father, but that is a long way off. But for now, be a colt. Love them. Be with them. Donât worry about all of those things youâve been worrying about, just enjoy your time with them. Enjoy your youth together. Make sure you use some means of birth control when you finally take your relationship to the next level,â Bucky said as he continued to try to make Rising Star feel better. âœSpend some time laughing about those uncontrollable boners together,â he added teasingly.

Rising Star chuckled, cutting off his own sobs. He wiped his eyes with his foreleg and offered a weak smile.

âœYou know, there was a time in my life when I couldnât even say the word âbonerâ without having a total neurotic breakdown,â Bucky quipped.

âœDoes it feel funny offering sex advice to the colt that is married to the filly that you consider your daughter?â Rising Star asked.

âœOh yes indeedy,â Bucky answered right away. âœBut thankfully that colt I also consider my son.â

Rising Star sniffled a bit before replying. âœThank you,â he murmured in a low whisper.

Chapter 84

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Bucky had spent almost a week in study as well as his usual attempts at brewing. There had been no eureka moments, but there had been steady improvement, and Bucky felt that he was ready enough to move on. It was time to get started. Bucky felt well prepared and the seething fires that were his desire for vengeance had settled into hot coals of inspiration.

It was the perfect day for a walk, and Bucky enjoyed the sun as he trotted through the rolling meadows with several foals following after him. Today, they were looking for where the ley lines crossed, and Dinkyâs bees were showing the way. Dinky was thrilled to be doing something productive. PiÃa had followed along, glad to be spending a bit of time with Bucky. Ripple had come along as well, now an almost constant companion to the two younger fillies, something which Bucky was grateful for. Having a pegasus protector had done a great deal to soothe Derpyâs frazzled nerves.

Butterflies attended the wildflowers they encountered, wild bees buzzed all around them, and the day was very nearly perfect. Honey was a valuable commodity for the isles, but it was a treat rarely enjoyed by most of the locals. It was used for mead making, something Bucky was interested in attempting to brew someday.

There was an annoying itch in his eye socket, something Bucky was still having some trouble adjusting to. The bandages were gone and he now had simple bit of grey cloth tied around his head, covering his eye and the horrible gash.

Dinky had commented that it made him look like a pirate, something that had left her mother totally agast and rather upset, but Bucky had laughed and then tried to smooth over the grey mareâs ruffled feathers. Poor Derpy couldnât find any jokes about Buckyâs missing eye funny.

âœThese are different butterflies than the ones we have at home,â PiÃa observed.

âœTheyâre a bit smaller and they have blue wings,â Dinky quipped.

âœAnd orange,â PiÃa commented. âœThe orange ones are pretty.â

âœThere are yellow ones too,â Ripple added. âœSometimes I would chase after the butterflies when I was little.â

âœI donât see any yellow ones,â Dinky said as she looked around.

âœTheyâre rare, which is why they are special,â Ripple explained.

Bucky listened to the banter of his foals as the group continued to follow Dinkyâs bees, his thoughts occasionally drifting to other things. There was a lot to do. There was a very long list of things that needed to be done, but Bucky wasnât worried. He had helpers, and he didnât need to do all of this alone.

Some of what he was planning would be faced alone though.

âœDinky?â Bucky asked, his sonorous voice cutting through the foalâs chatter with one another.

âœYes daddy?â replied Dinky, suddenly attentive and focused.

âœHow is your reading about creative applications for magic?â Bucky asked as the group continued to follow the bees.

âœI am having some trouble with the bigger words,â Dinky admitted.

âœAside from that, how are you doing?â Bucky questioned.

âœI think I get most of itâ I liked the chapter on how to find things,â Dinky answered.

âœExplain,â instructed Bucky, his voice one of gentle command.

âœWell, the chapter talks about how to find things that do not want to be found. Like if somepony uses spells to hide something. And then if they cast the right spells, they can make it very difficult to scry and find whatever is hidden,â Dinky explained.

âœSo, if something wants to remain hidden, how would you find it?â Bucky asked.

âœI think I wouldnât actually look for whatever is hidden,â Dinky replied. âœInstead, I think would focus my efforts of divination upon detecting the spells cast in an area rather than try to find whatever is hidden. If I cast that spell that allows me to detect magical residue, I could find traces of magic that was cast in an area, even if I couldnât find what was hidden because of illusion and other magical deterrents.â

âœVery clever Dinks,â Bucky praised.

Dinky beamed. âœIt took me a long time to think about that,â she admitted.

âœI was almost twice your age when I figured that out,â Bucky confessed. âœBut yes. You can cast spells which will allow you to see if magic has been used in a general area, and with careful scrying, you can figure out what sort of spells were cast. With time and effort, you can begin to dispel those spells, which may be a bit puzzling, and then you can find whatever is hidden.â

Dinky no longer trotted but strutted, a broad smile plastered over her face, and she looked very pleased with herself. Her mane bobbed around her face as she followed at her fatherâs heels and she seemed to radiate a sense of pure joy.

âœA clever unicorn can hide things in plain sight. You can look right at them and not see them. There are many spells that allow for things to be hidden, usually right in plain view. They can still be found, usually by a unicorn that is far more cleverâ like you are turning out to be Dinky,â Bucky said.

âœI canât take all of the credit for being clever,â Dinky announced. âœPiÃa helped me. We talked about it for a long time,â Dinky admitted.

âœIs that so?â Bucky asked.

âœYes it is,â Dinky said, casting a glance at PiÃa.

âœA very clever unicorn turns to their friends for help,â Bucky stated. âœPiÃa, I am proud of you as well. Why didnât you say something when Dinky was being praised for being clever?â

âœI wanted her to have a moment to feel good about what she had done,â PiÃa replied. âœAnd I knew that sooner or later Dinky would say that I helped her.â

âœAnd there is a lot of things I help PiÃa with that I never get credit for,â Dinky added. âœIt is just something we do for one another,â she explained.

âœPiÃa, how well do you think you understand magical theory?â Bucky asked.

âœI probably know as much as Dinky,â PiÃa said bashfully. âœI guess it seems silly for an earth pony to know about magic,â she muttered.

âœNot at all. I want you to keep studying with Dinky. In fact, I might even test you like I do her, so apply yourself and study hard,â Bucky commanded.

âœWhen I get stuck on the really big words it usually takes both of us to puzzle it out,â Dinky said as she cast a glance up at Bucky. âœPiÃa is better at stuff like that than I am.â

âœPiÃa, have you ever had your IQ tested?â Bucky asked.

âœThey donât test earth pony IQs in school,â PiÃa replied.

âœWhat?â Bucky asked, stopping suddenly and standing in place. âœSay again?â

âœThey donât test earth pony IQs. They test the unicorns and only test some of the pegasi if they show promise because the pegasi have to be really good at math to do weather work,â PiÃa explained.

âœAnd earth ponies donât get tested at all,â Dinky added.

Bucky sat down in the grass and shook his head, unable to comprehend what he had just heard. His thoughts briefly reminded him on how much he had changed, it wouldnât have been all that long ago that he would have believed that earth ponies were simply dumb farmers, and he felt a faint twinge of shame.

âœYou alright Bucky?â Ripple asked.

âœI am just a bit stunned, thatâs all,â Bucky replied.

The bees circled and swished through the air impatiently, and Bucky rose to his hooves. He felt a painful tug in his rear legs as he stood, and cried out slightly, which caused PiÃa to yelp in concern.

âœIâm fine,â he said soothingly. âœThe muscles back there are still tight, they just need to be stretched, thatâs all.â He stretched out one hind leg, and then the other, feeling a painful tightness in both of them. Some days, he didnât know which leg was worse. One had been gnawed on from hoof to hip and the other had a large chunk chewed out of it.

âœI think we are getting close,â Dinky said. âœMy bees feel agitated,â she added.

Keg Smasher was very surprised to see Derpy. A pony had requested an audience with him and he had agreed, and now he was feeling a slight bit of concern. He had nothing but respect for the grey mare, but they didnât get along very well.

âœKeg Smasher,â Derpy greeted, her tone rather harsh sounding.

âœMadam,â Keg Smasher greeted in return, raising a wing in a salute.

âœWe are going to talk,â Derpy stated bluntly, seeing no point in mincing words.

âœAlright, let us talk,â Keg Smasher agreed cautiously.

Derpy stared at the pegasus with one eye closed, trying to read him and his posture. She was pleased to note that he was completely submissive, which she hoped would help her cause.

Keg Smasher, for his part, realised that the grey mare was studying him, and tried to look as meek as possible, hoping that things could be patched up a bit between them. Having this unpleasantness between him and his armigerâs matriarch was counterproductive.

âœAbout Thistle,â Derpy began.

Keg Smasher heaved a sigh of relief. This was a subject he could deal with. Immediately, he settled in a comfortable diplomatic mood.

âœIf I allow her in, I understand there are probably going to be some conditions of consummation,â Derpy said. The grey mare had of course already allowed Thistle in, but Keg Smasher didnât need to know that. Not yet.

âœYes,â Keg Smasher said slowly. âœCelestia made it very clear that I am to make sure that she is integrated into your herd after we spoke and reached our agreement. She doesnât want you just adopting her and then letting her go laterâ and I donât want that either.â

âœI understand,â Derpy replied. âœI suppose both of you think that if Bucky ruts her, he will feel the need to look after her because of how young she is. Nothing makes you feel obligated like guilt. And maybe shame.â

Keg Smasher cringed visibly at the pegasus mareâs words.

âœWhich brings me to my point. About the consummationâ if she is married into our herdââ Derpyâs words trailed off and the mare fell silent.

âœWhat?â Keg Smasher asked. âœLook, it is in my best interest to help you. I am glad you are at least considering this. Just say whatever it is that you have got to say.â

âœDoes it matter who sleeps with her on that first nightâ what if it wasnât Bucky?â Derpy asked.

Keg Smasher looked at Derpy shrewdly and realised he was dealing with a very clever mare. He remained silent for the moment, knowing that if he waited, she would say more. She was trying to draw him out, or so he believed. Guilt, shame, and obligation indeed, Keg Smasher thought to himself. He felt guilty, he felt ashamed, and he felt obligated.

âœWe have a very open relationship with one another,â Derpy explained. âœI have spoken to Thistle a bit, and she is open to the idea of being bedded by a mare after the marriage, if it happens.â

âœI see,â Keg Smasher replied.

âœI want some kind of an answer,â Derpy demanded, not willing to further explain her position.

âœSo in your herd, some of the mares take an interest in one another as well as Bucky,â Keg Smasher stated. âœAnd wee Thistle would be marrying into this herd and their rather open sexual practices, which will probably include a lot of rutting of all kinds that has nothing to do with making more foals, am I right?â

Derpy nodded and felt a hot angry flush rising through her neck.

âœLook, so long as she goes to bed that night and comes out walking funny the next morning, I donât give two shites and a tinker ponyâs damn about who screws her, so long as she is looked after, cared for, and happy,â Keg Smasher said. He smiled somewhat, hoping his answer might help repair the relationship between him and Buckyâs matriarch.

Derpy relaxed visibly and her some of her ruffled feathers settled into a less agitated looking state.

âœIf fact, I think this would be a good for herâ introduce her to your ways. See if she can adapt. See if she is happy with something a bit different. I take it that you would be the one to bed her?â Keg Smasher asked.

The flustered pegasus mare found herself blushing as she nodded. âœYesâ that was what I had in mind,â she replied.

âœI think more matriarchs should do what you are doing,â Keg Smasher said diplomatically. âœMore of a gentle introduction to marriage. A little education of sorts.â The big burly pegasus hoped that a few flattering words might help the situation, and it looked like he was getting some results. The much smaller pegasus mare before him was smiling a bit and didnât look so hostile.

âœAnd there is one more thing,â Derpy mentioned. âœI want a private room. I will not do this with my whole family watching.â

âœI can manage that I thinkâ but I am going to have to ask that Bucky spend the night with you two when and if this happens. Might look funny, two mares going off after a marriage with no stallion,â Keg Smasher said in reply.

Derpy scowled, her smile vanishing.

âœLook, he doesnât need to actually do anything, but it wouldnât hurt Thistle to have him watch. Plus, it keeps up appearances. I have to look like I am going my job and holding up my end of the deal,â Keg Smasher explained.

âœI guess that seems reasonable,â Derpy agreed.

âœDone!â Keg Smasher shouted. âœYou will have your private room, Thistle will have a herd to look after her needs, Thistle will also have a really nice night most likely, and Bucky gets to watch a nice show, because hey, what stallion doesnât want to watch two of his mares fooling around.â

The pegasus mare blushed purple and her wings fluttered.

âœAnd all I need now is your agreement to take Thistle in,â Keg Smasher requested.

âœA little more time is needed,â Derpy replied. âœYou will have your answer soon though, I promise.â

Keg Smasher heaved another sigh of relief. He felt that he had come out ahead in this exchange. The grey mare actually seemed happy, which made him happy.

The convergence point of the two ley lines was marked by a pile of stones, which surprised Bucky slightly. The bees swirled in a chaotic vortex overhead and Bucky could hear buzzing both inside and outside of his head. He sat down, feeling dizzy and lightheaded.

âœYou alright?â Ripple asked as she watched Bucky trembling.

âœIâm fine,â Bucky replied. âœI just feel a little weird.â

âœYouâre sweating,â PiÃa observed. âœAnd shaking.â

âœIâm fine,â Bucky insisted.

âœI can feel it too,â Dinky said. âœMy hooves feel tingly like I am standing on something that is vibrating.â

Bucky could feel the power all around him. The ley lines could give him the strength he needed for what was ahead. From here, he could draw upon the power he needed to defeat the wolves. He felt his stomach churn and a violent sense of nausea overtook him. His vision blurred over and the buzzing in his ears was replaced by the ringing of bells. He saw the ground rushing up to greet him and he could hear Pinaâs frantic cry as blackness crept into his vision.

The three fillies all cried out when they saw Bucky slump and then fall over to the ground. PiÃa began to cry in panic, unable to deal with the situation at all. Dinky held herself together fought back against the rising panic, knowing just how dangerous it was to panic.

Dinky understood control nowâ and she held everything in. It was a monumental struggle for her, and she gritted her teeth. She could feel the magic surge building along with her emotions. She bit down savagely on her own lip, drawing blood. The pain made her nearly swoon, but it cleared her head.

âœRipple, can you fly?â Dinky asked.

âœWhen I was little I could fly a bit. And then I got sick and scrawny and I couldnât fly anymore,â Ripple answered as she pranced around on her hooves in panic.

âœNo excuses Ripple. Father needs you to fly. You will fly to save him. Youâve been getting better since weâve taken you in,â Dinky commanded, her blood trickling down her chin as she did so.

Ripple spread her wings, flapped a few times, and then took off at a run, flapping as hard as she could as she did so. She became airborne for a moment, came down hard, nearly stumbled, and then somehow managed to keep on her hooves as she continued to run forward. She tried again, and this time she took off into an unsteady flight.

âœIâll return with help,â she promised. âœI donât know if I should leave you two alone!â she shouted in fear, her voice high pitched with panic.

âœI will protect PiÃa,â Dinky replied. âœGo!â

Ripple did not have to be told twice. She struggled to remain airborne but took off in the direction of the castle, flying as fast as she could. Her muscles ached already, and her tendons creaked painfully, but she continued with grim determination towards her destination.

âœPiÃa, we will be fine,â Dinky said reassuringly. âœAnd he will be okay, I am sure of it.â

âœI hope so,â PiÃa said. âœHeâs breathing, so thatâs a good sign.â

Dinky bit down on her lip again, holding back the caged beast of panic. She hoped that help would come soon. She wasnât sure how long she could keep everything held in.

Bucky found himself in an endless grey expanse that seemed to stretch in all directions. He looked all around him, trying to figure out where he was, and saw two figures approaching. He did not recognise them. One was a stallion. Large. Grey. Black maned. The other was a mare. Smaller. Delicate. She was a pearlescent white and her mane looked as though it was made from pure silver. It shone with a metallic sheen that was nearly blinding. The two figures drew closer and Bucky couldnât help but notice how much he looked like the grey stallion. He was a bit smaller, and he was tan, but the physical similarities were strong.

âœWhat is this place?â Bucky asked. âœAnd who are you?â

âœThis is my prison, and I am your ancestorâ do you not know me? Surely you have had dreamsâ visionsâ I know you must know of the defeat of my shadow by Princess Twilight Sparkle and Princess Cadance,â the stallion replied.

Bucky shook his head. âœI donât know you. But you seem familiar. Who are you?â

âœIn life, I was called Sombra,â the stallion replied.

âœI am confused. Why am I here? This is a prison? And who is she?â Bucky questioned.

âœThere is little time. You are here because the master of this realm has agreed to allow me to give you a boon. I have been here for a thousand years, waiting for one of my descendents to free me-â

âœOh no, if this is a prison, I am not freeing you,â Bucky interrupted.

âœThere is much you do not understand,â the mare stated. âœIn life, I was called Princess Platinum. I was Sombraâs first wife. In death, I have waited here with him, in this dreadful expanse, waiting for him to be freed so we can continue through the gate together.â

âœThe gate?â Bucky asked in confusion.

âœI cannot pass into Elysium until one of my heirs is able to do what I could not,â Sombra replied. âœPlease, listen, time is very short.â

âœSpeak then, I am listening,â Bucky answered.

âœIn life, Sombra started off as a very good ponyâ he defended the empire of the Royal Pony Sisters. He battled Discord. He kept many safe and secured against the forces of chaos. He was a guardian. Celestia made him regent over the north. He was a pony that I was proud to call my husband,â Princess Platinum explained.

âœWhat happened? And why donât I know this? I paid attention in history class,â Bucky interjected.

âœCelestia blocked me out of your mindâ and she was right to do so. My shadow sought to taint you,â Sombra replied.

âœSo what happened?â Bucky asked.

âœSombra was the love of my life. He was my everything. My reason for living. I loved him in ways I cannot describe. And he loved me. We were happy. Life was good. And then, not long after foal birth, I became sick. And then I died. And poor Sombra didnât do well without me,â Princess Platinum said.

âœI couldnât bear her loss. But I had duties. I had no time to grieve. I was a kingâ there were griffons to fight. Dragons to subdue. I had to keep my ponies safe. I became obsessed with keeping them safe,â Sombra said regretfully.

âœSombra sent his foals away to live with Celestia and Luna. He was alone. And it destroyed his mind,â Princess Platinum said sadly. âœHe tried to keep everypony safe. He locked them away, trying to secure them away from harm.â

âœI went mad and became a tyrant,â Sombra admitted. âœI turned to dark magic hoping that it would give me the power I needed to fend off entire armies of griffons and dragons and everything else that threatened the north at that time.â

âœThe Princesses used the Elements of Harmony on him. It caused Sombra to split in two. The good in him came here, to this place, this grey purgatory in Tartarus, and his darkness tore free. It spirited away his entire empire for a thousand years,â Princess Platinum explained.

âœSo you love him enough to share in this torment of waiting until somepony frees him,â Bucky stated.

Princess Platinum nodded.

âœSo what do I do to fix this?â Bucky asked.

âœI do not know,â Sombra replied. âœYou must do what I could not. I was meant to be a protector.â

âœSo this is my curse?â Bucky asked.

âœSomething like that, yes,â Princess Platinum agreed. âœThere have been many who have tread in Sombraâs steps. Power comes to them. All of my foalâs foals have been afflicted. But power comes to them and then it corrupts them. Eventually, their horns crack or shatter completely. And then, they die. And the hope of being free dies with them.â

âœSo what do I do?â Bucky asked.

âœYou have already done so muchâ we have hope again because of you. You have power now, real power, but you acknowledge in your heart that it pales in comparison to the power of your family. You survived your horn cracking because you had those that loved you and they were willing to care for you,â Princess Platinum said.

âœEventually, your horn will try to fail againâ you must remedy that. I know you have been planning it. Tap into the ley lines Buckminster. Every spell ever cast by unicorns still resides in the lines. They are the spellbook of the ages. You will remember none of this once you have awakened, but part of your mind will retain this knowledge. You must do what I could not. Take up my mantle. Be a guardian. Protect those you love and those who love you. Protect your fellow ponies,â Sombra commanded.

âœEach of my sons who has came before you has had different task that fate seems to dole out for them. You must face the wolves. If you face them alone, you will fail,â Princess Platinum warned.

âœSo I must allow those I love to face the risks with me and not lose my mind I suppose,â Bucky said in a soft whisper.

âœYes,â Sombra replied. âœI sent my foals away and faced the darkness alone. It destroyed me.â

âœSo I destroy the wolves and the curse ends,â Bucky asked.

âœNo,â Sombra replied.

âœNo?â Bucky inquired.

âœDefeating the wolves is not enough. You must also take up my mantle. You must accept your role as a guardian,â Sombra explained.

âœI am not sure I understand the difference,â Bucky retorted.

âœYou must become what you were meant to be. Defeating the wolves is only a first step. A test,â Sombra said.

âœOh,â Bucky replied.

âœMy foals have become horrible monsters. Hold them accountable Buckminster. Restore our good name. Our bloodline is tainted and full of shame. I know it is a lot to ask of you, but please, restore my bloodline,â Princess Platinum begged.

âœOur time grows shorter,â Sombra said as he made a gesture towards Bucky.

Bucky looked down at himself, and saw that he could see through his body. He was fading, transparent, and his substance grew thinner and thinner.

âœHow do I fix my horn? I have some ideas, but there is so much I donât know,â Bucky said.

âœCommune with the ley lines. Star Swirl remains within them, he will help you. Part of me does as well. Clover the Clever also has a shred of memory in the lines. You will find aid if you seek it,â Sombra said.

âœWill I ever remember you?â Bucky asked.

âœWhen the time is right, I am certain that Celestia will restore your memory and allow you to remember me. To remember everything. When you are ready to become a guardian, when it is time to take up my mantle,â Sombra replied.

âœI will do my best to free you if I can, even if I donât remember this. You are loved as I am lovedâ she is willing to wait for you, and while it sounds terribly selfish, I hope my wives would do the same for me.â Bucky said as he watched himself continue to fade away. âœLove is the only thing I truly believe, and for this reason alone I will help you if I can.â

âœDo it to help yourself,â Sombra corrected. âœIf you do right, then hopefully this dreadful confinement will end. If you fail, the consequences to yourself will be dire.â

âœI understand,â Bucky said in return.

âœGood luck,â Princess Platinum said as Bucky approached nothingness.

âœWait, what about your shadow? What do I do about that?â Bucky asked as he continued to fade.

And then, he was gone and the two figures were alone once again.

Chapter 85

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Bucky slowly came to awareness and heard the sounds of somepony crying. He could feel the rough wood of a table beneath him pressing into his flesh and there was hot breath near his face. Before he could even open his eye, he knew that it was Derpy near him, he could smell her. His eye opened slowly and white spots danced in his vision.

âœWho is crying?â he mumbled, his voice dry and raspy.

âœDonât worry about that right now,â Derpy whispered in reply.

âœWho is crying?â Bucky insisted.

âœRipple,â Berry Punch answered from somewhere nearby in Buckyâs blindspot.

âœRipple isnât used to flying and her wings hurt,â Sparkler explained.

âœWhat happened?â asked Derpy in a gentle and motherly voice.

âœI donât know,â Bucky answered. âœBut I feel alright. I am just a bit light headed. In fact, I feel better than I have in a while,â he said, noticing that he did indeed, feel pretty good. His eye wasnât itching as bad as it was and much of the pain in his body was greatly reduced. Still there, but barely noticeable after living in such constant pain for so long.

Derpy mounted the table and stood over Bucky, looking down at him, one eye closed so she could focus on her husband. She saw him peering up at her and she felt a rush of heat through her body. âœYour scars look different Bucky,â Derpy observed. âœNot so red looking. Something has changed you. This has me worried,â the grey mare stated.

Bucky didnât feel worriedâ he felt something else entirely. He reached up with his forelegs and with a fluid motion, brought the pegasus down on top of him, pulling her close. He found her lips with his own and kissed her, his forelegs now pulling her as close as he could. One leg wrapped up over her withers while the other snaked its way past her wings and over her croup, and Bucky could feel her belly grinding against his own. There were gasps from around the room that Bucky assumed was the dining hall.

Derpy resisted his affections only for a moment out of concern for his well being, but then she could resist no longer. She needed this sort of affection. As a pegasus and a mare, this is what she understood as love. She kissed back and ground her hips into Bucky, completely lost in the moment, not for one moment remembering that there were other ponies standing around, including her own foals. For a moment, she and Bucky were the only two ponies in existence.

And then, as suddenly as it had started, the kiss ended as Derpy pulled away, panting for breath.

âœYou seem okay,â she panted.

âœDid the ley line do something to you?â Berry asked, still concerned. Burning thoughts tickled through the back of her mind. The kiss was sizzling hotâ and Berry desperately wanted one herself. She could wait through, knowing that her moment would come. Derpy had been frazzled for quite a while and Berry was relieved to see some of the mareâs frustration eased.

âœIt looks like he has had several months of healing,â Sparkler observed. âœLook, he even has some hair growing back now in his bald spots,â she stated, pointing at the large gnarled scar on his side.

âœSo he is okay?â Dinky asked.

âœI think so Dinks,â Berry replied.

âœRipple, are you going to be okay?â Bucky asked, still laying on his back on the table.

âœI can fly again,â Ripple replied as she continued to let out shuddering sobs of pain.

Bucky rolled over and eased himself off of the table and back onto his hooves. His hind legs still felt stiff, but not nearly as bad as they had been. He felt a sense of growing bewilderment, he couldnât explain what had happened. He had never heard of ley lines healing a pony before. Then again, there were many mysteries left in the world. It had only been recently been discovered that friendship held a magic all its own. He felt an overwhelming compulsion to continue to study the ley lines, to plumb the depths of its secrets. Not for power, but for curiousityâs sake.

Bucky was barely steady on his hooves when he saw a flash of plum in his vision and then suddenly he was locked into another kiss, and giving the teasing probing of the tongue involved, he knew it was Berry. He lifted one foreleg, wrapped it around her neck, and pulled in her closer, making the mare whimper with need. Her tail flicked from side to side as the kiss intensified. Finally, she pulled away, gasping for air as she did so.

The overwhelmed stallion felt dizzy now, but remained on his hooves.

âœI feel a little better in some ways, and a little worse in others,â Berry huffed.

âœI know what you mean,â Derpy mentioned in reply to Berryâs words, her eyebrow raised suggestively as she spoke.

âœUh, I donât mean to stick my nose where it doesnât belong, but I donât think Bucky is done yet,â Rising Star said, gesturing at Thistle as he did so.

She stood close by, looking hopeful and afraid at the same time. She almost seemed bashful, one front hoof kicking at the stone floor as she looked on hopefully. âœYeah, I was kind of hoping for a kiss,â she admitted. âœBut I understand if-oooof!â she grunted as she was pulled forward suddenly by an unseen force, her hooves dragging over the floor.

Thistle closed her eyes and allowed the moment to happen. The kiss wasnât quite as forceful as the other two had been, it was gentle and soft, and she felt her breath catching in her throat. She leaned into the kiss, angling her head to the side to allow for an easier connection between her and Bucky. She could feel his hot breath in her mouth. She parted her lips, unsure of what would happen, and then the kiss went to places that she was not prepared to go. A terrible fear flooded through her body and she began to tremble. She squeaked as Bucky pulled away.

âœThistle?â Bucky asked, looking at her in concern.

âœIâm fineâ I just got scared for a moment, I donât know why,â Thistle said, averting her gaze down to her own hooves.

âœThistle, there is a big difference between sex and intimacy,â Berry said reassuringly, shooting a meaningful glance at Sparkler, Rising Star, and Loch Skimmer as she did so.

âœI didnât mean to get scared and ruin it,â Thistle murmured, now sounding panicked.

âœYou didnât ruin anything,â Bucky said soothingly.

âœBut Iâve been kissed beforeâ by all of youâ I donât know what happened,â Thistle said as she squirmed uncomfortably.

âœJust take things slowly,â Derpy said to the filly in a soft and reassuring voice.

Thistle continued to tremble, standing there surrounded by ponies who all looked at her curiously. She nearly jumped out of her skin as Bucky eased up against her side.

âœI am sorry Thistle, perhaps I became a little too forward,â Bucky apologised.

âœNo, you didnât, I wanted it, I donât know what happened,â Thistle whimpered.

âœMaybe it is mommy hormones,â Berry suggested.

âœI am going to take Ripple back to our room so she can lay down and maybe get a nap,â Loch Skimmer said. âœDonât worry, I will not disturb the sleepers,â she promised.

Bucky watched as the two departed through the large double doors and then turned his focus back to Thistle. âœI need some fresh air. This room is stuffy. I am going outside. Walk with me Thistle,â Bucky said as he moved slowly towards the doors.

There was a clatter of hooves as everypony moved to follow him. Thistle remained close to his side, and he could hear Derpy and Berry just behind him.

The sun was warm and soothing on his tan coloured pelt, and the heat sank down into his bones. The grass tickled his sides. Thistle was beside him, and he could feel the warmth of her body against his own. He could hear Dinky and PiÃa playing a short distance away, running away from Derpy, who was chasing them. Berry was sprawled out in the grass nearby, lying supine with her belly exposed to the sun. Bucky couldnât help himself. He looked at her and felt a twinge of need that made his whole body tense.

Sparkler was off some distance away with Rising Star and Loch Skimmer, and Bucky could hear them all giggling and laughing together.

âœThistle?â Bucky asked the filly beside him.

âœYes?â Thistle replied.

âœDo you want to be my wife?â Bucky asked.

âœMore than anything,â Thistle replied.

âœNo,â Bucky said in a low voice. âœNo, let me ask you this again in a different way. If Keg Smasher hadnât arranged this for you, and if you werenât pregnant, and you were under no obligation of any sort to be married, if you could be free and enjoy your youth, would you still want to be my wife?â

Thistle did not reply right away and she fell silent. Berry took notice, rolling over on her side to look at Bucky and Thistle. The kelpie realised that this was probably some sort of test of her character, something Derpy had done on several occasions. She tried to think of a careful reply that would make her sound mature, but no good answer seemed forthcoming. She felt another jolt of fear spike through her, and she realised that Bucky had felt it as well, because he looked at her when she had tensed up for a moment.

âœThere are no wrong answers,â Bucky said reassuringly.

Thistle took a deep breath and puffed out her cheeks, looking adorable as she tried to think of a good reply. âœHaving seen what a bad husband could be like, I think that trading some of my youth for a good husband is good idea,â said Thistle carefully as she rubbed her head up against Buckyâs jaw. âœI can still be young and be with you.â

âœYes, but what if you didnât have to be married? What if you werenât one of the last kelpies in existence and could just be a normal filly?â Bucky asked.

âœBut I am not a normal filly. And I am one of the last kelpies that exist. It is all I can think about. It is all I know. The need to continue my kind is my entire life and I donât know anything else. I canât imagine anything else,â Thistle replied.

Bucky heaved a sigh and kissed Thistle gently on her nose.

âœYou can only be young once, and then it is gone. I get that. I do. I understand that youth is fleeting. Iâd rather spend my youth with you. All of you. Iâve had a taste of what life could have been like for me, and that would have been far worse than anything you might have planned for me,â Thistle said.

âœSheâs right Bucky,â Berry quipped. âœWith us, sheâll still have a bit of time to enjoy being young. Sure, she will be a mother with a foal to look after-â

âœWhat about Derpy? When she was Thistleâs age and she had Dinky, she had help. She had you and Sparklerâs mother. And look how much she suffered. She had to grow up right away and do the right thing,â Bucky interrupted.

âœYes, she did, but things will be different. Weâre a proper herd. We have you. I know you Bucky, you will look after her. You will be there as she grows up and matures into a proper mare, and you will help her every step of the way. She needs a stable male influence in her life. There are also other mares in our herd that I know for certain that will be more than willing to look after Thistleâs foal and allow her a bit of time to enjoy what bit of youth she has left. Sheâll even have some ponies her own age to hang out with, even if it seems a bit awkward that she might be one of Sparklerâs mothers in the future. But she will be able to do fun stuff with Sparkler, Rising Star, Loch, and Ripple,â Berry explained patiently.

Bucky scowled. âœThis is getting weirdâ I donât know what I can be both a husband and a father figure. I mean, the age difference isnât enormous, but it already feels strange sometimes,â Bucky said.

âœAnd, as a practical matter, she will have a healthy sexual outlet if she has youâ if she has us. Cause letâs face it, with the exception of a few uptight unicorns, most teenagers have lots of careless sex that usually leads to foalsâ which leads to situations like the one that Derpy ended up in. At least if she is married, she can go to you to get that horny teenage itch scratched and not have to worry about being in a bad situation. Plus, she will have somepony she can love and trust to scratch those itches. Somepony who will actually be there for her, rather than a lot of empty promises made by some horny colt that does entirely too much thinking with his dick rather than what is between his ears,â Berry said.

Thistle blushed and made a soft âœmeepâ sound in the back of her throat.

âœOh look, sheâs still kinda innocent after everything that has happened,â Berry said teasingly, causing Thistle to scowl at her.

âœIâm not innocent,â Thistle grumbled.

âœThe dick goes in the foal hole,â Berry announced.

Thistle made an odd choking sound and her face turned into a shade of puce as she tried to stammer out a reply. Thistle became even more flustered when she heard Berry chuckling.

âœBerry, donât tease,â Bucky scolded after Thistle spent several moments sputtering.

âœBut look at her, she is adorable. Sheâs gonna be a lot of fun to play with when the time comes. Thistle sweetie, sex isnât something you endure. And it is a lot more than just a dick going in the foal hole. There is licking, and tickling, and kissing, and there is grindingâ oh I could use a good grinding right about now,â Berry said as she rolled her eyes. âœAnd there are all kinds of sounds tooâ squelching. Squealing. Heavy breathing. Grunting. Squishy noises. And it isnât over in just a few minutes either, not if you are doing it right. And all kinds of things can go into a foal hole. A twat. A spasm chasm-â

âœEnough!â Bucky interjected. âœThistle, take a deep breath. Remember to breathe Thistle, you are purple,â Bucky said in alarm.

Thistle took a deep breath, let it out, and then took several more.

Bucky glared at Berry, who seemed to be enjoying herself immensely. âœHappy now?â he asked.

âœI just wanted to prove a point,â Berry replied.

âœWas it worth it?â Bucky growled.

âœSheâs right though,â Thistle interrupted. âœThere is a lot I donât know.â

âœAre you coming to Berryâs defense after what she did?â Bucky asked incredulously.

âœI suppose I am,â Thistle replied in a frightened voice.

âœUnbelieveable,â Bucky muttered. âœDonât be scared Thistle, I am not mad at you. I am mildly annoyed with Berry though,â Bucky explained. âœLook, being embarrassed by those words doesnât make you any less mature. Not everypony can be as open as Berry Punch. Sheâs special," Bucky snarked.

âœAnd Bucky proves my point that I made earlier,â Berry quipped.

âœWhat?â asked Bucky, a look of confusion on his face.

âœThink about what you just did,â Berry said.

âœHuh?â Bucky grunted.

âœA colt her age wouldnât have swooped in to rescue her, he wouldnât have reassured her, he wouldnât have tried to comfort her. Instead, he probably would have joined in with me to tease her mercilessly or would have brayed like a donkey as he laughed at everything I said,â Berry explained. âœI am sorry Thistleâ I was trying to make a point to Bucky here, and I used you to do it. I hope you will let me make it up to you,â Berry said in apologetic tones. âœSee Thistle, you will be able to go to Bucky about anything and he will play the role of the gallant knight for you. He just canât help himself. So you can have it all if you want it Thistle. You can be young and silly but still be married and happy. As you grow up and mature, Bucky will be able to adapt to any needs that you might have. Lover, friend, a moral guide, which I think sounds a bit better than âfather figureâ which I will admit seems a bit creepy in this context.â

âœWait, did I just get manipulated into helping you prove a point?â Bucky said slowly.

âœYes you did,â replied Berry in smug tones.

âœWhat?â Bucky grunted yet again, looking utterly confused.

Thistle let out a nervous giggle and kissed Bucky on the cheek.

âœIâll teach you how to wrangle Bucky,â Berry offered. âœTo make up for teasing you.â

âœWait, no,â Bucky stammered, still confused. âœWhy did I have to marry a mare that was smarter than I am?â he asked himself. âœNo no no, I am not to be wrangled,â he protested.

âœAlso,â Berry said, returning to her point. âœYou can clearly see that Bucky isnât some young dumb and full of cum horny colt that thinks only with his dick Thistle. If he didnât care about you, he wouldnât have come to your defense, going back to what I said earlier about colts your own age. Rising Star is the exception of course. I wouldnât want to insult him and all the good he does. Buckyâs love for you isnât going to be a bunch of empty promises and meaningless words to try and bed you. He is going to do what is right for you, he will be responsible for you, and when he says that he loves you, you will have something that most fillies your age do not have, which is the truth. When Bucky tells you that he loves you, you will know that he means it, because you can see how he really feels by his actions. Remember this Thistle. Remember how he came to your defense because he respects you and wants what is best for you. He stood up to one of his own wives to try and protect you. Think about that Thistle.â

Thistle nodded and she felt her heart flutter within her chest. She did not reply, overwhelmed and overtaken by everything that had been said.

âœYou sneaky minx,â Bucky said to Berry.

âœI am a clever pony,â Berry bragged.

Bucky let Berry bask in her moment of glory, knowing full well that she deserved it.

Chapter 86

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âœYou know, life is a funny thing,â Sparkler began, talking to Rising Star and Loch Skimmer. âœYou can go through life and you meet hundreds of ponies. You meet them and nothing changes. Life simply goes on as it always does,â Sparkler paused briefly in the middle of her spoken thoughts and tried to choose her next words carefully. âœBut then you meet just one pony, just one, and life changes forever. You meet all of these ponies throughout life, and none of them really mean anything to you in the bigger picture, so you meet them and you sort of forget them, and life goes on. But then you meet one pony and everything changes. You canât live without them. And everything in your life changes because of them,â she finished.

Sparkler looked at Loch Skimmer, who was looking at her quizzically, her head cocked slightly to the side in the typical pegasus âœI donât understandâ look and Loch Skimmerâs wings fluttered slightly.

Sparkler gestured over at Bucky who was with Thistle and Berry in the tall grass nearby. âœMy mother goes out one day and bumps into him. Just one little bump. She comes home and acts like a spooked teenage fillyâ you should have seen her. And then he came to see her and I had to do something so I shoved mom outside and locked the door behind her so they could talk. So she met him, and by extension I met him, and then life became a whirlwind of changes for all of us. Mom fell in love. Berry fell in love. Dinky started to hope that she would have a fatherâ I fell in love. I guess I had to see my mother fall in love to know what was right. But I discovered that what I needed was right under my nose. And then all of this happened. And I met you,â Sparkler stopped speaking and looked directly at Loch Skimmer. âœYou were one of those sorts ponies that changed everything when I met you. It felt like I had known you all my life.â

âœI donât know what to say,â Loch Skimmer said in a subdued voice.

âœSometimes nothing can be said about life, it can only be experienced,â Rising Star stated.

âœSo now, here we are. A herd. Short one member because she is tuckered out and sore,â Loch Skimmer summarised. âœI never thought my life would be like this. I actually feel excited about the future,â she admitted.

âœSo do I,â Rising Star agreed. âœI have two really hot mares to sleep with me,â he teased.

Loch Skimmer narrowed her eyes at Rising Star but said nothing. Her lips were pressed together and her ears folded back against her skull. Her tail swished from side to side for a moment, and her wing feathers became a bit ruffled.

âœYou still have some trouble being told you are attractive, donât you?â Sparkler asked.

Loch Skimmer looked down at the cast on her front leg and her posture became submissive. âœThose things were never of much importance before,â she said in a low voice. âœIt was more important that I had a strong back and wide hipsâ

âœOh, it is still very important that you have wide hips,â Rising Star admitted.

âœRising!â Sparkler chided, her scolding tone interrupted by an ill timed case of the giggles.

âœWhat? It isâso very important for her to have big wide foal bearing hips. Because I have plans for you Loch Skimmer,â Rising Star said teasingly.

Loch Skimmerâs eyes went wide and she let out a nervous giggle.

âœRising Star, be careful,â Sparkler warned. âœSheâs laughing, but sheâs still a bit spooked.â

âœShe should be spooked. Because I have plans. Plans I say,â Rising Star said with a chuckle ending his words. âœDastardly plans that involve me being a father. Someday. When I am grown up and move past my dastardly plan phase.â

Loch Skimmerâs nervous giggles turned into guffaws of laughter and Sparkler relaxed as she too fell apart with riotous laughter.

âœI have plans for both of you,â Rising Star confessed. âœAs soon as I can figure out this dreadful conundrum of how to bed both of you without the other feeling left out or jealous I plan to set my plan in motion. The plan is foolproof, which is good really, because I am a fool. Thankfully, this is a foolâs venture. All I have to do is what fools have been doing since time beg-â

Rising Star was cut off as a pair of lips pressed into his and kissed him deeply. He hadnât been expecting it at all. The kiss was slightly waxy and oily and he knew that it had to be Loch Skimmer. All of his words left in his mind departed, every witty phrase now gone. All he knew was that right now, he wanted the plan to move ahead a bit, and more than anything he wanted to give Loch Skimmer a roll in the grass. Finally, the kiss ended with Loch Skimmer pulled away breathlessly.

âœI am going to make my own plans,â Loch Skimmer whispered breathlessly.

Rising Star nodded, too flustered to say anything in return.

âœThat was kinda hawt,â Sparkler said. âœI have to admit, it sort of turns me on to watch you two.â

âœI am going to make this easy,â Loch Skimmer offered. âœWhen the time comes, you and Sparkler are going to have a go at one another first, because you and her were together before I came along and you had to save me. I am not going to be upset about it. I am sorry Sparkler, but I donât think I am into doing things with you. But I want to watch,â the filly said nervously.

âœAlright, but I get to watch when you and Rising Star get together. I am open to trying things but I understand if you arenât Lochâ after watching my mother be so happy with Berry and Bucky I am sort of hoping I will find a bit of that myself,â Sparkler replied.

âœSo you are into other mares?â Loch whispered, her voice suddenly becoming hushed.

âœWell, I am curious. You and I have kissed a few times and I liked it,â Sparkler confessed.

âœLeft me feeling a little weird but I didnât want to complain or say anything because of all of the kindness you have shown me,â Loch Skimmer said in reply.

âœYou need to always always always be honest and upfront if something makes you feel a little weird,â Rising Star instructed.

âœYouâre right, if we are going to make this work, I do need to be honest,â Loch Skimmer agreed. âœYou know Sparkler, there is my sister. When she gets older,â Loch Skimmer suggested. âœI think I would feel comfortable with her being involved with you, if she was agreeable to it of course. I would never want her forced. Things are going to be complicated if she isnât interested in you Sparkler or if you find that you are not interested in her. She is going to want to fall in love with somepony and we are going to have to look after her needs.â

âœAll of that will be dealt with later. For now, canât we just enjoy this happy moment?â Rising Star asked in return.

âœThis is a happy moment,â Loch Skimmer agreed.

âœEven with all of this trouble and the fight that I know is coming, I do feel happy,â Sparkler confessed.

âœI donât want to talk about that,â Loch Skimmer begged. âœI know the fight is coming, but I canât bear to talk about it.â

âœWe donât need to talk about it, what we need to talk about are these uncontrollable boners that Loch Skimmer causes me to have,â Rising Star interjected.

As the midnight hour approached, Bucky found that he could not sleep. He felt energised. Awake. Alive. His muscles twitched and his horn had an odd tingle that he had never experienced before. His whole body felt strange and unfamiliar sensations traveled through his flesh.

That, and he was horny as all get out.

He looked up from the book he was attempting to study and focused his remaining eye on the two mares sleeping in the bed with one another. He heaved a sigh and snorted. Lyra was going over a lesson with Sentinel and Ripple. Rippleâs long afternoon nap had left her unable to sleep once the night had fallen. Bon Bon was organising a future lesson.

And all he could think about was his own terrible need.

He didnât need to be reading, he needed to be doing something. If not one of his mares, then a more physical task. âœI am stepping out for a bit,â he announced in a soft whisper. âœI will be downstairs in the lab working on some stuff.â

âœWant me to join you?â Lyra asked. âœBonnie could take over for me.â

âœNo Lyra, but thank you. You, uh, would be distracting at the moment,â Bucky replied.

âœDistracting?â Lyra asked.

Bucky sighed and thought about total honesty. âœRight now I am the horniest unicorn that has ever existed. Period. I am going to go distract myself and try some experiments,â he said.

Lyra giggled. âœI couldnât help you with that,â she said teased.

Bon Bon looked up from her book and tittered. âœPoor thing,â she murmured.

Bucky quietly slipped off of the couch, crossed the room, and exited the door, taking with him a stack of several books. It was time to do more than just plan.

The laboratory had been stocked over time. There were candles now, some lanterns that burned bog oil, fine sand had been brought from the glassworks at Buckyâs request, and a large wooden table had been placed in the center of the room.

The barrels of sand were recent and most welcomed. Bucky pried off the lid and examined it. All of the glassware on the isles came from the fine white sand found on the beaches. The Shetland Isles produced glassware that was almost as famous as its liquor. Glass beads, glass bottles, drinking glasses, Bucky had been given quite the rundown when he had requested some sand. Far more information than he needed to know.

He planned to make spell jars, something he had never attempted before but was confident he could do. Small glass globes, carefully created with a stasis bubble infused into the glass, and magic permeable from the outside. The magically infused glass would allow a unicornâs horn to phase through it, a spell could be cast, the spell would be contained inside of the globe, and then released at a later time.

Bucky had first encountered them in Celestiaâs school. Certain spells were contained within the jars but were not labeled. Students had to take readings of the magic and try to figure out what sort of spell was contained in the jar. It was also in Celestiaâs school that he had seen what would happen if a jar was shattered. A student, angry over failure, had hurled a spell jar at a wall after being told that she had failed in her task. Thankfully, the spell was harmless, but the memory now gave Bucky ideas.

Nothing like a few fireballs or a shock orb contained in a jar and lobbed about a battlefield Bucky reckoned. He would need to make sure that he protected himself from the destructive blasts, but the wolves would have no such defenses. They would be blown to meaty chunks all around him.

He pulled up a small measure of sand, willed his magic to come forth, and began his first attempt to create a spell jar. The sand melted readily, and he applied his magic to make the now liquid glass to form a bubble. He infused it with magic, creating a temporal stasis bubble, and wove the magic into the glass. The hot molten glass orb was directly in front of his face, and he felt a moment of distraction as he thought of Keg Smasher coming near with the hot iron. He pushed the distraction from his mind and continued his task. There was too much to do and too much at stake to allow for such petty distractions to become a problem. Instead, he thought of the foals that he had already had, the foals that he would have, and how he was going to provide for them. The thoughts smoothed out his mind and leveled out the nervous undercurrents of his psyche.

He would need to be careful and methodical to get through this. Not reckless and brash. He had been reckless and brash when he had gone out to face the wolves on that fateful night, and now he was missing an eye.

Smoke poured from his horn as he worked, shaping the glass bubble, trying to get a feel for just the right thickness. It needed to be solid enough that it could be transported without too much trouble, but fragile enough to break when hurled. There was a faint smell of burning hair in the laboratory.

Sweat poured from Buckyâs body as he continued to exert effort. The laboratory was bone chillingly cold, but Bucky found that he did not mind. He welcomed the cold.

After much effort, Bucky eyed the fruits of his magical labours. He leached the heat from it carefully so it wouldnât shatter. He had done a good job, or so he felt. The glass was mostly clear, only a bit cloudy, and it practically thrummed with magic, which was a good sign. He remembered that the spell jars vibrated somewhat. He levitated it over to a waiting box that was lined with straw and placed the now cooled glass orb into the box. He would have to test the magical permeance later, once the magic had settled and become stable, a process called curing.

Bucky hesitated, unsure of what to do next. Making more spell jars was a bad idea, not until he could determine if the first would work properly.

He focused instead on the gemstones collected from Sparkler. He selected one and examined it. He would need to modify the sunstone spell. He needed a light source that produced powerful light, but not heat. He thought about the intensity of light needed and figured that he would err on the side of overkill. Two hundred million candlepower should suffice he reasoned. Maybe two hundred and fifty million just to make sure. He wanted the wolves to combust when the light hit them. He would also need to build reflector dishes so he could construct a spotlight. That would require some metal work. Metal work would have to come later.

Bucky carefully studied the orange gemstone by hornlight and began his long night of hard work.

Derpy awoke and realised that something was missing. Her husband. A faint grey light shone through the window, and she knew that dawn was breaking. The room was almost too warm once again. She nosed Dinky and then PiÃa, kissed Berry just behind her ear, and then looked around blearily, trying to find Bucky. She closed her bad eye, peered around some more just to make sure, and then realised he was nowhere to be seen.

âœWhere is Bucky?â she asked in alarm, her loud voice waking the rest of the sleepers. âœHe didnât do something stupid like go out and face the wolves again did he? Where is he?â she cried.

âœHe went downstairs to the lab. Heâs fine. Itâs okay. He just couldnât sleep, thatâs all,â Bon Bon said soothingly.

Derpy grumbled wordlessly in reply as her fear slowly flowed out of her.

âœHeâs been up all night?â Berry muttered, her eyes still closed.

âœHe said he was the horniest unicorn in existence and then left to get some work done,â Lyra said.

Derpy started to say something in reply but was tackled by Ripple, the pegasus fillyâs forelegs tight around her neck. The mare enjoyed the enthusiastic affection of another pegasus and the last of her irritation was smoothed away.

âœI was up all night too,â Ripple said. âœAnd it was a wonderful night,â she mentioned. âœLyra and Bon Bon are the nicest ponies.â

âœThey talked about girly stuff all night,â Sentinel complained. âœWell, after our lessons were completed.â

Berry groaned. There was entirely too much activity already for such an early hour. Ripple squashed up against her as the filly continued to hug Derpy and more than anything, Berry wanted Ripple to stop bouncing up and down so she could go back to sleep. She was forced to take matters into her own hooves. She rolled on her side, snatched Ripple in her forelegs, which made the filly squeal in alarm, and then pulled her close, crushing her against her barrel. Berry yawned and then tried slip into a half awake half asleep snooze that always felt so good early in the mornings.

Ripple grunted and then realised she had no chance of breaking free of her prison. Berryâs embrace was as solid as iron. She sighed and settled against the earth pony, resigned to her fate. Ripple, feeling Berryâs warm body against her, began to hear the sirenâs song of sleep and yawned, the long night finally over and a need for slumber finally overtook the filly.

Berry settled her snoot into the fillyâs mane, breathing in her scent, and enjoying the growing bond that was forming between the two of them. She drifted into that half awake and half asleep phase that she so loved.

Derpy meanwhile was overcome by nausea and quickly fled the bed.

Chapter 87

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Bucky reveled in his sense of accomplishment as he eased himself into the bed with a tired groan. He had figured out how to make a heatless sunstone on the fourth attempt, which he felt was reasonable. He had eaten breakfast in near silence, his exhaustion making him less than perfect company.

Lyra and Bon Bon had already settled into the bed with Sentinel, and he settled in close to them. As his remaining eye closed, he felt three warm bodies work their way against him. He smiled to himself, his eye still closed, and it was nice to have somepony to share the bed with as the others began their day. Usually, the three of them went to bed after lunch, and Bucky suspected they had gone to bed early to be with him.

As he drifted off, he heard the door open and another pony entered the room. He then heard them crawling on the bed. It was Ripple, who had nodded off several times during breakfast, and was clearly in no position to stay awake through school.

Bucky heard Sentinel say something, but he couldnât make out what it was as sleep finally overtook him. He drifted off feeling warm and secure, surrounded by those he loved.

The world around him was dead. Bucky shivered as an icy wind pierced his pelt and blew through his mane. There was no grass, no greenery, only sand and rocks. Bucky stood and looked around him, in the distance he saw a pile of white stones. He moved towards them to investigate them, and upon reaching them, realised they were not stones at all, but skulls.

Pony skulls.

He shivered again and wondered what he was doing here. He looked all around him and realised that he had both eyes once again. He experienced a moment of exquisite pain mixed with happiness, glad to have both eyes but knowing that one no longer belonged.

âœGreetings Buckminster,â a voice said.

Bucky whirled, feeling quite startled, for all that he was, he was still a pony and as such, he was subject to being spooked as much as any equine. He saw a blue alicorn approaching him and he took a deep breath of relief.

âœYou seem well. Must have been a long night for you to slumber so soundly during the day,â Luna said pleasantly as she drew near.

âœWhat is this place?â Bucky asked, all sense of formality gone from the shock he was experiencing.

âœThis is Ponyville. Or it was. And over there, that is what remains of Canterhorn Peak. And Canterlot,â Luna replied.

Bucky looked off in the distance, not recognising what he saw. If it was Canterhorn Peak as Luna claimed, then half of the mountain was gone. And Canterlot with it. There was a large pile of rubble at one side of the sheared off mountain. As Bucky stared at it, a cold jolt traveled through his spine. âœWhat did this?â Bucky inquired, a tremour in his voice.

âœYou were always so bright and inquisitive Buckminster. My sister placed so much well deserved faith in you. Care to venture a guess?â Luna answered, asking him a question in return.

âœNo,â Bucky stated in a frightened whisper.

âœThe question isnât so much what did this, but who,â Luna said, her teal eyes now locked on Buckyâs eyes. âœAnd why,â she added.

Bucky looked around him, taking it all in. The sky was a dull rust colour, and the sun was a frightful red. The air was acrid and stung his nostrils. His mind raced with implications.

âœBucky, what do you know of other worlds?â Luna asked, breaking Buckyâs train of thought as she did so.

âœI know there are mirrors. Arches. Gateways. I know there is one in the Crystal Empire,â Bucky replied, his internal scholar taking over and forcing his mouth to speak.

âœThis is one of those worlds,â Luna stated. âœIn this world, you rejected the advances of one grey pegasus mare. You did much more than that actually. You resented her intrusion into your life.â

âœNo,â Bucky whimpered as his knees began to wobble.

âœYou spurned her advances and you began to hate your fellow ponies. Your destiny, your curse if you choose to call it that, finally caught up to you. And you had nopony to save you. My sister tried of course, but you never returned to her, you never made the choice to trust her. You never went back to her as a confused young stallion in the throes of first love and you never let her into your heart,â Luna explained.

âœWhat happened?â Bucky asked, his words more a frightened gargle than actual speech.

âœYou as many of your bloodline before you discovered your true nature and the unusual power that flows through your entire bloodline. As most do, you discovered it by accident. Do you know what it is?â Luna asked.

Bucky was too stunned to even began to guess. He shook his head.

âœThe ability to tap into the ley lines directly,â Luna answered. âœTo channel them in much the same way that an alicorn would. Absolute power as one might call it.â Luna paused and waited for some kind of response from Bucky. When she saw that no response was coming, she continued.

âœUnlike the others in your bloodline, you were careful and meticulous when you discovered your power. And you craved more. You didnât make grab for power right away. You hid yourself away and studied in secret. You never revealed yourself. My sister never thought of you as a threat. She only saw you as a sad befuddled creature, one more failed unicorn in a long line of failed unicorns. She pitied you,â Luna said. Luna took a deep breath and shook her head sadly. âœBut the call of power gave you strength. Made you bold. Eventually, you revealed yourself and you attempted to dethrone my sister and I. There was quite a battle. Eventually, your horn failed you, as it has always failed your kind. My sister was mercifulâ a terrible mistake on her part. She had you healed, nursed back to health. You were placed on trial. And then, you were banished. Sent far away into the hinterlands on the other side of the world. A savage place of no law,â Luna explained.

âœI canât bear hearing this,â Bucky said, speaking when Luna had paused to choose her words.

âœYou survived there. You thrived there. You fixed your malfunctioning horn. You connected to the ley lines and tested the very limits of the magic you were able to channel. You found no limits. There was nothing to hold you back,â Luna said, her voice sad.

âœSo I did this?â Bucky asked.

âœYou did not come back like some mindless villain and announce your triumphant return. You struck swiftly and without mercy. You bound my sister into the sun and before I could even figure out what was going on, I was back in my lunar prison. In this reality, you slew Twilight Sparkle when she came after you, her need for revenge her own undoing. And then, you dealt with Cadance and Shining Armor, killing her and her unborn foal,â Luna said, her voice filled with more than a little anger. âœYou smote Canterlot and blew it right off of the mountain. You obliterated Ponyville. And then, you burned the world. This entire planet looks like what you see now,â Luna explained.

âœWhat purpose would that serve?â Bucky asked. âœAnd what of myself? How could I survive here?â

âœYou donât stay here Buckminster,â Luna answered. âœYou figure out how to make your own gateways. You leave. You tap into the ley lines of reality itself, the magical fabric of the very universe.â

âœHow do you know all of this? Isnât this just a dream? I canât bear to think of myself doing this,â Bucky whined, his voice breaking from the overflow of emotion.

âœI had Discord show me other futures. Other whens and wheres. I had to see what you were capable of. I had to know what I was dealing with. I remember Sombra all too well and how close he came to creating the future that you see now,â Luna said. She extended a wing and gently wiped away the tears from Buckyâs eyes. âœEven if you canât remember it directly, I know that you know now.â

âœYes, I know. I know what I am. But I donât want to believe that I am capable of thisâ all of this horror all around me,â Bucky whimpered in reply. âœSo why show me this? Why torment me? Havenât I changed all of this? I have hope in my heart. I loveâ I am lovedâ why do this?â he asked in a tormented voice.

âœBecause this could still happen,â Luna said in a flat emotionless monotone.

âœI wonât let it,â Bucky said defiantly.

âœAnd I would like to believe that. Which is why I am here. I would rather be your friend than your enemy Buckminster. And I would like to help you. I would like for you to know that you are trusted and loved. I would like for you to know that when you stood on the brink of real power, you were not held back, but coaxed forward and assisted, trusted and loved enough to be helped so you would be successful,â Luna explained.

âœMy horn,â Bucky said, a faint glimmer of understanding forming in his thoughts.

âœYes,â Luna said. âœI can help you with that. I intend to give you the knowledge of how Sombra saved himself.â

âœI saw Sombraâ heâs in Tartarus,â Bucky said in a soft whisper.

âœI know,â Luna replied. âœCelestia and I have spoken to him on occasion,â Luna stated.

âœWhat happened? Why did he do what he did?â Bucky asked.

Luna sighed. She knew that the question was coming, but she was still not fully prepared to answer it. âœSombra loved. He was good pony. But he could not deal with grief. And when he discovered the true nature of his gift, the ability to tap into a ley line directly, the power overcame him. He had nothing to hold him back. There was only a world full of danger and ponies that he had sworn to protect. He felt that my sister and I were the biggest threat to poniesââ Lunaâs words faltered. âœHe was right too. I fell. I tried to make the night last forever. Sombra was completely mad when he made his move against my sister and I, but he was correct about one thing. If one of us stumbled, if one of us fell, we were the greatest threat to Ponykind. He attempted to bind us into the sun and the moon, knowing that if we were locked away, the sun and the moon would operate on their own and that we would not be needed to make them function,â Luna explained.

Bucky sat down in the sand and was unable to reply. His mouth moved several times, but no words came out. Finally, he gave up and remained silent.

âœSombra really was a good pony. He was my friend. He loved my sister and Iâ he was our most faithful guardian. Star Swirl was the scholar, Sombra was the warrior. There would not be an Equestria without them. Star Swirl discovered the location of the Elements of Harmony after Discord had hid them away, and it was Sombra that led an army into Tartarus to recover them. Both of them were immensely powerful unicorns, and both were deeply flawed, as your bloodline tends to be-â

âœWait, are you sayingââ Bucky interrupted.

âœYes Buckminster, they were brothers. They were both so strong, but so flawed. Star Swirl had trouble making friends. He guarded his heart and lived a life of isolation. Sombra did much the same after he lost Platinum. He hardened his heart and his loneliness devoured him from the inside,â Luna said. âœThe brothers were as different as night and day. Star Swirl was gentle and bookish while Sombra was combative and brash. Star Swirl found ways to battle Discord and hamper Discordâs efforts through mischief, while Sombra raised an army with Commander Hurricane and went to battle against Discord and his legions directly.â Luna stopped speaking and let out a chuckle.

âœWhat is so funny?â Bucky asked.

âœThe company you find yourself in,â Luna replied. âœFunny how fate tends to tie ponies together.â

âœWhat do you mean?â Bucky asked.

âœCertain bloodlines seem to weave together over time and become something of a tapestry. Certain fates always seem bound together. Much like Twilight Sparkle and her friends. Those bloodlines have always come together time and time again. And much the same has happened with you as well,â Luna answered.

âœThat tells me nothing,â Bucky said with mild annoyance.

âœCommander Hurricane fell in love with a mare named Pansy. She was his first wife and became his matriarch. I remember her quite fondly,â Luna said, a faint smile now upon her lips.

âœAnd what does that have to do with anything?â Bucky demanded. His emotions were stretched to the very limits of what he could endure, and he desperately wanted things to make sense again.

âœPansy was the most distinctive shade of bluish grey. And she had the most marvelous wheat coloured mane. But Hurricane fell in love with her because of her eyesâ they were a very unique shade of amber,â Luna said, closing her eyes and reminiscing.

âœWait, are you saying what I think you are saying?â Bucky asked.

Luna nodded and continued to smile.

âœSo-â

âœOh, Pansyâs eyes worked perfectly. That particular problem came along later. But Pansyâs descendents are very distinct and quite easy to spot in a crowd. At the time, the colour of her pelt and the colour of her eyes were quite unique. She was a rare beauty. Commander Hurricane had to turn to Sombra to find out how to win Pansyâs heart because Pansy found Hurricane to be an oaf. She loathed him,â Luna said, recalling fond memories.

âœSo do you think fate brought us together?â Bucky asked.

âœFor all of the Founderâs foals to come back together yet againâ of course,â Luna replied. âœBerry Punch descends from Smart Cookie, one of the smartest ponies that has ever lived. When Equestria falls into interesting times, much like we are in right now, the foals of the Founders are usually involved somehow.

âœSo how do I avoid this fate? How do I save myself? How do I save my horn?â Bucky inquired.

âœDo not be troubled about your horn. Even as you sleep, I am giving you the knowledge of what to do. I do not know if you will be successful, that much is up to you. As for your fate, continue on as you have done so far. Continue to love others and do not isolate yourself. Have lots of foals. Keep them close to you. I feel that was truly Sombraâs failing in my own opinion,â Luna answered.

âœHow?â Bucky asked. âœI mean, can you explain what you mean?â he questioned.

âœSombra sent his foals to stay with Celestia and I before he began his slow descent into madness. Before he thought that we were potential threats. Tell me Buckminster, if you did something bad, do you think you could look PiÃa Colada or Dinky in the eye and feel good about yourself? Do you think you could explain to them or justify why you just did something awful?â Luna replied, asking her own questions in return. âœOr honour bound little Sentinel for that matter.â

âœWell, noâ I think about everything I do and how it might affect them. After I was forced to do something terrible, it tore apart my insides thinking about how awful I must have looked to PiÃa and Dinky,â Bucky replied.

âœThe flogging,â Luna mused.

âœHow do you know all of this?â Bucky asked.

âœI see into your mind Buckminster. I see your dreams. I must keep Equestria safe,â Luna replied.

âœSo if Sombra had kept his foals around and they had made him feel guilty about what he was doing, things might have turned out differently?â Bucky inquired.

âœPerhaps. Celestia and I hope that it will work for you,â Luna answered as she made a gesture to the dead landscape all around her with her wing.

âœMaking foals and raising foals is certainly preferable to this,â Bucky said as he looked all around him. Bucky inhaled slowly and then exhaled in a huff. He struggled to collect his thoughts.

âœSombra turned away from his other wives. He abandoned them. He placed his sense of duty to others above his sense of duty to his family. He could not deal with the loneliness. The war with the griffons took a lot of out of him. All of the violence did terrible things to his mind. All of the horrible things he had to do, all of the nightmarish combat he had to endure. He was never the same pony. He jumped at the slightest sound. He flew into fits of rage over the smallest and most trivial things. Now they call it post traumatic stress disorder. Back then, we called it unslakable bloodlust. Sombra was no longer content to remain in a defensive position, and he went into a constant state of war. He didnât know how to make the war end. Even after the griffons were driven from the north, Sombra turned to other threats and unleashed his fury upon them. He made bold moves against dragons and drove them from the icy reaches. He went to war against the shadowy forces of the night, knowing that they fed upon his ponies. And with each battle, he slipped a little farther into madness. Finally, he turned on us, swearing that he had to keep Equestria safe from all threats. He said he had peered into the flow of time using spells his brother had created. Sombra believed that we had to be bound. The war was terrible. So many died. So many lives were lost. Sombra created an army of golemsâ an army that would have no casualties. The ponies under Sombraâs rule, the crystal ponies of the north, he had them bound to the city in which they lived, unable to leave. He had to keep them safe, even if it meant keeping them safe from themselves. The entire city was enslaved. Those that resisted were bound in shackles for their own good. The entire time, Sombra truly believed that he was doing the right thing, that he was in the right, and that he was just the good defender that he had always been,â Luna explained.

âœPoor Sombra,â Bucky said when Luna had paused for a moment.

âœIt broke my heart having to take down my dear and beloved friend. I think that it might be part of the reason I did what I did later. I do not know,â Luna admitted in a sad voice. âœIt had to be done though. Sombra was pulling the souls of ponies out of their bodies and placing them into crystals. He did it to keep them safe. If they werenât in bodies of flesh and bone, then they could no longer be harmed. They would never know hunger, they would never know old age, they would live forever, bound in a crystal prison. What Sombra did was monstrous. Celestia and Iâ we hadâ we had to destroy those crystals to free the souls trapped withinâ it was one of the moments in my long life that I truly wish had never happened, right up there with turning on my sister,â Luna said, her gaze dropping down to the sand around her hooves.

âœSo eventually, life would end if Sombra had been successful,â Bucky said, picking up where Luna had left off. âœHe would have protected his ponies, all of them bound in crystal, he would have burned away all of the threats in the world, and then he would have stood a silent vigil protecting the crystals. And the world might look a lot like this one.â

Luna nodded but said nothing.

âœThatâs awful,â Bucky breathed, his words not even a whisper.

âœAnd he would have endured his loneliness out of a sense of obligation and duty,â Luna added.

âœBeing trapped in crystal, while it might be a place of safety, it is not living,â Bucky said.

âœIt makes me feel better to hear you say that,â Luna confessed.

âœIf you ever believe that I have become a credible threat, if you think that I have slipped into the darkness, I want you to destroy me. No mercy, no trying to coax me back into the light, no trying to remind me what I am giving up, the family I am betraying, I want you to watch my dreams and my inner workingsâ and if you even suspect that I am a danger to those I love, I want you to obliterate me. No warning,â Bucky insisted.

âœIââ

âœPromise me,â Bucky demanded. âœNo excuses. No talk of how I might be saved. If the shadows begin to overtake me, cut me down before I can bring harm to those I love,â Bucky begged.

âœI cannot do that,â Luna said. âœMy sister would never allow it. We do not slay our enemies, or we try not to. Even Discord, as terrible as he was, he was given a second chance.â

âœSo it is worth risking all of this?â Bucky asked, looking around him at the barren dead earth.

âœThe moment you were born this was at the risk of happening. Should Celestia have dealt with you then? Or just cut off your bloodline and offer no chance of redemption? Should all of the foals that Sombra and Platinum had together been rounded up and put to death to avoid the thousand years of tragedy they have created? It was Star Swirl and one of his attempts at his destiny spell that cursed all of Sombraâs bloodline. Or laid the foundations for redemption if one chooses to look at it that way. Star Swirl tried to pull his brother back from the darkness that had consumed him. He tried to change Sombraâs destiny. The spell failed, but the magic lingered. Even now, Star Swirlâs magic is still attempting to correct a broken destiny, and it flows all around you,â Luna replied.

âœBut I donât want this!â Bucky cried as he lifted his hoof and pointed at the ruins of Canterhorn Peak. âœI swore an oath that I would never bring harm to another ponyâ and you tell me about Sombra and his crystal prisons. Did Sombra also swear an oath? Will I destroy myself and everything I love with good intentions?â

âœYou might. It could still happen. I am hoping that it will not. Mostly, that depends on you and the choices you make,â Luna said soothingly.

Bucky screamed in frustration, his emotion finally boiling outward. His wordless cry echoed through the emptiness, a long tormented cry that only ended when his voice broke from the strain, his cry becoming more of a phlegmy gargle.

âœWhen you wake, you will remember little of this. But certain knowledge will remain in your mind. In time, should you prevail, you will remember all of this. You will remember everything. You will know who you are, who you are meant to be, and you will remember what you are capable of. We all hope that it is enough to hold you back and prevent you from destroying everything that you hold dear,â Luna said in a calm voice. âœHold fast and true to those you love. The grey mare has the strength you need,â Luna stated.

âœAnd Berry is my intellect?â Bucky asked, breaking in on Lunaâs exposition.

âœSomething like that,â Luna replied.

âœWhat of Thistle?â Bucky asked. âœIs she tied into this or is this random chance?â

âœAll of those drawn to you have something that you need that you lack on your own,â Luna stated.

âœEven Bon Bon and Lyra?â Bucky asked.

âœEspecially Bon Bon and Lyra,â Luna replied.

âœSo what about Thistle? What does she have that I need? I donât understand. I feel so confused around her. I feel so unsettled and I donât know how I should feel about her,â Bucky admitted.

âœYou will figure this out in time Buckminster,â Luna said.

âœBut this seems importantâ what if I donât?â Bucky retorted.

âœThen you will continue to get what you need without knowing how or why,â Luna answered.

âœBut she is youngâ maybe too young, it feels wrong to desire her the way I do,â Bucky confessed.

Luna blinked at Bucky a few times but said nothing in return.

âœIs it right or wrong? I am having trouble knowing. I want to do what is right for her. I want to protect her. I want to give her what she needs,â Bucky said in a pleading voice. âœPlease, if you can just tell me a little,â he begged.

âœPerhaps a bit more honesty is required on your part,â Luna replied. âœYou want to give her what she needs. And while that much is true, there is something else you want to give her. Which is what is causing you so much conflict,â Luna continued.

Buckyâs ears drooped and his whole body slumped into a slouch.

âœI wasnât even referring to sexual matters, but your reaction, your guilt and your shame is quite telling. If you are not careful, this will harm you. If it is any consolation to you, it is not immoral to desire her. She is indeed at an age appropriate for foal bearing, even if society might disagree. She is healthy and capable. Her body is developed enough that she is not in any real danger from it. Disentangle yourself from all of the physical distractions due to your sexual attraction, and focus instead on what you want to give her. Search your heart Buckminster, as corny as that might sound,â Luna said in an authoritative tone.

Bucky looked up at Luna, raising his head slowly. âœSo with Thistle, it is different than it is with Berry and Derpy, with those two, it is something they can offer me. With Thistle, is it something I can offer her? Something she needs from me?â Bucky asked.

Luna nodded but said nothing in reply.

âœBut I am still getting something in return from her through what I have to offer?â Bucky inquired.

Luna nodded again.

âœThis is confusing,â Bucky complained.

Luna leaned forward and kissed Bucky upon his cheek. âœI will return to check on you as I am able. We will talk again. You will remember only a few hazy details of all of this. My sister sends her love and wishes that she could do more to aid you, but if she became involved too much it would be detrimental to your efforts,â Luna said as she pulled away.

âœThank you,â Bucky said gratefully to the alicorn as she gazed at him.

âœLove without guilt,â Luna said as the dreamscape around them began to dissolve. âœGive Thistle what she needs without reservation. Be good to your mares. Be a father to your foals,â Luna commanded as the world around them faded away.

Bucky tried to reply but no words came from his mouth as he tumbled into a black void.

Chapter 88

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Bucky awoke with several needs, all of them pressing in on his mind all at once. He addressed the most pressing one first, relieving himself. After a very satisfying bit of time spent with a bucket, he returned to bed to collect his thoughts.

He had the most marvelous idea of how to fix his horn. The idea had been in his head for a while, different means, different methods, a slew of ideas, all of which he had reflected upon a great deal during quiet moments. Now he knew for certain what he needed to do. There was an almost overwhelming compulsion to begin now.

He was going to need Sentinel. He looked at the colt. Sentinel was still sleeping, sandwiched between Lyra and Bon Bon. His gaze shifted to Lyra. He needed immense amounts of electrical currents. While he could cast electrical spells, he wasnât all that good with them, and he was going to need his magic for other things.

He needed fulgurite. Petrified lightning. It was the missing piece in the puzzle that was replacing his horn. When lightning struck sand it created a special material prized by unicorns for magical work. Mineraloid in nature, it was perfect for channeling energy and could be used as a sort of magical prism. It was one of the many things that could be used to create focusing devices and magical reflectors. While he could have used crystals to achieve much of the same effect, fulgurite would be much better for his purposes due to the nature of how it could be infused with multiple types of magic.

One golden eye opened and he saw Lyra looking at him. She yawned, her orange tongue visible, and then her other eye opened. She stared at Bucky.

âœYou are up to mischief. What are you planning?â Lyra asked bluntly.

âœCare to join me in some forbidden magic?â Bucky asked in reply.

âœI thought youâd never ask,â Lyra replied sleepily and then yawned again when she was done speaking.

Bon Bon awoke with a snort. âœForbidden magic?â she mumbled. âœNo! Bad ponies! Bad! For shame! Lyra, what have I told you about wanting to experiment with necromancy!â

Bucky froze and looked at Lyra. Lyra squirmed under his gaze, her eyes now narrowed. âœLook, I just said Iâd like to study it, not actually practice it Bonnieâ it isnât fair that you keep bringing that up. It is only idle curiousity, nothing more. And I donât think Bucky had necromancy in mind,â Lyra said in her own defense.

Bon Bon scowled at Bucky first, and then at Lyra, having woke up in quite a grumpy mood.

âœI need Lyra and her elemental knack for lightning. I need to create fulgurites, a special type of glass created by lightning strikes. I intend to infuse it with raw magic,â Bucky explained.

âœAnd then what?â Bon Bon growled.

Bucky squirmed uncomfortably under Bon Bonâs gaze. She was the one who had made him follow a strict policy of total honesty.

âœAnd then what? Tell meâ now,â Bon Bon repeated in an insistent tone.

âœOooh Bonnie woke up crabby,â Lyra muttered.

âœShush Lyra,â Bon Bon commanded.

Lyra dropped her head and covered her face with her forelegs.

âœWhat is going on?â Ripple asked, not opening her eyes but perking up her ears.

âœThat is what I am trying to find out,â Bon Bon replied.

âœI need to replace my horn. It keeps fizzling. I know how to do it now. I know how to make it work. If I donât, I know it is going to fail me again, and if that happens while I am fighting the wolves, it will mean my death,â Bucky blurted out.

Bon Bon scowled and a low growl lingered in her throat.

Bucky felt an odd sensation. Fear. Bon Bonâs potential disapproval actually frightened him. Bucky had lived most of his life with his motherâs disapproval. This felt similar, but different at the same time. He discovered that deep inside, he didnât want Bon Bon disappointed with him. It was something of an epiphany to Bucky. This was a mare that he cared deeply about and he valued what she thought as well as what she felt. And her critical gaze upon him right now wasnât out being done out of spite or resentment, but love. Bucky felt a faint tingle of regret and shame and he dropped his gaze, unable to look Bon Bon in the eye any longer.

âœAre you confident that you can do this and be successful?â asked Bon Bon in a low whisper. âœI am assuming that if you fail, this will mean your death as well.â

Buckyâs stomach tied into knots. His first attempt to speak came out as a squeak. He cleared his throat and tried again. âœI am confident that I can do this. But I canât do it alone,â he replied.

âœAnd this is forbidden magicâ not something a law abiding unicorn would do. This is a violation of the natural order,â Bon Bon stated.

âœYes,â Bucky replied. âœBut I need to magically alter myself if I am to avoid my fate. I will also need to draw off some of Sentinelâs essence to make this work. Some of his shadow magic. I promise it wonât hurt him, and Sentinel and I have already talked about-â

âœHush,â Bon Bon commanded, interrupting Buckyâs nervous explanation.

Bucky fell silent and raised his gaze. Ripple and Sentinel were awake now, and every eye in the room was looking at him.

âœWe canât have your horn failing. I never thought I would ever have a husband. But now that I have one, I have no interest in losing him. Are you sure that you can survive this?â Bon Bon asked, her brows furrowed intensely as she stared at Bucky.

âœWell, I mean, there is a chance that it could fail. A chanceâ but my horn will fail. So I take the chance now and potentially survive, or I do nothing and at some point, this will mean my death,â Bucky answered.

âœWe canât have that,â Bon Bon stated. âœI already know that Lyra is more than willing to help.â

âœYeah I am. Regular magic is humdrum and boring. Mundane. I want to explore the fringes of what is possible,â Lyra said.

Bon Bon nodded knowingly. âœSo what needs to be done?â she asked.

âœI need to take Sentinel to a dark place, like the laboratory downstairs. I need to draw off his shadow essence and place it in a magical containment. Then I need to head back out to where the ley lines cross. Iâll need to commune with Lyra, and then focus an immense amount of power through her. Once she is juiced up with an indescribable amount of power, Iâll need her to cast lighting into a pile of sand to create fulgurites. Iâll then take these fulgurites, shape them magically, infuse them, and then through a very complicated process, I will fuse them to my own body, replacing my horn,â Bucky explained.

âœWonât they be fragile? Wonât they just break? I thought glass was fragile,â Bon Bon replied.

âœNot magically infused fulgurites,â Lyra said in return. âœThis is actually a good idea I think. It will constantly draw a faint trickle of magic from Bucky which will make it very nearly unbreakable. I mean, it could be broken, but youâd need some kind of impossible circumstance to make it happen. So long as Bucky had magic, his horn would be more durable than his body would be.â

âœI am coming with you,â Bon Bon said. âœAnd you are going to tell the others. No trying to hide this,â the mare insisted.

Bucky felt a strange joy in knowing that Bon Bon was not displeased with him. He closed his eye and sighed in relief. He felt two lips press up against his in a quick peck, and he opened his eye in surprise.

âœBonnie!â Lyra exclaimed.

âœWhat?â Bon Bon replied. âœHeâs our husband. I am allowed to kiss him. I am not asking him to rut me and no offense to you Bucky, but I have no interest in what you have to offer me. But I see no problem with giving you a kiss now and then.â

Lyra nodded thoughtfully at Bon Bonâs words. âœI suppose you are right. It just sent a weird feeling through me seeing you do that,â Lyra admitted.

âœI donât want you to ever do anything you are uncomfortable with,â Bucky said.

âœYou were honest with me over a very difficult subject and I appreciate that a great deal,â Bon Bon replied. âœI felt that you deserved to be rewarded.â

âœWell then, I shall treasure your kisses all the more knowing that I have to work to earn them,â Bucky said.

Bon Bon tittered and her face broke into a wide grin.

âœShe makes me earn them too sometimes,â Lyra said to Bucky. âœI have to be a good pony. No necromancy studies.â

Sentinel watched as Bucky did what needed to be done to prepare. The colt was frightened, even though he would never admit it or show it, not so much of having some of his shadow essence drained, but by the idea of Bucky failing. Sentinel didnât want Bucky to die.

Explaining everything to the others had gone much better than expected and now, the group was divided. Derpy, Berry, and Thistle were off with the foals and the others, while the unicorns had gathered together along with Bon Bon, minus Dinky who was staying with her mother.

Fear rippled through both groups, and Sentinel could sense it. Being a creature of shadow, fear was something that gave Sentinel strength under normal circumstances. But feeling the fear of those he loved unnerved him.

âœReady?â Bucky asked. âœI need you to shadow dive if you can. The room is very dim, it shouldnât be too hard,â he instructed.

Sentinel nodded. He could shadow dive. He closed his eyes and concentrated on becoming one with the darkness. He stood in deep shadow and allowed the darkness to seep into him. He felt a tingle in his flesh. And then, his physical form slipped away and he became shadow. He could see all around him in all directions, something that always puzzled him. He felt the cool darkness. He felt strong. He felt an odd tickle as though something was pulling on him. A moment later, his hooves thudded onto the stone floor and he stood with his breath heaving in and out of his lungs, completely exhausted from his shadow dive.

âœPerfect,â Bucky said. âœI was able to draw off what I needed. Living shadow,â he added.

Sentinel looked and saw what appeared to be a black liquid swirling inside of a globe of blue-green magic that hovered over Buckyâs head.

âœWe'll need to do this again when I create my armor,â Bucky said. âœSee how easy it is? It didnât hurt you, did it Sentinel?â

âœNo sir. I felt a tickle or something. No pain at all sir,â the colt replied.

Sentinel heard Bon Bon heave a sigh of relief and he turned to look at the earth pony. âœI am fine maâam,â he insisted.

âœDaylight is burning. We donât know how long this will take. We had better get moving,â Rising Star urged. âœDo we have everything?â he asked.

âœWe have the sand. We have the sunstone that Bucky requested, but I am not sure why we need it. We have a coven of unicorns and we have two ley lines. I think weâre good,â Sparkler said in reply.

âœThe sunstone is beautiful. Why did you cast it inside of the green one Bucky?â Lyra asked.

âœWell, I was experimenting. The others were all failures. I just happened to pull a green one out of the pile without looking at it,â Bucky answered.

âœPainful to look at,â Rising Star said. âœThat emerald gives off a lot of light.â

âœWell it is a sunstone, duh,â Sparkler replied snarkily.

âœI am going to wait with the others,â Sentinel said.

âœOkay Sentinel,â Bucky replied.

âœI will keep your foals safe,â Sentinel promised.

âœThank you Sentinel,â Bucky said.

When he reached the stairs, safely away from the others, the first few tears fell and Sentinel allowed himself a private moment. Terror overtook him. He wept and hoped that Bucky would survive what came next.

âœAre we ready to begin?â Rising Star asked. He looked at Bucky. The stallion was sitting on his haunches in the grass, looking very calm, his remaining eye closed.

âœI think we are,â Lyra replied.

âœI still donât understand how father will graft this onto his head,â Sparkler said in bewildered confusion.

âœI will teleport,â Bucky stated. âœAnd while I am teleporting, I will draw myself together with my new horn into the same location so that we overlap. As I reassemble from the teleportation, it should molecularly fuse with me,â he explained.

âœThat makes sense,â Sparkler said in a voice full of worry. âœAlso sounds like it leaves a lot to chance,â she added.

âœIt does,â Bucky admitted.

âœSo if you fail on the first attemptââ Rising Star said, his voice trailing off.

âœIt will kill me, yes,â Bucky replied.

âœIs there nothing we can do to save you?â Rising Star asked.

âœNo,â Bucky replied. âœIf the casing around my horn is breached at such a time, I will probably combust from all the raw magic being focused.â

âœOh,â Rising Star murmured.

âœWe donât want that,â Lyra said. âœLetâs not talk about that,â she insisted.

âœSo what is the sunstone for?â Bon Bon asked.

âœI intend to replace my eye while I do this,â Bucky answered. âœWhen I teleport I plan to use some of the same material that I will replace my horn with and fuse it into my eye socket. I will embed the sunstone in my eye socket and fuse it to my thaumaturgical nerves.â

âœSo built in spotlight?â Lyra asked.

âœYes,â Bucky replied.

âœWill you be able to turn it off?" Lyra inquired.

âœI think so,â Bucky answered.

âœSeems practical,â Bon Bon stated in a calm voice.

âœBefore we start, I want to say, Bucky, I love you. I couldnât ask for a better father. I had a good feeling about you when I shoved my mother out the door to talk you. Youâve been so good to her, giving her the love she needs. Youâve been good to Dinky and I. You let us all into your heart. I know that it isnât easy to love a mare that has foals and to take her foals in,â Sparkler said.

Bucky blushed and struggled to reply, but no words came out.

âœMy life is better for having known you,â Rising Star said, settling in close to Sparkler. âœGood luck,â he offered.

âœYes Bucky, good luck. Lyra and I would like foals, and we want them to be yours,â Bon Bon said.

Lyra said nothing, but gave a nod.

Bucky took a deep breath. Derpy was probably scared out of her mind right now he realised. Berry seemed confident, but was probably frightened as well. Thistle had cried a bit, but Derpy had comforted her and wiped away her tears. He took another deep breath. âœWe begin,â he commanded, his horn igniting in a fierce glow.

Bucky could feel the ley lines coursing through him. He hovered directly above the intersection of the two lines, channeling them directly, and forwarding their power through his fellow unicorns as he communed with them. He could feel Lyra summoning up a massive electrical blast. He could feel Sparkler and her magical connection to the sand. Rising Star was connected simply for the experience and he could feel the sense of wonder and awe in the coltâs mind.

He fused the raw magical essence he was summoning with the shadow essence contained within the sphere of magic. The sand was directly above him, contained in its own magical bubble. He merged the two bubbles together and as he did so, he felt Lyra let go.

For Lyra, it was practically a sexual release. She cried out as she channeled more magic than she had ever brought to bear in her whole life. A bolt of purple-blue lightning streamed from her horn and into the sphere over Buckyâs head.

Sparkler felt herself drawn into the sweet release of magic as well as she focused her will on the sphere, and she could feel Bucky in her mind, guiding her thoughts as she fused her magic into the sand, binding it with the elements being focused upon it. She gave the melting sand shape and form.

Bucky merged the magics together, Sentinelâs shadow essence blending into the writhing mass of magically infused sand as the magical lightning changed its nature. Bucky bled raw magic directly into the containment sphere, drawing directly from the ley line.

Lyraâs lightning finally ceased and the unicorn mare continued to let out heaving cries of pleasure, her hind legs kicking wildly as she floated, suspended in midair.

Sparkler exerted even more of her will and focused some of her own life force into the mass that was slowly taking shape in sphere. She did not know how she was doing this, but somehow she knew it needed to be done. Bucky was not guiding her. Something else lingered at the edge of her mind. Something primal and powerful.

The writhing mass in the sphere was a living thing now, infused with magical life. It became visible in between flashes. It looked like it was obsidian, black volcanic glass, long, jagged looking, and very very black. It was gnarled all along the surface, the lightning making it bubble as it had formed. A second mass was also briefly visible, small black, and the shape almost impossible to describe. Bucky levitated the sunstone into the middle of the second mass and merged them together.

Bucky used his own magic to cool both of the objects within the sphere, leeching the heat away from them. Soon, they were cooled, and Bucky knew that his time drew near.

He reached out and touched the minds of each unicorn connected to him, trying to broadcast his feelings of love and appreciation to each of them. Touching Lyraâs mind was awkward and weird, as she was still in the throes of what could only be described as a magical orgasm.

And then, he broke the connection. He didnât want them feeling what came next should something go wrong. It would break them. He focused his will and steeled himself for what was coming. Before he teleported, his final thought was the soft and velvety feeling of Derpyâs snoot when they had bumped into one another on that fateful day.

There was a violent thunderclap of sound as Bucky blinked and snow drifted through the air. The temperature dropped instantly and several inches of snow settled to the ground. A moment later, Bucky blinked back into existence, and he immediately wished he hadnât.

He could feel the magical glass fusing with his skull as his body merged with his new horn and the sunstone mount in his eye socket. The worst pain he had ever experienced tore through his body. He could feel the marrow of his horn being compressed into the new casing. The nerves fused with the new material, making new connections. Cold, freezing burning cold spread from the base of his horn into his skull and into his brain. He could feel himself screaming but could not hear it over the roar of the magic crackling all around him. He could feel ice forming all around him, crushing him, burning his skin as more of it formed.

The ice shell exploded and terrible pain ricocheted through his entire body. Cold traveled through every nerve. He could feel the tears freezing on his remaining eye. He felt the blood freeze within his heart, or so he thought, and terrible pain spiked through his barrel.

Buckyâs final thoughts were that he had made a mistake, and this was death. He felt his magic bleeding out of him. The magical glass grew roots and he felt them burrowing into his brain.

He felt his body crash into the earth and he waited for death to take him.

Chapter 89

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âœFather!â Sparkler cried in alarm as she ran to Buckyâs fallen body lying in the snow. She stood next to Lyra who was kneeling down at his side, fear and panic coursing through her body. âœIs heââ she said in a strangled voice.

âœHeâs alive!â Lyra announced. âœHe said if this failed, it would kill him. Heâs breathing!â

âœWhere did this sudden blizzard come from?â Bon Bon asked, bracing herself against the freezing wind and squinting into the blinding snow.

âœBucky,â Sparkler replied. âœBucky caused this somehow.â

âœWeâll worry about that later, we need to get back to the castle,â Lyra interjected.

âœHow do we get back to the castle?â Rising Star shouted over the wind as it began to howl.

âœI have a perfect sense of direction!â Lyra hollered in reply.

âœLots of ponies claim that ability,â Rising Star said in reply.

âœNo, Lyra really does have perfect direction,â Bon Bon said. âœShe can get us back to the castle. I canât see anything!â

The ponies felt a strong sense of group panic as the storm continued to grow in intensity. Sparkler was right next to Lyra yet could barely see her. Cold slashed through their pelts. Steam was coming up off of Bucky. A lurid green glow came from the emerald in his eye socket. It was not the bright light that it had been before. It flickered faintly and the snow falling around her took on a greenish tinge.

Lyra lifted Bucky with her magic and draped him over Bon Bonâs back. Bon Bon grunted and tried to shift under the load to get Bucky into a more comfortable position for her.

âœFirst you kissed him, now you have him on your back Bonnie,â Lyra quipped.

âœNow is not the time for jokes Lyra,â Bon Bon scolded.

âœEverybody grab a tail. I am getting us home. Donât let go and we will all be fine,â Lyra commanded. âœAnd it is always a good time for a joke,â Lyra added in her own defense.

The ponies lined up, tails in teeth, and Lyra leaned forward into the wind. Already the snow was up to her fetlocks, several inches of snow having fallen in just a few minutes. She began the long walk home and hoped that her perfect sense of direction still functioned.

Keg Smasher stared out at the raging blizzard and felt his body shudder. As a pegasus, he was sensitive to unnatural weather, and this was unnatural. A raging blizzard in the middle of summer that had come out of nowhere.

âœTheyâre out there.â

He turned towards the panicked sounding voice and saw Derpy. She looked frantic.

âœI have to go find them!â she shouted.

âœNo,â Keg Smasher said gently. âœYou go out there and you will probably get lost and die.â

âœBut they are out there!â Derpy protested.

âœYes they are,â Keg Smasher agreed. âœAnd hopefully they will find a way to return. They are unicorns. Be patient pretty mare,â he said soothingly.

âœI canât stay,â Derpy whined. âœI gotta go,â she insisted as she danced around on her hooves.

âœI doubt any pegasus could fly in these winds. It is like a hurricane. Stay here lass. I know it is hard, but you need to be here for when they will return,â Keg Smasher said in gentle tones.

Berry threw a leg over Derpyâs withers and nuzzled the troubled pegasusâ neck. The two mares stood together silently and said nothing. Thistle joined them and pressed up against Derpyâs side. Worry was etched on all three faces.

Dinky and PiÃa exchanged a glance with one another and leaned up against Sentinel who was sitting between them. He wrapped a wing around both of them protectively and sat up a little straighter. Ripple sat down beside PiÃa and stared out the window.

âœMy husband is out there too. And Sparkler,â Loch Skimmer said. She moved closer to Derpy, unsure of her place in the herd. She looked at the younger group, and then at the other mares. She saw Berry make a gesture and she came over to Berryâs side. She leaned against Berry and took a deep breath.

âœI wonder what caused this,â Keg Smasher said.

âœCould the wolves do something like this?â Berry asked.

âœI donât know,â Keg Smasher replied, worried that Berryâs hunch might be the reason.

Lyra walked along the wall of the castle, working her way to the gate. It was difficult to move forward. The storm was savage, unrelenting, and without mercy. The snow was already up to her knees. Her pelt was iced over and she couldnât feel her ears any longer. She couldnât even feel her own muzzle any longer. Her sense of direction had proven true and she had brought them back safely.

Finally the group reached the gate and filed through. Afterwards, Lyra led them through the courtyard, which was now empty. Eventually Lyra found the large wooden double doors that led to the entrance hall. She banged on the doors with her hoof and one opened. Lyra felt herself being pulled inside, a group of guard pegasi surrounding the group and ushering them in.

Bon Bon stumbled as she felt Buckyâs weight being pulled from her back. She was caught by a guard and she found herself being slung over a ponyâs back. She was too cold to protest and huddled against the warm body she was draped over.

âœBucky, come back to me,â Derpy whispered. She was piled in the bed with the rest of her herd and a fire roared in the fireplace, flooding the room with warmth. Bucky was limp beside her, his breathing shallow and faint.

âœHeâll be fine,â Berry said reassuringly. âœHeâs the most durable pony I know. Look what he has survived so far.â

Derpy nodded in agreement and then she laid her head down upon Buckyâs barrel.

âœHis horn looks terrifying,â Berry whispered as she stared at the jagged black spike growing from Buckyâs head. It was blade like and much longer than his natural horn. She peered at the angry red skin around the horn. It was blistered and burnt. âœDo you really think Bucky caused this storm?â Berry asked as she studied Buckyâs new horn.

âœI saw him cocooned in ice. Cold radiated off of him,â Sparkler replied in a weak voice.

âœHe was completely encased in ice,â Rising Star added.

Lyraâs teeth clattered together as she began to warm. She remained silent and buried her face against Sentinelâs neck. The colt shivered from the cold snoot pressed against him, but he did not complain. Lyra looked into Bon Bonâs eyes and smiled weakly.

âœYou did good Lyra,â Bon Bon praised in a weak and wavering voice.

âœYou brought our husband back,â Berry said.

âœThank you,â Derpy said as she wrapped her wings around Bucky.

âœIt was so cold that I thought my teats were going to fall off,â Sparkler mumbled.

âœSparkler!â Derpy cried.

âœI canât even feel my teats! It is like they arenât even there,â Sparkler protested. âœIf Rising Star wasnât an ice cube Iâd ask him to rub some warmth into them,â she muttered.

âœYou donât even want to know what I canât feel,â Rising Star complained.

âœAs awkward as it might be, I am a warm body,â Loch Skimmer said.

As the final word left her mouth she found herself sandwiched between Rising Star and Sparkler and she could feel very delicate places pressed against her on each side.

Berry raised her eyebrow and looked at Derpy, and Derpy responded by shifting her hind legs and wrapping around Buckyâs backside.

âœWe have to keep what is important to us safe and warm,â Derpy whispered as she glanced at Berry.

Berry nodded and pulled herself closer to Bucky. As she did so, she was stepped on by Thistle, who piled in on top of them all.

âœBig warm pregnant pony coming through,â she said as she tumbled down on top of the two mares and Bucky. She could feel his chilled skin against her belly. She rubbed herself up against his body and she felt herself warm as she touched him.

âœHeâs going to be okay,â Dinky said as she snuggled up against Buckyâs neck and against her mother. The fillyâs words were confident and there was no fear in her voice. She wrapped her forelegs around PiÃa and pulled her close.

PiÃa said nothing, content to be held. She could feel the cold skin of Buckyâs face up against her side. The green gemstone in his eye was dark now, but it flickered occasionally with a dull green glow. She could feel Thistleâs breath blowing on her.

âœWell, I can feel somepony is thawing out,â Loch Skimmer announced.

There was a groan from Rising Star and a giggle from Sparkler. The other ponies turned to look at the trio. Loch Skimmerâs eyes were locked on Rising Star, they were wide and glittered in the firelight. Rising Star squirmed under Loch Skimmerâs gaze.

âœI canât help these uncontrollable boners,â Rising Star whined. âœYouâre just so warm and soft.â

Derpy awoke and peered at the window. It was difficult to tell if it was night or day. The room was still warm and Lyra did not have her harp out, so the grey mare assumed it must still be daytime. She shifted against Bucky and felt his warmth. She took comfort in the soft warmth of his balls pressed up against the curve of her upper leg. Thistle was still sprawled out over the top of him and the faint sounds of her breathing could be heard near Derpyâs ear.

The pegasus mare closed one eye and took a closer look at the skin around Buckyâs horn. His mane had burned away from around the area and much of the hair on his pelt was gone as well. The skin was bubbled and blistered. As she watched, a bit of energy crackled along the jagged black edge of his horn and a whiff of ozone filled the air. She took a deep breath and sighed.

âœYou scared me,â Derpy whispered into Buckyâs ear. âœYou scared me and I am so angry with you,â she continued. âœBut I am also glad you are still with me,â she finished in a soft whisper so none of the sleepers would be disturbed.

âœI am sorry,â Bucky whispered back.

âœYouâre awake?â Derpy breathed into Buckyâs ear.

âœYes, but I wish I wasnât,â Bucky said in reply. âœWhy are you angry with me?â

âœBecause you scared me!â Derpy said in an angry whisper. âœDoes your head hurt?â she asked, her tone now gentle.

Bucky nodded slightly, trying not to disturb PiÃa who was curled up against the side of his face.

âœYou need to stop scaring me,â Derpy demanded. âœI donât think I can take much more.â

âœI am sorry,â Bucky apologised.

âœI really love you. But you keep scaring me. Panic attacks. Cracked horn. Getting mauled by wolves. I canât take it anymore,â Derpy whispered.

Bucky groaned and squirmed, the pain of knowing that he made Derpy feel awful somehow worse than the pain in his head. âœDonât worry, you will pay me back, of this I am certain,â Bucky mumbled.

âœHow so?â Derpy responded in a low voice.

âœPregnancy. Foal birth. Hearing you scream is probably going to kill me,â Bucky confessed.

âœIâll make sure to scream at the top of my lungs then,â Derpy promised. She snuggled up against his side and kissed him just behind his ear.

âœOther than my head hurting, I really donât feel too bad,â Bucky whispered. âœI can feel Thistleâs teats on my back. Is it wrong that I am feeling turned on by this?â he asked.

Derpy sighed. âœNo, it isnât wrong that you are turned on by that,â she responded in a gentle voice. âœDo you want her in our herd?â

âœYes,â Bucky replied.

âœWell then you need to do more to make her feel welcomed. Spend a little time making her feel special,â Derpy murmured into Buckyâs flickering ear.

âœAre you alright with this?â he asked.

âœIf she agrees to your advances, you and I will talk more about it,â Derpy answered.

âœMy head feels like it is going to split open,â Bucky said. âœI could feel the glass rooting itself into my brain.â

Derpy winced and her lips pulled back from her teeth. âœOuch,â she said.

âœI think that was the worst pain in my life. Hurt even more than having hot irons pressed against my flesh. Hurt more than being savaged by wolves,â Bucky confessed. âœI can only think of one thing that might hurt more,â he added.

âœAnd that is?â Derpy asked.

âœLosing you,â Bucky replied.

Chapter 90

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After a day spent recovering, Bucky felt the overwhelming compulsion to get back to work. The snows were melting. The cold had been somewhat problematic to the crops of the isles, but the snow had brought much needed water to the somewhat parched ground. There had been rain, but there hadnât been enough rain. Now, much of the ground was a sodden mess and everything was muddy.

Bucky needed a boat. Keg Smasher had told him of several hulks left aground in the harbour city, which was perfect because Bucky didnât need the boat to float. Not on water anyway. It was his intention to walk to the harbour and return with what he needed.

The need to get things done was overwhelming. There was so much to do. Construct an airship. Forge armor. Turn Rising Star and Sparkler into type threes. Create more spell jars and fill them with spells. Prepare for war. Protect ponies.

And finding some time to win Thistleâs heart had to be squeezed into all of this as well.

For some ponies, their work never ended. Bucky sighed and resigned himself to his lot in life. He packed his saddlebags with a few treats from the trunk, a few cold fried oatcakes, a few gourds full of water, and he thought about bringing a book to read while he walked.

âœCan I come with you?â

Bucky turned and saw PiÃa looking up at him with big pleading eyes. Her ears were back against her head and she was working him over with everything she had. âœShouldnât you be in school right now?â he asked.

âœI got permission to go and pee,â PiÃa admitted. âœAnd I knew you were here, getting ready to go. I overheard you talking earlierâ I just want some time with you.â

âœI have a very long walk ahead of me. I have to walk to the harbour city and then walk back to the castle,â Bucky stated.

âœI am a big filly. I can walk that far,â PiÃa insisted. âœI just want you all to myself for a while,â she whined.

Bucky sighed and looked down at PiÃa, who was looking up at him with big blue eyes. He felt a twinge of pain in his barrel. It was almost too much to bear. âœOkay, you can come. But we are going to tell the others so they will not worry about you,â Bucky said in defeat.

âœBut if we tell the others, Dinky will want to come tooâ and while I love Dinky very much and I donât want to be a selfish brat, I want some time with you,â PiÃa complained.

âœPiÃa, if Dinky asks, I will let her down gently and explain that we are going to have some personal time together today. Dinky will understand,â Bucky said to the foal that was still working him over. âœPiÃa darling, I have a lot of mares and fillies that need my time. If you are ever feeling left out, you need to tell me. Just tell me and I will make some time for you. You are so quiet and well behaved that sometimes it is easy to overlook you. You need to speak up and make some noise sometimes,â Bucky prompted.

PiÃa nodded. âœI can do that,â she said in reply.

Bucky packed a few more treats into his saddlebags and decided that a book wasnât necessary to fill the time. PiÃa was already bouncing around and being boisterous. A stabbing pain shot through his skull and he winced. The glass was still fusing with his skull. He could hear it crackling and popping as it worked its way deeper. He could hear it inside of his head.

Using his magic usually caused these moments of fusion, like right now as he used his telekinesis to move objects to his bag. His magic came easily to him now. Effortless. All he had to do was think and the reaction was near instant. No summoning of the will and trying to direct energies through his horn. Magic flowed out of him and the focusing effect of his fulgurite horn was noticeable.

Bucky suspected that there were no limits to what he could do now, and today was going to be a good test of his abilities.

âœMy legs are getting tired,â PiÃa panted.

Bucky smiled but said nothing. The foal was working hard to keep up but she was starting to lag behind. He scooped her up in his magic and placed her on his back. She wiggled around, trying to get comfortable, and finally sat up. She scooted herself forward and rested her chin on the back of Buckyâs head as he walked.

âœI am a big filly,â PiÃa stated. âœI could have kept going,â she insisted.

âœIt is okay PiÃa, I donât mind. I like having you close to me,â Bucky said to the foal as she cuddled against his neck and the back of his head.

âœDoes it hurt?â PiÃa asked as she got an up close look at Buckyâs new horn. âœIt looks like it hurts.â

âœIt hurts PiÃa,â Bucky admitted. âœBut it needed to be done. It will get better in time.â

âœI guess being adult means having to do things that hurt you?â PiÃa asked.

Bucky took a deep breath. A book certainly wouldnât be needed. âœSometimes PiÃa. I guess that is true. It certainly is for mares,â Bucky replied.

âœCan you âsplain that to me?â PiÃa questioned.

âœWell, having a foal hurts. But if mares didnât have foals, there would be no more ponies. Sometimes, we have to do something and it hurts us. In the case of becoming pregnant and having a foal, you get rewarded for having to endure the pain,â Bucky explained.

âœAnd making them is fun. My sister said that,â PiÃa said.

Bucky felt a hot flush travel up his neck and through his face. âœYes PiÃa, making them is very rewarding,â Bucky answered.

âœI overhead Berry saying that you were pretty good at it. She and Derpy were talking. Dinky and I were eavesdropping,â PiÃa admitted. âœAnd now my sister is pregnant and I wish that she was actually my mother but she is going to have foals and everything is going to become even more complicated because I want them to be my brothers and sisters but instead I guess I will be an aunt or something and it is all really very frustrating. Dinky and I talk about it sometimes.â

âœPiÃa, if you want to call them your brothers and sisters, there is nothing stopping you,â Bucky said as he walked, his hooves squelching in the mud.

âœI donât remember my real dad. I canât even remember my mother. All I can remember is Berry taking care of me,â PiÃa said.

Bucky did not reply. He could feel PiÃaâs breathing quicken, her breath warm upon his ears.

âœAnd you are the only father I know. But you are my sisterâs husband, which I guess would make you my uncle,â PiÃa said.

âœPiÃa honey, you are making this far too complicated,â Bucky insisted.

âœWe earth ponies try to keep track of our families. It is what we do. And my family tree is all weird now,â PiÃa replied.

âœYou are my filly. That is all that matters to me. You are mine. You might not be my flesh and blood, but you are one of the foals of my heart, which is just as important. I choose to love you. I have claimed you as my own. Just like I have claimed Dinky and Sentinel,â Bucky explained.

âœAnd when Berry gives you foals that are your flesh and blood, will you still love us just as much?â PiÃa asked.

Bucky heaved an exasperated sigh. âœPiÃa, are you actually worried about that?â

âœYes!â PiÃa cried in a wavering voice. âœWhich is why I wanted to spend time with you today so I could endear myself to you before it is too late,â PiÃa confessed.

âœPiÃa, I donât even know how to begin. You are one of my foals. Mine. I treasure you. And when Berry has foals, you will still be loved and you will still be mine,â Bucky said.

âœAre you sure?â PiÃa asked in a worried voice.

âœLook, PiÃaâ I am married to several mares. Do you think one is loved less than the others?â Bucky asked in a soothing gentle tone.

PiÃa did not reply right away. She sat on Buckyâs withers, her chin still resting on the back of Buckyâs head, and thought about what Bucky had said. Her muzzle scrunched as she tried to think about deep thoughts, the sort of thoughts that pushed the very limits of her maturity. âœSo you really love them all equally?â she asked in a soft voice filled with uncertainty.

âœYes PiÃa. But I do love them in different ways. I love you and Dinky in different ways, but I still love you both. And I donât love either one of you any more or any less than the other,â Bucky explained.

PiÃa sighed with relief and reached up to stroke one of Buckyâs ears with her fetlock. âœI have some very troubling thoughts sometimes,â PiÃa confessed.

âœIt is difficult being smart,â Bucky replied. âœBerry Punch is smarter than I am.â

âœMaybe. You are pretty smart though,â PiÃa answered.

âœPiÃa darling, as you grow up, you are going to discover that it can be very difficult to find happiness as a smart pony. Ignorance really is bliss. Fools flounder in continual happiness, but smart poniesâ idealist ponies, they have the least amount of happiness. Those that hold themselves to standards and make sure they hold themselves accountable for what they do,â Bucky explained.

âœSort of like how I canât seem to have fun when I know what I am doing is wrong. Some of the other foals I know actually have fun getting into trouble. I act like I am having fun, but usually when I get up to no good, I feel miserable. I just want to tell somepony what I did and get it over with rather than worry about getting caught,â PiÃa said as she stroked the side of Buckyâs neck.

Bucky smiled. âœIt only gets worse as you get older. Well, if you keep your sense of goodness. Sometimes smart ponies lose that sense of goodness. Theyâre smart enough to justify what they are doing, they can make excuses to make it seem okay,â Bucky said in reply. âœDo you understand what I am saying? he asked.

âœYes I do,â PiÃa said in return. âœIâve done it,â she admitted in a sad voice.

âœWhat did you do?â Bucky asked.

âœI stole a few bits from my sister so I could get ice cream. I told myself it was okay, because I had been such a good foal for quite a while and I deserved a reward because my sister was busy working and she had sort of ignored me and I was feeling kinda resentful. But after I took them, I realised that taking them made me a bad foal and I didnât deserve ice cream. I never made it to Sugarcube Corner,â PiÃa replied.

âœWhat happened?â Bucky inquired.

âœI turned around, went home, and told Berry what I had done,â PiÃa answered. âœShe took me out for ice cream even though I kept telling her I didnât deserve it,â she continued. âœTaking those bitsâ I couldnât justify what I had done. If I was a good foal like I thought I was, I would never took those bits in the first place,â she finished.

âœBut you did do the right thing,â Bucky said reassuringly. âœAnd that is what matters.â

âœI still think about it, what I did and why I did it. Usually when I get to thinking that I deserve something,â PiÃa confessed. âœHey, I just thought of something,â PiÃa announced.

âœHmm?â Bucky asked.

âœHow are you going to haul the boat back?â PiÃa asked.

âœI plan to carry it with my magic,â Bucky replied with a chuckle.

Bucky didnât venture into the harbour city, remembering how it had been flooded with sewage. Instead, he had veered over to the beach and had approached several hulks, beached vessels that were no longer seaworthy.

Most of them had holes in their hulls and it looked as though they had slammed into rocks. One was quite large, at one time it had been a cargo ship, a large wooden frigate. Too big. There were several smaller craft which Bucky felt were too small. PiÃa followed along beside him as he climbed over the wrecks and trotted through the sand. Some of the ships had been scavenged for wood or parts.

One vessel stood out. It looked to be a caravel, or something like that, Bucky had only a small knowledge of sea vessels. It had a gaping hole in the hull near the front of the ship. It was about thirty or forty feet in length and had a cabin in the rear. Part of the deck was also missing, revealing a decent sized space below the deck. Bucky knew that he could fix all of these things and wasnât concerned about the damage.

âœYou know PiÃa, not only would this once proud vessel serve my purposes as a warship, but I think it could be used to get us home as well,â Bucky announced. The cabin in the back might be slightly cramped quarters, but it wouldnât be any worse than the room that they all shared now. Provisions could be placed below the deck. The cabin could be secured against the wolves by keeping it well lit. Even if the wolves did manage to shadow wink onto the deck, they would be rendered helpless by the lights that Bucky planned to install. The foals could be safely secured in the cabin, away from danger.

âœHow are you going to get this home?â PiÃa gasped.

âœI told you, I plan to carry it,â Bucky said with a manic grin, pleased to have found something so perfect. âœAnd once we get it airborne, we have pegasi to pull it,â Bucky said.

âœNope,â PiÃa said. âœDerpy is a strong pony, but even she canât pull this. Too big,â the foal protested.

âœPiÃa darling, you are forgetting something,â Bucky said.

âœI am?â PiÃa asked.

âœPiÃa, how do you think pegasi pull chariots and sky wagons through the sky?â Bucky asked.

âœI dunno,â PiÃa replied.

âœUnicorn magic,â Bucky answered. âœThis craft probably weighs 40 tons or more. But using magic, I can make it weigh less than you do,â Bucky explained.

PiÃaâs eyes went wide as she looked at Bucky and then at the ship. She looked back at Bucky again. âœSo why donât we get that really big ship over there?â she asked.

âœThis one is stylish. It is smaller and will be easier to enchant. Easier to manage too. Besides, we donât want to look pretentious,â Bucky replied. âœThis one will serve our needs just fine.â

âœSo you will destroy the wolves and we will finally be able to go home?â PiÃa questioned.

âœYes, I think so PiÃa. And with the troubles in the mainland, we will not need to have Celestia figure out a way to fetch us. We can return to her. Maybe even take Keg Smasher with us so he can sign this treaty that seems so important,â Bucky answered.

âœWhen we get home, can we keep this boat?â PiÃa asked.

âœI suppose we could. Might come in handy. Would seem like such a shame to spend time restoring it and then just be rid of it when we no longer need it,â Bucky replied.

âœMy sister tells me stories of family members who were sky pirates,â PiÃa said. âœClan Pickled became the terror of the skies for a while.â

Bucky laughed. âœNothing about Clan Pickled surprises me anymore,â he said. There was a crackle and a hiss from the base of his horn and Bucky winced.

âœYou alright?â PiÃa inquired.

âœI am fine, just a bit of pain, thatâs all PiÃa. It comes and it goes. Honestly, even with this pain, I feel better than I have in a long time. And there is so much to do. I donât have time to stop just because of a little pain,â Bucky replied. âœWe should have lunch here. Together. On the beach. Are you enjoying our date?â he asked.

âœThis is a date?â PiÃa questioned.

âœFathers take their daughters on datesâ or so I have heard,â Bucky explained.

âœOhââ gasped PiÃa. âœI see. I have had a lovely day,â she stated. âœCan we have a tea party sometime?â the foal asked.

âœI donât see why not,â Bucky answered as he began to unpack his saddlebag.

âœReal tea. Not just water in a plastic cup. And tea cakes. In the Ponyville tea room,â PiÃa said.

Bucky focused his remaining eye on the foal. âœI see. That kind of tea party,â he said in return. âœPiÃa darling, that is for more of a genteel crowd. They might take issue with how I look.â

âœWhat is wrong with how you look?â PiÃa asked innocently.

Bucky squirmed, not sure how to answer.

âœAre you worried that some ponies might tease you because of how you look? I get teased for being so pink,â PiÃa said.

âœNo PiÃa, I am not worried about teasing. PiÃa, honey, I look kinda rough. The way I look might scare other ponies,â Bucky explained.

âœSo you canât take me to the tea room?â the filly said.

âœI could take youââ Bucky replied hesitantly. âœBut they might not let me in because I might make the other customers lose their appetites. I might cause other ponies looking at me some distress.â

âœWell if they are going to be snobby about how you look they can take their teapots and stuff them up their too tight plothole,â PiÃa huffed. âœAnd the crumpets too.â

Buckyâs jaw fell open and he stared at PiÃa. He sat in silence, totally agast, flummoxed by the foalâs words. He couldnât believe what he had just heard coming out of the foalâs mouth.

âœYou look the way you do because you tried to help other ponies. You got chewed on because you wanted to help. You canât help how you look,â PiÃa muttered angrily. She settled back on her haunches and folded her forelegs over her barrel, looking very cross. Her lower lip protruded in a pout.

For a moment PiÃa Colada looked exactly like her older sister and Bucky was reminded why he loved earth ponies as solid and steadfast companions. He had seen the same look on Bon Bon.

âœWe will have our tea party,â Bucky promised. âœEither we will go to the tea room together or we will have it at home. Do you want to invite anypony?â he asked.

âœDinky would love to attend. I wonder if we can get Sentinel to come. And Ripple. And maybe Diamond Tiara. I wonder how she is doing. She doesnât have any other friends. Or she didnât when we left. I feel bad for her,â PiÃa said. âœIt would be ponies that are like how Diamond Tiara used to be that wouldnât want you in the tea room, right?â she asked.

âœYes PiÃa. But even regular ponies, ponies who were not cruel but simply delicate in nature, they might be upset if they saw me,â Bucky replied as he set out a few oatcakes on the sides of his saddlebags. He had set his bags on the sand.

âœIt was very hard to look at you after you got mauled,â PiÃa said guiltily. âœBut I look past it now, there is only a pony that I love a whole bunch.â

âœThank you PiÃa,â Bucky replied.

âœNo, thank you for spending a bit of time with me,â PiÃa said in return. âœA filly needs to know that her father loves her,â she said as she tore into an oatcake. âœBerry said you need to set my standards really high about stallions. What did she mean by that? She wouldnât tell me,â the foal said with her mouth full.

Bucky snorted, laughed, and then tried to figure out the best way to answer PiÃaâs question.

Chapter 91

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A crowd of ponies had come out to stare. It wasnât every day that you saw a unicorn walking along with a forty foot long ship hovering over his head. Stallions, mares, and foals all gaped at what they saw. It was the late afternoon and the summer sun was warm. Most of the snow had melted, but remnants remained in the shadows.

Bucky set the ship down in the meadow just outside the castle gate. He levitated several boulders over, balanced the boat upon its keel, and placed the boulders under the sides to keep the boat upright and leveled off. It took several.

The magical exertion from earlier was good for his new horn and the connections it was making. The new connections were painful, some of the pops and crackles also brought with them wisps of smoke, but they were becoming fewer and fewer. Bucky reveled in his new sense of power.

âœI thought you were gettingâ I donât know, a rowboat or a little fishing boat or something,â Berry Punch exclaimed.

âœThis boat will see us home when I am finished,â Bucky replied to the mare now staring at him.

âœPiÃa did you have a nice time?â Berry asked her sister.

âœI had a lovely time,â PiÃa said contentedly as she slid off of Buckyâs withers and landed on all four of her hooves with a splat. The ground was still wet and muddy.

âœHow?â Derpy asked.

âœIt weighs less than I do,â PiÃa boasted.

âœWhat?â Derpy asked, now flabbergasted.

âœI placed a featherweight spell on it. I plan to make it permanent later. Chariots and sky wagons use those spells as well. Casting the featherweight spell on it was quite a challenge. Iâve never cast that spell on anything so large and so heavy,â Bucky admitted. âœStill, carrying it home was awkward. Not heavy at all, but balancing such a large object was tiresome.â

âœAnd your horn seems to be working okay?â Berry inquired.

âœFine. Better than fine. The magic flows now. Everything feels smooth. Normal. I canât wai-hmmmmph!â Bucky was cut off by two lips pressing into his own. His remaining eye went wide at first and then closed as he leaned into the kiss that Derpy was giving him. There was a wet popping sound as the mare pulled away.

âœI want to go home,â Derpy said breathlessly. âœWhen your work is done here of course,â she added.

âœI think she needs to build a nest or something. Sheâs been acting weird all day,â Berry quipped.

âœShut up Berry!â Derpy grunted.

âœShe is in the terrible throes of pegasus mommy hormones I think,â Berry continued with a merry twinkle in her eyes.

âœBerry, shut it!â Derpy snapped. âœI might be feeling the need to secure a place for my young. I canât help it,â the mare muttered.

âœI canât help teasing you just a little,â Berry said to her fellow-wife. âœPlease donât be angry.â

Derpy blushed and looked at Berry. âœDo you remember how I got when I was carrying Dinky?â the pegasus asked.

âœI doâ and I do not look forward to a return of those days,â Berry replied.

âœWhat have I done?â Bucky asked as he realised that he was surrounded by pregnant mares.

Derpy carefully walked along the wooden deck. The ship quivered beneath her. It needed a bit more reinforcement to make it steady, the boulders alone were not enough. Her wings were out and ready to lift her skyward at a momentâs notice if something went wrong.

Bucky could not help but notice how beautiful and graceful she was during moments like these. Yes, she could be clumsy at times, but there were also moments like these that made his heart leap into his throat with desire. He stood upon the deck above the cabin of the ship. A full inspection revealed that the craft was in surprisingly good shape, minus the damage to the front half of the ship. There was even a galley in the rear.

âœI want us to move into here once it is liveable,â Bucky stated. âœI want all of us to think of this as our home. And we will defend it as our home.â

âœThat makes sense,â Derpy agreed. âœBut before we do that, maybe we could have some private time here away from the foalsââ

âœThat would be nice,â Bucky said in agreement.

âœNot nice, necessary,â Derpy said. âœBucky, I need to know something.â

âœWhat?â Bucky asked in reply.

âœWill my foals be safe? Can you keep the cabin secure? The wolves get into ponies homes and kill them,â Derpy said, her voice full of worry.

âœI plan to secure the cabin. There will be wards. I also plan to have bright lights installed all over. The wolves might make it to the deck, but they will be powerless and quite weak if they do. Those on the deck might get hurt. I will admit that there is a chance of that happening,â Bucky replied. âœBut the cabin will be a fortress.â

Derpy closed her eyes and nodded. âœThen we do this together. As a family. I never thought Iâd be going into battle. Into war,â the pegasus said in a soft voice. âœThis is more than just a little scuffle, isnât it?â

âœYes my love,â Bucky answered. âœSomeponyâ something is controlling these wolves. That much is obvious. And when we strike, we might draw whoeverâ whatever is controlling them out of hiding.â

âœAnd then we might have a real fight to deal with,â Derpy said, as she opened one eye and looked up at Bucky. âœI understand. If we are dealing with another ponyââ she said, her voice trailing off.

âœWe will have to subdue them,â Bucky said.

âœNo,â Derpy said defiantly. âœLook, I know you swore that you would never bring harm to another pony as long as you lived, but I am under no such oath. If we are dealing with another pony, I am going to save you from breaking your oath and I am going to kill them,â the mare insisted.

Bucky heaved a sad sigh. âœI canât stop you I suppose, but I wish you would reconsider,â Bucky replied.

âœNo Bucky, you need to reconsider. Think of the misery they have caused. The death. What they did to you. And countless others. The dark magic at work here. No, there will be no keeping them alive,â Derpy said bluntly.

âœDerpy it really bothers me to hear you talking this way,â Bucky admitted.

âœToo bad!â the mare shouted in reply. âœIt really bothered me seeing you returned to me all burnt and bloody! It tore my heart open! I have nightmares Bucky, nightmares! I keep seeing you die in a thousand horrible ways! It tore apart my guts listening to my foals cry after they saw you!â

Bucky hung his head and something stabbed at his heart.

âœI am sorry I shouted. I shouldnât have shouted at you,â Derpy said, her voice now full of shame. âœWe should only shout at one another if the house is on fire,â she muttered.

âœNot everypony can share in my ideology, I understand that,â Bucky stated.

âœOh please, no big words. Not right now,â Derpy snapped. Her expression softened. âœI understand your commitment to life now. It is one of the things I love about you. But I need you to understand me right now. As a pegasus. And a mare. Foals Bucky. You know where it begins and ends with me.â

Bucky nodded. âœI do,â he admitted. âœI guess this is our first fight,â Bucky said in a low voice.

âœNot much of a fight really,â Derpy said, now looking down at her own hooves.

âœWe just see things in very different ways. As we always have. And always will,â Bucky stated.

âœIt really wasnât much of a fight. It was just a bit of shouting. I mean, there was no slapping or anything,â Derpy said. âœWe just disagreed.â Derpy felt the tingle of magic all around her and suddenly she was standing next to Bucky. She blinked. âœYou just pulled me closer,â she said.

âœI needed to look into your eyes,â Bucky said.

âœWhy?" Derpy asked shyly as she looked Bucky in the eye. Her ears splayed out sideways and a nervous half smile split her face.

âœTo be reminded of why I fell in love with you,â Bucky replied.

âœThis is a lot better than disagreeing,â Derpy said breathlessly. âœAnd this isnât our first fight. All those times I nipped you when we first came here, each one of those nips was me disagreeing with you. I guess unicorns and pegasi bicker differently.â

âœBut we can make up like poniesâ surely we can find something in common there,â Bucky said as he leaned in closer.

âœOh, when a pegasus apologises, we donât use words. A pony can say anything. We have to show that we mean that we are sorry, like this,â Derpy said as she lunged forwards. She had her forelegs around Buckyâs neck in an instant and kissed him savagely.

Rising Star wiped the sweat from his face with his foreleg. He ceased the flow of magic and dropped a large log on the ground. A few months ago, there was no way that he could have lifted something so large and so heavy in his magic. And in the back of his mind, he knew that even more power was coming. Real power. The thought was alluring to him.

There were still a few more hours of sunlight left and he was making the most of them, securing the wood that Bucky had said he needed.

âœThere is something about you when you are all hot and sweaty looking.â

Rising Star grinned as he turned to look at Sparkler.

âœReally. You look really hawt when you are all disheveled. When your mane is a mess. I like it,â Sparkler admitted.

âœThere is something about you when you are hot and sweaty too,â Rising Star said in reply.

Sparkler bit her lip and her eyes narrowed. âœWe just keep torturing ourselves,â she said in a low voice. âœWe have the means to prevent accidents and we are married but we havenât done anything to one another,â the purple pink filly muttered.

âœI think that we are just grown up enough to realise just how big of a step that is,â Rising Star said as he looked at Sparkler with appreciative eyes. âœAnd we are still trying to sort everything out.â

Sparkler gave a distracted nod.

âœAnd I know that if we did do something, I wouldnât have to worry about Bucky, Berry, or Derpy killing me. Buckyâs committed to life now and says he is never going to bring harm to another pony, Berry keeps giving me embarrassing suggestions on how to make mares moan, and your mother isnât threatening to drop me from the stratosphere anymore,â Rising Star said. The colt shook himself and swished his tail. He felt hot and sticky in more ways than one. âœI am going to the lake to take a dip,â he announced.

âœI am coming with you,â Sparkler said.

âœIt scares Loch something awful,â Rising Star said.

âœI know,â Sparkler said in a trembling voice.

âœI mean, she said she wants to watch us, and I think that will be good for her,â Rising Star said.

Sparkler nodded at her husband. âœRising, I feel funny telling you this, because she hasnât told you this, but she watched her father do things to her mothers. Unpleasant things. Even if they werenât in the mood. Sex was never a pleasant thing when she witnessed it. It was always brutal and degrading. And it has left her skittish. She wants to believe that it will be different between us, but it scares her,â Sparkler whispered.

Rising Star choked and coughed. His good mood died and his ears drooped to the sides of his face.

âœSo when we go at it during our first time and she is watching, I need for you to be extra gentle and loving with me. We need to show her that it isnât something to be afraid of. Sheâs coming around. Sheâs been watching how Bucky, Berry, and my mother all act towards one another. It has given her some hope. Rising, Loch is a pegasus, and she is a lot like my mother. Words arenât going to convince her of much. We can talk to her and reassure her all we want, but if we want to reach her, we need to show her. She needs to observe us. A pegasus watches, a unicorn explains, and an earth pony does, at least that is what Berry said to me a few nights ago,â Sparkler explained.

âœI understand,â Rising Star replied. âœWe need Berry to teach Loch about feminism.â

âœActually Risingâ that is a very good idea. Letâs go to the lake,â Sparkler said as she took off and led the way. She gave a come hither glance over her shoulder and flicked her tail at Rising Star.

Rising Star felt some of his good mood restored as he followed after Sparkler. While walking beside her was nice, walking behind her was even better. He grinned and took off in a slow trot, determined to allow Sparkler to lead.

âœDid you have a nice time?â Berry asked her sister, asking her again now that they were alone.

âœI had a lovely time,â PiÃa replied. âœThere was a picnic on the beach, father and I talkedââ the foalâs words trailed off as she spoke.

âœStill having some trouble with that?â Berry asked.

PiÃa nodded but said nothing.

âœLook PiÃa, you place too much value on placing labels on everything. Just call him your father and be happy,â Berry suggested.

PiÃa blinked. âœOkay Iâll try. But labels tell us what goes where. I have a label but I donât know what it means. I donât understand my placeâ and everything always seems so confusing,â she whined. She was tired and cranky and probably needed a nap, even though she would not admit it at the moment.

Berry took a deep breath and tried to focus her mind. Understanding her sister at times was difficult. It required patience and love. âœAre you complaining about your cutie mark again?â she asked.

PiÃa nodded.

The elder sibling looked down at her younger sibling and felt a twinge of irritation. She made no sign of showing it, knowing how much it would hurt PiÃa. âœPiÃa Colada, I swear, sometimes I think you are a unicorn trapped inside of an earth pony. No wonder you and Bucky get along so well. Youâre both neurotic,â Berry said. She took another deep breath, held it, and then let it out slowly. âœPiÃa, you are my foal. You have always been my foal. While I loved our mother a great deal and I hate saying anything bad about her, I was the one that raised you. I was still mostly a foal myself but I was the one that cared for you while our mother went about her life. After having so many foals I think mom just got tired once you came along. I was the one that fed you. I wiped your backside. I bathed you. You followed me around. When you were about six months old you called me âœmommaâ and it made our mother go berserk. After that, well, the rift between you and our mom went wide. I was the one that taught you how to talk. I was the one that showed you how to live. And then when mother died, I was the one that didnât kill you because you didnât stop crying until you passed out from exhaustion and then when you woke up, you started crying again, and this lasted for a whole month. Nopony else could take care of you. I was the one that held you and tried to comfort you as you cried and cried and cried. You made everypony else barmy with your wailing. But I loved you so much. The crying didnât matter to me. All I could think about was how much you were hurting,â Berry said.

PiÃa looked up at her sister and sniffled. Tears stung at her eyes.

âœOnly your mother could love you that much!â Berry exclaimed in exasperation.

PiÃa threw her forelegs around her sisterâs neck and pulled herself upwards. She clung to Berry, saying nothing. Berry wrapped a foreleg around her sister and crushed her close.

âœYou were such a booger,â Berry said, her emotions now flooding her voice. âœAnd you still are.â

Chapter 92

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The summer day was warm and bright. There was a sense of hope in the air, which along with the warmth, had done much to thaw the ponies of the isles hearts. Life went on in much the same way that it usually did, but a few ponies had gathered to sit and watch the renovations being done upon the ship now sitting drydocked at the castle.

Bucky had secured the ship with more boulders jammed underneath it and it was now quite steady. He and his herd were hard at work with the restoration of the ship. The holes were being repaired. The cabin was being turned into a home. He had made new glass windowpanes for the windows and they were being installed. Wooden steps were being built to allow access below decks.

The past few days had been quite busy.

The stallion looked all around him. Derpy was busy hauling various items up from the ground and placing them in the cabin. Rising Star and Sparkler were placing the new windows into frames. And Berry was banging away with a hammer working on the new stairs.

Berry in particular was intriguing and very distracting. She was standing on the decks at the moment, leaning down into the stairwell, her backside high up in the air. Bucky looked around, first one side, and then the other, trying to check his blind spot. Nopony was looking.

His horn flashed a blue green light and there was a smirk of mischief upon his face. His hooves became completely silent upon the wooden deck. He crept up on the raised and exposed backside. He moved slowly and cautiously. He paused and glanced around once again. Still nopony looking.

For everything that he had endured, for everything that he had become, Bucky was still an equine, something he finally embraced after so many years of repression. And right now he was doing something that was quite an equine thing to do. He jammed his snoot into a very delicate section of Berry Punchâs exposed backside and snorted, causing the mare to start and squeal in alarm.

Berry lept several feet straight into the air. She landed and whirled around, trying to discover her brazen assailant. She saw Bucky and a truly wicked grin spread over her face.

Bucky was already beating a hasty retreat. Berry moved to pursue.

Bucky realised that he was out of places to run already and winked down to the ground. His teleportation was different now. As he winked, he left behind a thick layer of frost in the place he departed and exploded into a cloud of snowflakes upon his reappearance. Using magic was cheating, but he had to escape.

Above him, he saw Berry leap over the edge. His heart lept into his throat. It had to be a good twenty foot drop from the deck to the ground. He thought he was going to have to catch Berry to keep her from getting hurt. But then he realised that she wouldnât have made the jump if she wasnât capable of the landing. He watched her soar through the air. She was beautiful. Not only was she intelligent, but her physical abilities were impressive.

She landed with a thud, and, conserving her momentum, bounced forward and continued for Bucky. The landing didnât even slow her down for a moment.

Bucky turned to run. Even though his encounter with the ley line had done much to heal his body, his hind legs were still stiff and the damaged muscles didnât want to work right. He winced, then grimaced, the pain shooting up both of his hind legs as he tried to run, and managed to get himself into a sort of limping gait that almost resembled a run.

The incensed mare was gaining and it was then that Bucky realised that she wasnât running at full speed. She was letting him go. He knew that she was much faster. He cursed his now crippled legs but was determined to have a good time and make the most of the chase.

âœDo you even know what part of me you snorted against?â Berry demanded as she ran Bucky down.

âœYes,â Bucky replied as he ran. âœAnd it was intentional! I regret nothing!â He licked his lips to further taunt Berry.

âœWhat is going on out here?â Derpy cried as she saw Berry running off in hot persuit of Bucky. She launched herself from the deck and took wing. She took off after the pair.

Sparkler and Rising Star appeared on the edge of the deck peering down over the ruined railing. The pair watched as their parent trio abandoned all pretense of work. Sparkler raised her eyebrow and looked at Rising Star.

âœI donât know what gets into them sometimes,â she muttered.

Bucky ran in a shambling gait. He ignored the pain and tightness in his hind legs. He could feel his heart thudding and he took deep gulping breaths. Berry was pacing him. She could overtake him at any moment that she chose. And he knew that Derpy was in the air. He was being hunted once again.

Thistle watched from where she sat, wishing that she could join in the chase as well, but there was no way that she could run in the condition she was in. She saw a shadow looming over her on the ground and as she tried to turn around to see what it was, she found herself airborne. She panicked and kicked a bit.

âœThistle, stop, I love you far too much to drop you,â Derpy whispered into Thistleâs ear.

Thistle ceased her struggle and she felt Derpyâs forelegs wrap even tighter around her. One was under her barrel, just behind her forelegs. The other was tucked under the curve of her belly, and she could feel something soft and warm brush up against her teats. She shivered. A little farther back and that soft and warm something would be brushing up against something else entirely. Thistle was terrified of being lifted up off the ground. She watched the earth drop away from her as they gained altitude and speed.

And then she realised, she was now a part of the chase. She let out a fillyish squeal of glee as she realised that Derpy was hauling her through the air and chasing after Bucky with her.

Bucky realised that there were a fair number of ponies watching him being chased. Fellow herdmates and islanders. He smiled and continued his run.

âœHeâs getting away,â Thistle shouted.

âœOh no he isnât,â Derpy replied as she flapped her wings. Thistle, for all of her pregnant bulk, was still small and slight. Derpyâs mailbag weighed more than Thistle did. âœJust like you arenât getting away,â Derpy said in a low voice in Thistleâs ear.

Thistle felt a searing flash of arousal spike through her body at the mareâs words. Derpy was embracing her right now in much the same way that a stallion might, touching many of the same places. Thistle could feel the muscular pegasus mare pressed tightly against her back.

Thistle did not know that she associated intimacy with safety now. After her traumatic first experience with a stallion and the first few bumbling experiences of actual intimacy with Derpy, Berry, and Bucky, she experienced a bit of conditioning that shaped her budding sexuality. The fear melted away from her. She was afraid of heights, as most ground bound ponies were, but she felt completely safe in Derpyâs embrace. Her body associated the feeling of safety as pure arousal. She felt her teats go tight and hard from a combination of her own emotional reaction and the frantic movements of Derpyâs grip as the mare tore through the air. Her nethers felt like a fiery furnace. A rising tension began to build through her stomach muscles as her teats continued to be stimulated from all of the movement.

There were few places safer than the embrace of a pegasus.

âœYou might as well stop running and take what is coming to you,â Berry shouted.

âœWhat are you planning?â Bucky asked in reply, his words panted out breathlessly.

âœStop and find out!â Berry hollered. She looked up and saw Derpy and Thistle. She almost did a double take. Thistleâs face lookedâ almost orgasmic. Berry nearly stumbled as she took in what she saw. She wondered where Derpyâs other hoof was and if Derpy realised that her flapping was probably shaking Thistle back and forth in her grip.

Berryâs smile broadened. Somepony was certainly enjoying the chase. She couldnât wait to see Thistle in the throes of orgasm. For a moment, her mind wandered to the arrangement that Derpy had made with Thistle and she wondered if Thistle would actually be a part of this herd. Berry hoped so. She wanted quite badly to sample Thistleâs youthful enthusiasm and endurance.

The hot and tawdry thoughts spurred her onwards. Now she had even more reason to catch Bucky. Even if this chase led nowhere and they all went back to work, all Berry needed was a quick intimate moment with her mate. A chance to bond. Her mind flooded with thoughts of motherhood. Her earth pony nature was taking over. Her body was doing something physical, and now her mind was free to function, free to think big thoughts.

There were mixed reactions from the ponies watching these events. A few laughed, but for many, there was only a sense of confusion. As was local tradition and custom, usually stallions chased mares, or mares chased mares to run them down for a stallion. And chasing was done for very specific reasons with very a specific end in mind. More than a few watchers couldnât understand what they were seeing, chasing recreationally, as though the adults running after one another were foals once again and learning about what would come later in life by imitating adult behaviours.

It was yet another moment of culture clash.

And as was so often the case of new culture being introduced, the new behaviour led to social contagion, spreading infectiously through the locals. A young cream coloured pegasus filly gave a young brown earth pony colt she had her eye on a predatory glare. Fearing for his life as most creatures tend to do when a pegasus gives them the look the colt took off at a run. The filly was on his heels in a moment. She clumsily took wing and doggedly pursued her prey.

What no pony understood as they watched the world shift and change around them was that they were witnessing a fundamental change in their way of life. The pegasus filly and the earth pony colt had just exchanged social roles, and the process of acculturation was taking hold as they absorbed some of the outside culture brought to the isles by Buckyâs herd.

The worst thing that any creature could do was run from a pegasus. It triggered the instinctual need that all pegasi had to dominate and subjugate, being the warlike and hostile creatures that they were. The earth pony colt did exactly as his biology told him to do when faced with an airborne predator. Run.

And now, a new social dynamic took fragile root as the two creatures followed through with their biological programming. The earth pony ran and the pegasus pursued.

And all of this took place by accident, a chance incident as was so often the cause when social paradigm shifts began their radical changes.

These same instincts were what drove Derpy Doo Hooves to be what she was. She held Thistle close to her and continued after Berry Punch and Bucky. Derpy did nothing to hold back her instinctual needs. She was fiercely protective but gentle, aggressive but loving, and even now as she flew, was fulfilling the role that nature had always intended for her. Her herd moved before her and she was their airborne guardian. She was short a few members, and on some deep level, it bothered her, but she was caught up in the chase.

Finally, Bucky could run no more. His hind legs burned as though they were on fire. He stumbled and took a tumble into the grass. He lay there gasping and he could feel his hind legs seizing.

Berry stopped and was at his side in an instant. âœBucky?â she said gently.

âœIâm fine,â Bucky reassured.

Derpy gently set Thistle down and then landed near her husband. She felt a pang of regret. The wolves had taken something from her. She watched as Bucky writhed in the grass, his hind legs twitching and kicking uncontrollably. Hot fierce anger began to boil through her veins.

âœI saw you limping, I shouldnât have chased you, I feel awful,â Berry said in a low voice.

âœBut I wanted to be chased,â Bucky replied. âœIt was fun,â he mentioned.

âœBut now you are hurting,â Berry protested.

âœSo what,â Bucky said dismissively.

Thistle eased herself down into the grass at Buckyâs side. She didnât say anything, but nuzzled the side of Buckyâs neck with her cheek. She pressed her side against Buckyâs spine as he lay on his side.

âœIf he runs, we chase him. That is how it is. Weâll deal with what comes after,â Derpy stated.

Berry turned to look at her fellow-wife. âœI suppose you are right. Life goes on and all of that,â Berry sighed.

âœCome Berry. Letâs leave those two to have a moment together,â the pegasus instructed.

Berry looked at Derpy and then over at Bucky and Thistle. The filly was trying to comfort Bucky, who was trying to act as though nothing was seriously wrong. She turned her gaze back to the grey mare.

âœWhat?â Derpy asked, seeing the thoughtful expression on Berryâs face.

âœI donât know, I guess I am having a wife moment. I feel a lot of conflicting emotions. Not about Thistleâ I just feel angry. Cheated. Those damn wolves took something from me. Seeing Bucky limp as he tried to run. And seeing him now,â Berry said. She fell silent and her ears swiveled forward aggressively.

Derpy nodded. âœOur time is coming. We must continue to trust in whatever Bucky is planning. And when the time is right, we will have our own revenge,â the mare said in a low voice so she wouldnât disturb Thistle and Bucky.

âœI am going to carve a name into that ship,â Berry stated in a low grumble.

Derpy raised an eyebrow quizzically at Berry.

âœThe Scorned Mare,â Berry growled.

âœThe Scorned Mare?â Derpy asked, trying to understand Berryâs reasoning.

âœTartarus has no fury like that of a mare scorned,â Berry replied.

Derpy nodded in agreement and approval. She was the alpha of a whole group of scorned mares. A pegasus had a few strong deeply ingrained needs. A need for a flock, a need for family, and a need for battle. Derpyâs emotions were running at an all time high. For the first time in her life, she finally felt as though she had achieved some great pegasus ideal that had always been out of reach before. She had always been excluded because of her eyes. Now, not only did she have a flock of her own, she was the protective alpha, a matriarch among mares. She was pregnant and it flooded her body with hormones of all kinds. And she was preparing for war. She was a pegasus now truly within her element.

âœBerry, I do believe it is high time that you and I got in touch with our inner bitch,â Derpy stated.

Chapter 93

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Rising Star took himself a bit of break. He had been working all morning, stopping only when Bucky had goosed Berry Punch and then had led her on a merry chase. He stared down over the rail and looked at Loch Skimmer.

She was preening her wings as she lay in the grass, something he enjoyed watching. It was something she did more frequently now, she had become far more mindful of her appearance. Rising Star couldnât help but feel a bit closer to Bucky. There was something certainly intriguing about a preening pegasus.

âœEnjoying the show?â

Rising Star nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard Berry Punchâs voice.

âœSheâs a pretty little filly, isnât she?â Berry asked.

Rising Star nodded and gave a sheepish grin.

âœPegasi are different than you and I,â Berry stated. âœThey have wings, but it is more than that. Scent glands Rising Star. They have special scent glands under their wings. So when they go off and do one of their plumage displays, they know how to get the attention of everypony around them. Derpy did it to me by accident. She has Bucky completely under her control because of it. And Loch Skimmer spends so much time rubbing her wings all over you and Sparkler.â

âœIt might explain a few things,â Rising Star replied.

Berry chuckled. The earth pony mare was in an odd mood. She couldnât quite make out what it was that she was feeling, other than the odd need to bond with all of her herdmates. She supposed it was the need to strengthen family ties. It was a powerful compulsion and Berry was more than content to simply go along with her instincts.

âœAbout what you and I talked about a while back,â Rising Star said as he continued to watch Loch Skimmer preen her feathers.

âœWhat about it?â Berry asked.

âœI am still scared,â Rising Star admitted. âœI really want to keep them happy. Every day I am afraid that jealousy will creep into what we have. I donât want to fail. I donât know what I am doing. I am still young. And stupid. What if I make a mistake and ruin everything?â

Berry pursed her lips in a straight line and looked Berry serious. âœDo you think Derpy is jealous that Bucky goosed me today instead of her?â the mare asked.

âœI donât know,â Rising Star replied.

âœStuff just happens in the heat of the moment. Bucky saw an opportunity and Founders bless him, he took it. Then, a bunch of stuff happened and now he is spending a bit of quiet time with Thistle, who isnât even a member of our herd yet. Do you think I feel jealous?â Berry inquired.

Rising Star squirmed and his ears drooped down near his face. âœDo you?â he asked.

âœNo,â Berry replied honestly. âœAs pent up and frustrated as I might be, I understand I am not the only one in this relationship. We chose this. And now, it is looking like Derpy might relent and allow Thistle in, and soon there will be one more pony vying for Buckyâs attentions and affections. And I am okay with that. Because it isnât just Bucky I should paying attention to. If I canât get his attention, I can always go to Derpy, and soon, I think I will be able to go to Thistle. Or I can spend time with Bon Bon and Lyra. I have options. The point is, I have ponies I can go to. If I feel jealous it is because I am excluding the others and not reaching out to them. It is my own failing. It isnât about just Bucky and I,â Berry explained.

Rising Star struggled to understand the mareâs words.

âœIf Sparkler and Loch Skimmer are spending some time together, it isnât a time that you should feel excluded or left out. It is an opportunity for you to spend some time with Ripple and get to know her. And you need to spend some time with Ripple. I donât know if you realise it, but that poor frustrated filly has been trying to get your attention. I know it is bound to be complicated with her, with her being young and you being a colt and sheâs a filly, and there is all of the usual mess that goes along with that, but she wants your attention. She wants to know that she pleases you. She wants your approval. Look at her. Even now, she is aware that you are watching her sister and she is trying to preen her own feathers to get your attention,â Berry said to Rising Star and informing him of what he was missing.

âœEverything is so complicated with Ripple,â Rising Star admitted. âœI donât know how to deal with her. Loch wants her treated as a foal, but Ripple doesnât want to act like a foal.â

âœRising Star, that poor confused filly is still trying to sort out her sexuality. You could do her a world of good if you just let her know that you love her and that you think she is pretty. Even if you two never do anything, it doesnât stop you from being good to her and letting her know that you find her attractive. Look at Bucky and how he is with Bon Bon and Lyra,â Berry said as she watched Ripple preening.

âœThat whole situation confuses me,â Rising Star stated.

âœBucky understands that he will never be rutting Bon Bon or Lyra, but that doesnât stop him from being intimate with them. Iâve been watching him with them. And talking to Bon Bon. Lyra is rapidly becoming Buckyâs indispensable lab assistant. Sheâs been helping him with those spell jars and whatever else heâs been working on down there in the dark. Each of us has a purpose, a need that Bucky requires from us. And your mares will all have different needs that they will require from you Rising Star,â Berry said to the colt as he now watched Ripple.

âœThere is more to life than sex, I get that,â Rising Star said as his cheeks turned red. âœThere are other rewards to be had for spending time with my wives.â He cleared his throat. âœIt is probably going to make Loch a bit nervous, but she is just going to have to trust me. I am going to invite Ripple on a walk. Just us. So we can talk,â Rising Star stated. âœActually, to put Lochâs mind at ease, do you think you could come with us?â

âœIâd be happy to,â Berry replied. âœIâd love to spend more time with my foals.â

Derpy arched her back and stretched. She flexed her wings and kicked out her legs. It has been a long and productive morning, even with the little interruption. She glanced around. Berry was gone and so was Rising Star. Sparkler was still busy. Dinky and PiÃa were with Loch Skimmer who couldnât do much because of her leg. Bucky was still off with Thistle.

She took to the air and gained altitude rapidly, closed one eye, and peered around her. All seemed well and she felt content. She soared, tucked in her wings, swooped, rolled, and at the last moment unfurled and caught an updraft.

She circled overhead and looked down. She could see Bucky and Thistle if she squinted. She spotted Berry Punch. She was with Ripple and Rising Star, and seemed to be off walking together. She could see a squad of pegasi training off in the distance.

With a flick of her tail, she took off, becoming a grey blur.

She landed on the wall and carefully folded her wings. She sat down upon the grey stone and peered down at the pegasi performing their combat drills. Several of them stopped and looked up at her. After a general cry of alarm, all of them stopped and saluted, which made Derpy feel a little bit weird, but also made her feel good. She understood why they were saluting. She was Buckyâs matriarch. Everywhere she went she was acknowledged, saluted, and appreciated. Nopony dared say anything about her eyes. She was given something she had always wanted from her fellow ponies.

Respect.

Here, Derpyâs nurturing sense of motherhood was respected, even revered. There were countless hopeful offers and proposals of marriage. Fathers came to her and asked her to consider allowing their fillies into her herd. She was always given flowers by hopeful young fillies and mares. Concerned mothers even tried to arrange a deal, hoping that Derpy would allow one of their fillies into her herd so they could leave the isles.

All in all, it was overwhelming for Derpy.

To go from the bottom of the social ladder and rise so quickly to the top. In Ponyville, she was a mare with bad eyes that her fellow pegasi pitied but tolerated. Derpy understood that she was loved, but there had been no proposals of marriage. Her inclusion was due to the fact that the flock looked after its own.

But to suddenly be so wanted. So desirable. It was almost intoxicating for the grey pegasus mare. It was also embarrassing. But Derpy enjoyed it. And she felt sad knowing that when she left the isles, she would be returning to how life was.

She smiled broadly down at the pegasi below her, beaming at them. Many smiled back. All of them looked young. She peered at them carefully with one eye. Many of them looked a bit rough already. She saw scars. Missing eyes. Missing ears. These were not like the pegasi back home. Even at their young age, most of them looked like hardened killers.

She watched as they formed pairs and began sparring with one another. There were no punches pulled and no holding back during kicks. She saw one bloody nose and the combat had only just begun.

âœGreetings madam.â

Derpy turned to look at pegasus approaching her. He was grizzled, missing an eye, missing a wing, and missing a leg. He walked slowly and purposefully on his three remaining legs. It took him a few moments, but he finally drew near.

âœDo you mind if I join you?â he asked.

âœBe my guest,â Derpy said politely, nodding her head at the wreck of a pegasus who sat down beside her.

âœI am Lord Wrecker,â he said, introducing himself. âœAnd you are Lady Derpy, Lord Buckminsterâs matriarch.â

âœIs this going to be about another marriage proposal?â Derpy asked, getting right to the point. She smiled sweetly, trying not to be rude, as Lord Wrecker did seem to be awfully nice. And she felt bad for him.

Wrecker chuckled. âœNothing of the sort madam,â he replied charmingly. âœThough I would be open to such acts of diplomacy. I have a filly Sentinelâs age.â

Derpy raised an eyebrow. That was a new approach. Not marriage into her herd directly, but an offer of arranged marriage for one of her foals. She scowled and Lord Wrecker cringed at her expression. She listened as he cleared his throat and her scowl relaxed into something a bit friendlier.

âœMy good lady, I understand that Lord Buckminster is planning to exterminate the wolves. I have seen the ship outside the castle. I understand what he plans to do with it.â The old stallion gestured down into the courtyard at the training pegasi. âœYou will need a crew. I wanted to make sure that you knew that there was aid to be had should you need it,â he offered.

âœThank you,â Derpy said graciously. âœI shall tell my husband.â

âœYour husband is a damn good pony if you donât mind me being blunt,â Wrecker stated.

Derpy blushed and felt awkward. She had some trouble trying to reply, but never got the chance.

âœPonies are starting to hope again. To see him recover after what happened. And weâve seen him and his new horn. Thereâs been talk. We know he was the source of the blizzard a few days back. And now, there is a ship being restored just outside the castle. Ponies are starting to believe that Lord Buckminster is actually here to save them. And belief is an important thing my good ladyâ it has given them hope once again. They are starting to believe that anything is possible,â Wrecker explained.

Derpy focused her one good eye on Wrecker and studied him.

âœThere have been other unicorns that have come to these isles. Some good, some bad. Iâve seen both. There is strange magic here. Some come here to make a name for themselves. They hear stories and come here for adventure. To test their mettle. And the isles chew them up and spit them out. Most die. A few live and go limping away with their tail between their legs. A couple have simply vanished. Probably eaten by the wolves. There is strange magic here. Strange creatures. Pookas. Kelpies. Banshees,â Wrecker said. âœBut Buckminster came here, got chewed up, and now he is stronger for it. Now there is a unicorn that knows which way his horn points,â Wrecker stated.

Derpy was surprised to learn that other unicorns came here for the sake of adventure. A meaningful thought slowly filtered through her mind. âœDo unicorns from House Avarice come here?â she asked.

âœAll the time. During the sweeps. They led the government agents. Found hiding places. Used their magic to locate and find foals. But if you are asking if any of them stayed after the sweeps were finished, then yes. Some stayed behind, drawn by the lure of the strange and powerful magic here. The locals hated them of course, there is nothing like your most hated enemy living among you. Something bad always seemed to happen to them, and I donât mean that in the sense that the locals killed them,â Wrecker replied.

âœWhat happened?â Derpy asked. âœIf you donât mind telling me,â she added.

âœWell, the last incident was just a few years ago. Not too long ago. Almost a decade maybe. Some fellow came out here. Said he was looking for something, but he wouldnât say what. He started off okay. He was sane when he came here. But he went downhill rapidly. Stayed here as Keg Smasherâs guest. He actually tried to help us. He had some small success against the wolves. But he deteriorated. Starting raving. Talked of bad dreams. Of a shadow with burning eyes that followed him. His magic started getting weird and he complained that his horn wasnât working right. Keg Smasher arranged for a transport so the unicorn could go home. He never made it home. He vanished from his room in the castle. We found him about a week later up in the Hydra Teeth. He was completely drained of colour. Dried blood was all around his ears. A banshee got him. There were no worms, no maggots, and nothing at all disturbed the body or ate it after it had laid there so long. Still no clue how he vanished from out of the castle. His horn was also broken,â Wrecker said, explaining everything in detail.

Derpy felt cold chills creep through her flesh. She knew that the battered pegasus wasnât lying to her and this wasnât some sort of ghost story.

âœAnd before him there was another unicorn. A few years back before this happened. Also had a broken horn. He died in the castle dining hall as we all watched helplessly. Funny how that seems to keep happening. My father told me lots of stories about how it seems to keep happening. Funny thing about us pegasi and how we notice details,â Wrecker commented.

Derpy nodded and felt a lump in her throat.

âœAnd then there is Buckminster. And his new horn. We pegasi have noticed that little detail as well. And now we gather as we realise that something has changed. Something is about to happen. Please donât look so distressed my good lady, I didnât mean to upset you,â Wrecker said, ending his words with an apology.

âœIâ I am okay,â Derpy stammered.

âœWell, we need you to be okay,â Wrecker said supportively. âœYou are Lord Buckminsterâs matriarch. If there is anything you need, anything at all, ask for me by name. Troops. Supplies. Advice. We live to serve. We are yours to command my good lady,â Wrecker offered.

âœThank you,â Derpy said weakly, feeling stunned from everything she had just heard.

âœNo, thank you. Youâve given us our hope back,â Wrecker replied.

Chapter 94

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When Derpy returned to the group there seemed to be a bit of a commotion. She circled overhead and saw that Bucky and Thistle had returned and were sitting with Loch Skimmer and the foals. She heard laughter. She dropped to her hooves and stumbled a bit on the landing, her lack of depth perception working against her.

âœThistle got her cutie mark!â PiÃa exclaimed as Derpy drew near.

âœShe did?â asked Derpy as she looked at Thistle.

âœOh this is so embarrassing,â Thistle muttered.

âœWhy is this embarrassing?â Derpy inquired.

âœThistleâs cutie mark isâ I canât even say,â Loch Skimmer said and then collapsed into a fit of giggles.

Derpy drew up alongside Thistle and looked at the fillyâs rear. She closed one eye and looked. There was a small red heart with a puckered pink lip print. The grey pegasus mare inhaled sharply and turned her stare towards Bucky.

âœI didnât even know that us kelpies could get cutie marks. My mother never had one. Never talked about one,â Thistle said as she craned her head around to look at her own backside.

âœHow did this happen?â Derpy questioned.

âœExactly like you would think it happened,â Bucky confessed.

âœWell, Bucky and I, we were talking, and I was telling him how I feel about things, and he told me how he felt about thingsâ and then I sort of told him how scared I was. After that, I sort of kissed him and-â

âœBut you have kissed him before. Youâve kissed Berry and I before,â Derpy interrupted, still looking at Thistle in shock.

âœYeah but this time when I kissed him I wasnât afraid. I was a bit nervous, but I wasnât afraid. I felt safe and I let go, I mean I really let go and then my emotions overcame me and I started crying a bit as I was kissing him and then I felt a weird tingle,â Thistle explained excitedly.

âœThistle got a cutie mark in making out,â Sparkler said. âœOr maybe even-â

âœSPARKY!â Derpy cried out, cutting Sparkler off.

Sparkler giggled and stared at her mother. She bounced in place for a moment and then took off to bounce around in a circle around the group, her happiness overwhelming her. She finally felt good about life again and it showed as she gamboled about.

Derpy smiled and looked Thistle in the eye. âœYouâve finally grown up a bit. Youâve matured even in the short time that weâve known you Thistle. And this is the sort of proof Iâve been waiting for,â Derpy said in a loud clear voice so that all those around her could hear her. She looked around. Rising Star, Berry, and Ripple were missing. They would have to be told later. âœWould you like to join our herd?â

Thistle gasped. She already knew that she was in, but she wasnât expecting the public announcement just yet. She felt her heart flutter in her barrel. She tried to talk but no words came out, only a nervous squeal. After a moment, she nodded.

âœAnd you,â Derpy said to Bucky. âœYou did good Bucky. You took a scared filly and made her feel safe and secure. That makes me proud,â the grey mare said as she peered at her husband.

Bucky struggled to come up with a reply. He wasnât used to being told that somepony was proud of him. He stammered a few times and then fell silent.

âœBecause she was able to feel safe and secure with you, she was able to discover her purpose,â Sparkler said in a singsong voice as she continued to bounce around. âœAnd Iâm thinking that her cutie mark will help her make lots of foals!â

Derpy rolled her eyes and sighed. âœSparkler, what has gotten into you?â she asked.

âœI donât know, Iâm just happy,â Sparkler replied. âœThis has been one of those really good days. And it feels even better after all of the really awful days weâve gone through.â

âœI wonder if I will get a mark,â Loch said as she looked up Thistle.

âœI am sure you will,â Derpy said reassuringly.

âœI didnât even know you could get cutie marks for kissing,â PiÃa quipped.

âœI am not sure that her mark is just about kissing,â Bucky interjected in a soft voice. He looked embarrassed.

Thistle kicked the ground with one forehoof and her tail swished. âœWhat do you think it means?â she asked coquettishly.

âœWhat you are doing right now,â Bucky said slowly. âœSex appeal,â he whispered in a low voice.

âœUuuuuugh!â Dinky said as she shook her head. âœYou donât get cutie marks for that,â she groaned.

âœWho said?â PiÃa argued.

Dinky said nothing but glared at PiÃa. Finding nothing good to reply with, Dinky resorted to tackling PiÃa instead and the two rolled around in the grass trying to pin one another into submission.

âœWell it is certainly an interesting cutie mark,â Derpy admitted. âœWhatever it means. Berry is going to have something to say about this,â the mare huffed.

âœOh gosh Berry Punch is going to tease you something awful,â Sparkler said. âœAnd test it out,â she added.

âœOh, testing it out seems like a good idea,â Derpy agreed.

âœMom!â Sparkler exclaimed.

âœWhat?â Derpy replied.

âœOhâ never mind. Just be happy,â Sparkler said as she looked at Thistle.

âœI plan on it,â Derpy answered.

âœWait,â Thistle said, looking at the ponies all around her. âœI know I have Derpyâs acceptance into the herd, but I want to hear Bucky say it,â Thistle said in a small nervous voice.

Derpy brushed her snoot against Buckyâs neck and then leaned up against him. âœDo you have anything to say Bucky?â she asked.

âœI know I am young and that has made some things awkward and that I have perhaps done some things that have made me a bit less than mature and I would like to hear what he has to say about me joining the herd. If he will have me,â Thistle said.

Derpy beamed. The filly really was growing up. She reached out a wing, placed it over Thistleâs withers, and pulled her close. She planted a kiss on the fillyâs cheek and smiled at her.

âœOf course I want you with us Thistle. Iâve grown very fond of you. Youâve been with me every day through some bad times. Come be with us Thistle and once this messy business has been dealt with, we will all return home together,â Bucky said in a warm gentle voice.

âœBucky, you and I need to talk later,â Derpy said in a low voice to Bucky as she stood near him. âœAnd you too Thistle. Just the three of us,â she added. âœNothing to worry about,â the mare said soothingly when she saw Thistle look a bit concerned.

Bucky looked at Thistle and saw she was crying. He said nothing but nudged Derpy, who was pressed between them. He saw Derpy as she turned and squinted. It didnât take the mare long to cotton on to what was wrong.

âœI hope those are happy tears,â Derpy said.

âœOh, they are,â Thistle replied. âœIâm sorry. I donât know what came over me, I just seem to cry so easily lately,â she said, trying to explain her behaviour.

Sparkler came to Thistleâs side and pressed against her, squashing her against Derpy. The two fillies stood together in a moment bonding. âœYou might be getting married to them, but theyâre old. If things ever get to be too much to bear, you can come and have fun with us,â Sparkler offered.

Thistle sniffled and smiled. âœThank you,â she said to Sparkler.

Derpy shot her daughter a wry look but said nothing.

âœIâm not old,â Bucky protested.

Sparkler turned to Bucky and raised her eyebrow.

âœI am only about a decade older than you young lady,â Bucky grumped.

âœSee Thistle, like I said, old,â Sparkler said teasingly.

âœWhy you littleââ Derpy growled.

Sparkler realised she had gone too far and took off, and her mother bolted after her in hot pursuit. Sparkler blew a raspberry at her mother as she ran and Derpy flapped her wings as she ran along after the purple pink filly that had crossed the line.

Bucky watched them go. âœI am not old,â he repeated.

âœNo, you are not,â Thistle said as she leaned on Bucky.

âœI donât know what it is, but I do feel different. Something about this day,â Loch said as she watched her fellow-wife being chased by her mother.

âœI think Lyraâs spell keeping the fear away and all of us getting a restful sleep has had a profound impact on all of us,â Bucky said. âœThose two are finally acting how they usually act. Sparkler has been so withdrawn and serious lately,â Bucky explained.

âœI really am happy for both of you,â Loch said. âœWell, all of you. You know what I mean,â the filly corrected. âœAnd Sparkler was right Thistle. We might be your foals now which feels really weird to say, but you have a place with us if you need to cut loose and have fun.â

Bucky watched as Derpy tackled Sparkler and he saw a wing come slashing in. A second later he could hear Sparkler squealing and shrieking. âœSparkler is very, very ticklish,â he explained to Loch. âœSomething to remember Loch. Feathers.â He smiled at the pegasus sprawled in the grass. He stepped away from Thistle and kneeled down into the grass with Loch Skimmer. He sprawled out on his belly and made himself comfortable.

He hooked a fetlock under her chin and pulled her face around, getting a good look at where she was kicked. He smiled. âœIt looks like it is healing well,â he said gently. âœHow is your leg Loch?â

âœStill pains me but I donât complain. Not after what Iâve watched you go through,â Loch admitted. The filly turned her head as Thistle laid down beside her.

âœA few more weeks and that cast will come off,â Bucky said as he settled even more into the grass and moved closer to Loch Skimmer. âœAre you happy with us Loch?â he asked.

âœYes sir,â Loch Skimmer replied nervously.

âœWhy are you nervous?â Bucky asked.

âœI donât know,â Loch replied. âœI just am. You and your family are all so affectionate. It can be difficult at times,â she admitted. âœMy family didnât have much of that.â

âœI used to have a lot of problems with affection,â Bucky said in a gentle voice. âœDerpy and Berry had to teach me how to be affectionate. How to let go. How to allow myself to be touched and experience life.â

âœI know,â Loch said. âœBerry told me. We had a long talk. She told me that you were abused too, just in a different way than I was. My father was cruel. I saw him the other day. He just glared at me stupidly. Rising Star and Sparkler saw him too. And Ripple. I thought Sparkler was going to kill him,â Loch said in a low pained voice.

âœHow is he?â asked Bucky, his voice filled with genuine concern.

âœHealing. One wing will probably stay crippled. He looked like a mess,â Loch replied. âœNo, Bucky, please, donât look pained, now I wish I hadnât said anything,â Loch said fretfully.

Thistle pressed her cheek against Loch Skimmerâs and tried to comfort the sad filly.

âœI still donât know how I feel about that,â Bucky confessed. âœI donât know how I should feel about that.â

âœIt made me sick to watch you do what you were made to do, but I am glad you did it,â Loch hissed. âœBetween what he did to all of us and something that happened to Ripple when she was little it is no wonder she turned out the way she did. Sheâs probably terrified of males just like I am.â

Bucky did not press issue about what happened to Ripple. He figured that he would learn in time.

âœBut you are different. Iâve seen how you are with your wives. And Rising Starâ heâs been so good to me and Iâve been running hot and cold towards him. He just patiently waits me out and keeps being nice,â Loch said.

âœI am glad you are able to tell me this,â Bucky said.

âœOh there are a bunch of things that Bon Bon wants me to tell you,â Loch replied.

âœDonât worry about them now,â Bucky said gently. âœThere is time to tell me later. It is good you are talking to Bon Bon. She can help you.â

The trio watched as Sparkler was completely subdued by her mother. Derpy found herself under attack a moment later when Dinky and PiÃa pounced upon her. The mare fell over as the two foals went to work on her.

âœShe is so gentle with her foals,â Loch Skimmer said.

âœAnd thatâs the sort of mother I want to be,â Thistle commented.

âœThat mare is perhaps the most dedicated mother I know. My own mother was absolutely rotten. Seeing herâ Derpy, the way she is, it changed me,â Bucky said.

âœI think it has had an affect on me,â Loch admitted.

âœAnd me,â Thistle quipped.

âœI hope I am patient enough,â Loch said.

âœLoch, you are a pegasus. Youâll be a good mother,â Bucky said reassuringly.

âœMy mothers were pegasi,â Loch retorted. âœThey did nothing to protect me from my fatherâs fury.â

Bucky sighed and realised that he might have made a mistake. âœLoch, you will be a good mother because you are a good pony. Look, you have a good example now. If you watch her and learn from her, I donât think you can go wrong,â Bucky said, correcting his earlier statement.

âœYou can also learn from my mistakes,â Thistle offered. âœI mean, I am bound to make a few, right?â

Derpyâs laughter could be heard from quite some distance away. It was a distinctive sound and something that Bucky truly loved about the mare. He felt his heart melt. âœThat is the sound that lets me know that something is right in the world,â he said.

âœWhat?â Thistle asked.

âœHer laughter,â Bucky answered.

âœI wish Rising Star was back,â Loch Skimmer said nervously. âœIt drives me crazy when he is gone. I canât stand how much I miss him when he isnât here,â she admitted.

âœI feel that way every night when I go home and sleep all alone in the water,â Thistle replied. âœI think about all of you. And I miss you. Every one of you.â

âœSo stay with us at night Thistle,â Bucky offered. âœI am sure we can make room in the bed for one more.â

âœI think that tonight I will,â Thistle said.

âœYou can take Buckyâs spot. Heâll probably be up most of the night again,â Loch said as she rolled her eyes.

âœThere is so much to do,â Bucky said in his own defense. âœPlus I want to spend time with Bon Bon, Sentinel, and Lyra.â

âœOh, there he is,â Loch said as she rose up on three legs and began to wobble off. âœExcuse me, I have to go,â she said as she hurried away as fast as her three legs would take her.

âœPrepare yourself Thistle, Berry Punch is going to go nuts when she finds out about your cutie mark,â Bucky warned.

Thistle gave Bucky a seductive look. âœI hope so. And I hope you are watching,â she said alluringly.

Bucky swallowed and he suddenly felt warm. He looked at Thistle and saw her wink at him. He pressed against her side and kissed her on the cheek. âœYouâre mine now,â he whispered. âœAnd I protect what is mine.â

Chapter 95

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There were thirty six new spell jars and Bucky was pleased. There were sixty four filled spell jars. Each night, the process became easier and easier, and more and more of the globes were produced. After curing for a night, they were filled with spells. The ones filled with spells were carefully marked. Some were filled with fire. Others with lightning. Several were filled with strobing light spells. One was filled with what Lyra called her stormfront spell, which would release multiple streams of chain lightning once it broke.

Bucky was careful to document each spell type. He was going to need to protect himself from all types of magic later. Grounding spells. Spells that would protect him from fire. He made careful notes in a transmuted ledger that he had created.

Once again, Bucky was an accountant, just like he had been in his old life. There were numbers to keep, checks and balances to maintain, as well as making sure there were enough resources to keep his venture going.

Lyra worked with manic effort. It was almost as though this was some sort of lifelong fantasy of hers, to dabble in reckless and dangerous magic and to venture to the fringes of what was acceptable and what was forbidden.

As she worked, she kept her spell going, her magical lyre remained summoned back in their room, protecting the sleepers. She had learned to expand the spell, and now a sizable portion of the castle was covered as well.

Lyra paid the price for her continued efforts with a state of total exhaustion. She didnât mind. It was a small price to pay for magical freedom and the ability to experiment without hinderance.

As Bucky and Lyra worked together, Bon Bon worked with Sentinel, tutoring him through the long hours of the night. He was needed occasionally, and his shadow essence was drawn off and placed into a waiting spell jar. Sentinel thrived under Bon Bonâs instruction. Always eager to please, Sentinel had become especially close to Bon Bon, calling her and Lyra his night mothers.

âœYou know Bucky, I think I figured out why we make such a good team. Why we are such good laboratory partners. Why we can get so much done,â Lyra stated as she studied a spell suspended in a spell jar.

âœAnd why is that Lyra?â Bucky replied as he carefully marked down the spell type of the spell jar Lyra was holding in her magic.

âœWell, I am a mare and you are a stallion and we are very close. We trust one another. We can work so well together because you respect me for what I am and do not expect anything from me except for my help. Things like sex and desire donât get in the way and we can focus on work and getting stuff done,â Lyra explained.

Bon Bon raised her head from her book and peered at the pair with a smirk on her face. She pulled Sentinel closer and wrapped her forelegs around his ears. Sentinel squirmed and protested, but Bon Bon was an earth pony that took no guff and was, for the time being, much stronger than the colt.

âœBut that is where you are wrong Lyra,â Bucky replied as he moved forward suddenly.

Lyra found herself snoot to snoot with Bucky. Her golden eyes went wide and she carefully set the spell jar down into a rack. âœWha-wha-wha-Buckyââ she stammered. She was nearly crosseyed trying to look into Buckyâs remaining eye.

Bon Bon said nothing but sighed and shook her head.

âœI find you very desirable,â Bucky breathed. âœYou have that whole mad hedge wizard thing going on. Your mane is all messy.â

Bon Bon rolled her eyes but said nothing.

âœBu-bu-bu-but Bucky Iâm not into stallionsâ I-I-I-I mean you are kinda cute and all and I donât mind cuddling with you while you are sleeping and I think that I really am starting to love you in real I am actually in love with you sort of way, but-â

âœLyra,â Bucky interrupted, gently bumping his snoot against hers. âœI was teasing you. I would never force you to compromise your own values,â he said in a soothing voice.

âœBuckminster Bitters, you are a bad pony,â Bon Bon scolded. âœTeasing poor Lyra. For shame!â

Bucky lowered his head and peered back at Bon Bon. She was smirking at him. His ears perked as he realised that she was teasing him as well. He took a deep breath and sighed.

Lyra took a deep breath, held it, puffed out her cheeks, closed her eyes, and then finally exhaled in a huff. âœDo you actually find me attractive?â Lyra asked in a wavering voice.

Bon Bon went rigid. So much so that Sentinel panicked a bit when he felt her tense. The colt struggled against her embrace, suddenly afraid because she was afraid.

Bucky took a deep breath of his own and peered into Lyraâs golden eyes. Suddenly, she was entirely too close and he felt that he had made a mistake. What was intended to be a joke suddenly became far too serious.

âœI have some very distressing thoughts,â Lyra confessed before Bucky could say anything. âœI really do love you. Every day it grows a bit more. And I donât know how to express it. With Bon Bon, love is easy to express. I know how to please her. I know what to do with her. I donât know how to please you. Or what to do with you. I donât know how to love without sex and I donât know how to feel about you. Or how you feel about me. I want so very badly for you to be happy with me. I want to know that I please you. And Iâve been very worried about it and it has been making me a bit neurotic actually,â Lyra explained, letting everything out, following Bon Bonâs policy of total honesty.

Bucky leaned forward and kissed Lyra on her nasal bridge, just above her snoot and just below her eyes. âœThere is more to love than sex,â Bucky said in a calming voice. âœI am learning that. I had to learn that after what happened to me. And I do love you Lyra Heartstrings. And I donât expect anything from you other than what youâve been doing so far.â

âœLearning how to love Bon Bon was very difficult for me. Learning how to love you is somehow even harder,â Lyra admitted. âœI only know of one way to express love. I thought I was above such silly things, but I really do want to know that I am a good wife.â

âœYou are,â Bucky whispered. âœI couldnât do this without you. Either of you. I am learning that each and every one of you fulfills a different need and I am discovering all of the different ways that I can love a pony. Love is really just the next level of friendship.â

Lyra trembled and continued to look Bucky in his remaining eye. Her mane slipped down from her ear and tumbled into her eyes. She blinked a few times.

Bon Bon felt her heart warm. She eased her grip on Sentinel and uncovered his ears, hugging him close instead. He squirmed in token protest, but knew that he was powerless. He continued to watch the two unicorns in silence.

âœLook Sentinel,â Bon Bon whispered. âœLyra is finally learning to open her heart and be vulnerable to other ponies.â

Sentinel did not reply but turned his head so he could look at Bon Bon. As he did so, he felt her lips brush up against his cheek.

âœOne day, you will understand just how important this moment was,â Bon Bon whispered into Sentinelâs tufted ear, causing it to flicker.

Bucky finally backed away from Lyra, giving them both some much needed breathing room. Both unicorns were taking deep breaths. Bucky finally managed a nervous laugh.

âœI really want to be a mother,â Lyra blurted out. âœAnd it causes me no end of confusion.â

Bon Bon took a deep breath. It seemed the floodgates had opened.

âœI mean I really want to be a mother and all that goes with it. And now I have a husband. So I want to be a mother and a wife. And I want both of these things and I feel very conflicted because I have no interest at all in, uh, the usual way of going about making foals. It feels weird to want something from you that you can offer me and not go about it in the usual way,â Lyra admitted in a trembling whisper.

Sentinelâs brow furrowed and he could feel Bon Bonâs breathing quicken. He worked a wing free and wrapped it around the emotional earth pony.

âœI will give you whatever you ask of me,â Bucky offered.

âœBut I feel like I am giving you nothing in return and that makes me feel kinda guilty,â Lyra replied. âœAnd I wasnât being completely honest when I spoke earlier, when I said what I said about being good lab partners. I guess I said that because it was what I wanted to be true. And then you invaded my space and said what you said and suddenly I felt like a lovesick filly having her first crush and all of my thoughts went crazy because there was a part of me that felt so happy that you found me sexy, and then I felt a bit disappointed when I found out that you were teasing me and now I just feel confused,â Lyra explained, saying exactly how she felt.

âœOh, I wasnât kidding about that,â Bucky interjected. âœI do find you attractive. I just try to not get worked up over you because of how you are. I understand that you are off limits.â

âœAnd now that you two have finally cleared the air I feel a lot better about our relationship,â Bon Bon said, finally speaking up. âœUnicorns,â the mare muttered in exasperation.

âœAdults,â Sentinel grumbled in an uncharacteristic reply.

âœOh shush cuddlebug,â Bon Bon said with a squeeze, causing Sentinel to roll his eyes and squirm uncomfortably.

âœI think weâre done for the night. We should wrap up. It has been a long day for me, I am going to bed,â Bucky announced.

âœYou go ahead and go, Iâll finish up here,â Lyra replied. As Bucky started to turn towards the door, Lyra darted forward and kissed him on the cheek. âœYou had me going Bucky,â Lyra said shyly.

âœGo to bed Bucky. Youâll be of no use to anypony if you wear yourself out,â Bon Bon said. âœSentinel, say goodnight,â the mare instructed.

âœGoodnight,â Sentinel said, doing as he was bid.

âœGânight,â Bucky said. He exited through the door with a yawn.

Thistle was sleeping in his usual spot, right between Derpy and Berry. He wasnât sure where to sleep. He yawned again. He saw Berryâs eyes flutter and he felt a twinge of guilt for waking the sleeping ponies.

âœBeen waiting for you,â Berry grumbled, only half awake. She prodded Thistle, who woke with a snort.

Thistle blinked and looked around. Upon seeing Bucky, her face lit up with a sleepy half smile. She rose carefully and moved away from Buckyâs spot, trying not to step on anypony.

âœWhere will you go?â Bucky whispered.

âœIâll find a spot,â Thistle replied sleepily.

Bucky settled into his usual spot. As his weight settled against Derpy, the mare farted loudly. She did not wake but one wing partially extended and flapped a bit. His nose crinkled. At least pegasi had the means to fan away the malodorous fumes. He settled himself into the bed and then looked up at Thistle.

The filly eased herself down beside Berry Punch and snuggled against Berryâs side. She gave a final glance at Bucky, wishing that she could be closer to him. It was something that would have to be worked out later. She was content to simply be here for now. As she drifted off back to sleep, Thistle realised that this was exactly what she wanted from life and the loneliness of sleeping in the depths of the lake was her last waking thought.

Sparkler stretched her legs and paced around the room. She had awoken before anypony else and was now being watched by Bon Bon, Lyra, and Sentinel as she walked in a circle around the room.

It was her intention to speak with Rising Star and then to Bucky when he finally awoke. Today, she hoped that before the sun settled on the horizon that she would be a type three. She had been mentally preparing for it for quite a while. She had driven the fear from her mind.

She recalled the feeling of ecstasy she had experienced the day that Bucky had channeled magic through her and she had summoned gemstones. Or the day that the tower had been constructed. He had assured her that there would be no pain and she believed him. Channeling deep magic wasnât painful, but pleasurable.

But she was still scared.

The fear didnât stop her from experiencing the alluring call of power. She was going to provide a good life for Loch Skimmer and Ripple. She was going to devote herself to study. She was going to be a teacher. And it would all begin with what she hoped would be done today.

âœSparkler honey, you look nervous,â Bon Bon said in a low voice as Sparkler continued to pace back and forth.

âœI am,â Sparkler admitted.

Lyra yawned and watched the purple pink filly as she went back and forth.

Sparkler looked over at the bed. Thistle was with them now. The filly, so near Sparklerâs own age, was wrapped in Berry Punchâs forelegs. Sparkler felt happy for Thistle and thought about when they had first come here. She thought about how her mother had nipped her father for even thinking about Thistle being in the herd.

And here she was.

Sparkler looked at Thistleâs round belly and felt something deep within her. Sparkler realised that she wanted her own foals as she watched Thistleâs barrel rise and fall from her breathing. Her own foals would have to come later, when she was better prepared to provide for them. For now, she was content with looking after Dinky and PiÃa. She looked over at Sentinel, who tended to look after himself. He was sitting with Lyra and was half asleep, tuckered out after a long night. She watched his head nod as sleep threatened to overtake him.

Sparkler suffered something of an epiphany and she froze in place. She wasnât just ready to embrace being a type three. She was ready to grow up and take responsibility for her own life and this was the transition point. She felt a twinge of sadness as this realisation settled into her brain. After having this thought, Sparkler realised that her foalhood was definitely over. Done. Gone. Now that she had experienced this realisation, there was no turning back. Awareness made it impossible for her to go back to how things were.

You cannot unring a bell Sparkler thought to herself.

Chapter 96

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The early morning had gone by in a blur for Sparkler, less so for Rising Star. She had pulled Rising Star aside and spoken to him about her intentions, and then she had approached Bucky and told him that she was ready.

And Bucky had agreed.

Now, Sparkler simply waited. Bucky would get around to doing what needed to be done on his own time. There was a lot to do, and Sparkler understood that. As she performed her role as a teacher, her mind was in other places. Distant places.

The bell could not be unrung.

Distracting thoughts filled her mind. What if the Royal Pony Sisters decreed that what had been done to her was an abomination? A gross violation of the natural order? What would happen to her? Sparkler tried to quell these things, trying to reassure herself that the Princesses were reasonable rulers. As a unicorn, she had heard stories of asylums where they sent unicorns who had gone bad.

Sparkler didnât feel she was going bad. She wasnât sure what she felt or how to justify it. She simply felt that she was securing the power she needed to provide a better future for the ponies around her. Sure, she would also benefit from the change, but Sparkler felt that she was doing this for the right reasons.

She thought about Loch Skimmer and Ripple, especially Ripple. She felt a surge of protectiveness spiked with worry. How could she protect them if she fell into trouble for what she was about to do?

And what of Buckyâ She wondered what might be done to him. Her muscles tensed with worry. She wasnât even a type three yet and already the mental strain was alarming she realised. The burden of responsibility.

What if she did this, helped to eradicate the wolves, and then went home and faced some unimaginable punishment for her actions? Sparkler paced around the dining hall, occasionally looking down at student projects, horribly distracted from her work. Her brow furrowed.

There is the option of not going home she thought to herself.

The foals working around her, seeing her scowl, worked even harder, worried that she was scowling at them, not knowing just how distracted the filly was. Ripple, knowing just how much was riding on her own back, doubled down and struggled to write out her test sentence flawlessly, worried that Sparkler would be cross with her.

As with so many other things in life, it was simple misunderstanding. To see one thing and make assumptions based upon your own perceptions.

She moved closer to Loch Skimmer, hoping to draw some comfort from being close to her mate, but Loch Skimmer seemed nervous and distracted about something. The filly was hunched over the table with a crude pencil held in her mouth, scribbling away on a crude sheet of transmuted paper that Bucky had made.

Loch Skimmer was terrified that Sparkler would see her work and be disappointed. She scratched away with her pencil, trying to rewrite her sentence, seeing several errors. Having Sparkler hovering so near made her nervous. And Sparkler looked kinda grumpy, so today was not a good day for slacking off and going only halfway on schoolwork.

Sparkler drifted away, unable to find comfort, her general feeling of worry increasing. All around her she could hear the scratching of pencils, a sound that Sparkler now associated with things being right in the world. It was rather soothing.

Bucky took a long pull from the jug of blackberry wine and then smacked his lips. He belched loudly, something his previous self would have died from embarrassment from, wiped his mouth, and then looked around him.

He was sitting upon the top deck of the ship that was now called The Scorned Mare and watching the world around him. The hull was now completely repaired. Bucky had created sections of wood to fill the holes and then he had fused them into place, simple common unicorn repair magic. It was something that almost any unicorn could do with enough time and practice.

As he drank and watched the world, he tried to control the gemstone in his eye socket. He could make it flicker now, and light up, but controlling the intensity of the glow was going to take a bit more work. And he had other ideas that would come later he supposed. Now that the gem was there, embedded in a casing of fulgurite glass and connected to his thaumaturgical nerves, the possibilities were endless. He might even be able to see again. But that would be forbidden magicâ much like what he planned to do with Sparkler and Rising Star later.

Radical self modification with magic was right out, and for good reason. There were all kinds of stories of unicorns who had pushed the barriers of what they could be, found themselves lacking, and then found a way to shore up their weaknesses. There were always crackpot hedge wizards looking for some way to get a leg up.

And then there were the celebrated crackpots who were actually remembered, if not by name, then by what they had done, like the unicorn that had made himself an alicorn of sorts, giving himself a pair of mechanical wings powered by arcano-tech. He had fused the mechanical wings directly into his own body and then exposed himself to the world, calling himself prince something or other.

Bucky took another long drink and didnât bother to try and remember that particular unicornâs name. There was no good reason to do so. Every foal in school had heard about what that unicorn had done though.

As Bucky watched ponies go by, he came to something of a realisation. He could no longer technically be called a crackpot hedge wizard. Not any longer. There was no doubt, he was an archmage now, if he was anything at all, and he had doubts about that as well. The notion lingered in his mind that if he submerged himself into the depths of the ley lines, he could be anything he wanted to be. An alicorn even. A wellspring of infinite potential.

He didnât want that though. He just wanted the means to keep his fellow ponies safe. Even now, he could feel the energy of the ley lines coursing through him, filling his head with knowledge. Ever since his new horn had taken root, he had been feeling this strange new sensation. The ley lines were a spellbook. Perhaps the spellbook. Every spell ever cast by a unicorn could be found in the collective memories contained in the ley lines.

This was the key to Twilight Sparkleâs power as the Element of Magic, or so Bucky reasoned. The reason why she knew so many spells. He suspected that she too could tap into the ley line, even if she didnât realise she was doing it.

As he took another drink from his jug, he had himself a curious thought. What if they both could tap into ley lines because of something they had in common? He wracked his brain, trying to come up with something reasonable that he and Twilight Sparkle might share. He could think of nothing. Perhaps it was coincidence. Or a fluke.

As the Element of Magic, Twilight essentially had an infinite number of spells at her disposal, the talent of every unicorn that had ever existed. He thought about Twilightâs musings on being able to cast the gem finding spell of her friend Rarity.

To have access to the spells that made unicorns unique and special. Now that was a talent. Bucky belched again. He cursed his tolerance for alcohol that he had developed. Most of the jug was gone and he was only lightly buzzed. Enough to be thoughtful and creative, but not enough to truly comfortable. His legs were bothering him after yesterday.

He reached down and rapped on the deck of The Scorned Mare and then looked down at the now shiny wood. âœI have yet another mare in my life. Will you keep my foals safe and secure?â he asked of the ship.

There was no answer of course, but Bucky was confident that she would provide. He had a knack for finding mares. His slightly buzzed brain began to drift into more abstract thoughts.

Mares are a bit like hops he thought to himself. You have to blend them to get the best results. He scowled. His analogies needed work he realised, feeling a bit disappointed with himself. The idea held promise though. He had a fine blend of mares. Including the one he was sitting on currently.

He leaned over a bit, farted, and hoped that the mare he was sitting on wouldnât mind. He smiled for a bit, and then he chuckled faintly simply because he could. He certainly wasnât the pony that he was long ago. Or the unicorn for that matter. He patted the deck again in apology for his crass actions and peered out over the meadows.

He watched as ponies chased one another. The young and even some of the somewhat older ponies were out. Something seemed to be happening down below him and all around him. While there were a few colts chasing fillies, the reverse seemed to be more common. Fillies were out running down colts. He blinked his remaining eye a few times. Already, things seemed to be changing around him. Something was in the air. Something wonderful.

Keg Smasherâs proclamations seemed to be having an effect. No more forced marriages. No more trading mares as goods. Arranged marriages were fine, but all parties involved had to agree.

And now it seemed, nature was correcting the situation. The shoe was on the other hoof. The now freed fillies and mares were out finding their own mates. And with the sweeps done and over with, there was a powerful need to make foals. The height of summer was approaching and Bucky realised that for many mares, they would have their heat during that time. Come spring, there would be a lot of new foals. With all of the earth ponies around, a mare could potentially become pregnant during any time of the year, but heats caused an almost unstoppable sexual desire that ensured that the equine race would continue, a period of super-fertility.

Bucky froze up for a moment, shuddered, and felt a twinge of absolute terror. At some point, he was going to be surrounded by mares in heat. He took a long drink from his jug, felt a cold chill run down his spine, and took another drink.

He remembered Celestiaâs warning just before he was married about what his mares would do to him. He still had that book. He had even studied it a bit when he had the time. He smiled a self satisfied smile and some of his fear subsided.

âœPoor Rising Star,â Bucky muttered to himself. âœHe doesnât even know what he is in for,â he continued with a chuckle.

Of course, Bucky didnât know what he was in for either.

The morning was gone and now the afternoon stretched before them. Rising Star felt a twinge of nervousness. Sparkler had been distracted all morning, leaving him to do most of the work teaching in their improvised school. He didnât mind. He would do whatever was required of him without complaint.

He walked alone, needing to stretch his legs and clear his mind. He thought of the time he had spent with Berry and Ripple. A much needed talk had taken place.

The meadows around the castle were filled with ponies, but Rising Star ignored them, lost in his own thoughts. He was so focused inwards that he was oblivious to all of the sparks of first time infatuation all around him.

More than anything, Rising Star simply felt confused. While he had some worry for what would take place later, it was not his primary concern. He couldnât even figure out what his primary concern was anymore. There was simply too much of everything.

He was a married colt that was somehow maintaining his virginity, a thought that confused him a great deal. It was okay to do things now, but none of them had actually tried anything. It was frustrating and Rising Star actually felt as though he was somehow less than what he should be for remaining what he was.

Sparkler could be had at any time. She was willing, she was ready, and had stated as much. Loch Skimmer would be far more difficult after everything that had happened to her. Things with Loch were complicated. Loch had moments where she thawed out and opened up to him, and then moments where she iced over and pushed him away.

More than anything, he wanted to know how to reach her.

He paused mid stride and kicked the grass. He snorted loudly and resumed his walk. He was determined not to touch either of them until both were ready and he cursed himself for making things more complicated than they needed to be.

His hormone flooded brain tried to let him know that the rest of him had needs and that he needed to do something about those needs.

And then there was the matter of his own self worth. Bucky, his example, had proven himself time and time again. Bucky stoically continued onward. Rising Star wanted some kind of meaning in his own life. Some sort of greatness. Not fame, not fortune, none of those fleeting things, but greatness. He wanted to make a difference. He looked towards the ship in the distance. There is greatness he thought to himself. If faced with the wolves, Rising Star realised he would have collapsed completely. He probably would have died. But Bucky had somehow survived and was now gearing up for all out war. He was making bombs late at night. Bucky had a plan.

And Rising Star couldnât even figure out his own marriage or his place in the world.

He hoped that what took place later would give him what he so desperately wanted. The power to make things change. Like Bucky, he wanted to keep other ponies safe. Unlike Bucky, he had no idea how to begin. Bucky had everything figured out and he never seemed to doubt what he was doing.

Bucky had everything sorted out and understands his place in the world he thought to himself.

Which wasnât true at all, but Rising Star believed that it was.

He turned his head to look back at the castle. Keg Smasher, as rough as his life was, also had things figured out. Keg Smasher had simply gone and seized what he wanted from life, forcibly taking it and now he was Laird of the Isles. That was something. It certainly had more meaning than something like Rising Star, The Beat Poet. Everything he used to dream of now seemed so empty and meaningless.

Squire Sentinel, servant to Buckminster, the knight.

Rising Star ground his teeth together in frustration. He was only Rising Star and nothing more. His name implied some sort of greatness. He wanted his mares to be proud of him. To adore him. To look at him and worry and fuss over him. He wanted his life to have meaning that they would approve of and would fawn over him for.

The power to make things change was very alluring.

Rising Star turned around and headed back to the castle, He was ready for this to end. The future loomed before him and he was ready to make something of himself.

âœEvery great thing we do we do as a family,â Berry Punch announced. She looked at her fellow herdmates. Everypony was there, even Bon Bon, Lyra, and Sentinel were up and about. âœWe are one. We are different sorts of ponies, but in this herd, we are one and we must stick together,â she continued.

Berry held her head high as she looked upon her herdmates. Everypony was looking at her and Berry, being an extravert, was in her element. âœWe are earth ponies, we are pegasi, we are unicorns, and one of us is even a kelpie, but we are our own tribe,â Berry stated. âœAnd we are here together for two of our own as they undergo a profound change.â

Rising Star and Sparkler sat together, Loch Skimmer and Ripple sitting a short distance away from them. Sparkler squirmed as she realised that everypony was looking at her and Rising Star right now.

âœIf there are consequences for this act, we will face them together. We will not abandon those we hold dear in times of trouble,â Berry said.

âœIf you mess with one of us you pick a fight with all of us,â Ripple shouted.

âœThe wolves messed with one of us,â Berry said in reply to the fillyâs words. âœAnd now to fight them we have to resort to extreme measures.â

Derpy sat up straighter, her spine stiffening, and her ears perked forward. Her wings fluttered slightly, and her tail swished behind her. Her lips were pressed tightly together into a straight line. She looked fierce.

âœThings are only forbidden or wrong if somepony can hold you accountable,â Lyra quipped. Much to Lyraâs surprise, she saw Bon Bon nodding at her words.

âœWe are going to war together and we must be prepared. We are all probably going to give something up before this is over. Sparkler and Rising Star have offered up their very bodies for the cause, and potentially their futures back home. I want everypony here to remember what these two have done for us and be grateful for what they have to offer,â Bucky said, finally speaking up. His voice was a low throaty rumble. His emerald eye flickered a faint green light as he spoke.

âœWhat can we do?â PiÃa asked. âœWeâre too little to fight,â she added.

âœBe there to comfort those that do fight,â Bon Bon replied. âœBy the time all of this is over, those who have fought are bound to be troubled PiÃa. Be there to comfort them.â

PiÃa nodded solemnly after hearing Bon Bonâs words. âœI will do my part,â she promised.

âœI will fight,â Sentinel stated.

âœNo Sentinel, you will not,â Bucky replied. âœYou are a shadow creature. It will be dark when we are fighting. You will be just as vulnerable as the wolves. Some of our spells will hurt you just as much as they will hurt the wolves.â

Sentinel slumped, looking completely crushed at Buckyâs words. Tears welled in his eyes.

âœSentinel, we will need you with us,â PiÃa said to her sibling. âœThe adults are going to be fighting, we are going to need somepony to make us feel safe,â PiÃa said soothingly.

Sentinel sniffled a bit and nodded. âœOf course. I will keep my masterâs foals safe,â he murmured in a pained voice. âœI am trusted to protect that which he holds most dear.â

âœSentinel, your time will come,â Bon Bon said to the troubled pegasus. âœBe patient my foal,â the earth pony added.

âœI intend to stay with the foals,â Thistle said. âœI have faith in Buckyâs defenses, but if something does happen somehow, I have sharp teeth and the will to use them. Sentinel will need help in that situation. Should the worst happen somehow, we will be the last line of defense.â

âœIâm still crippled, so I guess I am with the foals,â Loch Skimmer huffed in irritation. âœIâd rather fight.â

âœI will serve in your stead sister,â Ripple announced.

âœOh no you will not,â Loch Skimmer snapped. âœYou are staying with us, safe and secure.â

âœNo,â Ripple retorted. âœNo I will not. My entire life you have fought to defend me and I have always been the filly in need of rescue. No longer,â Ripple protested.

âœRipple, you listen to me you littleâ

âœThatâs enough!â Derpy interrupted.

âœRipple, you will stay with Rising Star and I,â Sparkler interjected. âœYou will remain glued to our sides. If for whatever reason Rising Star and I are not present on deck, you will go to Berry Punch and she will keep you safe.â

Loch Skimmer looked angry but remained silent.

âœThank you. All I want is a chance to prove myself,â Ripple said, casting a glance at her sister. âœI want to be a fighter like she is.â

Loch Skimmerâs eyes narrowed and she cast a glance at her sister. Her expression softened and her rigid posture relaxed a bit.

âœThere will be others to help us,â Derpy announced. âœLord Wrecker has promised troops. The deck will be well defended. If the wolves make it up there, they will be hammered into submission.â

âœIâm fighting,â Dinky announced.

âœNo!â Derpy cried.

Dinky turned and glared at her mother, standing in a stiff legged posture of challenge that any pegasus would recognise. âœI am fighting,â Dinky insisted. âœYou are half blind,â she said to her mother. âœI will stay on your back and watch your blind spot.â

Derpy scowled. She closed one eye and the other narrowed. She peered at her filly, fuming with anger. âœNo,â Derpy growled.

âœDonât make me prove what I can do,â Dinky threatened.

âœDinky, that is enough,â Bucky commanded.

âœI might be little, but my magic isnât,â Dinky argued.

âœDinky, enough,â Bucky repeated.

âœDinky you listen to your father,â Derpy insisted, trying to control her anger. The challenge to her authority had left her riled and the pegasus was now sorely out of sorts.

âœDinky should be able to fight,â PiÃa said in a small frightened voice. She sat with her eyes closed, unable to look at any of the adults around her. âœShe has so much strength. You keep telling her what a great gift she has and you are even making Rising Star and Sparkler to be like her and not letting her fight is like telling her that she isnât worthy of having her gift,â PiÃa reasoned. She trembled in fear, afraid of repercussions from her outburst. She grabbed Sentinel and clung to him, burying her face into his neck. She felt his wings wrap around her and the foal felt a little a better.

âœDinkyâ✠Derpy began. The mare took a deep breath, held it for several seconds, and then let it out in a huff. âœYou are to stay with me at all times. If you slip away, so help me, you will not be able to sit down for a month because I will whip those bumblebees right off of your backside,â Derpy said.

Dinky cautiously approached her mother, her head down low now, her stiff legged stance now gone. She sat down at her motherâs front hooves and pressed her cheek against her motherâs leg submissively.

âœDinky is with us,â Bucky stated, settling the issue.

âœBon Bon, when trouble comes, will you be my noble steed?â Lyra asked, hoping her humour would defuse the tension that was thick in the air. âœI can ride you into battle and we can make a good accounting of ourselves.â

Bon Bon rolled her eyes and heaved a sigh of exasperation.

Lyra let out a grunt of vindication as Bucky began to chortle, struggling to hold back his laughter.

âœLyra-â

âœNow is not the time for jokes,â Lyra finished before Bon Bon could say it.

âœThat wasnât what I was going to say actually,â Bon Bon said.

âœWhat then? Refined your lecture?â Lyra asked.

âœLyra, after being together for as long as we have, you should know your place by now. I ride you,â Bon Bon said as she leaned over and glared at Lyra.

Rising Star sniggered but tried to hold back his laughter. Sparkler fell apart completely, guffawing with laughter. Berry Punch collapsed and made no effort hold back her mirth. Derpy, still upset, managed a half hearted chuckle and her aggressive stance softened. Sentinel blinked as he held PiÃa, privy to entirely too much information about adult activities. His face remained blank and expressionless. Thistle tittered and her cheeks turned a vivid pink. Loch Skimmer made a choking sound and covered her face with her wing. Ripple stared at the two mares with wide shocked eyes.

Bucky heaved a sigh of relief, thankful that the tense moment was over. He laughed and couldnât help but feel a bit intrigued by Bon Bonâs words.

âœBonnie,â Lyra finally gasped.

The late afternoon sun hung in the sky and clouds drifted by overhead. Bucky was sitting with his coven of unicorns and the rest of the herd sat a short distance away. It was the final moment of quiet reflection before they all began. He had his eye closed and he settled his mind. He could feel Dinky clinging to his leg. Her breathing was slow and measured.

âœAre we ready?â asked Bucky in a low whisper.

âœGood to go,â Lyra replied.

âœReady,â Rising Star answered.

âœIâm set,â Sparkler announced.

âœAny time,â Dinky quipped.

Buckyâs new horn ignited effortlessly and a faint chill filled the air. He extended his will, reaching out and touching the minds of his fellow unicorns. He touched Lyra first, pulling her in. He heard her gasp as the magic overtook her and suddenly she was inside of his mind. He drew in Dinky next, feeling Dinkyâs complex mix of emotions after what had taken place earlier when she had challenged her mother. He drew in Sparkler and he could feel her eagerness as he touched her mind. Finally, he he touched Rising Star and felt a confusing jumble of conflicting emotions. Under them was a strong desire for change. Rising Star wanted the change badly and Bucky could feel some of Rising Starâs many different emotions.

âœWe are one,â Bucky said out loud, his words also inside of his fellow unicornsâ minds. He tapped into the ley line. Knowledge and power flowed through him. He wasnât the first unicorn to do this. Others had done this, and the knowledge had been lost to time. A vision of a white unicorn wearing a hat covered in bells flickered inside of Buckyâs mind. This was knowledge that had probably never been written down because of the very nature of what it is, a sort of accession to a higher level of power. It was the definition of what constituted forbidden magic and why some magic was taboo.

Bucky carefully controlled the flow of magic going into Rising Star and Sparkler, slowly increasing the amount being channeled. He intended to cause several small surges followed by a couple of massive surges. To keep everypony safe, he was channeling the excess magic back into the ley line, forming a loop. He was confident his plan would work, because the ley line had shown him that it would work.

That and so much more that was possible.

A short distance away, the herd watched as the unicorns communed. The air thrummed all around him and crackled with raw energy.

They watched as Bucky rose into the air, the others circling around him in orbit. There was a bright flash of light, it was almost blinding, and there was a thunderclap that followed.

âœIt is snowing,â PiÃa announced as she pointed.

Snowflakes could be seen around Bucky, just a few, and they swirled around him. The air took on a chill that deepened as the feeling of power filled the air.

âœLyra looks so happy,â Bon Bon said in a strained voice. âœAll I want is for Lyra to be happy,â the mare whispered. âœAnd Bucky can make her happy.â

Berry Punch threw a foreleg over Bon Bonâs withers. âœShe does look happy,â Berry agreed. âœI wonder what she is feelingââ

âœBucky always looks happy during these moments,â Derpy said, peering at the hovering unicorns with her one good eye. âœHe makes the same face that he makes when heââ Derpy giggled and her words trailed off.

âœMore gems to collect. Wow, Sparkler is shooting out quite a few,â Berry announced as she watched.

âœAnd Rising Star is probably going to be burst into flames at some point. Donât be scared girls,â Bon Bon said soothingly to Loch Skimmer and Ripple. âœBucky warned us, so donât be alarmed.â

The two sisters clung to one another and watched as Sparkler and Rising Star continued to go through the change.

More snow filled the air now, falling around the group as they watched the unicorns. It melted as it touched the grass. PiÃa tried to catch the flakes on her tongue.

âœIt isnât hurting them at all,â Bon Bon said reassuringly to everypony.

There was a rumble that came from the earth followed by a deafening roar of thunder. Globes of light swirled around the group of unicorns. All of them were surrounded in rainbow auras of light, but Sparkler and Rising Star werenât as bright as the others. Buckyâs light was piercing and almost impossible to look at, while Dinky and Lyra shone with a steady intensity.

As the group watched, the auras around Sparkler and Rising Star grew brighter and brighter, beginning to match those of Dinky and Lyra.

âœWe can see the change as it happens,â Berry said, making the connection of what she saw.

âœSo beautiful,â Derpy said, tears now streaming down her cheeks. âœI feel tingly all over my wings,â the mare stated.

âœI feel it in my hooves,â Berry said.

âœI can feel it inside of my belly,â Thistle said.

âœHooves,â Bon Bon breathed, her word barely heard by others.

There was a painfully bright flash of light and the group was forced to shield their eyes. It was now impossible to look at the unicorns.

Berry blinked a few times, seeing white spots in her vision. Finally, when she could see again, she peered in the general direction of the unicorns, trying to see what was going on. The light was gone and she could see limp bodies in the grass.

Derpy took wing to be at her husbandâs side, the others right behind her, rushing to check on their loved ones.

Another bell had been rung.

Chapter 97

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Derpy inhaled sharply when she saw Sparklerâs body twitch. The ground was covered in snow that was already melting and her breath was visible. Relief flooded through the pegasus. She turned towards Rising Star, who was also starting to move.

âœI-I donât feel any different,â Sparkler murmured as she slowly sat up.

âœI feel dizzy,â Rising Star muttered. He made no effort to sit up, and remained sprawled in the grass.

âœI feel different,â Lyra muttered. âœWhen can we do that again?â she asked.

âœLyra has music inside of her head,â Dinky announced as she rolled over onto her belly and lifted her head. She closed her eyes for a moment and tried to make her head stop spinning. âœThat was different than the last few times weâve communed,â she added.

âœI didnât hear any music,â Bucky replied. He remained sprawled on his back and his eye was still closed. He felt a warm body press down on top of him and knew right away that it was a certain grey pegasus.

âœYou alright?â Derpy asked, her breath warm on Buckyâs ear.

âœI feel fine,â Bucky answered, trying to reassure the worried pegasus.

âœWe could see the change,â Thistle said. âœYou were all surrounded by rainbows.â

âœI donât feel any different,â Sparkler insisted. âœI donât know what I was expecting. I still feel like me,â she announced. âœNo, wait, I feel something!â she cried. She leaned over, her lip curled up in a scowl of concentration, and the purple pink filly farted loudly. âœNope, just gas, stupid dried peas are killing me.â

âœOh thank goodness I still have my Sparkler,â Derpy said as she continued to lounge on Bucky.

âœThere is absolutely nothing different about Sparkler,â Loch Skimmer said in relief.

âœRising, can you get up?â Ripple asked, a trace of worry in her voice as she kneeled down next to the prone unicorn.

âœI could but I donât wanna,â he answered.

âœEverypony seems fine. I suppose we will see the results of the change in time,â Berry said as she looked around.

âœOnce everypony is sorted out, feel free to go about your day. Lyra, Bon Bon, Sentinel, the three of you are probably wanting to go back to bed to rest up for tonight. The rest of you, do whatever. Dinky, you are to stay here with me. You and I are going to spend some time together,â Bucky said.

Dinkyâs face creased with worry. âœIs this about me being a bad foal earlier?â she asked.

âœNo Dinks,â Bucky replied. âœI just want to spend some time with you. You and I are going to do something special.â

Dinky huffed in relief and flopped back over on her back.

Derpy leaned her head down and kissed Bucky and then carefully removed herself from him without stepping on him. âœMagic lesson?â she asked.

âœSomething like that,â Bucky said as he looked up.

âœDonât overwork yourself. Or Dinky. Sheâs a foal,â Derpy said to Bucky.

âœI feel fine mom,â Dinky said, overhearing her motherâs words.

âœIf it is all the same, would you mind if I stayed here with you and Dinky? Iâll be quiet, I promise,â Thistle begged.

Bucky became aware that Derpy was looking at him and awaiting his reply. He looked up at the grey mare, trying to gauge what she wanted in this situation and then looked at Thistle, who was looking at him pleadingly.

âœIf there is going to be a magic lesson then I want PiÃa here with me,â Dinky stated. âœPiÃa helps me stay focused.â

âœFine,â Bucky said. âœPiÃa and Thistle can stay. But I was hoping for some time alone with Dinky,â Bucky admitted. âœI spent time alone with PiÃa and I donât want Dinky to feel too left out.â

âœI donât feel left out,â Dinky said. âœAnd really, if there is going to be a magic lesson, I need PiÃa,â she insisted.

PiÃa threw herself onto Dinky and began to squeeze the unicorn as hard as she possibly could, making Dinky grunt and groan.

âœWe should be going,â Berry said. âœStill so much to do. Weâll leave you alone so you can get started.â

Thistle watched in fascination as PiÃa and Dinky leaned on one another as they sat in the grass. Dinkyâs face was contorted in concentration and the foalâs eyes were closed. Thistle was curious about magic in general. She had her own magic as a shapeshifter, but this was different. Thistle gave a sudden cry of alarm as she felt herself lifted and moved. She soared through the air for a bit of a ways and then found herself gently set down next to Bucky. She could feel his warmth against her side. She quieted and hoped that she hadnât broken anyponyâs concentration too badly with her outburst. Saying nothing else, she leaned against Bucky and continued to watch.

There was a single bee flying in a circle over Dinkyâs head, surrounded in a nimbus of magic, and Thistle watched as the bee buzzed around Dinkyâs horn.

âœAnything yet Dinky?â Bucky asked gently.

âœNothing yet,â Dinky replied.

âœKeep trying. Just focus on the beeâs mind Dinks. You can do it. Try to see what the bee is seeing,â Bucky said soothingly.

âœI havenât given up,â Dinky answered in a determined voice.

PiÃa wrapped her forelegs around Dinky and one hoof rubbed Dinkyâs shoulder. âœI know you can do it,â PiÃa whispered encouragingly.

âœI feel really weird,â Dinky stated. âœReally really weird. I can hear buzzing inside of my head.â

As Thistle watched, Dinkyâs horn flared brighter and brighter and the nimbus around the bee took on a fierce glow. There was a hum in the air that Thistle could feel inside of her teeth and behind her eyes.

âœI can see,â Dinky announced with her eyes closed. âœBut everything looks weird. I donât know what I am seeing.â Dinkyâs eyes flew open and she cried out. She clutched her head with her forelegs and the bee vanished in a magical burst. âœOW OW OW OW!â Dinky shouted. She howled in pain and kicked her hind legs.

Bucky lifted both foals to him and dropped them between his forelegs. âœDinky?â he asked in a gentle whisper.

âœFeels like brainfreeze!â Dinky shouted. âœLike when you drink a milkshake too fast!â

âœYou going to be okay?â PiÃa asked.

âœNo, I have brainfreeze,â Dinky snapped. The unicorn foal shook her head and writhed as PiÃa held on to her. âœStupid magic!â Dinky snarled. âœI have all of this power and all I get are headaches,â Dinky growled.

âœDinky, I still get headaches sometimes,â Bucky said reassuringly. âœIt is the price we pay.â

A single tear rolled down Dinkyâs cheek and PiÃa was the one that wiped it away. PiÃa continued to hold Dinky in her forelegs and both foals rested against Buckyâs chest as he laid on the ground.

âœFelt any connections to any particular element yet Dinky?â Bucky questioned.

âœNothing yet,â Dinky replied, her eyes still squeezed shut. The filly let out a shuddering gasp. âœIt is finally easing off,â she muttered.

âœWant to try and conjure some elements?â Bucky asked as Dinky continued to recover.

âœYeah,â Dinky answered. Her eyes opened and there was a determined look on her face.

âœGive me some fire Dinky,â Bucky commanded in a low and gentle voice.

âœCan do,â the unicorn filly replied. She grunted and her horn flared. There was a whooshing sound and a wisp of flame appeared in the air before them. It died out almost instantly as there was no fuel to keep it burning. âœFire comes pretty easy now,â Dinky announced.

âœRemember what I told you Dinky. Most foals your age would never learn these sorts of spells. You must be careful. I am trusting you with something volatile and dangerous. Do not make me regret teaching you,â Bucky said in an authoritative tone.

âœThe only thing that will feel regret about you teaching me this will be the wolves if I see one. I bet I could set one on fire,â Dinky said aggressively. âœIf one comes near my mother or any of my family I will burn them alive,â she threatened.

âœElectricity Dinky,â Bucky instructed.

Dinky grimaced. Electricity was tougher. All that was needed for fire was a bit of anger. Dinky had anger. Electricity needed focus and deep concentration. She bit down on her lip and dug deep. A crackling blue ball of energy formed a few feet away. She held it for several moments and she could feel her mane crackling as every hair stood on end.

Everypony around her suffered the same fate.

âœLyra gave me a few tips,â Dinky said as the orb collapsed with a loud pop. Dinky panted and felt like her lungs were on fire, it felt as though she had ran a great distance.

âœVery good Dinky,â Bucky praised. âœYou actually listened to Lyra, I can tell,â he said.

Dinky beamed with fierce pride.

âœCold Dinky. Do it now,â Bucky commanded.

Dinky scowled. Out of the three major elements, cold was the most difficult. You needed anger for fire, focus and concentration for electricity, and for cold you needed raw force of will. âœYou know, foals arenât known for their willpower,â Dinky muttered. She took a deep breath, held it, let it out, and then took another.

âœDinky, listen to me,â Bucky instructed. âœJust gather your will. It isnât too different from getting your mind prepared for summoning shock. Just force the heat to go away all around you. Just push. Cold just takes a strong belief in yourself,â he explained.

âœI do believe in me,â Dinky snarled. She placed her forehooves on either side of her head and gritted her teeth. âœWhy is this so hard?â she growled. A surge of magical sparks shot from her horn and a small ball of magical ice appeared midair a few feet away. It dropped to the grass and Dinky collapsed, going completely limp in PiÃaâs embrace.

âœImpressive,â Bucky praised.

Dinky made no reply. Her barrel heaved and her face looked as though she was in pain. She remained quiet for several long moments. âœYou make it look so easy. Sometimes I hate you for it,â Dinky said, finally speaking, her eyes still closed and her body still limp. âœAnd now you seem to be doing it without even thinking about it, and it makes me so angry,â she added in brutal foalish honesty.

âœIâve always been connected to cold,â replied Bucky patiently. âœBut lately it does seem to be happening with no effort. Like when I wink or even perform a spell that has nothing to do with cold.â

âœYour telekinesis sometimes leaves frost on metal objects,â Dinky muttered.

âœI noticed that too,â Bucky acknowledged. âœBeen experimenting to keep away the mischief Dinky?â he asked.

âœI figured out how to magnetise metal,â Dinky said as she opened her eyes. They were bloodshot and irritated looking.

âœOh very good Dinky,â Bucky said.

âœDaddy, I have a question,â Dinky asked, some of her anger now gone and sounding a bit more like a foal again.

âœAnd that is?â Bucky replied.

âœYou know how two magnets if you place them the right way push away from one another,â Dinky said in return. âœWell I was wondering, what if I did that to a metal object? Put those two fields together?â she asked.

âœIt would rip itself in half if you made the fields strong enough,â Bucky answered.

âœSo I could cause metal to rip in half?â Dinky queried.

âœIf you applied enough force of will and made the fields strong enough,â Bucky replied. âœBut there are easier ways of doing it, like simply teleporting a piece of it away,â he explained.

âœWould be hard to teleport away something like a half a skyscraper,â Dinky muttered.

âœWhat are you planning?â PiÃa asked in alarm.

âœWas just thinking,â Dinky replied.

âœDinky is just exploring theory,â Bucky interjected. âœAt least I hope,â he added with a wry smile.

âœI just want to know what is possible, thatâs all,â Dinky stated, trying to soothe PiÃaâs fears.

âœThatâs terrifying,â Thistle whispered, breaking her silence.

âœFather is the scary one. Iâve been inside of his head. He knows what he is capable of. Iâm still trying to figure out what is possible,â Dinky admitted. âœWill you ever show me how to summon dark magic?â the foal asked.

Bucky scowled, unsure of how he felt about Dinkyâs request. He had trusted her with so much already. He knew how to do it and he couldnât figure out how to say no without sounding like a hypocrite, which bothered him a great deal. âœI will show you someday Dinky, once youâve proven yourself a bit more. I will trust you with the knowledge once youâve earned it,â Bucky said slowly.

âœI donât mind working for it,â Dinky replied, snuggling against her fatherâs chest. âœIâm hungry. And sleepy,â she said in a foalish voice.

âœI am feeling a bit peckish myself,â Bucky answered. âœI guess we will head back and find a bite to eat. You did well Dinky.â

âœYouâve taught her such dangerous things,â Thistle said in an astonished voice. âœWhy? I want to understand.â

âœShe is my daughter as well as my student. I have to know that I can trust her. She is gifted. She is bound to come into the knowledge in one way or the other. With the dangerous things, Iâd rather she learn them from me so she can be safe, rather than learn them haphazardly on her own and get hurt. And I will continue to teach her whatever I canâ unless she gives me a reason not to trust her,â Bucky said.

âœAnd that would be stupid of me,â Dinky mentioned. âœIf I act like a bonehead then I donât deserve his trust.â

âœBut you have given her knowledge that she could use to kill things. Even other ponies,â Thistle said. âœDangerous knowledge.â

âœYes I have,â Bucky said, not denying it. âœI am also teaching her sense of values so that she doesnât hurt her fellow ponies. I trust Dinky to be a good filly.â

Thistle looked at Dinky, then at PiÃa, and finally at Bucky. âœI am having some trouble understanding,â she admitted.

âœDo you trust me?â Bucky asked.

Thistle blinked a few times as she was put on the spot. Her ears splayed out sideways and her tail swished erratically as she took in the question. âœI trust you. With my life. And my foal when it comes,â she finally said after several moments of contemplation.

âœI trust Dinky,â Bucky said. âœI understand that it is unorthodox to teach a foal these sorts of things. The thing is, most of the time, they wind up learning them anyway. Well, some do. Dinky is driven.â

âœI sure am,â Dinky quipped.

âœAnd I trust Dinky to do the right thing,â Bucky stated. âœJust like I trust Rising Star and Sparkler with the power that I have given them. There are a lot of type threes that do not deserve their power, but those two, they deserve the gift given to them and the power that comes with it.â

Thistle gave a nod, but she did not fully understand.

âœIt isnât like I want to be the Dark Lady Dinky Doo Hooves,â Dinky announced. âœI just want ponies to shiver a bit when they say my name,â she said with a smile.

âœYouâve been listening to Lyra too much,â PiÃa grumbled as she rolled her eyes.

âœI was only kidding. I donât want anypony afraid of me,â Dinky said. âœIâd rather have them come to me for help if they need it.â

âœAnd this is why I trust Dinky the way I do,â Bucky said as a smile cracked upon his face.

Chapter 98

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Derpy watched her foals carefully, looking for some sign of something wrong. Sparkler and Rising Star seemed okay. They had recovered quickly and seemed perfectly normal on the walk back to the castle. Rising Star had even hoisted Loch Skimmer onto his back and carried her, saving her from stumbling around on three legs.

Lyra was especially animated on the way back, far more than her usual self. She practically bounced and not her usual mostly calm self. The unicorn surprised Bon Bon with a very affectionate kiss that had actually taken the usually sturdy earth pony right down to the ground where Lyra continued to have her way with Bon Bon.

The good mood was infectious.

Derpy could feel it as well. She had been feeling it for several days. And now, her good mood manifested as a hot itch in her backside just below her dock that would not go away. Walking certainly did not help, all that did was make things rub together back there.

âœBerry,â Derpy said in a frantic whisper to the mare beside her.

âœHmm?â Berry replied, turning her head to look at Derpy as they walked.

âœWe need to capture Bucky and find a place to have our way with him,â Derpy said in a very low whisper.

Berry nodded as she turned to look ahead.

âœNo rough stuff though. He still winces when he is touched sometimes,â Derpy whispered cautiously. âœAnd his legs worry me.â

âœI worry about how he plans to run around in a suit of armor with his legs being the way they are,â Berry said in a normal voice. âœI trust in his plan, I am sure that he has given thought to the issue.â

âœI need to know that you will be gentle,â Derpy said in a voice full of worry.

Berry stopped and turned to look at the grey mare. âœI love him too. I would never want to hurt him. There is a time to be rough and a time to be tender and I know full well that he is not capable of the rough stuff,â said Berry. After she finished speaking, she leaned over and kissed the pegasus on the lips gently. âœI can be just as gentle as you are with foals,â she stated.

âœIâm sorryâ I just worry,â Derpy admitted, her ears folding back against her head.

âœI know,â Berry said. âœI myself have been Berry Berry worried,â she said with a half smile.

Derpy took a deep shuddering breath and leaned on Berry as they walked. âœHave I told you that you are my best friend lately?â she said.

âœNot in words, no,â Berry said. âœBut I already knew. We got married. We share a husband. We share our foals.â

âœAre you okay with sharing all of that with Thistle?â asked Derpy, slipping a wing over Berry Punch as she spoke.

Berry did not answer right away. The two mares walked together, so in tune with one another that their hooves moved in sync. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. âœI have grown very attached to Thistle,â Berry admitted. âœI do have some moments where I wonder how I will feel about her being in our inner circle. So far, Iâve enjoyed seeing her with Bucky. I do have my moments though where I wonder and I worry if I might suddenly feel jealous or upset. I havenât yet, but I worry that I will. I am very, very possessive as I am sure you know, being my best friend and all.â

âœDo you feel possessive of Thistle?â Derpy asked.

âœYes,â Berry said right away. âœStrongly.â

The grey mare did not reply but walked in silence with the plum coloured mare. Derpy could see that Berry was mentally chewing on the issue and trying to sort out her thoughts. She stroked Berryâs crest and withers with her wing as they walked.

âœNow that I think about it, I donât think it will be a problem. I canât feel possessive of Bucky and Thistle and keep them apart from one another. I would want them both to be happy. I am reminded of what happened at the train station when I told Bucky to stay with you,â Berry said in a strained voice.

Derpy pressed her face against Berryâs muscular neck and nuzzled behind the mareâs ear. âœAnd I was willing to do the same for you,â she whispered.

âœThistle will be the good that we take home from this place. We have a husband that has been disfigured and crippled. Weâve lived in terror of the night and for our husbandâs life. We are all going to go home scarred from this. But we get to keep Thistle,â Berry mused.

Derpy nodded.

âœThistle, who is always trying to make others happy. Always so eager to please. Thistle, who has a talent of a sexual nature,â Berry said thoughtfully.

âœI have grown to love her,â Derpy said. âœI want to see her happy.â

âœAll four of us need to sit down and have a long talk,â Berry stated. âœRevising the rules of engagement. When she finally marries in, what are we going to do about what comes after?â

âœIâve already thought about that,â Derpy replied.

âœYour agreement with Thistle,â Berry quipped.

âœYes,â Derpy answered. âœAnd you are right. All four of us need to talk. We canât have Bucky boning the poor girl. Heâsââ

âœHung like a barrel,â Berry interrupted as Derpy paused.

âœYes. And we donât want Thistle hurt. To consummate the marriage, I plan to give Thistle a good case of the shudders and make her feel loved,â Derpy explained. âœBut I need to figure out how to break it to Bucky that she is off limits for a while.â

âœJust be blunt and tell him. He would never want to hurt her,â Berry said. âœAre you actually worried about how he will react to being told âœnoâ about this?â

âœA little,â Derpy admitted.

âœWhy?â Berry inquired.

âœI donât know, I just am, I guess it is silly,â Derpy responded in a huff.

âœJust let him know that he can do anything he wants with her except that one single act and we can be there to provide for that. Let them both have fun. Let Bucky make her feel good,â Berry suggested.

âœThatâs the thing, I worry about drawing the line. Sheâs young. It makes me nervous. I am still young really, and I know how worked up I can get when I want something. Anything. It isnât fair to leave her flustered,â Derpy whispered in a low voice, looking around her at the other ponies walking with them.

âœSo then we allow them to have a bit of fun together and when they get really worked up and get to that point of need, we pull them apart. One of us will work over Thistle and scratch her itch and the other will relieve Bucky of his frustrations and we all get to be happy,â Berry replied.

Derpy groaned and her brows furrowed in worry.

âœWhat has you so worked up?â Berry inquired.

âœI donât want Thistle hating me or feeling unhappyâ I donât want her feeling that I am controlling her unfairly. It worries me Berryâ I worry about it a lot. I know I need to do what is right for her, but if I say this the wrong way or do this the wrong way, I am going to sound more like her mother than her fellow-wife and she is going to hate me,â Derpy blurted out in unhappy voice.

âœLook here Bubblebutt, there are times you act like you are my mother. It is what you do. Thistle needs to grow up and understand that things are the way they are sometimes. As they say in the local parlance, you are the matriarch of our little herd. The alpha. I accepted that as the price of admission. And she is going to have to do that as well. If she doesnât like it she can lump it. You canât help yourself. You mother everything you come into contact with. Look what you did to Sentinel not long after meeting him. You nearly suffocated the poor colt. There are plenty of times that you mother Buckyâ and by damn, there are times that he needs it. Iâve even seen you mother Lyra. The only mare in our group you donât do that to is Bonnie, and that is because Bonnie is a lot like you. You two are the herd mothers. The big mares. If something was to ever happen to you, Bon Bon would step into your place and keep us all in line,â Berry explained in a long winded fashion.

âœSomepony needs to keep you in line,â Derpy said good naturedly in reply.

âœSo I will help you out. Iâll be the one to tell Thistle and Bucky how it is going to be. And then weâll shag the little minx until she canât see or walk straight. If we keep that itch well scratched, she wonât feel such a pressing need to turn to Bucky,â Berry stated.

Derpy nodded in agreement and began to feel a little better.

âœI couldnât help but overhear everything both of you have been saying.â

Derpyâs eyes flew open wide and Berry Punch cringed. Her ears drooped down to the sides of her face and she inhaled sharply. Both of their faces distorted in panic as they realised that Ripple was just behind them and listening.

âœIt is good that both of you want Thistle to be happy and that you want to keep her safe,â Ripple said as she drew up alongside Derpy. She touched the grey mare with her wing and fell in step with the two adults. âœThistle doesnât deserve to be hurt again,â Ripple continued, her face now creased with worry. âœThistle and I talked about what it is like. Rutting. Having a stallion mount you. You know, filly talkâ even though weâre both considered adult enough by most other ponies around us,â she finished.

Derpy extended her other wing and placed it over Ripple, drawing the pegasus filly close to her.

âœBoth of you are actually worried about Thistle and that makes me feel happy and safe. I have seen the opposite, where mares give no thought at all to what a stallion might do to a female of smaller stature,â Ripple said. âœIâve watched it happen,â she said in a pained voice. âœSeen the blood,â she whispered. She shook her head forcefully, causing her mane to whip about.

Berry looked over at the pegasus filly and felt deep concern. Ripple showed signs of being more than a little troubled sometimes. She felt a pang in her heart.

âœI remember when I met my new mother, the last mare my father married. My other mothers pinned her down and twisted her wings to make her submissive so my father could force his way into her as she screamed,â Ripple said as her teeth clenched together. âœShe and Loch Skimmer were about the same age. Loch and I watched. There wasnât much we could do. Moon Mirror was her name. Before she was married, she liked to fly at night. After she was married, she bled for days. She got infected. She got a fever. She never flew again. Because she died,â Ripple said in a heartbroken voice. âœI am telling you this because I want you to know that I am sincere about what I said. It is better that you do what is right for Thistle and maybe have her a bit angry with you than allow her to get hurt.â Ripple fell silent and said nothing else. She leaned on the larger grey pegasus and pressed her face against Derpyâs neck.

The three of them walked together in silence. Derpy and Berry recoiled from the new perspective they now had. Ripple felt better, some of the pain she carried with her now lessened, knowing that there were ponies who truly cared. Derpy held the filly close, her wing wrapped tightly around her, not knowing any other way to comfort her other than the way that pegasi had always comforted one another.

âœAnd there he is,â Derpy said, her wings fluttering. âœCome on Berry. While there is still some sunlight left, weâre going to snatch him away and spend time telling him how grateful we are for him.â

âœAnd talk about Thistle I guess,â Berry said in reply.

âœThat too,â Derpy said. âœBon Bon and Lyra are going to stay awake and watch over the foals and Sparkler and Rising Star. I talked to them. I feel selfish but I need some time with Bucky. We both do.â

Berry nodded, looking unusually subdued. âœWe really lucked out,â Berry said in an emotional whisper. âœI really lucked out. What if I had been raised here?â

Derpy kissed her mate softly and then reached up to stroke Berryâs ears. âœThistle was born and raised here. And she lucked out too,â the pegasus said comfortingly.

Her words had a profound effect on Berry, who gasped and then trembled. âœWe need to give her a good life,â Berry said. âœRipple and Loch too,â she added. âœAny one of them could have been me.â

âœI know how to make you feel better,â Derpy said with gentle seductiveness. âœLetâs go get Bucky.â

Chapter 99 (Warning! Contains hot and sweaty equines!)

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The two mares watched as Bucky ate, the sounds of their heavy breathing an indicator of their impatience. It had become obvious as to why the pair were impatient, and just what was about to take place. Every action they took part in affected the herd as a whole somehow. Every act of affection, every act of communication, everything was watched and affected somepony in some fashion.

Ripple and Loch Skimmer noted the eagerness of the two mares and the total lack of fear. This wasnât something that the mares were dreading, it was clearly a happy occasion. This gave them hope. For Dinky and PiÃa, this was more of an indicator that things were returning back to normal, even as things grew stranger and stranger as the chaos increased. For Thistle it was anticipation, knowing that soon, she too would be a part of this, and that she would finally have what she wanted, which was a secured place within the herd. For Sparkler and Rising Star, they took comfort in the fact that two of their herdmates finally saw the goodness that could be found in the act, and Sparkler was joyful that her parents could finally have a moment alone together. Even Sentinel felt betterâ he understood that ponies were supposed to spend lots of time engaging in the act that created more ponies, and that hadnât been happening at all since he had met them. And for Lyra and Bon Bon, both of them wanted Bucky happy and looked after.

Bucky ate in silence, well aware of every eye that was staring at him for whatever reason. He finished the last of his cold fried oatcakes, something they always kept a platter of around in their room for moments just like these, licked his lips, and then looked at Sentinel. âœTake note Sentinel, never keep a mare waiting for too long, or you will regret it,â Bucky warned. He rose to his hooves, eased himself off of the sofa, and then walked slowly to the door. Derpy and Berry fell into pace behind him, and the trio departed out the door.

âœI understand,â Bucky acknowledged. He was sprawled out in the grass, Derpy on one side of him and Berry on the other. âœI donât see why you were so worried my stormy little pegasus. I would never want to hurt her. Iâll hold off on that until you feel that it is safe to try it.â

âœAfter she has her foal and has had time to recover,â Derpy said in a calm voice.

âœYou made too much of a big deal over it,â Berry said. âœNowâ while we still have daylight, how about less talk and more boning?â she suggested.

âœHow are we doing this? I donât think Bucky can make the beast with six legs anymore,â Derpy said regretfully.

âœWell, we could always go heads or tails,â Berry replied.

âœHeads or tails?â Derpy asked.

âœWell, between you and I, we figure out who gets which end. One gets a little pony ride while the other sits on his face and then you and I can make out while we straddle him,â Berry explained.

âœWho gets which end?â the pegasus inquired.

âœIâll sit on his face. Really, I donât care just so long as I get to go off,â Berry purred.

âœUh, ladies,â Bucky said shyly, some of his old nervousness coming back. âœI know a spellâ from that spellbook that Celestia gave me. It is called the âœMirrored Mareâ and it is for occasions like these,â Bucky offered.

âœWhat does it do?â Berry inquired.

âœWell, from the notes, which, uh, seem to be written by Celestia herself, it allows a group of mares to all feel what the others are feeling. I mean, a stallion can only penetrate one mare at a time, but this allows a group of mares to all feel the penetration. And other things. And it works both ways, the mares will share in each otherâs pleasure. So, uh, if I understand the notes correctly, if I am nibbling on Berry, Derpy, you should be able to feel it while you are being rutted. And Berry should be able to feel what Derpy is feeling,â Bucky explained.

âœThat soundsâ nice,â Derpy said slowly, one eyebrow raising as she spoke.

âœI just need permission from both of you. Celestia said to get consent and do nothing unless I asked first,â Bucky stated.

âœYouâve been out here performing forbidden magic, youâve violated the natural order, and now you are worried about Celestia taking you to task for a bit of erotic magic?â Berry asked incredulously.

âœYesâ yes I am. You werenât there that day that Princess Celestia gave me a sex talk. She might forgive me for everything Iâve done, she might not, but if I was to ever use my magic to harm or coerce either one of you in some way, I suspect I would be taking a lunar vacation,â Bucky said fearfully.

Berry Punch nodded and rolled her eyes. âœHow could I say no?â she asked.

âœIâll try it, Iâve always wanted to know what it felt like to be Berry,â Derpy asked.

âœThis might be a way for Thistle to enjoy what Bucky has to offer,â Berry said.

Derpy blinked a few times and nodded. âœThatâs a good idea,â Derpy said.

âœYeah it is,â Bucky said. âœWe can make her feel loved.â

âœAnd no stinging backside,â Berry said.

âœSoââ Derpy said impatiently.

Bucky closed his eye, concentrated, and his horn flared in a soft blue green light. His lips moved slightly and the air was filled with warmth. âœThat should do it,â he announced.

âœShouldnât we feel something?â Berry asked.

Derpy rolled over on to her hooves, rose, stepped over Bucky, and dropped down between Berryâs legs. In true pegasus fashion, she gave no thoughts to the consequences and blindly charged on ahead. She ran the length of the edge of her tongue over one of Berryâs overly sensitive teats.

And she could feel the sensation as it traveled over one of her own. The grey mare squealed and jerked her head back, panting and now breathing heavily. âœSo sensitive,â she gasped.

Berryâs eyes rolled back into her head and she wrapped her hind legs around Derpyâs neck. âœMy teats,â she moaned. âœWhy are they so sensitive so early?â she asked, not really expecting an answer at this moment.

Bucky rolled over onto his side to watch the two mares. This was exciting. As he watched, Derpyâs head dropped down and she gave an experimental lick to something else on Berry, causing both of them to shudder.

âœIt is like licking myself,â Derpy said breathlessly. âœI could feel my tongue sliding over my own slit,â she announced.

That got Buckyâs attention. He felt the first real powerful feeling of need in his loins as he watched Derpy trying to figure out the nature of the spell.

âœOooh I know what I like,â Derpy whispered seductively. Her head dropped and she went exploring just below Berryâs dock with her tongue. The grey mare could feel the hot slippery feeling of something applying pressure on her own pucker, and Berry moaned as her whole body tensed. Not only was the feeling of the tongue pleasing, but Berry could feel Derpyâs sensations of pleasure.

As the two mares went about exploring one another enthusiastically, Bucky felt himself growing hard. Derpy was relentless in her explorations. As he watched, the pegasusâ tongue pushed Berryâs now slick folds apart and plunged deep, causing both mares to clench and whimper with need.

âœThis might be the greatest thing ever,â Berry breathed. âœNo no, down a bit, that little wrinkly place just below my berryâ UM YEAH RIGHT THERE!â Berry Punchâs teeth ground together and she pounded her forehooves against the earth. Derpy reacted as well, her whole body freezing in place and tensing up.

âœThis is hard,â Derpy huffed. âœBerry loses control, and then I lose control, and then the sensation sort of slips away,â she explained.

âœYeah,â Berry agreed. âœI could see how it would be easy to be overcome.â

âœWe need Buckyâ and then we can just ride out what we feel,â Derpy whispered.

Berry looked over at Bucky. âœI think he is enjoying the show,â she stated.

Derpy nodded and then wrapped her lips around Berryâs nubbin, applying gentle suction that she felt in her own now dripping snatch. Berry was hot and warm beneath her, and Derpy could feel every quiver of every muscle in Berryâs powerful form. The grey mare plowed onwards out of sheer force of will, trying to endure the powerful sensations shooting through her own nethers.

âœIfâ heâ screwedâ one of usâ the right wayâ all of us would beâ satisfied,â Berry said between heaving breaths.

Bucky rose and circled the mares a few times, moving around them slowly, watching them as Derpy tried to work out her own frustrations by trying to relieve Berryâs needs. This was quite possibly the most erotic thing he had ever witnessed.

âœI had no idea that Berry had that little ticklish spot right there,â Derpy said, pressing her damp muzzle between Berryâs teats and chuffing, blowing hot air over Berryâs overly sensitive flesh. Both mares jerked from the stimulation.

âœThe level ofâ trust neededâ for this,â Berry moaned in between heaves. Her mind raced as she engaged in physical activity. She was keenly aware of what Derpy was feeling.

This is sexual communion Berry realised.

Bucky moved behind Derpy and eased his haunches to the ground, sitting down and making himself comfortable. He saw Derpyâs backside rise on wobbling legs, and then it dropped. He gently lifted her haunches in his magic and lifted her tail off to one side, revealing her hidden places to himself.

He looked at her bubbles, the mark of her destiny, and he reached out and gently touched them with his fetlock. She tensed at his touch. He looked at her, studying her, now able to look without shame, and he thought about a day that seemed so long ago when Berry had tried to get him to look at her.

He leaned in closer to the glistening folds and saw a rivulet of moisture sliding down one swollen edge. Before him was life, the source of all life. Something precious and sacred to him. Perhaps the only thing he held sacred anymore. He had broken his oaths as Celestiaâs student, dabbled in forbidden magic, violated the natural order, and contemplated death on a massive scale. But before him was the only thing that really mattered. Bucky realised it wasnât so much about sex as he tenderly kissed the engorged flesh. He heard both Derpy and Berry hiss and moan. Foals would be coming out of here. His foals. This is what he fought for. What he was protecting. Bucky reveled in his state of philosophical arousal. This wasnât just some hole for him to rut mindlessly, as it might be to other stallions. This was a sacred place. A place of worship. If he left an offering, it would give him something in return, something he valued.

He pressed his snoot against the feverish flesh and his own orange tongue darted out, flicking at the rolling bead of moisture that was slowly running down the outer edge. The rough edge of his tongue lingered against the flesh that burned as though it was a furnace. Derpy squealed at his touch and her head lifted away from Berry, and Berry whimpered and writhed in the grass.

His tongue teased at the blue grey folds, probing around the edges, and then as the grey pegasus panted, he finally eased his tongue into the searing hot folds of flesh. Derpyâs hind legs kicked gently, a frantic twitching, and her hooves did not touch the ground. Berryâs legs let go of the grey pegasus and kicked outward, spreading wide.

He moved around the outer edges, teasing just under the surface, working his way downward slowly, his goal a purple-blue-grey knob of flesh that was winking out from blood engorged and clenching flesh. Celestia had been the one to tell him about this tiny button of flesh on a mare, and he understood its value. His tongue lingered tantalisingly close to it, and his own hot breath teased it.

As his tongue lightly trailed over the quivering clitoris, Berry bleated several times and Derpy clenched. The grey mare wasnât feeling her own orgasm, which hadnât happened yet, but she could feel Berryâs, and it was a strange and alien feeling to her. Berryâs orgasm was very different from her own, and the realisation was powerful. Derpy was sharing something intimate and private, something that had been up to this point, something Berry could have never shared, no matter how descriptive her words. The two mares were completely locked into the shared sensation and Bucky eased off.

Berry lay in the grass panting. She could feel every probing lick of Buckyâs tongue. Derpyâs marehood was so different than her own, yet so similar. Places where Berry felt very little were so sensitive on the pegasus and Berry experienced all kinds of new first time sensations. Derpyâs larger clitoris rubbed against the thicker and far more muscular lips as it winked, something Berry enjoyed a great deal as she felt it. Berry realised that Derpy could get off by indirect stimulation, just so long as her folds were being tugged and pulled the right way, her large protruding nub would get all the stimulation it needed. Berry on the other hoof required a lot more direct stimulation, having a very small and somewhat shy little button that took a lot of coaxing to get it to come out and play. She could feel Derpyâs head resting on her navel. The pegasus mare was no longer lapping away at Berryâs folds.

Bucky carefully wrapped his lips around the salty bulb of flesh and suckled as Berry continued bleating. He noticed with a feeling of satisfaction that Derpyâs hind legs were going stiff. She was getting close. He increased suction and teased with the tip of his tongue. He could see her folds twitch and spasm. He pulled away, the button of flesh slipping from his lips with a wet pop. Derpyâs wings were fully extended now, stiff as boards.

Both mares moaned as Derpy lingered near the edge.

Bucky gave another teasing lick and then waited. He blew his breath over it, and then took it into his mouth again. The pegasus gave a savage growl that resonated from deep within her barrel and Berry let out a whine of need as she wiggled and twisted in the grass.

Bucky realised that both mares were lost to him at this moment, lost in the throes of Derpyâs orgasm. He eased away and gently lowered the pegasusâ haunches down to the grass. She twitched and kicked, laying on her belly, and after several minutes of grunting, finally lay still.

âœPegasi and earth ponies donât have the same orgasms,â Berry whispered breathlessly.

Derpy made no reply. She lay in the grass, her barrel heaving, occasionally shuddering.

âœOne of us needs to look after Bucky,â Berry mentioned. âœYou alright Derpy?â she asked.

âœI could feel you going off,â Derpy replied after several moments of heaving. âœIâm overwhelmed. Bucky was working me over and I could feel everything you were feeling Berry and I know that you were feeling what I was feeling and all of itâ everythingââ

Berry looked over at the pegasus and smiled. âœBucky, I think we finally found a way to wear the pegasus out,â she said triumphantly.

âœIâm down, not out,â Derpy protested.

âœLook, boners being what they are, we need to strike while the iron is hot. I want to know what it feels like when Bucky bones you,â Berry announced. She rose to her hooves and approached Bucky.

Berry eased the unicorn over into the grass and straddled him, facing towards his twitching erection. She lifted her tail to give him a view and she ground herself against his breastbone.

Derpy snorted and twitched. âœBerry has a deep itch,â she muttered. Finally, the pegasus roused herself and approached the pair. She eased her way down onto Bucky and into Berryâs waiting forelegs. Berry pulled the mare close and kissed her.

Bucky looked up at the two mares making out on top of him. He could feel Derpy sliding backwards, easing herself back. He felt himself throb painfully. He wasnât sure how long he was going to last.

âœI can feel it poking at the entrance,â Berry murmured after she tore her lips away from Derpyâs. She gasped and continued to grind away on Bucky.

Bucky grabbed Berry by her cutie marks and pulled her backwards towards his eager lips. He probed her with his tongue, causing both mares to cling to one another and cry out. Berryâs folds were slick and waxy with pegasus slobber. As Bucky wiggled his tongue in, he felt himself slip into grippy folds of the pegasus. He decided to let Derpy do the work and he focused instead on Berryâs quivering snatch. Using his lips, he nibbled along the edges of her entrance, working his way up and down along the sides.

As he felt himself sliding in and out of the eager pegasus, he could hear the wet squelching sounds of the two mares as they continued to kiss passionately. He once again slipped his tongue into Berry and he realised that her marehood was flexing in the same way as it would if she was being penetrated.

âœCan you feel that Berry?â Bucky asked.

Berry Punch pulled away from the amorous pegasus. âœYes!â she panted. âœI can feel it as Derpy slides it in and out. Feels so good. And it doesnât feel like I am about to be split open,â Berry explained.

Derpy pulled the earth pony back into a passionate lip lock to shut her up. There were better things that Berry could be doing with her lips. The shared sensation of the kiss between two mares was almost too much for the pegasus to bear. The pegasus was light headed and felt drunk.

And it was then that she had an idea. She pulled away from Berry for a moment and licked the slobber from her lips. âœI am going to tap your bung,â Derpy whispered seductively.

âœWhat?â Berry said, her eyes flying open wide. She wiggled in the pegasus' iron grip.

Bucky felt sudden cold as Derpy pulled off of him. A breeze trailed over his now wet and exposed skin. He could feel the pegasus squirming above him, shifting and moving around.

Derpy held the squirming earth pony in one foreleg as she reached down with the other to guide Bucky into a different entrance. He was good and slick, and so was Derpy. The pegasus mare was gentle, knowing that if she pushed down too hard, she could bend poor Bucky in half and hurt him. And she didnât want to hurt herself. Derpy closed one eye and watched with her good eye as Berry reacted to the feeling of a girthy cock knocking at the back door.

Bucky had slipped it into Berryâs bung quite by accident on their wedding night and it had left the poor mare absolutely terrified of something coming anywhere near her pucker. He had only gone in an inch or so, but was enough to leave a lasting impression.

Berryâs eyes went wide at the sensation of penetration. She squirmed and moaned, tense in Derpyâs embrace. She could feel Buckyâs tongue darting away, poking deep inside of her sticky snatch. She could have said no and she knew that Derpy would have stopped, but Berry liked the feeling of being pinned in and held down. She wondered what this would be like if she was tied up and forced to trust in Derpyâs and Buckyâs goodness.

Bucky felt Derpy easing herself down upon him. She moved up and down, scratching her own peculiar itch. The pegasus pucker was a much tighter entrance. He took a deep shuddering breath and focused on getting Berry off, knowing that he was bound to go off sooner rather than later with the tight feeling of grippy flesh wrapped around his pecker.

Berry Punch let out a moan as she felt Buckyâs cock slipping up her ass. He wasnât actually in her ass, but she could feel everything Derpy was feeling. And Derpy was right. It was almost like taking a dump in reverse, and there was the same sort of odd sensation of relief as Derpy wiggled around and caused Buckyâs cock to slide in and out. She wrapped her forelegs around Derpy and doubled down on her grip on the mare, lost in a completely new sensation. It stung a bit, but no more so than it did when Bucky eased his way into her marehood. She rolled her hips around and could feel Buckyâs tongue working its way under her clitoral hood and digging into the little hidden scratchy place she had underneath there. She could feel his tongue sliding over her nubbin as he did so.

Derpy worked Buckyâs cock deeper and deeper into her pucker. She was keenly aware of what Berry was feeling and Derpy took a secret satisfaction in knowing that she was somehow drilling into Berryâs plot. She was in control of what the earth pony felt. She was quite literally making Berry Punch her mare, and Derpy was quite infatuated with the notion that she could screw Berry Punch and make her moan. She could also feel Buckyâs tongue working Berry over and the feeling of something in both her marehood and her pucker was almost too much. She felt another orgasm coming, and this was one was going to be a doozer.

She hoped it would beâ she wanted Berry to feel it too. It was a new dynamic at work, and it appealed to Derpyâs pegasus nature. Combat by orgasm. She wanted the earth pony submissive. Derpy felt confident that she could survive the explosive outcome she and Berry were racing towards. The pegasus reveled in her competitive nature and worked to take in more of what Bucky had to offer.

Berry Punch stubbornly refused to give in. She could make this stop at any timeâ but she didnât want to. She was determined to ride this out. She could feel the perverse pleasure the pegasus was feelingâ it was a competitive feeling. Somehow, this had become a contest of wills Berry realised. She was having trouble breathing. She felt hot, too hot, and she realised she could feel Derpy on the verge of overheating.

Berry cried out as she felt more girthy cock sliding up her backside. Derpy was enjoying it a great deal, and that was causing Berry all kinds of new pleasurable feelings. It was strange to feel something that wasnât actually there. Berry gnashed her teeth and struggled to hold back her own powerful building orgasm. She was determined to let Derpy have it. She dug deep into her earth pony strength, hoping to endure. She was all too aware that Derpy was now screwing her by proxy, and Berry Punchâs nearly delirious brain wondered where she might find an extra large strap on once she finally got home.

Bucky was completely unaware that his body was a battlefield. He was having some of the best loving in his life. He felt himself sliding in and out of Derpy. She was edging him, halting when she sensed that he was close to going off. He wanted to get off, he needed to get off, but he understood that Derpy was pent up so he allowed it continue and tried to endure the now almost painful need to blow his load. He focused most of his efforts on trying new things on Berryâs foal hole, trying to show it the love and affection it deserved for the gifts it would soon offer him. He had found a spot that when licked, caused Berry to clench tightly and wiggle. He had no idea that he was contributing to some mighty struggle, fueling the ancient conflict that existed between earth ponies and pegasi, the never ending struggle of proving dominance over one another.

Bucky had unwittingly created yet another bomb, and this one was armed. There would be no survivors in close quarters once it finally went off.

Derpyâs endurance was nearly spent. She wasnât sure how much longer she could keep this up. She held everything back, hoping that Berry would go off first so that Derpy could let go and slam the earth pony with a double whammy. Berry showed distressing signs of holding on though, even with Buckyâs tongue and that spot that he kept licking. It was driving Derpy crazy. She needed to gain the upper hoof and pulled Berry Punch back in for a kiss.

Just when Derpy was certain that she would be the last mare standing, so to speak, Bucky was their mutual undoing. Derpy had failed to pay attention to Bucky and now she realised, he was at critical mass. She felt the building pressure. And with a loud groan, Bucky blew his load. Derpy felt her body seize as she felt him cum inside of her. As this happened, Bucky, in the throes of his own orgasm, had his head jerk back, ramming his chin sharply upwards, directly into Berryâs cork. Berry Punch screamed as she felt Buckyâs chin drag over her clitoris and every ounce of control she had slipped away from her. She was no longer able to hold back her orgasm. Just as Derpy was unable to hold back hers.

Berry Punch pulled away from Derpyâs kiss and bleated loudly.

The two orgasms were like locomotives on a train track racing toward one another. Both mares realised just a second too late that they had made a terrible mistake. Their eyes locked together, both of them looking at one another for few precious seconds they had before everything exploded.

Bucky didnât know what was happening, but Derpyâs body suddenly went rock hard. It was as if she was turned to stone. She clenched down on him tightly. He could feel his cock being squeezed between her cheeks. The sudden clenching caused a him to blow another load, his whole body spasmed from the feeling of of tight hot flesh crushing his cock. Bucky could hear Berryâs spine crackling and popping as the earth pony was suddenly squeezed. A moment later, a flood of liquid rushed from Berryâs slit and nearly drowned him. He coughed and spluttered, trying desperately to get air into his lungs. Berryâs legs clenched and Bucky felt his barrel compress, which didnât help with his lack of air.

Bucky had no idea what happened next, but a lot of things happened at once.

Derpy was off to one side, he wasnât sure how she had ended up there. Berry was a few feet away in a different direction. Both mares were panting and whimpering. Nopony could actually move.

âœDerpy? Berry?â Bucky asked in a heaving whisper.

There was no reply, just more panting and the occasional cry.

Bucky pulled himself together, the first to recover. He wasnât sure what just happened, but the spell was broken. A concerned look settled on his face as he looked at his mares.

Berry was on her back, her eyes rolled back into her head. Her tongue was lolled out and she clutched between her legs with her hoof. She looked drunk.

Derpy was on her belly, not moving. Her wings were still sprung. She snorted every so often and made the occasional pained whimper.

His concern faded as he realised that both of them looked quite satisfied. Bucky smiled, feeling good about a job well done, not having any idea of what the two mares had done to one another. He peered skyward. There was plenty of sun left for a quick dip in the lake. He scooped up both mares in his magic and headed off for the lake at a slow trot.

Chapter 100

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Berry Punch sat in the shallow lake water. She felt like she had been hit by a runaway wagon. Every muscle ached. She also felt pretty good all things considered. She leered at the pegasus bathing a short distance away. Once again, Berry had been dominated by the pegasus. And once again, Berry found that she didnât mind.

Derpy was aware that she was being oogled by the earth pony and gave her something to look at, flicking her tail off to the side. She was recovering slowly. If she could ever perform a rainboom, this is what she imagined it might feel like afterwards. Everything was sore. She shook water from her wings and flapped a bit as she stood in the shallows. She was going to need to preen her wings. Some of her feathers were a bit ruffled and she was approaching what appeared to be a summer molt, which would be miserable.

Sitting silently in the water, Bucky watched the two mares as they bathed. Bucky felt fantastic. Today had been a wonderful day from start to end. The water was cool and felt pleasant against his skin. The sun was warm and soothing as it seeped into his bones.

âœYou know Bucky, your mane is starting to grow down the sides of your face. You are developing sideburns,â Derpy said as she squatted down in the water and wiggled her backside.

âœI wonder if you will grow a beard,â Berry added.

Bucky shrugged but said nothing. He looked down into his reflection. He was indeed growing sideburns. His forelock was gone, burned away from around his horn, but it was growing back rapidly. His mane was long now, far longer than it had ever been. It flowed from his neck and spilled around his shoulders. The right side of his face was still hideous, he doubted that would ever change. The long gashes where the wolfâs teeth had scraped over his skull were still visible, and the spot where a chunk of skin had been torn away had left a concavity in his face. He craned his neck and looked at the scar below his jaw. Just a few inches over and his windpipe could have been torn open.

âœAre you feeling sorry for yourself?â Berry inquired as she watched Bucky.

âœTrying not to be,â Bucky answered with total honesty.

âœYou just had your brains screwed out and you are worried that you are ugly?â Berry asked, her tone slightly angry.

Bucky lifted his gaze and peered at her with one narrowed eye.

âœDonât test me Bucky. Iâll screw the self pity right out of you,â Berry threatened.

The stallionâs gaze softened and he slumped as he sat in the water. âœI donât recognise myself anymore. The inside and the outside are so different now,â he said in a low voice. âœI havenât even lived a quarter century yet and I can see grey hairs forming in my mane.â

âœThose are silver, and they make you look distinguished,â Derpy interjected. âœOne day I am going to get some grey hairs. Will I still be pretty when I do?â she asked.

âœOf course you will. I will always find you beautiful,â Bucky replied.

âœAnd do you think that we somehow find you repulsive?â Berry asked.

âœWell, noâ but I know what I look like,â Bucky argued.

âœI DONâT CARE WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE!â Berry shouted, her sudden outburst startling Derpy. Berryâs lip curled back into a snarl. âœYou look like the sort of pony that would protect my foals,â Berry growled.

Derpy nodded and began to draw her primary feathers through her lips.

Bucky looked down into the water at his reflection again. The face staring back at him was his own, like it or not. He sighed. âœWhat if I scare my own foals?â he asked.

âœAre you actually worried about that?â Berry replied in a gentle voice, her anger now gone.

âœYes,â Bucky said truthfully. âœI donât want to be the boogeypony.â He shuddered as he spoke, remembering the boogeypony in his own imagination.

âœFoals are resilient. They will grow up knowing your face. You will comfort them. You will protect them. You will be a good father to them. I promise you, they will not see the face that you see looking back at you,â Berry patiently explained.

âœWe should be getting back,â Derpy said after she smoothed out a few more feathers. âœLook, Bucky, I am more worried about how you hurt on the inside. I donât care what your face looks like. If you can love my eyes, I can love your face,â the mare said.

âœTechnically, I loved his face earlier,â Berry quipped. âœYou loved the other end.â

The sun began to settle on the horizon and the sky began to turn purple and all of the shades of twilight. Dinner would be served soon and ponies were gathering in the dining hall. Bucky and his family were already gathered around a table, seated in their usual spots.

âœDid you have a nice time?â Thistle asked. She was sitting next to Berry Punch.

âœYes Thistle, we did,â Berry replied. âœI kinda wished that you were there with us.â

Thistle blushed at Berryâs words and then looked down at the table. The kelpie filly took a deep breath and then another. She smiled warmly and finally let out a nervous giggle. She didnât say anything else and fell silent.

Bucky looked around him and watched his herd members interact. PiÃa and Dinky were busy talking about something, Sentinel was chatting away with Ripple, and Lyra conversed in a low voice with Loch Skimmer. Bon Bon and Derpy were busy discussing something between one another. Sparkler was talking to a noble that Bucky recognised, but could not remember his name. Rising Star was quietly watching other ponies and looked thoughtful.

Bucky felt a tap from behind him. He turned and saw nopony.

âœHi.â

He lowered his gaze and saw a tiny yellow yearling pegasus with a curly brown and pink mane. The foal was looking up at him intently. âœWho are you little one?â Bucky asked as he turned around to face her.

âœIâm Wheatberry,â the foal replied. She stood up on her hind legs and balanced with her hooves on one of Buckyâs front legs. âœHold me?â she asked.

Bucky glanced around, looking for a worried parent. He scooped the foal up in his front forelegs and cradled her, raising his eyebrow in worry.

âœYouâre my daddyâs knight,â Wheatberry announced in a tiny squeaky voice.

Bucky looked down at the foal. âœWho is your father?â he asked. He had a good guess already, but wanted to make sure.

âœEggy,â Wheatberry replied.

âœEggy?â Bucky inquired, feeling slightly confused but still fairly confident that he knew the answer.

âœEggy,â Wheatberry answered as she nodded.

âœAnd where is Eggy?â Bucky answered. âœShould you have slipped away from him?â

âœDaddy told me to find you and wait for him,â the foal replied. âœIâm a big filly.â

âœYou sure are,â Bucky agreed. He felt eyes watching him. He heard a snigger from beside him. He sighed and began to rock the foal back and forth gently. The little pegasus was looking up at him, and Bucky felt an odd sense of relief that his face didnât seem to be scaring her. Of course, if she was anything like her father, he doubted that she would be afraid of much.

The foal squirmed in his embrace, kicking out her stubby little legs and trying to get comfortable. Finally, she was sprawled out and ceased to wiggle so much. She continued to look up at Bucky and watched him as he looked down at her. âœYou are Broodyâs mate,â Wheatberry said.

âœBroody?â Bucky asked.

Wheatberry pointed at Derpy. âœStormy. Sometimes Broody,â she quipped.

Derpy had stopped talking to Bon Bon and was now squinting at Bucky and the foal in his forelegs. âœYou found a new friend,â Derpy said in a teasing tone of voice.

Bucky nodded but did not reply. Wheatberry was looking up at him with absolute adoration.

âœDaddy talks about you,â Wheatberry said.

âœDoes he?â Bucky asked.

âœDaddy worries about you. He says you are going to be the one though,â the foal replied.

âœThe one?â Bucky inquired.

âœThe one that finally saves us from the wolves,â Wheatberry squeaked. There was some fear in her voice now. She squirmed a bit and rubbed the side of her face against Buckyâs neck.

Keg Smasher finally entered the hall and stood in the doorway.

âœEggy!â Wheatberry cried when she saw her daddy. She pointed excitedly.

The big pegasus moved through the hall, studying the mood of his subjects. He seemed pleased as he crossed the room, and his hooves thudded on the stone floor with each step. He moved to the head of the table and sat down.

âœI do believe I have something of yours,â Bucky said as he turned himself around.

âœI see that,â Keg Smasher replied. âœShe wanted to meet you,â the big pegasus stated.

The foal in Buckyâs embrace made no move to leave, no attempt to squirm free, and seemed content to be held. She giggled as she looked at the big proud pegasus that was her father.

âœShe came home with me. Her mother lives on another isle. Winter Wheat is in charge there. Her mother is worried about the wolves,â Keg Smasher said in a low strained voice. âœWinter is too dedicated to her job to leave her post. She is very protective of her ponies. So Wheatberry is going to be spending time with her daddy.â

âœIâm a yearling,â Wheatberry bragged.

âœI can see that,â Bucky responded in a soft friendly voice.

âœMy mommy is an earth pony,â Wheatberry announced.

âœDo you look like your mama?â Bucky asked.

Wheatberry nodded.

âœWinter Wheat is everything an earth pony should be. As solid and reliable as a stone. Resolute,â Keg Smasher quipped.

âœAnd she can make beautiful foals,â Thistle said, her compliment causing Keg Smasher to look flustered. Thistle watched Bucky as he held the foal and she was aware that Berry, who was sitting beside her, was also watching. She gave Berry a nudge.

âœDoing well Thistle?â Keg Smasher inquired, his voice now serious. âœAre you happy lass? Your mother wanted you happy. I worry about you like you were one of my ownâ you know that right? I love you as much as I love my little Wheatberry there,â the pegasus confessed.

Thistle blushed and looked down at the table. Several times she started to say something, stammered, and then fell silent.

âœWeâve accepted Thistle into our herd,â Bucky announced to Keg Smasher. âœIâve been meaning to tell you. Things keep happening. And youâve been in and out.â

Keg Smasher grinned broadly. âœI guess youâll be needing me to marry the lot of you,â Keg Smasher offered.

Derpy swiveled her head around sharply and stared at Keg Smasher.

âœShe looks like a hoot owl when she does that,â Keg Smasher observed.

âœShe is in but we need to wait a bit for the marriage,â Derpy said in neutral tones.

âœWhy the wait?â Keg Smasher asked.

Thistle glanced around in worry but said nothing.

âœBecause. We want the cabin on the ship finished. I want Thistle to be taken to a place we can actually call home on her wedding night,â Derpy explained.

Thistle heaved a sigh of relief and leaned on Berry.

âœYouâre going to spoil my kelpie,â Keg Smasher said in a low voice.

âœI intend to spoil my kelpie until she is absolutely rotten,â Derpy replied.

âœIâm spoilt,â Wheatberry quipped.

âœI bet you are,â Bucky replied. âœAnd Thistle is my kelpie,â he commented.

âœMeh, whatâs mine is yours and whatâs yours is mine,â Derpy said with a shrug.

âœThistle honey, I do believe that you are going to be fine. I hope you understand just how lucky you are,â Keg Smasher said solemnly. âœThatâs a load off my shoulders. Can I have my foal back?â

Bucky lifted the foal in his magic, causing the foal to begin giggling as she felt the tingles coursing through her body. He deposited Wheatberry into Keg Smasherâs embrace. The big pegasus hugged the foal for a moment and then gently sat her down on the table beside him.

âœHow long?â Keg Smasher asked.

âœHmm?â Bucky replied.

âœHow long till yon ship is fit to be a home?â Keg Smasher asked.

âœI should have it airborn in a week,â Bucky said. âœHopefully the cabin will be done by then. By the way, I am going to need a lot of pegasi. I am going to need clouds. Lots of clouds. And I will need them all super compressed into the gasbag.â

âœI will see that it gets done,â Keg Smasher answered. âœAnd then I can finally put my head to rest about Thistle.â

âœYou really love Thistle,â Bucky stated rather bluntly.

âœWhat gave you that idea?â Keg Smasher replied with heavy sarcasm.

Thistle blushed even deeper as the two stallions talked. She wrapped one foreleg around the curve of her belly and rubbed in a circle. She looked up and and over at Bucky with a shy expression upon her face and felt something deep within her barrel. Her gaze shifted to Keg Smasher. The two males were eyeing one another and the filly supposed that there was a lot of unspoken communication between the two. She felt a foreleg wrap around her withers and she rubbed herself against Berry Punch, who was holding her.

âœI will see that she is loved,â Bucky said.

âœGood, because I donât just want her looked after,â Keg Smasher said as he wrapped a foreleg around Wheatberry and pulled her close. The tiny foal squeaked in alarm as she was squeezed. âœWhy is dinner taking so long?â he bellowed. He banged a hoof down on the table, causing Wheatberry to meep with fear.

Berry, still holding Thistle, looked over at Bucky. âœThat foal absolutely adored you,â Berry stated. âœDo you actually think you need to worry about your face?â

Bucky slumped. There it was. Berry Punchâs final parting shot on the issue. He raised his foreleg and rested it on the table and sighed in defeat. The earth pony always had to get in the final word. She was always nipping at his heels. She was always pushing him forward. And he was thankful.

Finally, the doors opened at the first carts full of food were rolled into the dining hall.

Bucky yawned. Today had been a very long day by any standards. There was a bale of compressed peat crackling in the fire. He yawned again. He wasnât going to get much done tonight. He was already in the bed, and had laid down before the others. Lyraâs lyre was soothing and smoothed out the unsettled thoughts of his mind. He was going to bed early.

In the corner, Dinky and PiÃa were huddled together, and Dinky had a bee summoned. He wasnât sure what Dinky was doing, but he was proud to see her working independently. Dinky was the sort of foal who treasured self study. She was motivated. She had drive. He watched as she yawned. The yawn was contagious and Bucky felt himself yawn again.

Sparkler and Rising Star seemed no different, but Bucky knew that they had been changed. He wondered how long it would take before the noticeable changes might manifest. The pair were on a sofa with Loch Skimmer sandwiched between them, trying to get the pegasus to smile.

Lyra looked a bit tired but Bucky knew she would keep watch through the night. She had a brush and was trying to work out the tangles from Sentinelâs mane. The colt have given up protesting and now endured in the most stoic manner he could muster, glowering silently as he sat still for Lyra.

Derpy approached the bed and then vanished into his blind side. He didnât need to turn his head to see her. Bucky knew that she was going to lay down by his side, right in the spot she had claimed as her own. He felt her warm soft body eased up against him and he relaxed a bit.

âœI love youâ and thank you for the nice time earlier,â Derpy whispered into his ear.

He felt the mare cuddle against his side and then he felt the reassuring weight of her head coming to rest upon his withers. It was an almost perfect end to a perfect day.

Berry approached the bed next. Eased onto the bed carefully and took her usual spot, pressing into Buckyâs other side. She folded her legs beneath her and pressed her head against Buckyâs neck.

âœWhere do I go?â Thistle asked.

Bucky turned his head to look at her.

âœWe might not be married just yet, but that doesnât stop me from wanting my fair share of you,â Thistle stated in a small voice that was filled with just a hint of fear.

Bucky nodded.

Thistle squeaked as she was lifted into the air and dropped onto the bed before Bucky. She was sprawled out lengthwise in front of the three ponies. Thistle tried to get herself situated, pulling her legs under her and trying to shift her body into a position where her back didnât hurt. She felt a weight resting upon the small of her back. She turned her head and saw that Bucky was using her as a pillow.

âœThere, now you have a spot,â Derpy murmured.

Thistle could feel Buckyâs neck against the curve of her expanded sides and along the swell of her belly. A moment later, she felt another weight upon her withers and realised that Berry was also using her as a pillow.

âœMmm, so soft,â Berry muttered before letting out yawn.

Thistle settled into her spot and realised that she could get used to this. It was comforting. She felt almost a little too warm and it made her feel sleepy. âœThank you,â she said in a small voice.

âœFor what?â Berry asked.

âœFor this. For taking me in. For making sure I have my own little part of Bucky,â Thistle said.

âœWhat about me?â Berry replied. âœDonât you want a little part of me? My little parts are fun to play with,â Berry teased in a sleepy voice.

Thistle felt a hot flash travel through her body and a fire ignited between her hind legs. It burned with a low steady heat. She squirmed, rather enjoying the sensation. She heard a sniff from Bucky and felt him shift slightly.

âœMmm, perfume,â Bucky breathed in a drowsy voice. It was the last thing he said as he drifted off to sleep at the end of a perfect day.

A blizzard swirled all around him. Bucky had trouble remembering how he had gotten here. He vaguely remembered a long walk. He looked behind him and could see hoofprints in the snow, hoofprints that were already vanishing. He could barely see, but there was light ahead, something large and well lit loomed in the distance.

It must have been his destination. The cold must be getting to him. Surely it was his destination. He could see the trail behind him. He felt disoriented and confused. He leaned into the wind and pressed onwards, heading toward the light in the distance.

After what felt like a small eternity of walking, fighting for each step as he walked into the gale force winds, he reached a large gate. It was a city, and the gate was made of crystal. In the distance, he could see a tall tower. All around the tower was the city, full of short buildings. Nothing was tall enough to even begin to threaten the supremacy of the tower.

Snow swirled all around him as he worked his way down the snow covered streets between the buildings. The tower seemed to grow larger and larger as he drew closer. There were no ponies to be found. Nopony came out to greet him, or to welcome him. He crossed through another gate and reached the large double doors at the base of the tower.

The doors opened and a blast of heat flooded outwards, and the sudden rush of heat made Buckyâs legs wobble. He began to sweat almost immediately.

He went through the massive doorway and the doors shut behind him. He was in a hall made of crystal. Magical lamps shone brightly. There was only one direction to go and Bucky trotted down the hallway, his hooves causing the crystal floor to ring out with each step.

There were tall crystals along the sides of the hall and he paused to look at one as he passed. It flickered with an unearthly light. Bucky studied the structure, and, as he watched, he could see a face on the inside of the crystal. A ghostly form was inside. It was a pony, a pegasus pony. Bucky could still see her wings. Her eyes were large and pleading. Bucky touched the crystal with his hoof and the apparition inside the crystal touched the inside of the crystal, trying to touch his hoof. He felt pained when he realised he could do nothing to help her, nothing to free her. He backed away from the crystal in horror. She didnât even have a body anymore. She was a ghost of what she once was, preserved in crystal.

And the long hall was full of crystals. Bucky recoiled in mortal terror.

He forced his legs to work, trying to reach the double doors at the end of the hall. Even with the heat, Bucky felt a cold chill in the air. Now that he was aware of them, he could not stop looking at them. He saw faces in crystals peering out at him.

Finally, he reached the double doors and they opened.

Buckyâs heart sank when he saw what was on the other side of the doors. A black and shadowy figure sat upon a throne. He had a red crystalline horn. He was wearing armor of ancient make. To his left, chained to his throne, was Princess Luna and strange black crystals grew from her horn. To his right was Princess Celestia and she too had black crystals growing from her horn. Twilight Sparkle was chained to the floor directly before him and she had been incapacitated as well. All three of them looked bloodied and beaten, but not broken. Each of them looked defiant. Angry.

âœAt last, my heir returns,â the shadowy figure announced.

Bucky was not in the mood for pleasantries. He curled back his lips, bared his teeth, and snarled. It was the only appropriate response he could think of.

âœYou do not even have your proper teeth yet,â the figure said with a chuckle. âœBut you have been busy. You have survived and reclaimed your horn. You have kept your magic.â

âœWhere is Cadance?â Bucky growled.

âœI am so glad you asked,â the figure replied.

A door off to the side opened and a golem emerged. It was a large bipedal figure and it dragged the chained pink alicorn behind it.

âœDo you know who I am?â the figure asked. âœThis one,â he said, pointing at Celestia. âœThis one tried to rob you of your destiny. She meddled with your mind. She held you back, tried to prevent you from becoming what you were meant to be. She kept you from remembering me.â

Buckyâs mind flooded with images. Nightmarish images. He recalled everything all at once. The bad dreams. The magic surges with cold. Celestia entering his mind, filling it with warm soothing light, and making all of the bad dreams go away. He recalled the rush of gratitude that he had felt. He had begged her to make the nightmares go away, the shadow that lurked in the dark.

The boogeypony.

More importantly, Bucky remembered meeting the real Sombra down in Tartarus.

âœYou are a fragment of what you once hoped to be and you arenât even worth remembering,â Bucky said defiantly.

Shadow Sombra snarled and leapt down from his throne. He landed with the clank of armor and glared at his heir. The air around them crackled with energy.

âœYou are a failure!â Bucky shouted.

âœSo are you!â Shadow Sombra retorted. He began to laugh maniacally. âœYou have already embraced the darkness. You are becoming what you were always meant to be. Look at yourself,â the fell pony hissed.

âœLet them go,â Bucky demanded.

âœNo,â Shadow Sombra said. âœAfter all, this is what you wanted. What you see here is what your heart truly desires. This is a world of your making.â

Bucky felt the cold tingles of confusion linger in his spine. âœI do not want this,â he growled.

Shadow Sombra pulled Cadance to him with his magic. Cadance cried out in fear and then summoned her courage. After her brief lapse into fear, she restored her fighting spirit. She kicked and pulled against her bonds.

Bucky realised that she was pregnant. He could feel it. He didnât know how he knew, but he could feel the life within her.

He saw her lifted and then hurled across the room. She was impaled on a spire of crystal. Bucky felt his heart leap into his throat. Rage boiled inside of him. Blood began to pool at the base of the crystal and Cadance writhed uselessly.

Before Bucky could even release his magic, he was blasted with a black blast of dark energy, and it sent him sprawling to the floor. He struggled to move and found that he could not. Pain wracked his body. The pain was terrible, but he had endured far worse, and he found that he could deal with the pain.

âœAgonising, isnât it?â Shadow Sombra asked.

Bucky gave Shadow Sombra what he wanted. He groaned in agony and Shadow Sombra looked pleased. Bucky struggled to restore control to his body. He summoned his force of will, which was his strength. He could hear Cadanceâs dying gurgles and it stoked the fires of his rage.

âœYou have done everything you were intended to do,â Shadow Sombra said. âœYou have survived to this point. You are worthy as my heir.â Shadow Sombra pulled out a spellbook from behind his throne and Bucky recognised the sigil of Star Swirl the Bearded. The fell unicorn began to read to himself and the remaining three alicorns struggled against their bonds.

Bucky writhed in pain. Real pain. He wasnât acting, hoping to buy himself an advantage against Shadow Sombra. Something was happening and he didnât know what.

âœYou have nothing left to fight for. Even now, you are killing those you love, removing the last vestiges of your weakness. The chains that this one manipulated you into wearing are breaking one by one,â Shadow Sombra said, pointing at Celestia as he spoke. There was a flash from the red horn.

It was as though something had been torn from Buckyâs soul. He screamed in agony.

âœLook, even now, the change takes hold,â Shadow Sombra said.

Bucky felt his head being forcibly turned by magic and he was forced to look at his own haunches. His cutie mark was gone, replaced by a spire of crystal. There was pain in his mouth followed by a strange numbness. Something sharp dragged over his tongue.

âœYou took shadow essence from that pathetic mewling wretch you call your son,â Shadow Sombra whispered as he loomed over Bucky. âœDo you even understand what you have done? What you have done to yourself? The change you have brought about in your own body? You infused it into your horn, just as I hoped that you would do and you left the door open for me. You were so easy to manipulate. In your fear and desperation you foolishly turned to magic that you did not even understand. And now, as I have you in my thrall, you are destroying everything you hold dear as I claim your body.â

Bucky raised his head defiantly. He glared at Shadow Sombra balefully. Magic surged through his body. His remaining eye turned red, and the white of his eye turned a sickly green. A hazy purple aura drifted from his eye, and black flames wreathed his fulgurite horn. The dark magic came easy for Bucky now, there was nothing left but pain and rage. It flowed from him like a river. Bucky saw a glint of surprise and fear in Shadow Sombraâs eyes.

He unloaded everything he had on Shadow Sombra and sent the fell unicorn flying. The throne room shattered all around him and reality fell apart.

And Bucky fell into blackness in more ways than one.

The bed was cold. There was no fire in the fireplace and the room was dark. The air was frigid and stung his skin. Bucky realised with growing horror that Thistleâs body was cold. He raised his head and prodded her with his snoot. There was no warmth in her body. She was stiff and lifeless.

Bucky wanted to feel something, but felt only emptiness. He could feel other cold bodies pressing up against his sides. He was in a bed full of dead ponies. He did not shout, he did not scream, he did not want to disturb the dead. He ignited his horn. A short distance away, he saw Lyra and Bon Bon slumped over on the sofa. Sentinel was with them. The room was covered in ice.

He had done this. His control had slipped. He lifted himself out of bed, the horror of the situation settling into his bones. He heard the howling of the wolves. He stumbled through the room in shock, unable to deal with what he had done. All that remained of Buckyâs equinity was a fragile spark and it flickered as it neared extinguishment. He made his way to the door. He pulled the door open and realised the wolves were in the castle.

The hallway was dark and cold. The walls were coated in ice. In the distance, there was a dead pegasus. Bucky stumbled forward, hoping to find the wolves. He intended to let them finish what they had started.

There was no point anymore. No reason to continue. No reason to push forward through the pain. It was over. There was no point to anything. Bucky felt dead inside, and his heart felt as cold as the ice coating everything around him. He turned his head and looked back at his haunches, and saw that his mark had indeed changed, the hops plant now gone and replaced by crystal shards.

His mouth felt funny and he ran his tongue over his teeth. He had fangs now. Much to his dismay, he had become what he was meant to be. He turned towards the door of the room that he had called home during his stay here. There were only dead things in there now, including Bucky. He realised that the room was his grave. Whatever he was, it had died in there.

He turned again and then stumbled away.

The wolves winked around him but made no move to attack. They bowed to him and Bucky realised that he was their master now. There would be no escaping by throwing himself into their jaws. There was no end.

He could still take his own life. He contemplated the act. He wondered how, which way would be easiest. A shard of glass over this throat would be easy. Self immolation. He committed himself to this course of action and then once again, turned back towards the room he had left.

He chose to die with those he loved.

He returned to the room, his steps heavy and his hooves dragging. He stepped through the door slowly, and his horn flared brighter. He made himself look at what he had done. They all appeared to have died in their sleep, except for Bon Bon, Lyra, and Sentinel, who had died huddled together. Reaching out with his magic, he closed Lyraâs eyes. He couldnât bear her looking at him.

He approached the bed, torturing himself, wanting to suffer for what he had done. Derpyâs wing was askew, not quite folded in as it should be. He must have disturbed it when he had fled from the bed. Using his magic, he tenderly tried to put it back the way that it should be. It was stiff and lifeless. He reached out and gently stroked her tail, wanting to feel it for one last time. He touched Berry apologetically, wishing that the earth pony was still alive to put him in his place.

âœNo sense putting this off,â Bucky said to himself. He turned towards the window and prepared himself for what came next.

âœFather?â

Bucky froze. He could actually feel his blood chill and he lost control of his bladder. His good eye clenched shut. Now he was being tormented for what he had done. His sanity wavered, a fragile thread that could break at any moment.

He heard the door slam shut. âœI had to sneak past the wolves and oh shiteââ

The voice trailed off and Bucky heard a gagging sound. He forced his eye open. Sentinel stood at the door, blinking in horror at the bodies around him. Bucky gibbered wordlessly in fear and panic.

âœThis is a dream,â Sentinel explained in a frightened voice.

âœHow are you here? You're dead!â Bucky said accusingly. âœHow do I know if you are real?â

âœI am dream walkingâ I didnât know I could do it. You started thrashing in the bed. You kicked Berry. The room got cold. Real cold. And then Lyra started shouting about dark magic and there were black flames coming off of your horn and it was Lyra who realised that something was trying to take your mind. You blasted a big chunk out of the ceiling. Right now Lyra is containing your magic while the others have you pinned. Bon Bon told me to get inside your head and save you or I was going to be in a world of pony shite and I donât want to be in a world of pony shite with Bon Bon and she looked really angry like she meant business and-â

âœSentinel, is that really you?â Bucky interrupted.

âœI really hope that you are you. I ran into another pony I thought was you. It was dark. He had a red horn. Heâs running around inside of your mind. He hurt meâ I had to run away,â Sentinel replied. The colt looked terrified. âœYou donât look rightââ

âœHow did you get your name?â

Sentinel blinked. He looked up at Bucky. âœI watched over your foals and-â

âœI made you my squire, Sentinel,â Bucky sobbed, his emotions finally breaking down. His hind legs gave way and he sat down on the cold floor with a thud.

Sentinel hurried forward. He plowed into Bucky and wrapped his forelegs around Buckyâs neck, squeezing tightly. âœWe need to get out of here. We need to break the spell.â

âœHow?â Bucky asked.

âœI donât know, I didnât even know I could dream walk, the gift is rare among my kind,â Sentinel replied. âœSo many bodiesââ the colt said fearfully.

âœI thought I had killed you all,â Bucky said. âœI love you so much Sentinel, I never want to lose you.â Bucky wrapped one foreleg around the colt and held him close.

âœWe need to wake you up,â Sentinel said.

âœI thought I already woke up,â Bucky replied. âœI woke from another dream and saw all of this.â

âœTrickery and treachery,â Sentinel explained. âœAll of this shadow. Bad shadow. Iâm scared.â

âœAnd you are hurt,â Bucky said, noticing the singed hair and burned skin.

âœThe other pony hurt me,â Sentinel said, repeating what he had said previously.

âœNone of this is real,â Bucky said, mostly to himself.

âœI have an idea,â Sentinel said.

âœWhat is it?â Bucky asked.

âœI need your forgiveness sir, for what I am about to do,â Sentinel begged in a pleading voice.

âœForgiveness? For wha-DAMN!â

As Bucky spoke, Sentinel clamped down on Buckyâs leg, sinking his teeth down until he felt them strike bone. Realising it was not enough, Sentinel gnawed. He felt sicked and ashamed for what he was doing as Buckyâs screams filled the room. Sentinel let go of Buckyâs leg, spitting out blood and hair as he did so.

And then, reality fell away from both of them.

âœForgive me,â Sentinel cried as the blackness rushed to claim both of them.

Chapter 101

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Derpy held tight to Bucky as he struggled and kicked above her. She was beneath him, her belly pressed against his back, her hind legs wrapped around his middle, one front leg around his barrel, and the other front leg around his throat. She applied gentle pressure, restricting his breathing enough to take some of the fight out of him. Berry was pressing down from above, and Bon Bon was stroking him and whispering soothing things into his ear.

A glowing white orb of magic was inches away from her face and Derpy was afraid. Lyraâs magic was faltering. The panicked unicorn had frantically explained that she had no hope of holding back a unicorn as strong as Bucky for very long.

In the middle of the chaos, a small pink form slipped into the fray. Derpyâs fear turned to outright panic. âœPiÃa, stay away!â Derpy shouted.

Sparkler scrambled to pull PiÃa away, too frazzled to use her magic. PiÃa eluded Sparklerâs attempt to catch her and she made a frantic rush to Buckyâs side. She reached his face and touched it, stroking him just below his remaining eye.

âœYou promised me a tea party,â she said soothingly. âœCome back to me,â she begged.

Derpy felt Buckyâs whole body tense.

Sparkler grabbed PiÃa and dragged her away. PiÃa kicked and screamed in protest. Not knowing what else to do, she chomped down on Sparklerâs leg, causing Sparkler to drop her. Sparkler let out a stream of profanity that made PiÃaâs ears burn. She evaded the swinging cuff that came from Bon Bon, and returned to Buckyâs face. She touched him again.

A stream of black shadowy smoke dribbled from Buckyâs ear and a second later Sentinel exploded into existence with a pained cry. He landed on top of PiÃa and the earth pony clutched her sibling. The lunar pegasus let out a squealing screech, a sound made by his echolocation system.

Derpy felt Bucky go limp and his magic ceased. She heard Lyra gasp in relief. She did not relax her grip however. She kept one leg firmly locked around Buckyâs neck, ready to bear down if need be to subdue him. She kissed the back of his head and hoped that he was aware enough to feel it.

Sentinel did not stop screeching. The colt was making the most horrible sound. Ripple bounded across the room, her wings flapping crazily, lept, and landed near Sentinel and PiÃa, She wrapped her forelegs around both of them protectively and tried to figure out what was wrong with Sentinel.

Rising Star stared at Ripple from some distance away, worried that she might get hurt. He pranced in place, frantic with worry, fearing that he was going to lose his mind from fear.

There was a banging from the locked door, which only added to the chaos. All of the screaming could probably be heard all over the castle.

âœHeâs chokingâ heâs bleeding from somewhere,â Thistle cried. She was standing near the bed.

Derpy could hear a wet gurgle from Bucky. âœWe need to get him on his stomach,â she barked.

Berry and Bon Bon pulled away and Derpy used her strength to roll her body and Buckyâs dead weight over. She remained locked on to him, but she relaxed her hold around his neck. Bon Bon resumed stroking him.

Dinky, unable to listen to Sentinel screeching any longer, came charging in from the corner where she had been told to stay. Several feet away from the bed she lept, and she soared through the air and over several ponies in her way. She landed with a meaty thump on Ripple, causing the pegasus to grunt. Ripple moved swiftly in reply, and Dinky found herself locked in with the others in Rippleâs forelegs. She wrapped herself around Sentinel and tried to comfort him.

A second later, the door was torn open and was nearly ripped from its hinges. Keg Smasher burst into the room and his wings flared out wide. âœWhere are the damn wolves?â he bellowed. âœIâLL KILL THEM ALL!â

Bucky came to awareness, overcome with too many things all at once to take them in. He could taste his own blood. He was being crushed under a considerable amount of force. He coughed and sputtered.

âœHeâs coming around,â a voice said.

Bucky struggled and squirmed. He could hear a pitiful screeching sound. Something had him pinned down. He couldnât see.

âœHe is definitely coming around.â

The voice belonged to Bon Bon. Bucky could feel her touch. He knew her touch. Her touch was unique, and it cut through the chaos. Bucky felt himself go limp.

âœBucky?â

Bon Bonâs voice was full of concern and it settled into his mind. It was soothing and calming. She was rubbing little circles against his side, just as she had done when he was healing from his cracked horn.

Bucky tried to reply but only gurgle.

âœLooks like you bit your tongue or something.â

That was Derpyâs voice. He realised she was on top of him, pinning him down.

He felt the pegasusâ grip on him relax. She was holding him now, not pinning him down. Bucky remembered his dream and Derpyâs cold body. He could feel her warmth. Unable to do anything else, Bucky broke down into sobs. As he wept, he felt something sharp scrape over his tongue. He panicked, his body tensing up once again. Fangs.

He squirmed, trying to work his way free. Much to his dismay, he could not squirm free. âœMy mark,â he rasped. âœMy mark!â

âœMark? Heâs asking about his mark,â Bon Bon stated.

âœWhat is it?â Bucky gasped.

âœThe hops plantâ same as it ever was. Bucky, what happened?â Bon Bon said gently.

Bucky went limp with relief. He took a few deep shuddering breaths.

âœBerry?â he asked. âœI donât hear Berry,â he murmured.

âœSheâs fine. She has a fat lip and a headache,â Bon Bon said soothingly.

âœIâm fine,â Berry called from the couch.

âœI need my foals,â he whispered in desperation. âœNeed them. Foals. Must have them. Foals. Foals now,â he said in manic whisper.

Derpy looked down at her husband curiously and then at the mass of bodies wrapped around Sentinel. She nodded at Ripple, and the pegasus filly pushed all three of the foals secured in her grasp forwards to Bucky.

Bucky lifted his head weakly and extended his forelegs. He pulled them close. Ripple squirmed a bit but allowed herself to be held as well.

âœSentinel?â Bucky asked.

There was no reply. Sentinel continued to screech and wail.

âœSentinel?â Bucky asked again, his voice much louder and stronger.

âœBurns,â Sentinel cried. âœHurts!â

Bucky response was immediate. He lifted his head and tried to get a good look at Sentinel, remembering that he had been hurt in the dream. Strength flooded through his body as his concern increased. âœLet go of him,â Bucky commanded. âœI need to see.â

Dinky and PiÃa reluctantly let go of Sentinel and clung to Buckyâs neck instead. He felt stronger from their embrace.

Sentinel was burned. His withers and crest were blackened. His wings were blistered near the joints. Patches of hair were discoloured.

âœYou didnât seem this bad in the dream,â Bucky whispered. âœI donât understandââ He cradled Sentinel in his forelegs gently, trying to not touch the burned places. âœHe burned my foal,â Bucky growled.

âœWho? What happened?â Derpy asked.

âœBucky, what is wrong with your teeth?â Bon Bon asked, recoiling in fear.

Derpy closed on eye, reached down with her hoof, and pulled away the corner of Buckyâs mouth. Cold fear flooded through her body when she saw what Bon Bon had seen. She pulled away her hoof and Bucky grunted.

Bucky shook his head, trying to hold back his rising rage and panic.

âœWeâre overwhelming him,â Bon Bon said authoritatively. She took charge. âœKeg Smasher, thank you for checking on us. We appreciate you and your guard coming to our aid. But we need quiet family time. I think everything is going to be okay now,â she said in a loud clear voice to the worried group of pegasi still in the room. âœEverypony else, quiet. Bucky will tell us what happened when he is capable. For now, let us just give him what he seems to need, which is a quiet moment with his foals.â

Keg Smasher made a gesture with his wing and the pegasi began to file out. âœIf you could tell me what happened at some point, I would appreciate it,â he said in a low concerned voice. He departed, saying nothing else.

Bucky reveled in the touch of his foals. He pressed his face into Dinky and PiÃa, cherishing their warmth. He continued to hold Sentinel, who had quieted. The coltâs breathing was laboured and shallow. Bon Bon was still rubbing Buckyâs back. Derpy was on the sofa with Berry and Thistle.

Much to his surprise, Loch Skimmer had moved to his side and was pressed against him. She said nothing, but her eyes stayed wide with concern. Sparkler and Rising Star were close by on the bed.

And Bucky continued to hold that which he held most valuable.

âœI thought I had lost you,â the distraught unicorn whispered, still unable to explain what had happened.

The bed shifted as Lyra crawled near and touched Bon Bon. She settled down, pressing herself up against the stocky earth pony.

âœWhen everypony was scared I knew that you wouldnât hurt me,â PiÃa said gently into Buckyâs ear.

Bucky trembled, worried about what might have happened. He felt PiÃa kiss him and for a moment, his heart was in his throat. The memory of how they had been was still too fresh and too real in his mind. âœYou can do that all you want PiÃa,â Bucky whispered.

Derpy, unable to take it anymore, slipped from the sofa, climbed onto the bed, and piled on Loch Skimmer, squashing her against Bucky, careful not to disturb the fillyâs leg. Derpy pressed her snoot against Buckyâs shoulder and remained silent.

Bucky took a deep breath and steeled his nerves. He cleared his throat, closed his eye, and then told them all everything he could remember in the dream, starting with seeing Sombra, what he was, what Sombra had done, the change in his mark, and then finally waking up and finding them all dead. He held nothing back, telling them how he he planned to kill himself. And then he told them of Sentinel.

And when he was done, the room remained silent for quite some time.

Finally, Bon Bon reached down and touched Sentinel gingerly upon his haunches. âœSentinel, I know you are suffering greatly right now, but I need to know something,â she said.

Sentinel raised his head. His eyes were glassy and unfocused. He peered at Bon Bon.

âœWe can keep Bucky safe here,â Bon Bon began. âœBut you are the only one who can reach him wherever it is that dreams take place. I know it is a lot to ask of you, but can you keep Bucky safe? If this happens again, can we depend on you to bring him back to us?â

âœOf course,â Sentinel replied in a wavering voice. âœI am going to kill that shadow pony,â the colt hissed. His head sank back down onto Buckyâs foreleg.

Berry slipped from the couch, walked over to where the trunks were stashed, and retrieved a brown crockery jug in her teeth. She carried it to the bed, hopping up onto the bed carefully. She set the jug down and sat down near Bucky and Sentinel.

âœWhen a colt does something particularly brave, he earns the right to have a drink with his father,â she said in a low whisper. âœYou did something brave. Tonight, you took your first big step towards being the stallion that I know you can be,â Berry solemnly. She reached down with her head and pulled the cork from the jug. She sniffed carefully, not sure what Bucky had left in this particular jug.

Whiskey.

Berry made a gesture with her forehoof to Bucky and he lifted Sentinel in his magic, raising him to a sitting position. Sentinelâs head wobbled on his neck and Bucky steadied him. A patch of burned and blackened hair fell off, revealing charred and blistered skin beneath.

There was a pained gasp from Dinky and the filly squeezed her eyes shut, unable to look.

Sitting on her haunches, Berry lifted the jug in her forelegs and brought it up to Sentinelâs lips. âœThis is going to burn like liquid fire, but I think you are brave enough to handle it. Youâve shown that you can fight like a stallion, now I need to see that you can drink like one,â Berry coaxed in a soothing voice.

She pressed the jug to Sentinelâs lips and gave it a well practiced tilt.

Sentinelâs eyes went wide and he coughed and sputtered. A pained wheeze escaped his lungs. To his credit, he did not spit the whiskey out. The colt banged on the side of the jug with his forehoof.

âœI can do better,â he gasped.

Berry raised the jug again and gave him another swallow. Sentinel growled and shuddered after he swallowed and Bucky eased him down to the bed, where he lay limply.

Bucky took the jug in his magic and guzzled down a few swallows, which caused Berry to raise her eyebrow in appreciation. âœNot many ponies can chug whiskey like that,â she quipped.

Sentinel belched loudly and flicked his tail.

Bucky placed the cork back into the jug and then set it next to the edge of the bed. He looked down in concern at Sentinel. The whiskey made the gash in his tongue burn but he didnât care. He was fiercely proud of Sentinel at this moment.

âœIsh feelsh bletters,â Sentinel announced after several minutes of silence.

Berry sighed deeply and then she stroked Sentinelâs ears.

âœWill it ever be safe for Bucky to sleep again?â Derpy asked.

The question caused a flood of equine sounds of concern from around the room.

âœA shade without a body only has so much power. There might be another attempt, but after tonight, I am fairly certain that whatever it is that attacked Bucky has been drained. If there is another attempt, Sentinel can interrupt it. And whatever attacked Bucky has to know that Sentinel is now a credible threat. So it is going to bide its time and recharge its power. Meanwhile, we need to figure out how to train Sentinel,â Lyra explained.

âœLyra, youâve been reading about necromancy again, I just know it,â Bon Bon grumbled. âœHow do we do that? How do we train Sentinel?â Bon Bon asked in a low voice. âœWeâre not lunar pegasi.â

âœNo, but we are dreamers. We let Sentinel climb inside our heads while we sleep. We talk with him. We let him play around in the sandbox of our dreams,â Lyra suggested.

âœThis seems reckless and dangerous,â Bon Bon said.

âœI agree,â Derpy replied. âœBut so is almost everything else that has been done lately.â

Bon Bon nodded but looked reluctant. âœYou know Lyra, you donât need to look so pleased about all of this reckless experimentation,â Bon Bon chided, causing the unicorn to slump.

âœI will let him inside of my head,â whispered Ripple, her hushed voice clearly frightened.

âœThank you Ripple,â Derpy acknowledged.

PiÃa looked at Dinky and the two fillies nodded. âœWeâre in,â she said sleepily.

âœI am not sure if Sentinel should see what I have been dreaming about lately,â Loch Skimmer said in a nervous voice.

Rising Star raised an eyebrow and nodded and his gaze lingered on Loch Skimmer, who was still squished between Bucky and Derpy. âœI agree. There are, uh, things in my dreams that would be bad for him to see.â

âœSo we keep him in the foalâs heads for a while because they are innocent,â Lyra stated. âœAnd Buckyâs because we need a strong connection between the two,â she added thoughtfully.

âœI never would have thought that Lyraâs dabblings into questionable magics would be so useful,â Bon Bon admitted. âœLyra?â

âœYes Bonnie?â

âœYour mind control spells that you knowâ if something like this happens again, can you seize Buckyâs mind take control of it?â

Lyraâs lips pressed together nervously. âœI probably could. Bucky has an iron will. It wouldnât be easy. I donât know actually. I think I could. But it would be pretty damn hard,â Lyra replied.

âœLyra, what if you and I spent some time communing and you had time to learn my mind,â Bucky suggested.

âœThat is an awful lot of trust,â Berry interjected as she continued to stroke Sentinelâs head.

âœYeah Bucky, you would be handing me the keys to the kingdom so speak,â Lyra said with a nod.

âœI trust you Lyraâ I would rather you have my mind. You would keep me safe,â Bucky replied. âœThe alternative would be to allow him to have it,â he hissed.

âœShumblitch!â Sentinel shouted suddenly, raising his head and then snarling. One ear was pointing upwards and the other had fallen down to the side of his face. His lips curled back, revealing sharp serrated teeth and fangs. He calmed under Berryâs touch and lowered his head.

âœFirst wolves, now this,â Rising Star muttered. His horn flared and he pulled the whiskey jug to himself. He popped the cork and took a swallow. He gasped and struggled to breathe. His tongue hung from his mouth and he fanned himself with his hoof. He re-corked the whiskey and carefully set the jug down. He shuddered violently and blinked the tears away from his eyes.

âœWhy didnât Luna come to your aid?â Berry asked. âœI mean, if some old dead shade is trying to take over your mind and could potentially wreck Equestria, youâd think that she would be here to stop it from happening. She should have been prowling around in your dream looking out for you.â

Bucky nodded in agreement. Something felt off. âœI do not know the reason, but I do not believe that Luna or the rest of the princesses would abandon me to such a fate. Something must be wrong,â Bucky said, expressing his realisation.

âœI lovesh mysh shishtersh,â Sentinel mumbled.

âœIf that is the case, then we are truly cut off. We only have ourselves to rely upon. We need to make plans to be self sufficient and keep each other safe,â Bon Bon stated in a commanding tone. She cast a worried glance at the now inebriated lunar pegasus foal and hoped that the pain had subsided.

âœI uh, kinda sorta know a few necromantic wards, âœLyra confessed. âœThey, uh, well, they can help keep dead things away from the living,â she explained.

âœWill it help keep Sombraâs shade away from Bucky?â Bon Bon demanded.

âœMaybe?â Lyra replied. âœIt couldnât hurt. Every little bit helps.â

âœThen I want this room warded. And the cabin on the ship as well. Anywhere Bucky sleeps, it is to be warded,â Bon Bon commanded.

âœBonnie, this is dark magicâ like Bucky was casting earlier. Black flames. Red eyes,â Lyra explained.

Bon Bon glared at Lyra, her face stern. âœDo it,â Bon Bon growled.

Lyra nodded, feeling slightly confused and a bit aroused that Bon Bon had just given her approval to practice a bit of necromancy.

âœIf something is so wrong that Luna couldnât come to Buckyâs aid, then I really hope that Barley is okay. Iâm worried. We have one more herd member and he isnât with us,â Berry said. âœWhat if everything has fallen apart? I mean really fallen apart?â

âœBarley is a very canny unicorn. I am sure that he is okay, no matter what might or might not be happening. No matter what is actually happening, I am confident that Luna is looking after him,â Bucky said, finally speaking. âœBut I am sure that everything is fine.â

âœI hope so,â Berry said, looking distressed as she continued to stroke Sentinel.

Chapter 102

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Derpy stretched her wings and her back, feeling her spine crackle. Sunlight streamed through the window and into the room, filling it with a golden light. With the coming of the sun, the terror of the night seemed to fade. She had not slept well after everything that had happened. And now, she was awake and aware. Bucky and Sentinel were sleeping together. Dinky and PiÃa were also up against his side.

âœHeâs going to be okay,â Bon Bon said soothingly to the grey pegasus.

âœWhere is Berry?â Derpy asked.

âœBerry went off to talk to Keg Smasher as soon as the sun rose. Sheâs fine. All of your ponies are fine,â Bon Bon said reassuringly.

âœOur colt is burnt,â Derpy replied with a hint of anger in her voice. The grey pegasusâ legs went stiff. âœI wish I wasnât a solar pegasus. Iâd give up my ability to walk on clouds and manipulate the weather to go pick a fight with whatever remains of Sombra,â the mare growled. âœI wanted to thank youâ for last night,â she added.

âœThink nothing of it,â Bon Bon replied. âœIf Sentinel wakes up, see that he gets a few more sips of whiskey. Not too much, but enough for him to dull the pain,â Bon Bon requested. âœBerry Punch was a berry clever pony last night getting him to drink that.â

âœUgh, more puns,â Derpy grumbled, unable to rouse her sense of humour. She yawned and then disappeared behind the privacy barrier.

Bucky poked at his pease porridge and could not bring himself to eat it. He had learned to tolerate the bland dish and prefered fried oat cakes for breakfast. He actually liked those.

Except that this morning, they didnât taste right either.

He leaned against the table and pushed his bowl away from him, which earned him the stinkeye from Derpy and Berry. His ears dropped and he cringed.

âœAfter your magical outburst last night, you had better eat Bucky,â Berry demanded.

âœI canât,â Bucky protested.

âœFeeling sick?â Derpy asked.

âœNo,â the stallion replied as he stared down at the table.

âœMouth hurting?â Berry inquired.

âœA little, but that isnât why I am not hungry,â Bucky answered. âœDoesnât taste right,â he muttered.

âœTastes like it always tastes. Horrible,â Berry grumbled.

âœNeither one of you can figure it out, can you?â Thistle said. She wasnât eating either. She could eat pease porridge, but it caused a great deal of distress in her stomach.

âœWhat?â Berry replied.

Derpy looked at Thistle curiously but said nothing.

âœDifferent teeth, different digestion,â Thistle said, baring her own fangs to try and make her point.

Bucky gagged and turned away from the table. The idea of eating flesh turned his stomach. He shuddered in equine revulsion and felt his mouth go dry. âœI canât even bear to think about it,â he muttered in disgust.

âœBuckminster Bitters, donât be a pig headed lout,â Thistle scolded. âœYou pull yourself together this instant. You and I are going to the lake and I am going to get you a fish for breakfast,â the kelpie commanded.

Bucky stared at Thistle in shock and surprise.

âœAnd Sentinel is coming with us,â Thistle said.

âœGive us a chance to finish up, weâre coming as well,â Berry said.

Sentinel yawned and turned his head after hearing his name. âœFish?â he asked sleepily.

âœI will get you both a fish,â Thistle promised.

Thistle stood at the water's edge and cast a glance back at the ponies in the grass. Bucky was sitting and watching her, which made her feel a faint rush of heat in delicate places. Derpy was laying in the grass and Sentinel was sprawled out over her back half asleep. Berry Punch was sunning her belly and rubbing herself.

She stepped into the shallows, walked to deeper water, and felt her magic take hold. There was a tingle in her belly and her hips and she could feel her hind legs merge into a tail. Long fins formed on her front legs. The living plants of her mane flowed out into the water behind her and she could feel the sunshine flowing into her through her mane. Gills formed just behind her jaw line. She swam through the water in the same way that a pegasus soared through the air, with speed and grace.

Her ears changed as she submerged, now used more for feeling vibrations in the water and not so much for hearing. Even with her large pregnant belly, she was swift and graceful in the water. On land, she was becoming a bit slow and wobbly.

It didnât take long. She caught the first fish she needed and headed back to the shoreline. She pulled herself into the shallows, still in merpony form, and tossed the fish ashore. She watched as Sentinel slowly rose and stumbled after the fish, his movements stiff and jerky from being in pain. As soon as she saw that he had his breakfast secured, she pulled herself back to the deep water using her front legs and dragging her tail over the rocks.

She dove deep, looking for the bigger fish, the sort of fish that ate the other smaller fish. She was the biggest fish in this loch and this was her domain. Soon, she found her prey. She sank her teeth into it and battered it with her front legs until it was subdued. She returned to shore, pulling the fish with her. She eased into the shallows, willed her body to change, and then strode onto land on four legs.

Bucky was watching her curiously.

She dropped the fish at his front hooves, placed her own hoof on it, sank her teeth into its fleshy sides, and tore away a strip of still wiggling flesh. She chewed and swallowed. She was starving this morning. Keeping four legs for so long had taken a lot out of her body. She tore out another strip and presented it to Bucky, holding it out to him.

Bucky felt a strange mix of revulsion and desire upon seeing the fish. His mouth watered even as part of him gagged. He felt his gorge rising when he heard Thistle tearing off a bite and chewing it. And then she tore off a second strip and offered it to him.

Much to his shock, his body betrayed him and he felt himself moving forward. His lips parted. And then the flesh hit his curious and still injured tongue. The response was electric, and he felt hungry. It was an odd hunger, and it coursed through his body and pulsated in his horn. He took the strip of fish flesh from Thistle and his lips brushed up against hers. The taste of the fish and the pleasurable sensation of Thistleâs lips silenced the screaming equine in his brain that protested the madness taking place.

Berry Punch watched as Bucky took his first bite of flesh and she felt something in her heart ache as he eagerly chewed it and then swallowed it. She had endured watching him make many changes, but this one bothered her on some level. Something had been taken from the pony that she loved. Something had forcibly changed him.

She felt angry and possessive.

As she stewed, Derpy eased herself down beside her and rested her head upon her belly.

âœHe is still Bucky,â Derpy said as she settled her head on Berryâs navel. âœWe have other herdmates who are flesh eaters,â the mare said soothingly, aware that Berry was hurting.

âœThey were born that way, it is natural for themâ Bucky wasâ he wasâ he was violated and changed against his will,â Berry snarled in a low voice. âœIâve dealt with everything else. The loss of his eye. His horn. His breakdown where he fell silent so long. At least he came out of that with a powerful respect for life. Now he has to take life for food.â

Thistle felt a raging fire down below her navel as once again, Buckyâs lips brushed up against her lips as she fed him a bite of fish. Feeling brave, she brazenly flicked her tongue over one of his long curved fangs. His teeth were bladed along one edge and rounded on the other side.

She tore free a bite for herself and chewed it slowly, gazing up at Bucky, and trying to deal with the strange new sensation she was feeling. She was nervous and every muscle twitched under her still damp hide. She swallowed and licked her lips.

The kelpie lowered her head, pressed hoof down upon the fish carcass, and tore away another strip. She raised her head slowly and extended her neck. This time, when Bucky took the morsel, she did not let go. She gave a bit of a tug on the strip of flesh, and it caused Buckyâs eye to open wide with surprise.

Much to Thistleâs relief, he tugged back gently, understanding that she was being playful. Bucky was a quick learner to the ways of being a predator.

âœLook at them Berry,â Derpy said as she peered at the couple. âœLook how happy they areâ see, something good is coming out of it,â the pegasus said as her head continued to rest upon the earth ponyâs navel. Inches away from Derpyâs snoot was a taut teat. It took all of her willpower to not extend her tongue and give Berry a lick. It wasnât so much about sex, but about trying to make Berry feel better. Derpy wasnât sure how Berry would deal with such an act right now.

Derpy lifted her head when she felt a body press up against hers. Sentinel had finished his own fish and was now curling up against her.

âœAre you in much pain?â Derpy asked her colt. âœDonât lie to me Sentinel. Squires should be honest.â

âœI am in a lot of pain,â Sentinel confessed in a voice that sounded like it was full of shame.

âœIn a little while, we will take you home and you and Bucky will have another drink together. And then maybe you can go to sleep with Bon Bon and Lyra,â Derpy said to Sentinel.

âœI will have to teach father how to fish,â Sentinel said as he buried his face against Berryâs side and snuggled his backside against Derpy.

âœI would be very proud of you if you did that,â Derpy whispered to the sleepy colt.

Bucky gave a half smile to the playful kelpie as she tugged on the tidbit of food. He pulled the fish into his mouth with his lips and worked his way closer to Thistleâs lips. Finally, his lips grazed hers and she let go of the bite of fish. He barely even chewed, but swallowed. He could feel Thistleâs warmth. He could smell her, the smell of wet pony. And something else.

He saw Thistle tremble and he loomed over her. She did not appear to be afraid, but she was shaking. He pressed his muzzle to hers and licked away a scrap of fish flesh that clung to her lips, giving Thistle an introduction to pegasus manners.

He saw her front legs wobble and she looked as though she was going to fall over at any time, sitting down on her haunches or no.

He reached out his foreleg, wrapped it around her neck, and pulled her to him, pressing his muzzle against hers. She stiffened for a moment and then relaxed into the kiss. He could feel her warmth and it stood out in sharp contrast against the memory of her cold dead body.

He needed to feel her warmth.

He grasped her with both forelegs and fell over backwards, pulling her down on top of him. She squealed in alarm and squirmed in his grasp. His body warmed as she felt her soft pelt against his. She was warm all over, except in a few places that pressed up against him that were searingly hot. He rubbed his forelegs over her crest, down to her withers, and finally slid a leg down to her croup and pulled her hips down even tighter against his navel.

âœThings just got a bit hotter,â Berry announced.

âœThey sure did,â Derpy said.

âœOddly enough, Bucky doesnât seem all around aroused. I mean, if he was, certain things would be a lot more visible,â Berry quipped. She paused and remembered that Sentinel was snuggling against her side.

Derpy eyed the two teats poking upwards inches away from her snoot. She was feeling a bit more aroused herself. She sighed and allowed herself to be content with simply spending a close moment with Berry.

âœI am still a bit bothered by everything, but Bucky seems happy at the moment,â

âœYouâre so warm.â

Both mares ears perked at Buckyâs sonorous rumble.

âœHe keeps talking about how warm we areâ or how he needs his foals. Or how warm his foals areâ he was so frantic last night when he asked for his foals. He wasnât at all like his usual self,â Berry mused.

âœI saw the bodiesâ I saw all of youâ you were all dead. Cold. Perished. Father was all alone in a room full of cold dead ponies and he believed with all of his heart that it was his fault because that damnable shadow pony made him believe it was trueâ I could feel his pain,â Sentinel said. The colt shuddered. âœIâm gonna kill him somehow,â the lunar pegasus growled. âœI could feel all of fatherâs pain. ALL OF IT!â

Derpy lifted her head and planted a kiss on an a spot that wasnât too burnt. âœBe calm,â she said soothingly. She could feel Sentinelâs body shaking and she realised the colt was sobbing and trying to hide it. âœI am going to take you back. Iâll have a drink with you I think,â Derpy offered. âœGet on my back, Iâll carry you.â

Sentinel climbed on to the pegasusâ back without protest, and Derpy realised that something was seriously wrong. The colt should be complaining, protesting that he could do this on his own. This wasnât like Sentinel at all, the stoic who endured affection silently and under protest. She felt a pang in her heart. She could feel him bury his face into her mane and she felt his hot breath as he sniffled and sobbed.

Sometimes being a mother meant getting foal snot in your mane.

Chapter 103

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âœSentinel?â

The foal did not respond. Instead, he squeezed a little tighter, clinging to Derpyâs neck, his face buried in her now soaked mane. She was warm against him, and much like the pony that he called his father, he needed warmth as well.

âœSentinel, you do know that I love you, right?â

Derpy waited for a response, and none seemed forthcoming.

âœSentinel, you and I, we donât talk as much as we should. And I donât mean to just each other. Weâre pegasi. We might have different wings, but we are still pegasi,â Derpy said in motherly tones. âœWhen I first met Buckyâ we didnât understand one another very well. There was a bit of a misunderstanding between us. I had trouble expressing myselfâ Iâ this is very difficult for me Sentinel, Iâm sorry.â

Derpy paused and took a deep breath.

âœAs a pegasus I relied on how we usually do things. I told Bucky that a hug would do and words werenât needed. That was only half true. It was my way of protecting myself from other ponies laughing at meâ making fun of me. There are lots of very expressive pegasi, even book writers, but actually talking to other ponies meant putting myself into a position where I might get laughed at, soâ Iâ just sort of gave up. And now words donât come easy for me and I miss out on what ponies are really saying because words have so many meanings and I still want to go back to the way things were but I canât,â she said.

Derpy felt Sentinelâs foreleg stroking the side of her neck.

âœAnd while a hug might do, I have learned that it is very important to actually try and say something to someponyâ even when I barely knew you, I welcomed you into my heart. And then I got to know you. And while I loved you, I donât think I ever spent as much time as I should have talking to you or telling you that I loved you. I still have trouble,â Derpy said as she continued to walk back to the castle.

âœI do not want to be hurt again,â Sentinel whispered, his warm breath on the back of Derpyâs neck caused the mareâs ears to twitch. âœWhen you hug meâ when the others hold meâ all I can think of is the pain of being alone. Being an orphan. I worry that I will be alone again. The pain defines me and makes meââ his words trailed off as he was speaking and the colt fell silent.

âœMakes you what?â Derpy asked.

âœDistant,â Sentinel answered.

âœYou and Bucky are so much alike,â Derpy said as she walked.

âœI learned that last night,â Sentinel replied. âœWe have the same fear.â

âœBeing alone?â Derpy asked.

âœYes,â Sentinel said, not feeling the need for further words.

âœI was very lonely. Even with Dinky, Sparkler, Berry and PiÃa,â Derpy confessed. âœI still feel alone sometimes. Berry says it is because I am an introvert. We can be alone in a crowd.â

âœI saw myselfâ I was dead,â Sentinel said with a shudder. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to hold back tears but they came anyway. âœI could feel everything that he was feeling. I knew his thoughts. I could feel his reaction as he touched youâ he stroked your tail. Heââ the words faded and the colt wept bitterly, clinging to his mother.

Derpy felt a lump in her throat and it made it difficult to breathe. She felt the sting of tears in her own eyes. She stood still, no longer walking, and closed her eyes for a moment. After a few minutes, she opened her eyes and resumed walking.

âœI am glad we talked,â Derpy said as she continued to make her way home.

The sun was only beginning its afternoon decline. Dinky sat on the deck of the ship and watched as the adults were working. She could hear hammering and sawing. The air was filled with the smell of lumber and summer.

âœPiÃa, I need your help,â Dinky requested.

PiÃa looked up from the book she was reading and glanced at Dinky.

âœI need you to steady meâ you know, the way you do,â Dinky explained.

PiÃa nodded. Dinky settled in beside her and the two foals snuggled together. PiÃa was laying on her stomach, her legs folded beneath her, except for one that she kept extended for turning pages. Dinky was propped up against her side, sitting up on her haunches, her forelegs folded over her barrel. As PiÃa watched, Dinky closed her eyes and her horn flared.

PiÃa returned to her book. Starjammerâs Guide to Practical Sorcery. Between the two of them, PiÃa had a better understanding of the concepts in the book and the ability to break them down and explain them to Dinky.

âœYou know, we could be playing,â PiÃa commented.

âœPlaytime is over,â Dinky said. âœPiÃa, do you think things will ever be normal again?â

âœWhat is normal?â PiÃa asked.

âœI dunno,â Dinky replied. Her eyes were still closed and she slowed her breathing.

âœIt says here that you have to let go. If you try to force your mind to make sense of what you are seeing, the spell will fail. You have to let it happen and relax your will in this instance, and things will come into focus,â PiÃa explained.

âœSo instead of gathering my will, I need to let go once I connect,â Dinky summarised.

âœI think so,â PiÃa said. âœHas to do with perspectives. You are an equine. When you go into the mind of another animal or an insect, if you try to force an equine perspective, all you will get is a headache. I think. This is really complicated Dinky. Maybe we should ask for an explanation,â she suggested.

âœTrial and error PiÃa, trial and error. Lyra says I need to make mistakes. Failure is the best teacher she said,â Dinky replied.

PiÃa flipped back a page, read, flipped forward, and read some more. âœStarjammer was a lousy writer,â she quipped. âœHe spent all of this time ranting about the equine perspective and how it taints our perceptions when performing mental magic when all he really needed to say was âœtry to imagine yourself as a beeâ or whatever it is that your mind is touching,â the filly groused.

âœHow does a bee think?â Dinky asked.

PiÃa shrugged. âœHow would I know? Buzz buzz, I have a big butt sword and I stab ponies in the snoot with my butt sword for smelling flowers, buzz buzz.â

Dinkyâs concentration broke and she exploded with the giggles. âœYou have never forgiven that bee for stinging you,â she giggled.

âœWhy should I? All I did was sniff that flower, I didnât know that the bee was in there workingâ it hurt Dinky,â PiÃa said in annoyance.

Dinky calmed herself and resumed her concentration. She felt Pinaâs soft pelt against her back. She called forth her magic, something that came to her much easier now, and she pushed everything out of her mind. The world fell away from her and there was only PiÃa and herself. There was a faint pressure behind her eyes and her brain vibrated with power. She could feel the root of her horn and the pulse of magic. This was power. This wasnât popping popcorn kernels or creating a little flare of light. Dinky built her reserves and she could feel the thrum pressing outwards against her eyes and the insides of her ears.

A gasp escaped the foalâs lips. When she opened her eyes, they were white, the thaumaturgical nerves flooding her eyes with raw mana. A single bee popped into existence, surrounded by a nimbus of magic. âœObey me,â Dinky murmured.

PiÃa looked up from her book and glanced at Dinky. Raw energy crackled along her horn. PiÃa could feel an odd pulsating vibration in her own hooves, and a strange throbbing through her tail. As PiÃa watched, the bee moved in very specific patterns as Dinky extended her influence and control.

Dinkyâs mind filled with a confusing jumble of images. Rather than try to make them make sense or bring them into focus, she let go. A part of her brain realised that bees had different eyes, and this was how the bee saw the world. She continued to allow the bee to see the world as it had always seen the world, and gave up trying to make the beeâs alien eyes focus.

And then, the world began to slide back into focus as the magical connection between them began to make corrections in the information being transferred between their minds. The bee was still a bee and Dinky was a blank slate ready to take in whatever the bee had to offer.

Dinky realised that she was seeing through the beeâs eyes and not her own. The bee buzzed over the deck, and Dinky saw Berry Punch hard at work. She saw other pegasi and earth ponies holding crude brushes in their mouths and they were brushing some kind of goop over the wood, making the wood look shiny and new. She looked everywhere, but could not find her mother and her father. She found Thistle, the kelpie was with Ripple and both of them were busy trying to read something off of a page. They were studying, and that was boring, so Dinky buzzed off, looking elsewhere.

Beneath the ship, Sparkler was applying goop to the wood with a brush. She wasnât paying attention to her work though. No, she was watching Rising Star and Loch Skimmer as they engaged in a very sloppy kiss, both of them covered in the goop they had been painting onto the wood. Not wanting to watch something so icky, Dinky buzzed away.

She buzzed over the deck of the ship again and flew through an open window into the cabin. She immediately wished that she hadnât. Dinky let out a cry and her connection to the bee was broken.

âœWhat happened?â PiÃa asked as she watched Dinky rubbing her head.

Dinky shivered and shuddered. She blinked a few times and grimaced in disgust. âœUgh,â Dinky grunted. Dinky rubbed her eyes and turned to look PiÃa in the eye as the earth pony stared back at her.

âœWhat happened?â PiÃa repeated, her voice now filled with concern.

âœI sawâ Iââ Dinky fell silent and shook her head as her body trembled.

âœWhat did you see?â PiÃa inquired.

âœI saw mommy and daddy kissing,â Dinky said as she slipped into foalish speech, hoping to salvage her innocence after what she had seen.

âœThatâs not so bad,â PiÃa muttered. âœYouâre a silly pony.â

âœI am not,â Dinky retorted.

âœLook, kissing is gross, but even I can deal with watching them kiss each other,â PiÃa said, returning to her book after rolling her eyes.

âœHe was kissing her down there and she was moaning and kicking,â Dinky whispered.

âœOooohâ. eeeeeeeew,â PiÃa groaned.

âœMy foalhood is ruined,â Dinky muttered. âœI canât unsee it.â

âœYuckâ why would anypony want to kiss that?â PiÃa uttered in a tone of shock and revulsion. She stuck out her tongue and gagged.

âœMy mother was making silly faces,â Dinky cried. âœI can still see her,â she added as she clenched her eyes shut.

âœHeâ he wasnât gobbling her up was he?â PiÃa asked in a nervous whisper.

âœWhat are you talking about PiÃa?â Dinky replied in confusion.

âœHis teethâ those fangsâ You donât think he was actually biting her down there do you?â PiÃa questioned.

Dinkyâs eyes flew open wide and she looked at PiÃa. âœHe would never eat our mama,â Dinky insisted. âœHe was just kissing her or maybe just a nibbleâ I donât want to talk about this PiÃa,â the unicorn foal insisted.

âœI am going to ask him about it later,â PiÃa said, steeling her resolve.

âœNO!â Dinky protested.

Derpy winked at Berry Punch as the two mares passed one another. Derpy was leaving the cabin, and Berry was entering. The pegasus planted a kiss on Berryâs cheek and stroked her with her wing.

Derpy looked out over the deck as the door shut behind her. Her legs still felt wobbly and she felt sticky. She was thankful that her tail was long and full. She spread her wings out wide and took to the air, going to the lake for a bit of a dip.

Below her, she saw Dinky and PiÃa, and she waved to them as she departed.

Chapter 104

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Trying to connect with multiple bees was difficult, and Dinky found that she could not see through the eyes of multiple bees, she could only see what one bee was seeing. It frustrated her and she gritted her teeth together. Beside her, PiÃa looked up from her book when she heard the sound.

âœGive it time Dinks, you only just figured out how to do this today,â PiÃa said as she returned to reading. Starjammer might be a lousy writer, but his work was interesting. âœWhatever it is you are frustrated about, it canât help you to be upset about it,â the earth pony added.

Dinky relaxed a bit, realising that PiÃa was right. Instead, she focused on range, sending a bee out as a scout. It zoomed off at an alarming speed and Dinky felt dizzy seeing just how fast the landscape was moving all around her.

PiÃa flipped the page. âœYou know Dinky, if you can connect with bees, there is probably nothing stopping you from connecting to other bugs. Maybe even spiders,â PiÃa said with a shiver. âœThere are bugs everywhere Dinky. You could probably see anywhere you wanted to just by tuning into the bugs in the area,â PiÃa suggested.

Dinkyâs mind began to race with the possibilities of what PiÃa was saying. It was almost too much to bear, and she felt her concentration waver for a moment. She refocused her will and held everything together.

âœI bet there are even bugs in the palace. I remember a picture of the royal gardensâ there were butterflies everywhere. I bet if you wanted to, you could even spy on the princesses, once we get home,â PiÃa said, thinking out loud. âœDistance might be a problem, but you are a type threeâ you should be good for hundreds of miles once you learn how to focus,â PiÃa said informatively.

Once again, Dinky felt her concentration waver. She would never have these sorts of good ideas by herself.

âœSpying on the princesses would be wrong though. We would get in trouble,â PiÃa muttered.

âœPiÃa, how hard would it be find out where the wolves are hiding? Think I could get the bees to find them?â Dinky asked in a low voice.

âœDoubtful,â PiÃa replied.

âœWhy doubtful?â Dinky questioned.

âœBees donât normally go where the wolves are. Youâd summon a bee and then just fly around randomly looking for wolf dens,â PiÃa answered with a thoughtful look upon her face.

âœThat might take a while,â Dinky grumbled, hating that PiÃa was right.

âœIâd try to reach out and touch minds with flies,â PiÃa suggested.

âœWhy flies?â Dinky returned.

âœWolf poop. Surely there are flies buzzing around it. Of course, you might get flies buzzing around pony poop. Or other types of poop. But where there is poop, there are living things making the poop, and sooner or later you would find wolf poop,â PiÃa explained as she failed to contain her giggles.

âœPoop!â Dinky repeated, her concentration wavering as she giggled.

âœPoop,â both fillies said together.

âœOnce I know where some wolves are, I can prank them,â Dinky said.

âœPrank them?â PiÃa asked doubtfully.

âœI think a thousand bees stinging them would be pretty funny,â Dinky said coldly.

PiÃa did not reply but turned her head to look at Dinky.

âœMake them hurt. Make them afraid. Make them suffer,â Dinky hissed.

âœDinky Doo Hooves,â PiÃa scolded. âœStop scaring me,â she insisted.

âœSorry PiÃaâ I donât know what comes over me sometimes,â Dinky apologised. âœMy bee has reached the ocean. I can see water,â she announced.

âœLast night has me thinking,â Rising Star said in a low voice.

âœI think it has all of us thinking,â Ripple replied.

âœI know, it has been on my mind all day,â Loch Skimmer admitted.

âœIâd say kissing has been on your mind all day,â Sparkler quipped.

âœWhy do you think Iâve been, well, kissyâ I donât know what to say. I have all of these feelings and I donât know how to express them but I thought a kiss would be good way to show them and the idea of losing all of you makes me want to cry and kissing Rising Star has kept the tears bottled up,â Loch blurted out.

âœI was teasing you just a bit Loch,â Sparkler said, looking at her herdmate as she did so.

âœIf I didnât have a broken leg I would hug you to death Sparkler,â Loch said.

âœI still canât get over Sentinel screaming. I mean, heâs a tough little pegasus. That screeching soundâ I couldnât comfort him,â Ripple said, looking down at the ground.

âœYou really love him donât you Ripple?â Loch asked.

âœMore than anything,â Ripple admitted in a small voice. âœAnd Bucky,â she whispered in a very tiny voice. Rippleâs wings fluttered and her head darted down to preen her feathers.

âœIt is good that you love them Rippleâ after how things have been for us,â Loch said to her sister, her voice wavering with concern.

âœWeâre his foals now,â Ripple whispered after she smoothed out a feather. âœWe might be grown up, but we are his foals. He loves us,â she insisted. âœI saw the look in his eyeâ the way he looked at me. There was so much concern and fear.â

âœI must admit, I felt safe pressed between him and Derpy,â Loch said. She stretched out her neck and nibbled on a bit of clover. She chewed thoughtfully before she continued. âœPiÃa trusted him. Even in that moment where he wasnât himself, she truly believed that he would not hurt herâ I wish I had the trust that she does.â

âœWe could have that for ourselves,â Rising Star said, looking around at the three fillies around him.

âœI want that,â Loch admitted. âœI want it more than anything. I think I am ready for us to be a family now,â she said in a trembling voice. âœI mean, I know we are together, Iâ but we havenât actuallyâ there is going to be a fight soonâ everything is so tense. Look, whatever lies ahead, I want to face it together knowing that I can trust in my family. It is time for us to come together and it is time for me to grow up and stop allowing my past to rob me of my future.â

âœSo the three of us are going to need some time together,â Sparkler said.

âœBefore you three have your time together, there is something I want,â Ripple asked.

âœWhat is that?â Loch asked her sister.

Ripple did not reply. She rose to four legs and slowly approached Sparkler, her ears folded back against her skull and her head low in the submissive posture common to pegasi. She didnât look at Sparkler as she approached. With a sudden movement, she raised her head and caught Sparkler by surprise, pressing her lips against the startled unicornâs muzzle.

It was a brief but passionate kiss and Ripple pulled away breathlessly. âœWhen my time comes, I am yours if you will have me,â Ripple offered in a timid voice. She stepped away from Sparkler, backing away slowly, and then approached Rising Star cautiously. She kissed him on the cheek. âœI still donât know what to make of you yet, but you no longer scare me,â Ripple said to the colt before her. âœI will be your wife. We will work something out between us,â she promised. She retreated from Rising Star and then sat down in the grass near her sister with a contented half smile.

âœOkay, that left me kind of flustered,â Sparkler admitted.

âœGood,â Ripple said with a smirk. âœBon Bon and I have been talking.â

Sparklerâs face turned to one of tender concern. âœHave Lyra and Bon Bon been helping you sort things out?â Sparkler asked.

âœWell, our time to talk has been limited, but I donât feel so confused or wrong about what I am. And I do not doubt what I am,â Ripple replied. She took a deep breath. âœRising, even if I donât find you attractive doesnât mean I canât love you. Just has to be a different kind of love. Bon Bon wanted me to say that to you and I have been waiting for a good time,â the filly stated. âœAnd I do love you. That day we went for a walk with Berryâ I felt it then.â

âœSo now we move forward,â Rising Star said.

Keg Smasher landed upon the deck with a thud, the enormous heavy pegasus dropping out of the air and coming down hard. His wingspan was like that of an albatross and he could be best described as a flying brick. Not that anypony would ever dare say anything like that to his face.

He grinned sheepishly as several startled ponies turned to look at him. âœSorry,â he apologised.

He strode purposefully ahead, seeing the pony that he hoped to talk to. He climbed the steps to deck above the cabin and approached Bucky slowly. Keg Smasher couldnât help but notice how small and frail looking Bucky seemed, but believing that Bucky was actually frail was a terrible mistake. The little unicorn was unassuming and looked like a stiff wind would blow him over.

But Bucky was made of iron, Keg Smasher had concluded.

âœYou okay?â Keg Smasher asked, his voice thick with concern.

âœI had a bad night,â Bucky replied. âœHad a much better morning. I feel fine.â

âœI heard about what happened. Berry Punch told me everything. I suppose by now that youâve figured out that I know more than Iâve let onâ and I am sorry about it but Celestia made me promise not to say anything until you came to this conclusion on your own,â Keg Smasher said as he sat down on his haunches.

Bucky nodded. âœI have indeed been wondering about it. I was going to wait a while and collect my thoughts. And then I was going to come to you,â the unicorn admitted.

âœI donât actually know that much,â Keg Smasher confessed. âœAnd thatâs the truth. But there have been others who have come here. And they have met messy ends. Lord Wrecker knows more about this than I doâ he and I have been talking a great deal.â

âœSo what is this place?â Bucky asked.

âœI asked the same thingâ Celestia told me it isnât just this place. There are others. Fate brought you here. After the peace was broken, I sent her a message and we began to communicate-â

âœYou have a means to communicate with Princess Celestia?â Bucky interrupted.

âœI have a dragonfire candle,â Keg Smasher answered. âœWell, I had a few, but I am down to one and they only get a few uses,â he explained.

âœSorry, do continue,â Bucky said politely.

âœAfter I sent her a message, Celestia realised that fate would bring you here. We talked a bit. There is a lot I donât know, and I feel bad for leaving you in the dark, but I had to play ignorant. Celestia told me to tell you that she did everything in her power to help you. I guess she has rigged the game in your favour. She said she canât see here. Something blocks her vision. And she canât interfere here because of the treaty. She wasnât allowed to come here. Well, the treaty is over nowâ I guess she could come here now, but things have been bad for her,â Keg Smasher explained.

âœOther places,â Bucky said, mostly to himself. He sighed, reached up with one hoof, and then he scratched his barrel.

âœI hope you will understandââ Keg Smasher said in a voice filled with uncertainty.

âœPuts a new perspective on things,â Bucky stated. âœSo when you had me flog Loch Skimmer and Rippleâs father, you wanted the fear placed on my shouldersâ but you werenât exactly expecting me to go home at that time were you?â

âœI donât know lad,â Keg Smasher said. âœTo be honest, after you lived through the wolves mauling you, I wasnât sure what I believed in. Youâre a little hard arse. I mean, youâre just a wee unicorn. Iâve seen much bigger unicorns than you, big solid types brought down and laid low. No offense, but youâre not even enough for a decent meal.â

Bucky threw back his head and laughed riotously and Keg Smasher couldnât help but feel a little nervous. The laughter sounded a littleâ mad.

The big pegasus looked around and realised that ponies were staring at them. And Bucky was still guffawing. Keg Smasher grinned a nervous sheepish grin and turned a worried gaze upon Bucky.

Buckyâs laughter died abruptly. âœI hope I make my enemies choke to death,â he said vehemently.

Keg Smasher felt his blood run cold. The unicornâs demeanor had changed. Something gleamed in his remaining eye and it spooked Keg Smasher. The giant pegasus had lived for a long time because of a well developed sense of knowing when something was dangerous.

âœAnd when they do I will pull myself from their fetid ruined corpses and I will string their festering guts along the rails of this ship. I will festoon the prow of this craft with their severed heads,â Bucky snarled as he raised his eyebrow over his remaining eye. âœI will skin my fallen foes and wear their pelts as a cloak.â

Keg Smasher shivered and wrapped his wings around himself. The air was cold, every bit as cold as his blood and his spine.

âœAfraid?â Bucky asked.

âœY-y-yes,â Keg Smasher stammered.

âœYou wanted your subjects to feel this way about me,â Bucky said flatly. His voice was soft now and it brought both calm and comfort. âœI will subdue my enemies. I will keep this craft as a home fit for foals. And I donât want their filthy skins anywhere near me. I have embraced my darkness. But I am not a monster.â

Keg Smasher took a deep breath and let it out slowly. âœYou had me go-â

âœI am tired of being toyed with,â Bucky interrupted. âœAnd you took part in it. I forgive you for it, I understand that you didnât have much choice, just like the others caught up in this have had little choice. And right now, I am going to give you the option of telling me everything you know, withholding nothing. I have sworn to never bring harm to one of my fellow ponies ever again, so I am asking you to do this out of common decency. Should you continue to withhold information, mark my words; after I eradicate these wolves and go home, I will do everything in my power to make sure that you are no longer in charge here.â

âœAye lad, Iâll tell you everything I know, which honestly isnât much. And Iâll tell Lord Wrecker to come and have a talk with ya,â Keg Smasher promised.

The big pegasus took a deep breath, and then proceeded to tell Bucky everything he knew.

Chapter 105

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âœMama, I was hoping I could talk to you.â

Derpy raised her head. She had been preening her wings. Her feathers were a bit ruffled after getting a private moment with Bucky a while ago. All he had wanted was to feel her warm living body and the pegasus mare could not say no. Sparkler stood beside her, speaking like a foal, something she had not done in quite a while.

âœSomething wrong Sparky?â Derpy asked.

Sparkler nervously kicked her own hooves and squirmed. She knew that she could come to her mother about anything. She had learned that lesson the hard way after her marriage, when her mother had slapped some much needed sense into her. Sparkler remembered every stinging blow and the terrible feeling of failure, a feeling she still felt sometimes when she reflected back upon those events. She moved forward and laid down at her motherâs hooves and pressed the side of her face against her motherâs leg.

Derpy had not seen Sparkler act so foalish in quite some time. It made her remember simpler times and more innocent days. She bent her knees and settled into the grass beside Sparkler, wrapping a wing around the filly and kissing her cheek.

âœWeâre going to start our family mama,â Sparkler said in an almost unheard voice.

Derpy inhaled sharply, her breath catching her in throat. She felt Sparkler pressed up against her, trembling, awaiting some kind of reaction. The filly was also terrified. Derpy continued to stroke Sparkler with her wing and pressed close against her.

âœWe all talked. We felt that it was time. I am not going to be a filly for much longer. I am going to have to grow up and stop being a foal,â Sparkler said in a frightened voice. âœPlease say something, Iâm scared, and I want to know I am doing the right thingâ I need your approval,â Sparkler begged.

âœOf course you have my approval,â Derpy replied in a choked voice. âœAnd you shouldnât be scared. I am happy for youâ I thought Iâd have a few more years of having you as my filly, but I guess it is time to let go,â the pegasus said with a sniffle.

âœNo, donât let go, I canât do this alone,â Sparkler whimpered.

âœIt is an expression, I will never actually let go of you,â Derpy whispered soothingly.

âœWhat will it be like?â Sparkler asked.

âœWhat will what be like?â Derpy inquired in reply.

âœYou knowââ Sparkler whispered in strained utterance.

âœI donât know,â Derpy said, now baffled.

âœMy first time,â Sparkler squeaked in a nervous and embarrassed voice. âœIâve heard a few things. Will it hurt?â she asked, panic lingering in every word she spoke.

âœOh,â Derpy gasped. Heat raced through her body. âœSparkler, weâve talked about this. Sort of,â Derpy said in a low worried voice.

âœWeâve talked about the act, but not in detail. Iâm scared mama,â Sparkler said as she pushed her face into her motherâs neck.

âœIt might hurt a little. Or even a lot,â Derpy said in blunt honesty. âœBerry has had a few partners and it still hurts her when Bucky takes her. But he is gentle and careful and the pain goes away after a while,â the mare said soothingly, struggling to say each word to her daughter. This was not an easy conversation. âœAnd no, it doesnât hurt me.â

âœBecause you had Dinky,â Sparkler stated.

âœThat might be the reason. Might be because we just fit together better. Not every mare is the same down there. Just like with stallions, some are larger, some are smaller. Berry is smaller,â Derpy explained in a nervous wavering voice. âœSparkler, honey, um, do you know you work down there? I mean, I know that you know how foals are made, but do you understand what makes you feel good?â

Sparkler worried that her cheeks might burst into flames. Her ears were searingly hot. She squeezed her eyes shut and swallowed, realising this was a nightmare of her own making.

âœLove is more than just foal making, and you need to know what makes you feel good so you can tell Rising about what he needs to doââ

âœLook, mom,â Sparkler interrupted. She grunted and stuck her resolve to the sticking place. âœI discovered my little button down there when I was a filly and I have been playing with it in the shower ever since. Why do you think I take so long?â Sparkler felt like she was going to swallow her own tongue, and her mouth was now painfully dry.

âœThatâs a good thing,â Derpy croaked, her voice cracking from emotion. âœI do a lot of that too, or did. Perfectly normal and natural, and nothing to be ashamed of, and never let anypony tell you different.â

Sparklerâs ears drooped to the sides of her face and she kept her eyes closed.

âœI prefer the bathtub. With lots of bubbles. That way when you or Dinky would come bursting in, I could hide what I was doing,â Derpy admitted.

Sparkler was all too aware of the furnace like heat radiating from her motherâs body. âœI guess we took you for granted. We never respected your privacy,â Sparkler confessed.

âœThis is really hard for me,â Derpy said. âœYouâre my fillyâ I love you like my own flesh and blood. And now when I look at Rising Star, I am going to know that he is doing things to you. I am going to have to adjust and remember that he is my son now. I still donât know how to sort this out. I guess this is a motherâs burden. You know, you should bring Loch to me so she and I can talk,â Derpy suggested.

âœActually, I convinced Loch Skimmer to go to Berry Punch,â Sparkler replied.

Derpyâs eyes went wide and she felt a panicked moment of alarm.

Berry Punch studied the pegasus filly that was looking at her expectantly. The question that had just been asked lingered in the air like a pegasus fart. Loch looked terrified, as though she hadnât wanted to ask the question at all.

âœThe others put you up to this, didnât they?â Berry asked.

Loch started to speak, squeaked, and then fell silent. She nodded.

Berry rolled her eyes and groaned. âœAlways leave it to the earth ponies to do the heavy lifting,â she muttered. âœHow much do you know about yourself?â Berry inquired bluntly.

âœWhat do you mean?â Loch asked in a frightened whisper.

âœI know that you have to know how this works on some level, because I know you have watched it happen. But knowing that a penis goes in and a foal squirts out is not enough,â Berry insisted. âœThatâs foal making, not love.â

Loch Skimmer turned crimson under her charcoal grey pelt.

âœDo you know anything about how you are back there?â Berry asked.

Loch Skimmer shook her head no.

Berry rolled her eyes in exasperation. âœUgh. You and I are going to the lake. Come on. Donât argue,â Berry commanded.

âœBut my leg,â Loch protested.

âœKeep it out of the water,â Berry retorted.

âœI think the summer is getting to everypony,â PiÃa announced.

âœHmm?â Dinky inquired nonverbally.

âœMy earth pony sense feels funnyâ I donât know how to explain it. But I can feel something odd. And look all around us. Ponies are falling in love. Chasing one another. Ponies working on the boat keep taking off to run around after one another and they look really happy. And I can feel something all around me. If you listen, you can hear them talking. Theyâre hopeful. They want to make foals,â PiÃa explained.

Dinky nodded and looked all around her.

âœRipple says things are different. She says the ponies here arenât usually like this,â PiÃa continued.

âœI think it is because they are free now and they know that the wolves are going to go away,â Dinky said as she watched a filly flick a colt with her tail as she passed him.

âœTheyâre not getting married because they have to, but because they want to.â

Both fillies turned and looked at Ripple, who was smiling broadly. They had not heard her land. Ripple was stealthy and quiet when she wanted to be.

âœYou look really happy,â PiÃa quipped.

âœI am really happy,â Ripple replied.

âœGood. You spend too much time frowning,â Dinky complained.

âœI do not,â Ripple protested.

âœYes you do,â PiÃa said gently. âœYou frown with your whole body, even when you canât see it on your face,â the earth pony foal explained.

Ripple slumped and her ears drooped, but her smile did not break. âœBucky been feeling okay? Heâs disappeared a few times. I was worried,â Ripple remarked.

Dinky and PiÃa both blushed and looked down at the wooden deck.

âœDid something happen?â Ripple asked.

PiÃa swallowed, gulping hard, and found that she could say nothing in reply.

âœOh, daddy is fineâ we think. At least he seems to be feeling much better,â Dinky mumbled.

âœIs there something you arenât telling me?â Ripple asked. âœI thought we were closeâ we can tell each other anything, right?â

PiÃa nodded in reply but still said nothing.

âœI figured out remote viewing through a bee,â Dinky said in a hushed conspiratorial whisper.

âœWhat does that have to do with anything?â Ripple asked. âœWhy are you acting so funny all of a sudden?â the pegasus filly inquired, peering down at Dinky.

âœHe had his muzzle poked into the place where foals come out,â PiÃa said bluntly. âœDinky saw it.â

Rippleâs eyes went wide, then narrowed, and then went wide again. She blew her mane out of her eyes and her wings fluttered a bit. Finally, the filly extended a wing and wiped her forehead with it.

âœShe was really happy, or sounded that way, and she was making silly faces. I can still see them. Up here. In my mind,â Dinky said in monotone.

Berry Punch stood in the shallows next to Loch Skimmer. She took a deep breath and turned to face the filly. âœThe water is nice and reflective,â Berry said.

âœYes it is,â Loch replied, unsure of what that had to do with anything.

âœI want you to kick your hind legs out and hunker down a bit over the water,â Berry instructed. âœBe mindful of your broken leg, we donât want your cast getting wet.â

âœWhat are you going to do to me?â Loch Skimmer asked in a panic, her eyes darting around and her wings snapping out to make ready her escape.

âœI am not going to do anything to you, and donât you dare fly away,â Berry said, her voice now soft and soothing. âœYou are going to look at yourself and we are going to talk.â

âœLook at myself?â Loch asked. âœWhy would I want to do that? It isâ yucky back there.â she added in a hushed whisper.

Berry swatted the pegasus on the shoulder and Loch cringed. âœDonât you ever say that again,â Berry scolded in an angry hiss.

âœIâm sorry,â Loch whined as she shied away from the irate earth pony.

âœStop being sorry and squat,â Berry demanded harshly.

Trembling, Loch spread out her hind legs a bit and squatted down. She started to look down into the water and found that she couldnât. Her balance on three legs wavered a bit.

Heaving a frustrated sigh, Berryâs hard expression softened and the earth pony looked sad.

âœI was always told that I was a warm body fit for making foals and little else by my mothers,â Loch whispered. âœAnd I have always hated everything back there,â Loch admitted in a pained voice.

âœWhy hate it?â Berry asked.

âœI wanted to be freeâ I wanted to go to the mainland. But I am a female and I had an obligation to make foals. And my ability to make foals was more important than anything I wanted as a pony,â Loch explained.

âœI think I understand,â Berry said as she gently stroked Loch with a wet fetlock. âœBut you need to stop hating your own flesh,â Berry urged. âœNow come on, I want you to look at yourself,â Berry coaxed.

Loch Skimmer looked down into the water and saw her own belly in reflected back up at her. She craned her head and kept looking, her gaze working back. She could see her own small teats, and then she saw herself. A small delicate and mostly hidden place that remained out of sight under her tail or secured from view and hidden between her legs. With her legs open, it was little more than a fleshy looking wrinkle, something that occasionally came into view by accident. Loch felt her cheeks burning.

âœI wanted to be more than what is between my legs made me,â Loch Skimmer cried. She felt hot tears beginning to burn in the corners of her eyes.

âœWhat is between your legs makes you special. Having foals is our sacred duty. But on our terms. When we decide it is right. We are the gates of creation, and as females, we are trusted with this sacred obligation. Because letâs face it. If males had what we had, they would just play with it all day,â Berry said.

Loch snorted as a giggle escaped her lips. Tears still fell, but now she found herself giggling uncontrollably.

âœEver touched yourself?â Berry asked in a low gentle voice.

âœNo,â Loch said. âœI canât. I donât even want to look at it, much less touch it,â she admitted.

âœI want you to touch yourself. Reach back there with a wing or a hoof and gently touch yourself. Maybe pull yourself open a bit and have a look. See what you look like. See how beautiful it is,â Berry instructed.

âœI donât think it is beautiful,â Loch retorted.

âœDonât make me swat you again filly,â Berry warned.

Loch cringed and looked up at Berry Punch, who was staring at her intently.

âœWhat you have is beautiful and desirable. Rising Star is going to want to touch it. Play with it. He is going to want to be inside of it, and at some point, he will be. If he is brave, he is going to want to kiss it and do all manner of things and right now what I am saying probably makes you feel disgusted. Am I right?â Berry inquired.

Loch nodded but said nothing. She looked queasy.

âœWhat you have gives you power. You are in control of your own body now. Nopony can force you into anything. You get to decide what is done with your body. If somepony was to ever try anything funny with you, Rising Star would wreck them. Or I would. Or your herdmates. You have something that Rising Star is going to want. You should never withhold it from him, because that would be wrong, but there is nothing wrong with making him tell you how much he appreciates you or making him work to please you. You have a right to be happy and you have the right to enjoy your own body. If you are ashamed of what you are, Rising Star is going to pick up on that and it is going to spoil all of your fun,â Berry explained. âœLove is a mutual exchange. Rising Star gives you love and satisfaction, and you give him foals. On your own terms. He doesnât take from you and you donât take from him.â

Loch Skimmer peered at Berry Punch, her ears back, and her posture submissive.

âœSex, love, it is an exchange, and orgasms are the currency. When you and Rising Star finally get together, you tell him to get down there between your legs and get to work. And you are going to hang from his face like a feedbag,â Berry stated matter of factly. âœYou tell him to lick you. And when he licks something that feels good, you tell him. And you let him keep licking until something happens. You will know it when you feel it. It will feel good. But you make him keep licking. This is important Loch. This is your first time. And you are going to be afraid. That is going to make it hard to perform. You might be a little dry down there. And dry is bad. It will make everything hurt. So you encourage him to keep licking until you feel good and wet down there, and you have your first orgasm. You should orgasm at some point, if everything goes right. Afterwards, youâll be properly slicked up down there and what comes next will be a little easier. It still might hurt, but you tell him when it hurts. You tell him to go slowly. You tell him to be careful. I know that Rising Star will be careful and attentive, heâs a good colt, but you still need to say it. It is very important to tell him about what you feel. Like I said, this is an exchange,â Berry explained.

Loch Skimmer looked down into the water, saw her reflection, and peered backwards. She kept her leg in its sling and reached back with a wing. When she felt her feathers brush over her sensitive flesh, she giggled nervously and her body quivered. âœI canât,â she said in a low voice. âœI mean, I canât do as you asked. It tickles when I touch it with my wing and I donât want to try using my broken leg.â

Berry sighed.

âœThe tickle felt good though,â Loch admitted nervously.

âœDo you want me to help you?â Berry asked. âœI donât mean touching you before you say anything. You can stand on your hind legs and balance against me. Iâll be right behind you. And you can feel around with your good leg and have a look.â

âœThat seems reasonable,â Loch said skittishly.

âœSo you and father justââ

Derpy nodded.

âœI mean, you just slipped away for a few minutes and um,â Sparkler said. The purple-pink fillyâs face was far more purple than pink at the moment.

Derpy kept nodding and as a mother, couldnât help but notice how adorable Sparkler looked at the moment. Somehow, it made the conversation bearable.

âœAnd then you slipped off to the lake, gave yourself a bit of a scrub, and now you are snuggling with me,â Sparkler said in a slightly distressed tone.

âœSparky honey, why does that bother you?â Derpy asked in gentle motherly tones.

âœI dunno,â Sparkler said with a shrug. âœI understand that it happens, but the idea that you just did it, in broad daylight, with all those other ponies around, I dunno, it just makes me feel funny. And now you are sitting here with me talking about the deed,â Sparkler explained.

âœWhen the mood strikes, it can happen night or day. You scratch the itch and then you go about your day. And why does it bother you that I am cuddling with you afterwards?â Derpy gently inquired. âœBucky and I sleep together and you and I still touch one another in the morning.â

âœI dunno mom, it just feels funny, being pressed up against you and knowing that just a little while ago, he wasâ he wasâ well, doing things to you,â Sparkler said as she cringed.

âœIâm clean. I gave myself a quick scrub. I donât understand the big deal,â Derpy said.

âœSleeping together is different. I mean actual sleeping. When I hug you in the mornings I know that youâve just been sleeping. Right now, I canât stop thinking that you were covered in Bucky slobber andâ andââ Sparkler fell silent.

âœStallion spunk?â Derpy suggested with a bit of a titter.

Sparkler closed her eyes and nodded.

âœSo how long does it take after the act until I am âœmomâ again and you feel safe to hug me? When do the cooties wear off?â Derpy said teasingly.

Sparkler opened her eyes and rolled them. âœMom,â she cried in exasperation.

âœYou sound like Dinky and PiÃa, trying to say that your father has cooties,â Derpy said with a giggle as she squeezed Sparkler with her wing.

The three fillies all shifted around uncomfortably, unable to look one another in the eye. There was an unspoken sense of mutual shared embarrassment that hung in the air, something only sisters or ponies who were very, very close could share with one another.

âœSo, um, stuff,â PiÃa said as she intently studied the whorls in the wooden decking.

âœI kissed Sparkler,â Ripple announced in a small voice.

âœDid she kiss you back?â Dinky said, her brows furrowed with concern.

âœYes,â Ripple breathed, wrapping her wings around her body and closing her eyes.

âœOh this is good,â PiÃa squeaked.

Dinky leaned into Rippleâs side and Ripple wrapped a wing around the unicorn foal. âœI feel better knowing that Sparky is happy,â Dinky admitted. âœThings have been so hard lately. I hate this place,â Dinky fumed.

âœEven when we go home, we will never truly leave this place,â PiÃa said sagely. âœWe canât go back to the way things were. We are always going to remember what happened here. All of the bad things,â she mused.

âœAnd good things, we canât forget about those,â Ripple commented.

âœThere has been a few good things,â Dinky admitted.

âœYeah, there are good things here too, we will remember those,â PiÃa replied. âœHey Dinks, do you remember grocery stores? The smellâ the smell of of all that different food in one place. Youâd walk in, and the smell would hit your nose. The cool air that would rush out and blow through your mane when the door opened. Or the smell of Sugarcube Corner.â

âœI can remember those things PiÃa,â Dinky answered.

âœI am starting to forget them Dinky,â PiÃa admitted. âœI am starting to forget them and it scares me. What if I never get to smell those things again?â

Ripple, feeling a lump in her throat, pulled the morose earth pony close and hugged her to her barrel. âœWhen we go home, you will have to show me all of these wonderful things,â Ripple whispered into PiÃaâs ear, trying to comfort the despondent foal.

âœI want to go home,â PiÃa moaned. âœI canât do this anymore. I canât even escape now when I sleep. I keep having bad dreams.â

âœMaybe Sentinel can help you,â Dinky suggested.

âœIâm blueâ and there are pink spots.â

Berry felt a twinge of worry as Loch Skimmer wobbled a bit. The filly was balanced on two legs and staring at her reflection in the water. Lochâs wings flapped a bit as the filly struggled to maintain her balance.

âœWhy am I blue inside?â Loch inquired.

âœDifferent mares have different colours,â Berry replied. âœDerpy is bluish,â she added, trying to inspire some confidence in Loch by sharing something intimate. Berry felt the filly tense as she continued to explore herself.

âœTouching it makes me feel funny,â Loch said in a low whisper. âœI hope nopony sees me.â

Berry took a deep breath. âœYou should see some folds of flesh. There is an opening. I donât mean the outer opening, but an inner opening. You might still have a filly ribbon, which will be covering that opening. Near the top there is a little nub of flesh. That is your clitoris, it is sensitive.â Berry explained.

âœI think I found it,â Loch said as she shivered.

Berry felt the filly take a deep shuddering breath. âœThat is the secret to happiness. The reward button for making foals. I know you have some trouble believing this, but making foals can be very enjoyable and fun. And many ponies engage in the activity any time they get the chance. Bucky and I had a private moment together earlier. He spent some time worshipping my happy button and I spent some time making sure that he felt loved and appreciated. You were exposed to the bad side of thingsâ but you need to let go if you can. Try to let yourself enjoy it,â Berry explained.

âœI am so afraid,â Loch said.

âœSo is Rising Star,â Berry replied.

âœWhy would he be afraid?â Loch answered in surprise.

âœHavenât you been paying attention? He knows how skittish you are. Heâs scared of hurting you or setting you off. He desperately wants your approval and your affection, just as much as he wants Sparklerâs. And if you donât show him that you appreciate him and his concerns, you are going to break his heart,â Berry warned.

âœI donât want to do that,â Loch whispered, fear now in her voice. She looked down into the water and studied herself. She dug in with the edge of her hoof and applied tension to the skin, spreading herself, all too aware of Berry Punch pressed up against her as she continued to explore herself.

âœLook, you need to get it through your head that Rising Star cares about what you feel. He isnât going to mount you, give you a few humps, blow his load of foal batter into you, and then go wander off. This isnât going to be like what you are expecting. He is going to love you and he is going to have fits of worry and panic about if you enjoyed it or not and if he made you happy,â Berry stated bluntly.

Loch Skimmer worried that her ears were going to catch on fire.

âœThatâs all youâve seen, isnât it? Rape isnât sex. And it certainly isnât love. And even if it was consensual, a stallion mounting a mare and tending to his own satisfaction isnât love. Love is going at it hot and heavy, belly to back or belly to belly, or even freakier positions, it is hot, sweaty, and sticky. You hope you get to go off soon but at the same time you hope that it never ends. You rub and grind away, touching everything, and you just let go while holding on tight. Nothing is embarrassing. You make stupid faces at one another. You worry more about who you are screwing than you do about yourself. You want to hold back and make them go off before you do. You get a little competitive. There are wet sounds, slurping sounds, disgusting noises, things are squelching like a pony stepping in the mud, and you donât care. Things are messy and afterwards, you hold on to one another and it doesnât bother you that you are drenched and disgusting, you just donât care. You just want to feel them against you while you catch your breath. And then youâll want to go again,â Berry explained in graphic detail.

Loch dropped down to three legs and felt her heart racing. Her wings were painfully stiff and she was unable to fold them to her sides. Her whole body felt stiff and her dock felt tight. And all she could think about was Rising Star.

âœAnd any time you need advice, you come to me. A daughter should always be able to come to her mother. For anything,â Berry said.

Loch turned to look at Berry Punch and she felt her eyes watering. âœThanksâ mama,â she whispered gratefully.

âœI feel better about the coming fight now that I have my family sorted out,â Sparkler admitted.

âœI donât know how I feel about the coming fight,â Derpy replied.

âœWeâll be together, and I donât mean just my herd, I mean you and I,â Sparkler said to her mother.

âœIt scares me, the idea of you fighting. If something hurts youâ I might just have to change my name from âœDoo Hoovesâ to âœWolf Kicking Hoovesâ just so other ponies will understand how I feel about the issue,â Derpy stated.

âœThis fight, it is going to be ugly, isnât it?â Sparkler asked in a low voice.

âœI intend to make it as ugly as possible,â Derpy growled in reply.

Rising Star swallowed a few times and cleared his throat, trying to get Buckyâs attention. Keg Smasher had spread his wings and flown away, and now Bucky was alone.

âœRising Star?â Bucky asked.

The nervous colt approached Bucky and sat down. âœDo you have a minute?â

âœYes,â Bucky said.

âœWeâ my herd and I, we, usâ weâve been talking. And weâve decided that we are ready to start our family now. Before the trouble starts. Sparkler went to talk to her mother, she convinced Loch Skimmer to go to Berry Punch, and Sparkler wanted me to go to youâ so we can talk,â Rising Star explained. Rising Star felt his muscles relax a bit when he saw Buckyâs ears splay out sideways and a faint grin on his gnarled face.

âœYou know you already have my approval right?â Bucky asked.

âœThat isnât why I am here,â replied Rising Star, his words practically panted out due to his nervous breathing. âœI have far more practical concerns.â

âœSuch as?â Bucky inquired, raising an eyebrow at the colt.

âœI want to make them happy on our first time. Iâm scared out of my mind Bucky,â Rising Star confessed.

Bucky chuckled. âœI was terrified before I was married,â Bucky replied reassuringly. âœDerpy showed me that she could crack walnuts with her lips.â

Rising Starâs ears went limp and fell to the sides of his face.

âœYou married a pegasus. My advice, hold on and try to survive,â Bucky suggested.

âœH-h-h-how?â Rising Star stammered.

âœWell,â Bucky started. âœIt helps if you wear them out with lots of oral sex before engaging them directly,â he suggested.

Rising Star stared at Bucky, trying to determine if the stallion was being serious. It was hard to tell. Bucky had a quirky sense of humour and it could be rather dry.

âœPlanning on some means of protection?â Bucky asked.

Rising Star nodded. âœSparkler and I know spells,â he said.

âœGood. But if something does happen, I wouldnât be terribly upset if there was a foal,â Bucky stated.

âœOh weâre not ready for foals,â Rising Star squeaked out nervously. His mouth was dry and his lips felt too tight. Rising Star couldnât tell for certain, but for a moment he thought he saw a look of disappointment flash through Buckyâs remaining eye.

âœFoals are all we have Rising,â Bucky stated in a wavering voice. âœYou are my foal now Rising Star. I will always provide for you. Look after my girls. Keep them happy and safe.â

âœI need advice Bucky. I donât know what to do. I want to keep them happy. Can you help me? I donât know what I am doing,â Rising asked.

âœI will help you in any way that I can,â Bucky promised in reply.

Chapter 106

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Bucky winked away in a burst of cold and teleported himself down to the ground. He reappeared in a burst of snowflakes, a side effect to his spell that he had no control over. Around him, several ponies shivered and then smiled at him. The hull was almost finished, covered in resin to revitalise the wood. He glanced upwards at The Scorned Mare and felt a strong sense of appreciation. Soon, it would be time to construct the gasbag.

He moved through the crowd. Some were helpers who were resting, while others were simply observers. Ponies bowed their heads as he passed, and he felt a moment of annoyance each time.

He felt that his long conversation with Rising Star had gone well. He reflected as he walked, realising that there was a time in his life that he could never have had the conversation he had just had.

But things had changed.

Well, some things had changed. Bucky was every bit as insecure as he was before, and in light of recent revelations, he was once again forced to self evaluate what he was and try and make sense of all the broken pieces. And there were many broken pieces. He was all too aware now just what his weak points were after last night. He cast a glance over his shoulder at the ship behind him. He would not repeat Sombraâs mistake. He would keep his family close and keep them as safe as they could be given the situation.

His legs stopped working as he suffered a flash of memory and he froze in place. He wasnât just gaining back his memories, he was gaining Sombraâs memories. Whatever the fell shadow had done to him was now merging the remains of Sombraâs mind into his own, but Bucky took consolation in the fact that his mark had remained unchanged. He was still himself. Once again, he had endured, and he was stronger for it. He reminded himself that at one point, Sombra had been a good pony. A powerful defender. A guardian. If he was to continue Sombraâs legacy, if he was to be Sombraâs heir, he would follow in Sombraâs stead, continuing the good that Sombra had done and not repeating Sombraâs mistakes.

And his mind was filling with Sombraâs many mistakes.

Bucky rarely made the same mistake twice, and always took time to learn from his errors. And now he had the rare opportunity to gain a wealth of knowledge from somepony elseâs mistakes.

Bucky willed his legs to begin working again and he took off limping.

He pushed the troubling thoughts from his mind and other thoughts rushed in to take their place. He was imbued with shadow essence now, which is how the fell shadow had worked its way into his mind. Sombra had done much the same a long time ago, infusing shadow essence into his horn when he created his replacement.

A whole new realm of magic now stretched before him. He had infused his horn with shadow to make his spells more effective against the wolves, not fully understanding what would happen when he did. Bucky was going to have to spend time with Sentinel and attempt to study shadow magic so that he could find out what he was now capable of. Shadow diving was certainly possible. Dream magic? He had taken Sentinelâs shadow essence, and he theorised that he should be capable of anything that Sentinel was capable of.

His mind raced with ideas and new possibilities. New magic. New discoveries awaited. New power. Harmony magic, dark magic, and now shadow magic. Sombra had learned much about shadow, and ideas trickled through Buckyâs mind as Sombraâs memories slowly surfaced in his consciousness.

In his mind, there was one major difference between him and Sombraâs fallen shadow. The shadow wanted to continue Sombraâs worst work, preserving the pony race in crystal. It was all the fell shadow could think about. It as an obsession. Crystals was the only thing the fell shadow could think about. Bucky shared no such desire. No, he wanted foals. The word had branded itself into his brain. It was all he could think about. Not just his foals, or making foals, but all foals. He would keep them safe. He would treasure them. He would see them safely into adulthood. He would protect his species as Sombra had once done.

The unicorn shivered as he walked, a strange mania settling into his brain. Celestia had wanted him to teach. She had said that he would make a good teacher. It was Celestia who had made him Dinkyâs tutor. She had set him on the path. How much did she know?

She had said the same words to Sombra, begging him to call off his war, to settle down, and become a teacher.

Bucky gritted his teeth. When this was over, he would let go and let the war end. He would teach. He would settle into a quiet life with his family, head a school, be a father, and brew beer. And he would let the war end.

He cringed, feeling another mental barrier break. He felt the corner of his remaining eye twitching. More memories flooded into his mind as they had been doing all day. He had kept himself contained somehow, functioning even as he was breaking down.

Memories of being a foal and having bad dreams about two red glowing eyes, two glowing coals in a bed of sickly green and a glowing hazy purple aura. A black shadow with a red horn. It had showed him things. Bad things. The awful nightmares.

Bucky staggered, his legs failing him once again. Ponies were looking at him now. He stood on wobbling legs, trying to reassert control.

Celestia had shone her light into his mind and had banished the shadow. She had blocked out other things as well. So many other things. A small part of his mind wanted to hate her for it, but that was a dark corner that hated the light.

Bucky struggled, trying to force his legs to work. He heard himself cry out even though he was not directly aware of doing so. He could feel his new fangs pressing into his lips, he opened and closed his mouth, mindful of his new teeth, and sheathed them behind his lips, carefully hiding them. He could feel the points of his upper fangs peeking out.

Bucky nearly fell, one front leg buckling. Several pegasi guards emerged from the gatehouse and drew near.

âœLord Bitters?â one asked.

Bucky struggled to reply. More things began to break down. It was like a dam springing a small leak and then the water pressure slowly building to make the break larger and larger. He felt a piece of himself break away.

He had a terrible memory of desiring Dinky and the terrible truth of that fateful day settled into his mind, overwhelming him. He painfully recalled smashing his head into a wall repeatedly to assert his will. The overpowering need he had felt for Dinky. It was also when he had realised how much he loved her. He had held off most of the city of Ponyville that day. He had cracked his hornâ the first major event in a long string of events involving his destiny occurred that day. He had used dark magic.

His legs finally gave way and he fell to the ground. Pegasi were all around him now. âœMy room,â Bucky croaked. He had been going to see Sentinel and check on his colt, but now he realised that he needed Bon Bon. He felt himself being lifted and he felt dizzy. His vision faded in and out and he saw faces creased with concern.

âœGo find his matriarch,â one pegasi commanded.

Bucky heard the flapping of wings as he was carried away.

Bon Bon frowned with worry as she rubbed Bucky. He had been carried back to the room in quite a state, and now he was slowly calming down under her touch. Lyra was dribbling cool water over his head and Sentinel watched with silent concern from nearby on the bed.

She couldnât even tell if Bucky knew she was there. He was muttering about protecting Dinky and his remaining eye rolled around crazily in its socket as his eyelids fluttered.

âœAt least he isnât dangerous,â Lyra whispered. âœI do believe he is suffering some aftereffects though,â she added with a concerned frown. Her horn flared with golden light and her magical lyre appeared. It began to play a soft tune and Bucky calmed slightly.

âœGood thinking Lyra,â Bon Bon praised.

Lyra gave the earth pony a half smile and looked down at Bucky.

His eye closed and his twitching ceased.

âœIâm putting him under,â Lyra announced. âœPoor fella needs sleep. Heâs been working too hard and then last night happened. Donât worry Bonnie, I am confident that it is safe for him to sleep,â the unicorn whispered reassuringly.

Bon Bon leaned down and kissed Bucky behind his ear, which caused his body to start slightly and his ear flickered. âœSleep,â she whispered into his ear. âœYour slumber is guarded by those that love you,â she breathed into his ear as she continued to knead his taut muscles along his spine. She felt his body relaxing and felt relieved.

Bon Bon and Lyra sat in silence and Sentinel quietly watched his father sleep. He crawled forward on his belly over the bed and settled in by Buckyâs side.

âœAre you suffering Sentinel?â Bon Bon inquired in a soft voice after several minutes.

Sentinel did not reply right away, but after sitting in silence, he finally nodded slightly.

Lyra retrieved the small drinking glass she had been dribbling water over Buckyâs head with, uncorked the whiskey jug, and poured a jigger into the glass. âœI feel funny giving him such strong drink,â Lyra admitted in a soft whisper.

âœWe have nothing else,â Bon Bon whispered in reply. âœSentinel, baby, you need to drink some water too, okay?â the earth pony urged.

Lyra extended her magic and held the glass out to Sentinelâs lips. The colt swallowed the jigger of whiskey in one gulp and grimaced, his body shuddering as he swallowed.

Lyra conjured up some water in the glass and was getting ready to give it to Sentinel when the door opened. She turned her head and saw a flash of grey.

âœIs he okay?â Derpy said in a quiet voice as she entered.

âœHeâs sleeping. I donât know what happened,â Bon Bon replied. âœLyra put him under.â

âœGood, he needs rest,â the grey pegasus agreed. âœHow is my colt?â she asked, reaching the bed and touching Sentinel on the nose with her wing.

âœWe just gave him some more whiskey,â Lyra replied.

Derpyâs face remained impassive as she looked down at Sentinel. âœWe canât have him suffering,â she stated.

âœDinky,â Bucky muttered in his sleep. âœSafe.â

Derpy raised her eyebrow.

âœMust keep all foals safe,â Bucky grumbled.

âœWhen he was brought in he was muttering about foals,â Lyra said to Derpy. âœAnd I remember last nightââ the unicornâs words faded out as she spoke.

âœHeâs dreaming already, how odd,â Lyra commented. âœUsually when you go to sleep it takes a while to dream. Look, you can see his eye moving just behind his eyelid,â Lyra observed.

âœHeâs smiling,â Derpy said, obvious relief in her voice.

âœHe does look happy at the moment,â Bon Bon agreed in a low voice.

Lyra held the glass full of water to Sentinelâs lips and the colt drank greedily. She refilled the glass and Sentinel guzzled the second glass without protest. Afterwards, he laid his head down. In moments, his ears drooped, and not long after, he too went under, blissfully slipping away from his pain.

Derpy leaned down and kissed the now slumbering colt between his ears.

âœHeâs different,â Bon Bon whispered. âœHeâs clung to Lyra and I all day today while we slept. Usually, heâs squirmy and we have to smoosh him for his own good.â

âœI woke up and he was crying his eyes out,â Lyra said in a low voice.

âœHe and I talked this morning,â Derpy said to the two mares.

âœHe told us,â Bon Bon replied.

âœCalled us both mama,â Lyra said. âœMy heart felt squishy.â

Bon Bon rolled her eyes at Lyraâs words but said nothing.

âœBefore the sun sets, I am going to cast one of those wards here in our room. It is going to take a lot out of me. I am going to need time to recover and I might need somepony to carry me to dinner. Last time I used dark magic I also sneezed for hours. I hope that doesnât happen again,â Lyra announced.

Derpy closed one eye and focused on Lyra. âœI donât care what you have to do or what kind of magic you resort to. You keep him safe,â Derpy instructed.

âœGot it,â Lyra replied. Her eyes narrowed. âœI protect what is mine,â the unicorn said in a forceful whisper. One ear flickered and the corner of her mouth twitched slightly. She looked down at Bucky and then her gaze shifted to Sentinel. Her eyes lingered on the colt. And then she brought her gaze up to Derpy. âœI want to be a mother,â Lyra whispered.

Chapter 107

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Bucky slowly awoke, aware somehow that the sun had fallen and that it was dark outside. He could feel it. His first thoughts upon thinking about this peculiar sensation was to wonder if Sentinel felt the same thing. He could hear Lyraâs lyre. There were soft voices. The room was full of ponies.

He had been having a dream, some pleasant dream, but he could not remember what it was. A warm body at his side moved slightly and Bucky turned his head. Sentinel was beside him, his eyes half open. He turned his head back around and became aware that many eyes were staring at him, all of them filled with concern.

âœOn top of the trunk there is a platter of food, we saved you some dinner,â Sparkler said in a low voice. âœIt is cold, but it is easily heated. I could do it for you if you would like,â she offered.

âœMaybe in a bit,â Bucky replied. âœDid Sentinel eat?â he asked.

âœYes, he ate a little,â Lyra answered.

Bucky yawned and rubbed his eye with his fetlock. He eased himself away from Sentinel carefully, spilled out of the bed, and disappeared behind the privacy barrier. After several minutes he stepped back out, looked around nervously, still feeling funny about this whole business, and returned to the bed, where he settled down next to Sentinel.

âœIâm fine,â Bucky said to nopony in particular. âœReally, I feel okay. I donât know what happened earlier but I feel fine now,â he said reassuringly. The room was now entirely too quiet. âœSomepony say somethingâ all of this awkward silence is unnerving.â

âœSparkler learned something new,â Loch Skimmer said in a low voice.

âœDid she?â Bucky replied, all too aware of all the concerned eyes focused on him. âœWhat did she learn?â he inquired.

âœShe turned to stone,â Loch Skimmer answered.

âœShe what?â Bucky questioned with stunned disbelief.

âœI donât know what happened, Loch Skimmer was tickling me with her wing, I thought I was either going to die from laughter or pee and then suddenly I was stone and we planned to tell you but not like this and I donât know why Loch Skimmer had to bring this up right now of all times,â Sparkler explained as she glared at her herdmate.

âœShe was petrified?â Bucky asked, trying to flog his brain into working.

âœShe was stone, but she could move,â Rising Star explained.

Bucky closed his eye and tried to gather his thoughts. Petrification was a difficult magic and there was still a lot about it that was unknown. Only he wasnât sure if Sparkler was petrified. He opened his eye and looked at the purple-pink filly intently. âœShow me,â he asked in gentle tones filled with curiousity.

âœI donât know that I can,â Sparkler said.

Bucky rubbed his head. This was completely new to him. In all of his long studies, he had never heard of a pony turning themselves to stone before. Much less releasing themselves from petrification.

âœDerpy,â Bucky said in a loving voice. âœTickle her. No mercy,â he commanded.

Derpy raised her eyebrow. She looked at Bucky and then slowly turned her head to Sparkler. âœThis will be loud and cause a lot of noise,â Derpy said.

âœIâm fine. And Sentinel I think will be okay with it,â Bucky insisted.

Derpyâs eyes narrowed and she slid from the couch with a wicked looking grin. Her wings spread and her ears perked forward.

âœMom, no!â Sparkler begged, backing away after slipping over the arm of the sofa. âœYou are a free mare and you donât have to do everything your husband says! You have options! Rights!â

âœThis is for saying your father has cooties earlier,â Derpy said as she advanced.

Bucky felt a brief moment of confusion. Cooties?

The pegasus pounced and tackled the unicorn, bearing her down to the floor. Her wings went slashing in and in moments, Sparkler was subdued and crying out with laughter, pleading for her mother to stop. There were a few laughs from the concerned ponies around the room, which is what Bucky had hoped for.

He also hoped for other results.

âœIâm gonna pee!â Sparkler cried out breathlessly as she tried to crawl away from her mother. Derpy pulled the filly back and worked with both wings.

âœI like a more direct approach to magical experimentation,â Lyra quipped as she watched with pitched interest. She brushed her mane from her eyes and poked Bon Bon. âœHer horn is igniting,â Lyra observed.

There was a flash of light and a strange crackle.

And Sparkler looked a bit grey. Derpy ceased her tickle assault and Sparkler rose to her hooves with the scraping sounds of stone.

âœIâm a rock,â Sparkler muttered in a gravelly voice.

âœExtraordinary,â Bucky breathed. Sparkler was living moving stone. âœSheâs solid,â he stated. âœCome here, let me have a better look at you,â Bucky asked.

As Sparkler moved to Buckyâs side, Derpy whacked her filly on the backside with a hoof. âœOw,â Derpy said, jerking her hoof back. âœShe really is stone.â

Bucky grinned a smug looking grin as Sparkler approached. âœI knew that it worked,â he said in a low voice. âœYou donât get this sort of magical manifestation from type twos,â he muttered. There was a gleam in his eye, a sort of manic fire and the unicorn looked very pleased with himself.

Sparkler reached Buckyâs side and stood still at the edge of the bed. Each step had been a stony stomp and Bucky had been able to determine that Sparklerâs mass had also increased. Already, the spell was wearing off and bits of purple-pink were beginning to show as the stone faded into flesh.

âœIf something was to try and bite her while she was in her stony state, it would shatter their teeth,â Bucky stated as he peered at the remaining stony patches. A troubled look appeared on Buckyâs face. âœYou should be careful tickling Rising Star. Heâs a pyromancer. No telling what he might do if he feels like he is in danger,â Bucky quipped.

âœI am well aware of the fact that I could burst into flames,â Rising Star muttered.

âœI learned some new magic today,â Dinky said. She looked nervous after speaking. âœNothing special like Sparkler though,â she added, now staring down at the sofa where she was sitting.

Bucky reached out with his magic, gently took up Dinky, and then grabbed PiÃa for good measure. He levitated them to the bed and set them down before him.

âœNew magic?â he asked.

The two foals looked nervous and neither would look him in the eye. Ripple made a choking sound and covered her face with her wings.

âœDinky, did you do something mischievous? It is okay if you did, these things happen. Just so long as nopony gets hurt,â Bucky said reassuringly.

Dinky wanted more than anything to melt into a puddle and disappear. There were entirely too many adult eyes now staring at her. She swallowed, looked at PiÃa, and wished she had kept her mouth shut.

âœDinky figured out how to see through her bees,â PiÃa blurted out.

âœGood job Dinks,â Bucky said as he leaned forward. He kissed Dinky on the cheek and Dinky froze. She closed her eyes. Bucky felt puzzled at the odd response. Usually Dinky was far more affectionate.

âœDinky saw you and her,â PiÃa said as she pointed at Derpy. âœShe could see both of you through her bee,â PiÃa continued.

Ripple fell apart with nervous giggles on the sofa and buried her face into Bon Bonâs side, unable to contain herself.

Bucky felt confused. Dinky was now blushing purple.

âœYou had your muzzle in the place where foals come out,â PiÃa said bluntly, unable to contain herself any longer.

Dinky fell over limply on the bed, Ripple continued to chortle, and PiÃa looked Bucky directly in his eye.

âœI am sure you had a very good reason,â PiÃa stated.

âœI was saying thank you to her for bearing my foals. I was making her feel good,â Bucky answered with soft honesty.

âœDid you say thank you to my sister-mama?â PiÃa asked, figuring that now was as good of a time as any to try her new word.

âœYes, I said thank you to Berry,â Bucky replied with a half smile.

PiÃaâs eyes narrowed and she looked over at Berry, who was sitting on the sofa and struggling to keep a straight face. âœAdults are weird,â she commented.

âœSo you figured out remote viewing?â Bucky said as he pulled Dinky to him. Dinky squirmed in his grasp but he continued to hold her with his foreleg. He endured a powerful flash of memory of the day that Dinky had cast the âœwant it need itâ spell. He pushed it from his mind and instead focused on the revelation that he actually loved her.

Dinky settled against him and looked up at him with her motherâs amber eyes. âœThis is awkward,â she whispered.

Bucky kissed her softly, causing her to squirm.

âœI was able to link my mind to a bee,â Dinky reported.

Bucky nodded and looked pleased. Around him, he could hear the soft sounds of conversations, murmurings, as the other ponies in the room slowly went back to doing other things.

âœDinky could probably touch minds with other bugs. We can use her bugs to find wolf dens,â PiÃa announced.

Bucky raised his eyebrow. âœI have such clever fillies,â he praised.

âœPiÃa said I would need to touch minds with flies, because flies would be around poop, and poop is found wherever things are living, like ponies and wolves. PiÃa doesnât think that bees would be good for finding a wolf den and I think sheâs right,â Dinky explained.

PiÃa maneuvered herself around on the bed and resituated herself near Sentinel. She lifted his head and cradled it in her forelegs. The lunar pegasus foal let out a muffled sounding sigh and did not squirm away from PiÃaâs gentle embrace.

âœI can spy on everything,â Dinky said.

PiÃa nodded and continued to hold Sentinel.

âœAnd I could send bees to sting the wolves when I find them,â Dinky announced. âœMaybe make them run into the sunlight.â

âœThat would kill them,â Bucky said in a soft voice.

âœWhy does the sun kill the wolves but not Sentinel?â PiÃa inquired.

âœThe wolves are corrupted and unnatural. Princess Celestiaâs sun is an anathema to them-â

âœWhatâs an anathema?â Dinky asked, interrupting her father mid sentence.

âœIt means a curseâ a bane, a punishing force,â PiÃa replied.

âœPiÃa, how?â Bucky asked, feeling more than a little stupefied.

PiÃa shrugged. âœI like reading,â she muttered.

âœPrincess Celestia works magic through her sun and she cleanses the earth of dangerous things. Well, some dangerous things. Other things, very powerful forces of darkness, can protect themselves from her sun for short periods of time or learn how to avoid it completely, slipping from shadow to shadow. The corrupted wolves canât bear to be in its light. It burns them,â Bucky explained. âœSentinel is a shadow creature, but he isnât an abomination. Heâs a pony, just like us,â Bucky said as his mind began to fill with new information, Sombraâs memories rushing in like a flood.

Bucky gasped as what felt like an entire library filled his head all at once. The effect was physically and mentally painful. He struggled to keep his mind focused as new knowledge flooded in.

âœThe lunar pegasi started out as corrupted versions of the solar pegasi. They were warped, twisted, and changed. They lost their ability to walk on clouds and work with the weather. They gained the ability to slip into shadow, to dabble in dreams, and become at one with the night. They were changed forever. They became terrors to other ponies. They ate meat. Princess Luna restored their equinity, as she had dominion over all creatures of the night and creatures of shadow. And the lunar pegasi became our night time protectors, keeping us safe from fell shadows and the terrors of the night. And to this day, the lunar pegasi revere Princess Luna for restoring their equinity and driving away their dark taint,â Bucky said.

Sentinelâs ears were perked and his eyes were now fully opened. He said nothing, but his face was expressive.

âœA unicorn named Sombra led them against a powerful undead dragon, the Scourge of the North,â Bucky continued. âœMany of them died. It was a costly battle. But the lunar pegasi proved their worth and the solar ponies of the day began to trust them. It was a hard battle for Sombra,â Bucky said in a wavering voice. âœIn the end, after everything he had sacrificed, he felt that it was worth it to have restored the faith of the solar ponies in their nighttime kin.â

PiÃa stroked Sentinel gently and kissed his ear. She then looked up at Bucky. âœBut they still tell scary stories about lunar pegasi,â she said sadly.

âœSome ponies are more open minded than others,â Bucky replied. âœAnd ponies are always afraid of what they donât know. Plus, some ponies hold to certain preconceived notions because it helps them make sense of the world. Unicorns are snobs. Pegasi are brutes. Earth ponies are numbskulls.â

PiÃa nodded slowly, trying to understand.

âœIs Lyra a snob?â Bucky asked. In the background, he heard Lyraâs voice go silent.

âœNo, Lyra likes making farty noises and telling gross jokes,â Dinky answered.

Bucky heard a chortle from the sofa and felt himself smile.

âœAm I a snob?â he asked.

âœYou used to be,â PiÃa replied bluntly. âœBut you are getting better.â

âœThank you PiÃa,â Bucky said graciously. âœIs Derpy a brute? What about Loch Skimmer or Ripple for that matter?â

âœMy mama is the most gentle pony I know,â Dinky said defensively.

âœRipple made us feel better when we were scared last night. She was very careful with us,â PiÃa said. She looked up and over at Ripple, aware that she was being watched. âœAnd Loch is too timid to hurt anything. Sheâs like me,â the foal added.

âœIs Berry Punch a numbskull?â Bucky asked in serious tones. He heard loud snort from across the room.

âœWell, sometimes,â PiÃa replied.

âœPiÃa!â Berry cried from the sofa. âœYou little booger face!â

âœBerry Punch and PiÃa are smart,â Dinky said. âœPiÃa knows what the word âanathemaâ means,â she offered as evidence.

âœSo is Sentinel a scary pony eating terror of the night?â Bucky asked.

âœNo,â PiÃa said with a frown. âœAnd if somepony called him that I wouldâ I wouldââ the foal stammered as she tried to express her anger. âœI would black their eye,â she said in a small frightened voice. She hugged Sentinelâs head to her barrel, causing the colt to grunt.

âœSometimes ponies stick to things they think they know because it is easier to live with assumptions than it is to do the work needed to understand something or try something new,â Bucky said to his foals. âœAs a species, we donât always embrace new things or different things. Like Ponyville when Zecora came to town,â he explained.

âœSo what is Thistle?â Dinky asked. âœWe have snobs, brutes, numbskulls, and pony eating terrorsâ what is she?â

Thistle fell silent at Dinkyâs words. She slipped from the sofa, came over to the bed, and eased herself down beside Bucky.

âœI donât know yet, Iâd need to think about it,â Bucky said as he felt Thistleâs tail flick his backside.

âœWill Ponyville accept her?â PiÃa asked, her voice full of foalish concern. âœI mean, ponies there still have trouble with Zecora.â

âœI hope so,â Bucky said, closing his eye.

âœYou need to eat,â Dinky said, poking her father in the snoot with her hoof. âœAs for Thistle, sheâll have us to look after her.â Dinky smiled as she saw her father open his eye.

Bucky pulled the platter to himself with his magic and stared down at his food.

âœIâm sleepy,â PiÃa announced. She yawned, setting off a flurry of yawns all around the room. She kissed Sentinelâs head once again and then gently lowered his head down to the bed. She lay down beside him and carefully curled up at his side, mindful not to bump him too much or touch his wounded places.

âœThere is so much to do,â Bucky said as he began to tuck into his food. It was going to be a long night.

Chapter 108

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Most of his herd was sleeping, and Bucky took comfort in seeing them at peace. One by one they had dozed off, Derpy being the last of them, and he watched them as they all settled in. There were two distinct piles on the bed. Two groups that existed as one herd.

Lyra and Bon Bon were on the sofa beside him, talking in low voices to one another as Bucky stared into the flames of the fire. His remaining eye glittered in the firelight, and his face was pensive.

âœBucky?â Bon Bon said, interrupting his thoughts.

âœYes Bonnie?â he replied.

âœI am to send you to bed the moment you begin to look tired. And no working in the lab tonight. Derpy and Berry Punch both made me promise,â Bon Bon said.

Bucky groaned. He had made plans. His ears splayed out sideways as he grumbled wordlessly and Bon Bon gently prodded him in the side.

âœNo grumbling,â Bon Bon insisted.

He gave the mare a reproachful look and slumped over in a pout.

âœLyra, he is just as bad as you are,â Bon Bon huffed as Bucky gave her the stinkeye.

âœSo I canât go to the lab and work, I canât sleep because Iâve already snoozed through most of the afternoon, and all I can do is sit here and think about how badly I want to screw somepony,â Bucky muttered.

Bon Bon closed her eyes and shook her head. Lyra realised that Bon Bon was silently counting to ten just like she usually did when Lyra had done something to upset her. Lyra tensed, and waited for the scolding that was sure to come.

âœBucky, what has gotten into you? Youâ youâ there was time when you would have been mortified at the very idea of saying such a crass and vulgar statement,â Bon Bon said in a low voice.

Lyra slumped. So much for the scolding. It just wasnât fair. Bon Bon was going entirely too easy on Bucky, and Lyra could not help but feel a little miffed at how everything was playing out.

âœIâve changed,â Bucky whispered. âœIâve realised what is important in life. Two of them are are on the sofa here with me, and the rest of them are piled in the bed over there.â

Bon Bon felt herself blushing as she thought about Buckyâs words. âœI am very flattered Bucky,â she whispered.

âœHe sent them away Bon Bon,â Bucky murmured.

âœWho sent what away?â Bon Bon inquired, her eyes narrowing in concern. She reached out and touched Bucky gently, stroking him softly.

âœSombra. He sent away his foals. He sent away his family. He wanted to keep them safe. But they werenât there to keep him safe. And there was nopony left that he trusted enough to screw,â Bucky replied.

Bon Bon bit her lip and tried to calm herself, telling herself that Bucky just wasnât himself at the moment. She reached up with her foreleg and brushed her mane away from her face, the fire made her feel warm. At least, she hoped it was the fire.

âœScrewing is very important,â Bucky continued in a low whisper. âœIt makes foals. It reaffirms our love for one another. It builds trust.â

âœAnd it feels good,â Lyra quipped.

Bon Bon glared at one unicorn and then the other.

âœYeah,â Bucky agreed. âœIt feels good too,â he added.

âœBucky, I am slightly worried about you,â Bon Bon whispered as she lightly leaned on Bucky.

âœWe unicorns isolate ourselves too much from life. We donât act like ponies. We hold back too much. We send our foals away. And we go mad. We go mad because we lose touch with being an equine,â Bucky stated. âœWe forget how to laugh,â he grumbled.

âœWell, some unicorns,â Bon Bon interjected.

âœSombra forgot what life felt like and the killing couldnât be stopped. Perhaps things would have been different if he had somepony to screw. Somepony to distract him,â Buckyâs eye fell on the pile of mares in the bed. âœSomeponies,â he corrected.

âœStop using the word âscrewâ Bucky!â Bon Bon chided in a soft voice.

âœWe have to release somehow,â Bucky continued. âœLots of screwing keeps us busy. Gives us release. If not screwing, then killing. An endless state of war and constant magical release. Still results in madness, but it is a lucid madness. Youâre just kill crazy. But no screwing and no endless state of war?â Bucky asked of nopony in particular. âœYou are forced to just hold it all in. Everything. All of this magic and no way to let it go, and it poisons your mind. It makes you crazy.â

âœBucky, stop, youâre scaring me because you are ranting and making sense,â Lyra pleaded.

âœThe unicorns in Canterlot, theyâve stopped screwing. And there is no endless state of war to give them release. So they sit in their towers trying to hold everything back. Weâve turned to art and music as a substitute for creation. We focus on holding everything in and letting it out in regularly scheduled releases, careful releases, but we were never meant to work that wayâ weâre equines,â Bucky said with a maniacal cackle that punctuated his words.

âœBucky,â Bon Bon said soothingly.

âœWeâre meant to laugh and play. Do things on a whim. Be spontaneous. Do things when the mood strikes us,â Bucky said.

âœBucky, please, you are ran-â

Bon Bonâs words were cut off as Buckyâs lips closed over her own. Bon Bon felt herself go limp in his grasp. The kiss was warm, loving, but also seemed to have some boundaries because there was no tongue. Bucky pulled away with a wet smack.

âœLove you Bonnie,â Bucky whispered breathlessly.

Bon Bon struggled to sit up on her own and fell over on Lyra as she pushed herself away from Bucky. She fanned herself with her hoof, feeling rather hot and flustered.

âœHow long has it been since you two have been muzzle deep in one another? I know that getting some privacy around here must be tricky. So how about you take Lyra down to the lab and make her scream your name over and over?â Bucky suggested. âœIâve soundproofed the whole thing.â

Bon Bon lifted her head and looked at Lyra, who was looking back at her with a needy look. She then struggled to sit upright and tried to compose herself. She leaned over and kissed Bucky lightly on the corner of his mouth, stroked his face tenderly, and then gave Lyra a meaningful prod.

Bucky watched as the two mares slipped away, going out the door, and then he was by himself. He felt extremely pleased with himself. He wanted them to be happy and they needed time with one another, time he suspected that they had not had in a while.

He sat in the silence, pondering the changes in his mind. The peat bale in the fireplace crackled and popped and the firelight created flickering shadows on the wall. He heard a rustling sound as something moved in the bed.

He saw Sentinel extract himself from the pony pile. The colt moved stiffly, trying to flex his wings without stretching out the burned skin. He disappeared behind the privacy barrier and Bucky found himself looking away. He gazed into the fireplace, watching the flames.

Several minutes later, Sentinel crawled up onto the sofa and sprawled out.

âœHurting much?â Bucky asked in a low whisper.

âœIt hurts a lot,â Sentinel admitted. âœBut I canât sleep anymore. I want to be awake for a while. Please donât make me drink,â the colt requested.

âœSit with me for a while Sentinel,â Bucky said.

âœI saw everything,â Sentinel said in a haunted whisper. âœEven as I prowled around the castle trying to avoid the wolves, it was like I could see through your eyes as well,â he explained. âœI felt everything too,â he added.

âœI am sorry Sentinel,â Bucky whispered soothingly.

âœHe said I wasnât fit to be your son,â Sentinel whimpered as he began to snuffle. âœThat hurt more than when he cast spells at me,â the colt stated.

Bucky tried to swallow the painful lump in his throat. He lifted Sentinel carefully in his magic and then eased the colt into his careful embrace, trying to not touch him along his withers. He placed one foreleg under Sentinelâs backside and the other around the back of Sentinelâs neck, above the burn, and held Sentinel to his barrel, while Bucky rested his back against the sofa. He could feel Sentinelâs tears on his shoulder.

âœThat isnât true Sentinel. Donât you believe that for a second,â Bucky whispered.

âœHe said I have the bloodline of a common cur,â Sentinel sobbed.

Bucky closed his eye and tried to hold back a moment of rage. He could feel it in his horn, manifesting as magical pressure.

âœThat doesnât matter Sentinel, now hush,â Bucky whispered. He could feel the colt sobbing. He sat there with his eye closed, feeling an odd mixture of rage, pity, love, and sorrow.

He felt a bit startled when he felt another warm body ease in next to him on the sofa. He opened his eye and turned his head to see into his blind spot.

âœSorry if I scared you,â Derpy apologised.

âœIâm sorry if we woke you,â Bucky whispered.

âœA mother tends to wake up when she hears her foal crying,â Derpy said as she leaned on Bucky and carefully touched Sentinel with her snoot. She reached out carefully with her wing and wiped the wetness away from Buckyâs cheek. âœWhere are Lyra and Bon Bon?â she asked.

âœTheyâre having a private moment with one another in the lab,â Bucky replied.

âœOh good,â Derpy said as she continued to try and comfort Sentinel, who seemed inconsolable. The pegasus made made soft cooing sounds into Sentinelâs ear, causing the tufted ear to flicker and twitch.

âœYou are my son and my squire. In that order. You are my son first and foremost. And you are to never forget that,â Bucky whispered.

The colt made no reply, but buried his face into the crook of Buckyâs shoulder and neck.

âœLots of ponies will say that words canât hurt you, but they can,â Derpy whispered to the colt. âœI heard what you said. Those words were heartless and I know they hurt you.â

Sentinel lifted his face away from Bucky and peeked at Derpy with one eye.

âœPonies tease me about my eyes and because I am clumsy. And when I feel hurt about it, there are ponies who say even worse things like âœwords canât hurt youâ and that I am stupid because I canât ignore what other ponies say about me,â Derpy whispered tenderly.

Bucky leaned over and planted a kiss on the grey mareâs cheek.

âœThose words really hurt me more than anypony will ever realise, because I believed what ponies said about me, and I kept everypony away from me, and I hurt myself,â Derpy admitted. âœWhen I met Bucky, I didnât think anypony would ever love a clumsy oaf like me. But there he was,â the mare stated in a soft voice.

Sentinel squirmed in Buckyâs grasp, wiggled around, cried out from the skin on his back stretching, and then he wrapped his forelegs around Derpyâs neck. He squeezed.

âœMake no mistake, you are our son. Every mare in this herd is your mother and we all love you. Bucky is your father, now and forever, and nothing anypony says will ever change that. And I know that he will do anything for you,â Derpy said into the coltâs ear. âœAnythingâ because he would do the same for Dinky or PiÃa.â

Sentinel quieted in the embrace of his parents, the occasional shuddering snuffle escaping him as he nestled into their bodies.

âœI am done being the big tough colt for a while,â Sentinel whispered. âœThis feels nice,â he admitted with a sigh.

âœI never thought Iâd be doing this,â Bucky confessed.

âœDoing what?â Derpy asked in a low silky voice. She sounded pleased.

âœBeing a father. And this is planting me right in the thick of it. Usually, you become a father, you have a little foal, and you get to learn about being a parent as a foal grows up. You start off with little things, like feeding one end and wiping the other end and move on to more difficult things,â Bucky whispered.

Derpy smiled and stroked Sentinel over his cutie mark.

âœBut I got plunged right into the hard stuff right away and I am so worried that I am going to mess up,â Bucky confessed in a low strained whisper. âœThe girls. And now Sentinel. And seeing Sentinel like this has me confused,â Bucky said.

âœLet me guess, you thought that little colts were somehow tougher than little fillies?â Derpy asked in gentle tones.

âœYes,â Bucky confessed. âœSentinel seemed so durable.â

âœAll foals have fragile hearts. Even you,â Derpy said.

âœMe?â Bucky questioned.

âœYou are a big foal,â Derpy insisted.

Bucky scowled. âœMaybe I am,â he acquiesced. He leaned over and pressed his snoot into Derpyâs ear. âœThis foal needs more time with your teats,â he whispered salaciously.

âœI heard that,â Sentinel grumbled.

âœSorry Sentinel, like I said, Bucky is a foal,â Derpy said apologetically.

The trio lapsed into silence and after a long while of just enjoying their closeness, Bucky realised that Derpy had fallen asleep. He could feel Sentinelâs warm body against his and the soft inhalations and exhalations the colt made.

After sitting in the dark for what felt like hours, with Derpy and Sentinel pressed against him sleeping, the door finally opened. Lyra and Bon Bon returned, both of them grinning ear to ear.

âœHave a good screw?â Bucky whispered.

Chapter 109

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Sleepiness finally overtook Bucky. He carried himself and those he loved back to the bed. He carefully settled both himself as well as Derpy and Sentinel into the bed, easing in gently so he wouldnât disturb anypony. He reveled in their warmth and the sounds of their breathing.

As Bucky drifted off to sleep, his mind reflected upon all of the changes that he had endured, and it occurred to him that with his coming struggle against the wolves, protecting his skin with a suit of armor would not have been enough.

He needed Sombraâs sense of steely resolve, a means to armor his insides. For all of the terror he had endured, the fear of losing himself, the fear of losing his family, he had gained something he needed. Something he was lacking. He had come away from the nightmarish experience a greater pony.

He could feel the steady rise and fall of Thistleâs warm body beneath his head as sleep came to claim him and pull him into the slumbering realms. He felt Berry shift and push herself against his side. He could hear the voices of Bon Bon and Lyra, and they sounded distant. He could hear their happiness. Even amidst all the darkness, they were happy.

The last sensation he felt was a rush of gratitude, thankful to no end that the bodies around him were warm and breathing.

An all too familiar expanse of grey stretched out all around him and Bucky knew right away where he was. Tartarus, on Sombraâs purgatory plane. An odd sense of calm settled over him as he peered around, looking for two figures that would be wanting to see him.

He didnât have to wait for very long. He could see them in the distance, drawing closer. He thought briefly about a thousand years trapped in this place, with nothing to do but walk around and talk. He wondered if they had ran out of things to talk about long ago.

He also thought about the love that must sustain them.

He trotted off in their direction, eager to meet them, to talk to them, a hopeful feeling permeating through his bones. These were his grandparents. His family. And family was all one really had in the world along with friends, who were really just the family members that you chose to have, rather than the ones given to you by blood.

âœAre you free yet?â Bucky asked as they drew close.

âœNot yet,â Sombra replied.

âœWe are hopeful though,â Platinum stated in a musical sounding voice.

Buckyâs ears dropped. âœI kind of knew the answer, but I was hoping that with the recent nightmarish sequence of events that something might have changed,â he said disappointedly.

âœNopony has ever come this far. Most have slipped into darkness long before reaching this point,â Sombra said as he raised his head proudly.

âœI fell into darkness as well,â Bucky said in shame.

âœYou used dark magicâ you tapped your inner darkness. But you have not failed. Not yet,â Platinum said encouragingly.

âœWe saw everything. Just as we have always seen everything. Forced to watch as soul after soul falls away into darkness. It has been difficult to endure,â Sombra explained in a pained voice.

âœI need to know, what would have happened if I had killed myself in the dream?â Bucky inquired in a low strained voice. âœI need to know, please tell me,â he pleaded.

Platinum made a pained groan in the base of her throat and squirmed. Her eyes closed and she struggled with some great internal conflict. She reached out with a foreleg, wrapped it around Buckyâs neck, and pulled him close. She held her distant grandfoal for several minutes, saying nothing, wrestling with some great inner pain.

âœHad you killed yourself in the dream,â Sombra began.

âœSombraâs shadow would have claimed your body. That was his plan. What made you what you are, what made you you would have died and he would have seized your body. And when your body woke, it would have been his body. And he would have been free to continue his rampage,â Platinum continued.

Bucky reeled from the revelation and felt his hind legs give way. His backside hit the grey expanse and he felt Platinum holding him ever tighter. She was sitting now as well, and she pulled him closer.

âœI miss holding my foals. I loved them dearly. I was such a spoiled little princessâ I was a terrible noble. My foals taught me so much and made me a better pony,â Platinum said with a sniffle.

âœYou were unbearably stuck up,â Sombra agreed.

Platinum turned her head and shot her husband a dirty look. âœYou do not need to agree so readily,â she snapped.

âœSentinel saved us all,â Bucky murmured, ignoring the banter between the couple. âœHe might have saved all life in Equestria.â

âœHmm?â Platinum inquired.

âœSentinel. He saved us all, didnât he? When he came into my head and pulled me out? If I would have killed myself and that fell entity would have taken my body, heâ he would have killed them all upon waking, wouldnât he?â Bucky asked in a trembling voice that dripped with fear.

Sombra and Platinum both looked terribly sad, their momentary squabble forgotten. Platinum nodded slowly, and then she pressed the side of her face against Buckyâs.

âœHe had one chance at taking you over, and now it is gone,â Sombra said.

âœSo he canât try again?â Bucky asked as he leaned into his grandmareâs embrace.

âœI do not think so,â Sombra said. âœYou know too much now, and your mind is far too aware. To try and take you now would be foolish, and would only be done out of desperation. You would be far too difficult to take now,â Sombra explained.

Bucky took comfort in the words spoken by Sombra as Platinum continued to squeeze him. She was humming something, and it sounded like a lullabye of some sort. It was soothing and it settled his mind.

âœI have so many questions now that I am aware of so much more,â Bucky said.

âœLike what?â Sombra asked.

âœDo they actually love me?â Bucky inquired.

âœI am not sure what you mean,â Sombra replied as he sat down next to Platinum.

âœMy wivesâ do they love me because they want to love me or do they love me because Celestia manipulated them into loving me?â Bucky asked in a strangled voice. âœShe crafted so many chains to bind meâ he showed me everything.â

Sombra sighed and leaned on Platinum. âœLies can be found in truth and truth can be found in lies. Love does not work that way. You cannot create something from nothing, you will end up with poison that will rot the soul,â he answered. âœCelestia had to have something to work with. The seeds were already planted. She simply cultivated themâ she created the perfect opportunities for growth. And Cadance fertilised the soil, so to speak. It has been difficult on Celestia, watching so many fall into darkness. This time, she listened to my advice, and played to win. She may have cheated a bit, but can you fault her?â Sombra asked.

âœIt is only cheating if you get caught,â Platinum muttered. âœI much prefer to call it âœunicorn clevernessâ because cheating is such an ugly word,â she added distastefully.

âœWhat of Thistle? Celestia has had no influence upon her, and she loves you a great deal. Do you doubt that?â Sombra inquired patiently.

âœIâve figured out how to communicate with the living through paintings made of me, and that isnât cheating, I am merely bending the rules just a little bit,â Platinum grumbled.

Sombra rolled his eyes and wrapped a foreleg around Bucky. âœWhat of Sentinel, who loved you enough to brave the darkness of your mind and endures such agony even now? He is completely free of Celestiaâs influence. He did what he did of his own volition,â Sombra stated.

âœSentinel is far more worthy as my heir than those sniveling little snots calling themselves my foals,â Platinum muttered in disgust. âœI plan to tell Celestia that too,â she groused.

Bucky took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

âœYou are loved because you are worthy of being loved,â Sombra insisted.

âœSo what do I do now?â Bucky asked.

âœContinue on as you have been doing. Play with your foals. Drink strong drink. Indulge yourself in hot wet mareflesh every chance you get and - OW!â Sombra recoiled mid-sentence as Platinum whacked him over his head with her hoof. âœLearn to evade,â Sombra suggested. âœI swear, you hit like a pegasus, where did you learn how to do that?â

âœPansy, you nitwit, or have you forgotten all the times she had to set you straight?â Platinum replied. She glared at Sombra fiercely. âœYou unleashed that oaf Hurricane on her and he read to her the most horrible poetry to try and win her affections. You deserved every lump she put on your skull!â

Sombra slumped in shame.

Platinum cleared her throat and continued. âœDeal with the wolves Buckminster. Smite them. Destroy them. Free the isles. Keep to your oathâ do not bring harm to another equine. Be the guardian you were meant to be. Go home and aid Celestia. Serve the empire,â she commanded.

âœYou said that Celestia would restore my memory in time, when I was readyâ but I have my memories now. I have them but I am not ready for them, am I?" Bucky inquired.

Sombra shook his head sadly. âœIt was a cunning blow to attempt to undermine your strength. You have endured somehow,â the elder stallion stated.

âœUnicorn cleverness,â Bucky muttered, causing Platinum to give him a sour look.

âœNo dear, that was cheating,â she corrected. âœDirty fighting. The act of a coward,â she said with a haughty sniff.

âœIt isnât cheating when we do it?â Bucky asked, his head cocked to the side quizzically.

âœWell of course not. When we do it, it is unicorn cleverness,â Platinum said dismissively. She rolled her eyes and gave Bucky a squeeze. âœHow did you make it as far as you have? You are so thick headed,â she said in a lovingly worried voice.

Bucky blinked a few times. âœI am too stupid to quit?â he offered.

âœPerhaps,â Platinum replied. She kissed Bucky on his cheek and stroked his face with her fetlock. âœYou just continue being stupid and I think you will be fine. It softens a mareâs heart knowing she has to look after a soft headed nitwit,â she said as she cast a meaningful glance at Sombra.

âœSeeing both of you like thisââ Bucky said, not knowing what else to say.

âœCelestia wanted you to see how we were in life. Previously we were on our best behaviour. We do not get visitors very often,â Sombra explained.

âœCelestia was bound in chainsâ he said that what I saw in the dream is what I wanted. Is that true?â Bucky inquired, knowing that he was heading into dangerous territory.

âœThere may be a grain of truth there. The part of your mind that carries the dark taint certainly feels that way. You can free yourself of that however,â Sombra replied.

Bucky struggled to internalise the thought. Three princesses in chains and Cadance dead. He felt a now familiar lump rise up into this throat. âœI do not want that,â he whispered in a strained voice.

âœThen do not allow it to happen,â Platinum said soothingly into Buckyâs ear.

âœI would rather be Celestia and Lunaâs servant, a worthy protector to Cadanceâs foal, and a guardian to Twilight the Scholar,â Bucky stated. âœCadance is pregnant, isnât she?â

âœI do not know,â Platinum answered as Sombra shrugged.

âœHow much does Twilight know about this?â Bucky inquired. âœAnd if Star Swirl had trouble with friends, how did he have foals?â

âœTwilight has restored her half of Star Swirlâs corrupted destiny spell and is even now as we speak further enduring her trials and tribulations. She is slowly learning her role in all of this. She is atoning for Star Swirlâs many failings. She will reclaim Star Swirlâs mantle of Scholar, just as we are feeling confident that you will inherit Sombraâs mantle of Guardian,â Platinum explained.

âœBut if Star Swirl was such a stick in the mudââ Bucky said, referring to his earlier question.

âœMy brother had wives. Several. He met with them once a year during their heat, got roaring drunk, indulged them, and then secured himself back in his tower,â Sombra answered.

Bucky cringed. âœThatâs awful,â he muttered. âœSo I guess I got the short end of the stick when it came to fateâ when destiny decided my role in the universe,â Bucky said, changing the subject.

âœWhat do you mean?â Platinum inquired.

âœTwilight gets to be Princess Celestiaâs personal student, is fated to secure herself in a library living a mostly comfortable life, but I get to go out to some wretched isles, get chewed on by wolves, branded with white hot irons, and I am haunted by my long dead however-many greats grandfatherâs shadow. She gets sunshine, rainbows, and friendship, and I get darkness and pain,â Bucky complained.

âœVery different things are expected from a warrior,â Sombra said solemnly.

âœYou got to keep both of your eyes!â Bucky snapped.

Sombraâs expression became pained and he squeezed Bucky close for a moment.

âœI had something chewing on my face! CHEWING! And on my legs. It tore a chunk out of my side. And I can remember all too well the feeling of something scraping around the inside of my eye socket as they fished out the remains of my ruined eye when Keg Smasher tried to save what was left of my body. Those wolves didnât wait for me to die before they started eating me. They drained my life,â Bucky snarled.

âœAnd Twilight remains whole of body, secured in her libraryââ Platinum whispered, trying to calm her grandfoalâs nerves.

Bucky nodded.

âœShe has suffered as well. In a different way perhaps, but she has known suffering. Perhaps once all of this over, you two should sit down and have a long talk. It would be a wise thing to do, seeing as how both of you are meant to restore the balance. The scales must be corrected,â Platinum continued.

âœThe symbol of House Avarice is a set of scales,â Bucky commented, his flash of anger now cooling off.

âœYes it is. Perhaps it is time for them to take on a new meaning,â Sombra suggested.

âœNo,â Bucky replied. âœWhen I go home, I am dismantling House Avarice. I will live to see their end. I do not plan to hurt them, but they cannot be allowed to continue to exist,â Bucky stated forcefully.

âœBe careful,â Sombra warned. âœThis is how it starts. First the wolves. Then House Avarice. When does the war end Bucky?â the elder stallion asked bluntly.

Bucky flinched. âœBut I am meant to be a guardian,â he said in reply.

âœAnd as guardian, is it now your place to dismantle your former house?â Platinum inquired as she lovingly stroked Buckyâs chest. She kissed him softly on his cheek and looked at him sadly.

âœThey are a threat to Equestria,â Bucky retorted halfheartedly.

âœMore than you know,â Platinum said.

âœHow am I to be a guardian if I donât go out and battle Equestriaâs foes?â Bucky asked in confusion, unable to process the seemingly conflicting ideals.

âœIf we are to ever be free of this place, you must figure that out,â Sombra said. âœI have no answers for you. I failed,â he stated in a voice that trembled with raw emotion.

âœI wasnât there to place much needed lumps on his head,â Platinum said sadly.

âœOh little miss high and mightyâ Princess of Perfection. Like your life was free of mistakes,â Sombra grumbled as he rolled his eyes. âœBuckminster, unlike you, I had no choice in the matter. I had to marry her.â

âœOoooh youâ thug!â Platinum squealed. âœI was the best thing that ever happened to you! How could you?â she squeaked.

âœYou didnât want to marry me, you had to be tied up in rope, drugged to stop your magic, and then brought to the marriage,â Sombra muttered.

âœPansy, Clover, and Smart Cookie did what was best for me,â Platinum retorted. âœI learned to love youâ I did love you! I still love you! I am here with you now you cretinous pudding snooted oaf!â

Bucky raised his eyebrow and looked at his ancestors.

âœI even forgave you for our wedding night you creep!â Platinum shouted.

âœWoah, wait, wedding night?â Bucky said, attempting to pull away from Sombra.

âœI am sorry dear, it is not what it sounds like,â Platinum said, her tone softening.

âœFunny story actually,â Sombra said, not relaxing his hold on Bucky.

âœHe never did anything untoward towards me,â Platinum explained.

âœAnd it made her angry,â Sombra stated.

âœWell of course it did! I was in bed with you, tied up, drugged so I could not use my magic, and you rolled over and tried to go to sleep you inconsiderate pile of dragon droppings!â Platinum shrieked.

Sombra slumped and looked guilty.

âœI thought I was not worthy for him. There I was, tied up, helpless, probably the most desirable mare of the age, and he rolled over and tried to sleep. I had never felt more insulted in my whole life,â Platinum fumed as her voice softened.

âœYou begged me to not have my way with you,â Sombra grumbled.

âœWell, I did, that is true, but then you just rolled over and ignored me,â Platinum said with a sniffle.

âœI am very confused,â Bucky admitted.

âœSo was I,â Sombra announced.

âœDid you want him to ra-hhmmmph!â Buckyâs words were cut off as a pearlescent white hoof was forcefully jammed into his mouth.

âœTut tut, no using such foul language around a lady and your grandmare,â Platinum scolded. She looked at Bucky, her eyes full of blazing intensity. âœI was already his by marriage, I figured I would make the most of it, and I expected him to at least attempt to woo me, or at least offer me some kind words and reassurance before he took me, but no, he had to roll over and try to go to sleep,â she explained. âœSo insulting,â she murmured, her hoof still planted in Buckyâs mouth. She pulled her hoof free, shook the slobber from it, and still feeling damp, wiped it on Sombra.

âœShe was inconsolable, and she bawled hysterically, making it almost impossible to sleep. So I untied her and then tried to roll back over and go to sleep, thinking she would escape out the door. At this point, I was ready to let her goâ I could always hunt her down later, or so I figured,â Sombra said, smiling as he told the story. He seemed unphased by the slobbery hoof wiped over his chest.

âœSo very rude,â Platinum quipped, rolling her eyes.

âœSo she curls up against my back, sobbing, and asking me why I did not find her desirable. And she just would not stop. At some point, I felt sorry for her, even though I was rather irritated because I really wanted to sleep. So I rolled over and held her and tried to make her feel better,â Sombra said as he pulled Platinum a little closer and squeezed Bucky as well.

âœAt some point during all of this, I fell in love with the oaf,â Platinum interjected. âœHe was just holding me, nothing more, not taking liberties with my body, or anything untoward. He could have. It was his right to do so.â

âœThis is really awkward,â Bucky stated, feeling himself being pressed between the two. âœParents and grandparents should not talk about their wedding night with their offspring. Nope.â

âœHe waited for me until I was ready, he was patient with me. He told me I was worth waiting for, though he might have only said that to comfort meâ and now I wait for him, here, in this place,â Platinum continued.

His grandmareâs words slammed into Bucky like a wagon full of bricks. He felt his mind reeling and his thoughts felt jumbled.

âœRemember me for the good I have done,â Sombra rumbled into Buckyâs ear. âœYou draw near the conclusion of all of this. Return to Celestia in triumph. You have my memories, both good and bad. Do not repeat my mistakes! Eventually, all of my memories will come to you.â

âœTell my grandfoals that I love them,â Platinum said, tears springing to her eyes. âœOh to hold a foal again,â she whispered. âœTell Sentinel he is worthy,â she instructed.

âœWill we talk again?â Bucky asked, realising that he was fading.

âœI hope so,â Sombra said.

âœBut if we do not, it is because we have gone through the gate,â Platinum said. âœSo be happy for us!â

âœI will,â Bucky promised as he continued to fade.

âœGood luck,â Sombra said in parting as Bucky blinked out of existence.

Chapter 110

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The morning sun was warm and bright, and it held the promise of a day with heat. Even in the far northern climes there were hot summer days on occasion. This was a day pregnant with promise, and would be filled with the promise of pregnancies. Now, in the height of summer, Celestia worked her magic into the sun and granted a boon to mares everywhere.

For most mares in more civilised places, this was not too much of an issue. Plans were made to deal with sudden biological need. There were medications to alleviate the symptoms. Unicorns had spells to nullify the effects.

The isles had no such luxury.

Come next spring, there would be a flood of foals to many grateful parents.

Bucky followed after Thistle who walked slowly. On his back was Sentinel, who clung to his neck. Bucky could feel the coltâs stomach growling, and Buckyâs stomach was growling back in reply.

Feeling mischievous, Bucky leaned forward and goosed Thistle in a delicate place. She squealed in alarm and flicked her tail in a reflexive response. He smiled when he saw her look back at him over her shoulder. Bucky could find no fault in a bit of goosing and the blush on Thistleâs cheeks made his heart thud crazily.

She picked up her pace a bit, her walk more of a waddle. She had grown larger since Bucky had first met her, and he now worried constantly about her development. She was having some trouble getting around now due to her mass.

âœSentinel, when we get to the lake, try to take a dip in the water. Just be careful. The cold water will feel really good on your skin, trust me, I know from experience,â Bucky said. He felt Sentinelâs legs around his neck squeeze him in reply.

âœI saw my grandparents last night Sentinel,â Bucky said in a low voice. âœMy ancient ancestors. We talked a great deal. And we did some talking about you,â he explained briefly. âœDo you know who Princess Platinum is Sentinel?â

âœYes sir,â Sentinel said in a weak voice. âœSparkler and Rising Star have been teaching us about the Founders so that when we go back to the mainland, we can do well in school. It is very important to know our history,â he continued.

âœShe is my grandmare,â Bucky stated. âœThere are probably a few greats that need to be tossed in there, but you get the idea,â he added.

âœYes sir, I understand,â Sentinel said as the trio continued onwards to the lake.

âœThey are proud of you for what you did and say that you are worthy to be their heir. For what you have done, when we get home, I am going to make sure that you are legally recognised as my first born son, with all of the peerage that comes with it. I know that Celestia will do as I ask,â Bucky said, his voice full of pride.

âœWhat did I do?â Sentinel asked groggily.

Bucky paused mentally and struggled to put his thoughts into words. âœSentinel, you have no idea what you have done or the evil that you have stopped,â Bucky began. âœWhen you came to me in the dream, I was going to kill myself,â Bucky continued.

âœI know sir,â Sentinel replied.

âœIf I would have done that, I would have lost myself to the fell shadow. He would have claimed my body. And he would have killed everypony around him when he woke up in my body. And that would have only been the start of a whole lot of killing. You saved an uncountable number of lives,â Bucky explained.

Sentinel did not reply. The colt was silent.

âœSentinel, you alright?â Bucky inquired. Ahead of him, Thistle slowed down and was watching the two of them with concern, her eyes wide.

âœSir, I must make a request,â Sentinel whispered.

âœAnything Sentinel,â Bucky replied.

âœI ask that we keep this between us,â Sentinel requested.

âœWhat? Why? You did something good Sentinel!â Bucky exclaimed in utter confusion.

âœI did what what was necessary, it does not need to be known or celebrated. I am content to be your foal,â Sentinel answered.

Bucky felt crestfallen and a low sigh slipped from his lips.

âœIt pleases me a great deal that I am seen as worthy heir. It removes some worry from my mind. That is enough for me,â Sentinel explained.

âœSentinel, sometimes, I am not sure I understand you,â Bucky said in bluntly.

âœI am not sure I understand myself,â Sentinel offered in reply.

âœI will need to tell Celestia when I plead your case,â Bucky said. âœThere has to be reasons, something that proves you worthy of peerage.â

âœThen tell her,â Sentinel said. âœBut that was far too dark a time for me to ever celebrate it,â he stated in a morose voice. âœI do not wish to be reminded of it when somepony recounts the deeds that I have done.â

âœI think I understand Sentinel,â Bucky replied.

âœWell, I am proud of what you have done Sentinel,â Thistle said. âœSentinel, when you feel better, you and I have a task ahead of us,â the kelpie said as she attempted to change the subject.

âœWe do?â Sentinel asked in a groggy by attentive voice.

âœWe have to teach Bucky here how to fish,â Thistle said to Sentinel. âœWhile I am content to bring him a fish,â she said as she turned to look at Bucky. âœI will require that he returns the favour,â she said teasingly.

âœEh, I can use my magic,â Bucky said.

âœNo!â Sentinel protested.

âœThat would be wrong,â Thistle said testily.

âœI donât get it, why would it be wrong?â Bucky said. âœI donât understand.â

âœIf you want to eat them, you should catch them,â Thistle explained.

âœBut the pegasi, they use nets to pull the fish out,â Bucky protested.

âœDoesnât make it right,â Thistle said grumpily.

âœThe grass eaters donât understand,â Sentinel muttered.

âœOh, grass eaters,â Bucky said. âœWell, that explains everything. Snobs. Brutes. Numbskulls. Grass eaters."

Thistle gave Bucky a sour look. âœYou are one of us now,â she said in a low voice. âœShow some respect. Do you have any idea how difficult it will be for you to live now among your own kind? The fear they will have of you? The difficulty of eating flesh among those who view it as being somehow wrongâ immoralââ the kelpie fillyâs words trailed off.

âœWe have to eat,â Sentinel said. âœWe have to kill. We have to take life to sustain our own. But we have to do what is right as well. We donât eat things with a voice. We donât eat things that can plead or protest. And we show respect for the lives we do take,â he explained.

Bucky felt a stab of guilt. âœI am sorry. I was not aware of this,â he said.

âœWhich is why I am offering to teach you how to fish, and all that goes along with it,â Thistle replied. âœThis is why I asked the others to stay behind and to give us some private time alone.â

âœWe fight and struggle for our kills. We kill them as nature intended. I have teeth, and I kill with my teeth,â Sentinel explained.

The full ramifications of just how much his life had changed now settled on Buckyâs shoulders. He was completely ignorant about this aspect of pony culture. The ponies who had to eat flesh had their own societal mores, and he had no understanding of them.

âœWe do not bite other ponies with our teeth, even in play,â Thistle stated. âœWe do not nip. We do not press the tips of our teeth against another ponyâs flesh,â she added.

âœTreat your teeth as you would your magic,â Sentinel suggested.

The lake was in view now, the shore a short walk away. As he approached the water, Bucky wondered how well he would be able to fish on his own.

âœWhen you father my foals, I will expect you to do your part in teaching them how to fish and how to live among the grass eaters peacefully,â Thistle stated. âœI would have been the one to teach them this, but now that you have those bladed fangs, I have some expectations of you.â

âœThat seems fair,â Bucky replied, which earned him a beaming glance from Thistle.

âœAnd Sentinel, being their older sibling, and being the duty bound little colt that you are, I know I need not even ask,â Thistle stated.

âœI will do what is needed,â Sentinel replied.

âœWe exist as herd within a herd,â Thistle said softly. âœWe are the same, but different. We must never give the others reasons to fear us. I know I have already said it, but we must never use our teeth to harm another pony. No nipping. No love bites. No nibbling on the ear. If you ever draw blood on one of your herdmates Bucky, I will be very disappointed in you. Accidents are a different issue before you even say anything,â she explained.

âœNever put myself into a position where I might increase the chance of an accident, I get it,â Bucky answered.

âœSome ponies have wings or a horn, and that makes them different. We have sharp teeth. My mother was relentless about making sure I understood how important all of this is,â Thistle said. âœI got sick of hearing it, but I am so glad that she loved me enough to tell me.â

The kelpie reached the water and went splashing in. Bucky watched her change. She was a beautiful creature both in and out of the water, but she was especially beautiful in the water.

Bucky waded through the shallows and out to the deeper water. Sentinel slid from his back and Bucky heard a series of clicks, pops, and squeals as Sentinel made noises with his echolocation.

âœYou alright?â Bucky inquired of his colt.

âœIt feels unbelievably good,â Sentinel said as he floated in the water.

âœIt felt so good when Thistle ran all of that water over my back and over my burned places,â Bucky stated.

Bucky went out into deeper water and submerged. Sentinel had echolocation to help him find fish, and Bucky reasoned that Thistle had some means of finding fish, but he couldnât see anything past a certain amount of depth. He resurfaced and floated, keeping an eye on Sentinel. He felt Thistle swim past him.

The stallion plunged again, and this time, he flooded his sunstone eye with mana. A bright green light illuminated the water and Bucky found that he could see quite well. But he still saw no fish.

He broke the surface, now gasping after having been under for a few moments. Bucky realised that he had little experience in holding his breath and this was going to be a problem.

He also saw Thistle heading for the shore with a big fish held in her muzzle. There was a moment of revulsion followed by a feeling of hunger and his mouth watering. As he watched, Thistle coaxed Sentinel out of the water, changed, and then gave the fish to him. She returned to the water, changed again, and came out to the depths beside Bucky.

âœThistle, I am kind of curious, but in this form, can youââ Buckyâs words faded into nothingness as he spoke.

Thistle winked and swam close. She wrapped her long body around Bucky and her tail curled around one of his legs. âœI bet youâd like to find out,â she said teasingly.

Bucky nodded and as he did so, Thistle kissed him. He felt himself pulled beneath the water and he struggled, feeling a moment of panic. But Thistle pulled him ever deeper, gripping him tightly with her forelegs. Fear seized Buckyâs body and he worried about breathing.

And then, he realised, he was breathing. Thistleâs kiss was giving him all the air he needed. He felt himself being pulled back up to the surface, and, after his head broke the water, Thistle pulled away from him and swam away, leaving him floating by himself.

Bucky was glad that he was in deep water, and he decided to spend some time floating out there. His fish would have to wait until his arousal subsided. As he floated, he tried to not think of Thistleâs wet, supple, and flexible form, but instead focused on trying to figure out how Thistle had been able to give him air.

The kelpie broke the surface a short distance away and Bucky watched her intently. She was looking at him, her eyes wide, and her mane of living plants flowed out into the water behind her.

âœThistle, can little kelpies swim on their own?â Bucky asked.

Thistle nodded. âœThey can swim right after birth. They canât drown, so you donât need to worry,â she explained.

âœHow do kelpie mothers feed their young in the water?â Bucky asked.

The kelpie blushed. âœI still have teats in this form,â she said in a husky whisper.

âœIntriguing,â Bucky replied as his ears splayed out sideways. âœIt must be difficult to be a kelpie mother and have foals that cannot join you in the water.â

For a moment, Thistle looked incredibly sad and Bucky suddenly remembered all of Thistleâs siblings and her mother. She quickly returned to her usual self, but Bucky had seen the pain.

âœThistle, I am sorry, I was trying to understand your kind, I was careless when I said what I said, please forgive me,â Bucky pleaded.

âœIt is okay, I know you didnât mean anything bad,â Thistle said as the sadness crept back into her face. âœYou were probably just trying to think of the foals I will have,â she added.

Bucky nodded and swam towards Thistle. His arousal was completely forgotten as he took her into his embrace and held her close. He kissed her gently upon the cheek and then again upon her ear. And then he let her go slowly, not wanting to let her go at all.

âœI feel so stupid,â Bucky muttered.

âœThings happen,â Thistle said gently, her cheeks flushing red.

âœAnd I just did something else that was incredibly stupid, didnât I?â he asked.

Thistle nodded and her blush intensified.

âœI am having one of those sorts of days,â Bucky grumbled. âœLook, I am sorry for that too, I hope I didnât make you uncomfortable,â he apologised. He turned his eyes away and looked at Sentinel, who was eating on the shore.

âœOh, I didnât mind,â Thistle said with a shrill giggle. âœI am going to get us some fish.â

Chapter 111

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âœRising Star, do behave yourself this instant,â Sparkler insisted as she tried to stifle a giggle. Her tail flicked and the filly felt entirely too warm. She watched and waited rather impatiently as Lyra tried to recall a spell that would fix a certain problem.

Bon Bon was exhausted after a long night, but was far too awake and aware to go to sleep. A pressing need had arrived with the rising of the sun. She recalled feeling overheated after Bucky had kissed her, and how she had dismissed it as the room being too warm from the roaring fire.

Ripple fanned herself with her wing, she could feel a fine sheen of sweat building up over her pelt. She watched with silent amusement as her sister Loch Skimmer was giving Rising Star a nearly predatory gaze.

âœHow could you forget the words of a spell so simple yet so important?â Bon Bon demanded as she squirmed, kicking out one hind leg and hoping to get some air moving over certain places that felt as though they were on fire. The mare gnawed on her lip in frustration.

âœDo you think Bucky would know?â Sparkler asked. âœAs embarrassing as it might be, we might have to go to him.â

âœNo,â Bon Bon protested. âœIf I came anywhere near Bucky right now, I wouldâ I wouldââ

âœYou would have to wait your turn Bonnie,â Lyra interjected with a raised eyebrow.

âœWhat makes you think youâd be first?â Bon Bon snapped.

âœBecause I can teleport faster than you can run,â Lyra muttered.

âœOooh youââ Bon Bon whined.

âœJust calm down,â Berry Punch said in a soothing voice.

âœEasy for you to say Berry, youâre already pregnant, your filly bits arenât on fire right now,â Bon Bon whimpered.

Rising Star wiped his nose with his foreleg, shook his now overgrown mane from his eyes, and then planted a brief kiss on Sparkler. âœI am going to show myself out,â he whispered in a strained voice. He backed out of the room, his gaze never leaving three fillies that he called his own.

âœThis one is a bad one, I am pregnant and even I can feel it,â Berry said. âœI canât help but wonder if this is how Celestia plans to combat the social instability in Equestria. Hard to riot or protest when youâre rutting,â she explained.

âœBerry, how do you think of this stuff?â Lyra said as she turned her bleary golden eyes on the earth pony.

âœWell, it just makes sense, think about it. After a mare gets knocked up, is she in the mood to fight? No, she wants to make a home. Especially pegasi. Look at Derpy and all of her nesting that she does right now. Family minded ponies will want to keep the peace, settle down, and focus on making a safe place for foaling,â Berry answered.

Lyraâs horn glowed and the unicorn murmured a few words. The effect was almost instant and a pleasant cooling sensation settled over the many female bodies. There were gasps of relief.

âœNow I feel sleepy,â Sparkler said.

âœSorry love, side effect of the spell,â Lyra said with a yawn. The unicorn stumbled off to the bed, fell onto the bed, and did nothing to make herself comfortable. She fell asleep where she had fallen.

Bon Bon made her way to the bed, settled in beside Lyra, pulled the unicorn close, and, in moments, was also asleep as well.

âœTheyâre so adorable together,â Derpy said as she approached the bed. She reached out and gently stroked her herdmates with her wing. She carefully lifted Lyraâs leg, which was hanging off of the edge of the mattress, and settled it on to the bed with a loving pat.

âœThat feels so much better,â Loch Skimmer murmured.

âœNo school today,â Sparkler said. âœToday is going to be spent slacking off or soaking in the lake.â

âœOoh, perfect,â Dinky said excitedly. âœPiÃa, grab our books.â

âœOh goody,â PiÃa replied in happy tones.

âœShouldnât you be playing?â Berry said to the two filly foals.

Dinky looked up at Berry and conflicted eyes. âœMagic is more interesting?â she said in a half-statement half-question.

âœAnd reading about how to focus will has me wondering if I can make my earth pony senses do stuff,â PiÃa explained.

Berry sat down and gave PiÃa a puzzled glance.

PiÃa avoided her sisterâs curious gaze. âœLook, it is just an idea, I donât know if it will work yet. Unicorns have horns, pegasi have wings and hooves, and we have hooves. There is magic in them,â PiÃa explained in an uncertain voice. âœPegasi can focus the magic through their wings and they can fly at great speed. Their hooves allow them to walk on clouds. Unicorns can actively channel magic through their horns. It stands to reason that earth ponies must have a means to actively channel magic somehow like the other two tribes, we just havenât figured out how to do it yet,â the earth pony foal said nervously.

âœBut PiÃa believes a lot of earth ponies do it passively, not knowing that they are doing it,â Dinky said as she wrapped a foreleg around PiÃa. âœIt isnât a crazy idea.â

âœPiÃa, I want you to keep working on this,â Berry said in an encouraging voice. âœAnd I want you to go to Bucky for help. You tell him everything you just told me,â Berry instructed as she looked intently at her sibling. Her concentration was interrupted as a flock of pegasi pushed their way out the door, led by Derpy. Berry looked at Sparkler and saw that the unicorn was now alone.

Sparkler, seeing that Berry was looking at her, smiled. âœMom is going to give some flying lessons to Loch and Ripple. I think I am going to find some quiet place where I will not be disturbed, and I am going to figure out how my stone form works,â Sparkler announced.

As Berry watched, Sparkler slipped out the door, leaving Berry with the two foals. âœOkay you two, I donât care if you are studying, I am going to spend some time with you,â Berry said to both of them.

Bucky could feel the subtle undercurrent of magic in the sun as it shone upon his horn. At first, he wondered if it was because of his new shadow nature that he still did not understand, but then he was able to discern the true nature of the magic that he could sense.

There was going to be a lot of new foals come spring.

He was not a mare, but the magic had an effect upon him all the same. The knowledge that it was there and the understanding of what it was doing filled his mind with countless thoughts.

Sentinel was with Berry Punch, Dinky, and PiÃa. Thistle had gone off to talk to Keg Smasher. And Bucky was by himself. His belly was full of fish and he felt strangely energised. Flesh gave a much higher return of energy for his magic, or so he was beginning to understand.

He set to work gathering up boulders for transmutation. The cabin on the The Scorned Mare needed creature comforts. There was a small private cabin for the adults, and several smaller cubbies for the foals. Below the cabin, a few more rooms had been added, all of them secure and soon to be well protected.

In no time at all there were several new mattresses, crude things, lumpy things, but they had done the job so far, covered in simple slip sheets. He teleported himself on board and set about placing the mattresses into the simple wooden bedframes. There was a larger one in the main room for him and his mares, one was placed in the room he intended for Rising Star and his herd, and several more were placed in the other rooms. While he had provided rooms for the foals to sleep in, he was certain that they would end up in the bed with the adults, and even if they didnât, he was almost positive that Sentinel would leave the cubby intended for him and find his way into his sistersâ room.

If Keg Smasher and a group of his guard were going to make the long journey home, they would need a place to bunk and Bucky was already eyeing space belowdecks.

Before he made his armor, he planned to make a few metal objects. A stove would be needed on the ship. And some means of heat. He wasnât certain how to heat the individual cubbies and rooms, but he planned to at least heat the common area of the cabin.

He transmuted several new sofas, a table, a few small comfortable chairs, and then inspected the bookshelf made by Berry Punch. The common room was beginning to look like home. The decorations probably left a lot to be desired by more fashionable minded ponies, but the dark grey suited Bucky.

He made his way into what would be the armory and looked around. There were already racks made for the spell jars. Berry Punch had been one very busy earth pony. With little more than a hoof held saw, a hammer, some nails, and a fair bit of lumber, she had done a fantastic job of creating a place that was fit to secure magical munitions.

The ship was seaworthy. One of the rare unicorns on the isle, a ship builder by trade, had come up from the harbour city to inspect the craft. Not that Bucky planned to put it in the water, but he had wanted to know. It never hurt to be too careful and there were always unknown emergencies.

He peered out of a window and saw surprisingly few ponies out and about. And he understood why. He worried briefly about Sparkler, Loch Skimmer, and Ripple, thinking fatherly thoughts about his fillies. He was certain that they were fine and that they had the means to endure the heat.

One day, Dinky and PiÃa Colada would experience their first heats. The thought filled Buckyâs mind and for reasons he could not explain, he felt sad. He also felt hopeful though, and his sadness turned into a sort of bittersweet happiness.

His thoughts took a darker turn as he remembered Dinky on the day of the want it need it spell. He gritted his teeth together and pushed it from his mind. He would have to guard himself around Dinky and PiÃa in the future. While he was their father, he was not their biological father, and as such, could be susceptible to pheromone reactions. He quietly made mental notes to prepare for this eventuality.

It was a difficult line of thought for him and he wondered how many fathers had come to the same conclusion. It was a humbling thought and it made Bucky feel better.

As an afterthought, he thought of Sparkler, Loch Skimmer, and Ripple. The need to guard his mind was already here and he wondered briefly if Rising Star had reached the same conclusion of sorts, to protect himself around other mares.

There were entirely too many ways to stumble and fall down as a sapient animal.

There was a loud thunk above him on deck and Bucky heard his name being called. He moved as quickly as he could, moving up the stairs swiftly. He emerged out on the deck and saw a frantic looking Keg Smasher, Thistle who stood nearby, and Wheatberry, who was on Thistleâs back.

âœI need to go,â Keg Smasher said. The pegasus spread his wings and took to the air, leaving behind Thistle and Wheatberry.

Bucky felt alarmed as Keg Smasher joined several other pegasi in the air and the the group took off, flying in formation.

âœA messenger came,â Thistle explained. âœI donât know what was said, but Keg Smasher was scared. He snatched me and Wheatberry up and then brought us here. He begged me to look after his foal.â

Bucky watched as the pegasi turned into tiny dots in the distance.

âœHi!â Wheatberry chirped. She squirmed on Thistleâs back, her wings flapping and one foreleg extended towards Bucky.

âœHello little one,â Bucky replied, still watching where the pegasi had vanished. âœI wonder what happened,â he said as he felt cold prickle along his neck.

âœFoal!â Wheatberry quipped as she patted Thistleâs sides.

âœYes, there is a foal in there,â Thistle said to the pegasus foal on her back.

âœI suppose I should take Wheatberry to the others. They can play together,â Bucky suggested.

âœI am worried Bucky,â Thistle stated in a trembling voice.

âœSo am I Thistle, but we donât want to scare Wheatberry,â Bucky replied in a soothing low voice. âœCome on Wheatberry, letâs find you some playmates.â

Chapter 112

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Rising Star felt that he had handled himself rather well when he had become aware that his mares were in heat. The idea of getting together as a newly married couple was now on hold, and once again, he was waiting. Even with protection spells, engaging with Sparkler and Loch Skimmer would be dangerous. Heats had a way of ignoring protection spells.

He was now sitting alone, meditating on top of a jutting outcropping of rock near the loch near the castle. He had winked up here, something he had done easily, where it had been so difficult to do before. Theoretically, all unicorns were capable of winking, or teleportation as the more scholarly types liked to call it. Most never did, lacking focus and drive.

Magic was coming easier and easier now since the change. Magic he struggled with before now came to him almost effortlessly. Rising Star drew a deep breath, focused his will, and thought about fire. Specifically, he thought about making shadow wolves burn.

With every step she took, Sparklerâs understanding that something had changed grew deeper and deeper. When her hooves touched the earth, she could feel a hum now. She could feel the stones and rocks around her. She could feel the soil, the soft loam and how it compressed beneath her hooves as she wandered between the trees in the copse of woods.

She felt drowsy but awake, and she could feel a faint second heartbeat in her nethers. She had endured several heats, but this was different, and even with the spell to ease the sensation, she felt peculiar. She felt as though the earth itself was telling her it was time to plant seeds, and she wondered if earth ponies felt something similar.

As she walked, she reveled in secret knowledge. Beneath her, she could sense water. It was down there, deep beneath her hooves, and something in her horn tingled telling her that she could call it to her if she wanted. She also knew that there was iron beneath her, and somewhere close by there was a vein of coal. Copper was abundant and she could hear the faint siren song of gold calling to her from the hidden depths beneath the jagged looking mountains in the distance.

Rising Star was on fire, but it did not burn him. His mane and tail were gone, replaced by flames, and his body flickered with flames. Shimmering heat rose from him. He was also suffering from the strongest feeling of arousal that he had ever experienced in his young life, and the quiet saner parts of his mind now screamed at him that he should be panicking.

It wasnât every day that you had a throbbing erection that was on fire.

He sat atop the rock burning calmly. He lifted a hoof and looked at it, studying the flames wafting from its hard surfaces. He put his hoof down and looked down between his front legs. He was sitting on his haunches and he could feel the rock growing ever warmer against his balls. The flames that burned his colthood felt like little kisses, little pecks from an attentive lover. Rising Star gasped as a surge of magic enveloped his body and the flames burned hotter and brighter.

The understanding came to him that sexual release was near and he let the flames consume him. Pyromancy was more than a fancy word, it was a state of being, and Rising Star was learning all to well what it meant to romance the flames. His horny hormone driven adolescent mind caused his fire to burn like nothing else would. Raw passion fueled the flames.

Sparkler emerged from the woods near the lake. She made her way to the waterline and walked along the shore, enjoying the quiet and thinking about her place as matriarch of her own little herd. More than anything, she wanted to be the matriarch they deserved.

It was not a common thought for most fillies her age, and Sparkler appreciated the absurdity of it all. She felt that she was handling the responsibility quite well. She was doing a lot of things a filly her age would never do, at least not back at home on the mainland. Settling in to start a family, exploring the new depths of her powers, and preparing for war.

She worried that when she finally went home, she would never be able to adjust. Movies, dating, talking with the few filly friends that she had, those things seemed like such shallow and trivial things now. Idle chatter in the schoolyard. She would never be able to take part in those sorts of things again without feeling some sense of contempt.

She sat down near the waterâs edge and peered into the water. Her mane was longer now, and unkept. She still looked like the filly she had been, but at the same time, she wasnât. A powerful wellspring of emotion flooded up from deep within her, and she felt the first sting of tears. She couldnât even understand why she was crying, only that she was lamenting the loss of something that she could no longer feel.

Bucky watched his littlest foals with a sense of pride. He was sitting on his haunches, even though sitting this way for too long now made his hind legs go to sleep. Thistle and Berry Punch were sprawled out together nearby, Sentinel was laying beside him, while Dinky and PiÃa played with Wheatberry.

A feeling of worry lingered over his sense of pride like a dark cloud and he wondered if perhaps he should have insisted on going with Keg Smasher. He didnât know what was wrong, but Bucky was certain that he could have helped if there was a bad situation.

Then again, Keg Smasher was trusting him with one of his foals. Bucky supposed that he was doing his part, Keg Smasher could at least put his mind at ease about Wheatberry being safe.

He heard the flapping of wings behind him and he turned his head, on guard for any kind of threat. He saw no threat, only a grey mare that he loved and two charcoal grey fillies, whom he also loved as well.

Derpy approached him on the side he could see from and sat down beside him as Ripple and Loch Skimmer flopped out breathlessly in the grass, both of them yawning.

âœYou look a bit like a picture I saw in a book of a lion,â Derpy announced. âœI think it is the sideburns that are starting to grow in. Or maybe just your mane.â

âœI am the scrawniest lion ever,â Bucky replied, returning his gaze to his foals.

âœWe never did get you into shape,â Derpy said, thinking back to words she had said long ago when she and Bucky had first met.

âœYouâre getting delightfully pudgy in a few spots. Please donât kill me,â Bucky said.

âœI guess I am packing on a few pounds early on in pregnancy and I take it that you like it,â Derpy said regretfully.

âœVery much so,â Bucky said agreeably.

âœIf you werenât so skinny and boney I wouldnât need this extra pudge to accommodate you,â Derpy teased.

Bucky sighed. At least she didnât say anything about how short he was. He felt two lips press against his cheek just below his remaining eye. âœIf I am a lion, that makes you my lioness,â Bucky stated, feeling a warm tingly feeling from the kiss.

âœI will protect our young,â Derpy replied, her voice surprisingly forceful. âœHow is Sentinel?â she asked, her voice softening.

âœI am not asleep,â Sentinel said drowsily.

âœOh,â Derpy replied. âœHow are you?â

âœFull of fish,â Sentinel muttered.

âœAre you in much pain?â Derpy asked in a motherly tone that was pregnant with worry. She turned her head and peered at the colt that was sprawled at Buckyâs blind side.

âœIt hurts,â Sentinel replied in a soft confession. âœBut it is no worse than father endured,â he added.

âœLoch and Ripple look worn out,â Bucky observed.

âœI wore them out,â Derpy said. âœDealing with the heat when you are that young is difficult. It helps a pegasus filly out to get physical and tire herself out.â

âœWhen we get home, do you think we will need to send them to flight camp?â asked Bucky in a low voice.

Derpy shrugged. âœI dunno,â she answered. âœRipple is still weak from not eating right, but she is getting better. Loch is a quick study.â

âœWe want them to have good lives,â Bucky stated. âœIf they ever want to join the weather patrols they are going to have to pass so many tests,â he said, voicing his concern.

âœGetting their basic flight permit shouldnât be too hard,â Derpy said as she pursed her lips together. âœBoth of them are so different. Loch is like me. She isnât made for speed. Once she develops, she will be a strong flier. Ripple was made for speed. Hard to see it now, but she is. I am kind of envious of her,â Derpy admitted. The grey pegasus fluffed out her feathers and tucked her head around to begin to preen her wings.

Bucky prodded the pegasus mare beside him with a hoof. âœYou know, you should teach me how to help you with that,â he suggested.

Rising Star sat upon his rock, cooling off in the aftermath of his magical surge. The rock was scorched and black. The colt looked like himself again, because he wasnât currently on fire. His mind whirled with thoughts but his body felt relaxed. He had a dopey look on his face, the dopey look that one tended to have after a much needed sexual release.

He winked from the rock and headed for the lake, thinking that a cooling dip would do him good. Plus, he needed to clean up. He felt sticky after his release.

His thinking felt much clearer now and he broke into a gallop, his hooves thudding on the ground as he picked up speed, his mane and tail streaming out behind him.

Sparkler slowly composed herself as she sat at the waterâs edge. She felt better after a good cry, but she still did not understand why she felt such a sense of loss. She prodded the water with her hoof and watched the ripples. Each touch created more ripples and some ripples collided with other ripples as they traveled.

There was some kind of meaningful analogy about life in the ripples, but Sparkler wasnât sure she was in the mood to ponder it.

As she stared into the water, she remembered all the time she had spent staring into the mirror and wishing that she was a pegasus. That phase of her life seemed over. Now, she wished that she was the sort of mare that her mothers were. Not just Derpy, something had changed, but there were parts of Berry Punch that she longed to emulate as well, like her courage. She prodded the water again. There was Bon Bonâs honesty. Lyraâs curiousity. Thistleâs generousity.

It felt funny thinking of Thistle as her mother, but as she thought about it, she realised that Derpy wasnât that much older than her. When Sparkler had entered her teenage years, Derpy had still been a teenager herself, but approaching the end of her teenage youth.

âœAre you okay Sparkler?â

Sparkler jumped at the sounds of Rising Starâs voice and nearly fell into the water.

âœSorry if I scared you. I saw youâ you are a very distinctive shade of purple-pink,â Rising Star stated. âœI thought Iâd come over and check on you. Do you need to be alone?â

Sparkler wiped her eyes with her foreleg. âœIâm fine. I think. No, I donât want to be alone. I was just thinking about a lot of stuff,â she explained. She sniffed. âœYou smell funny. And kinda good,â she said as her gaze lingered on Rising Star.

Rising Star looked embarrassed and then threw himself into water.

âœHey, come back, let me sniff you,â Sparkler said as she stood up.

âœSparkler, Iâ youâ uh, I donât even know how to begin,â Rising Star stammered as he swam away.

âœBut there is something about you,â Sparkler said as she stood at the waterâs edge.

âœLook, Sparkler, I just had something of controlled magic surge, I was on fire, my dangly bits were on blazing with flames, I just had the best orgasm Iâve ever had in my young pathetic life, and you are a filly in heat that can smell what I have to offer you,â Rising Star said from the deep water were he swam.

âœOooooh!â Sparkler said knowingly. She plunged into the cool water and swam for Rising Star.

Rising Star eyed the filly warily as he treaded water. âœNo mischief Sparkyâ I mean, right now, all I can think about is taking you in the grass over there and having my way with you and that would be bad, because even with protective spells, there is still a chance of something happening,â he warned.

âœI suppose you are right,â Sparkler admitted. âœSo it felt good? Letting the magic out?â she asked.

âœYes,â Rising Star replied sheepishly.

âœSo, uh, did you have to, uh, play with anything?â Sparkler inquired.

âœNo,â Rising Star said. âœI just sat there and it sort of happened,â he admitted.

âœI hope they let Dinky know about orgasms soonâ if she has a big magic release it will be confusing for her,â Sparkler said as she floated near Rising Star.

âœThis is very awkward Sparkler,â Rising Star stated.

âœOrgasm,â Sparkler said, looking directly at Rising Star. âœWe all have them. I had my first really good one when I was thinking about the first time you kissed me and I was giving myself a good workover in the shower. You nibbled my lip,â she stated bluntly.

âœYou mean youâve thought about me whenââ Rising Star said in astonishment.

Sparkler nodded. âœEver think of me?â she asked.

Rising Star was still for several moments while floating in the water, but finally nodded his head slowly. âœAnd I think my mother heard me,â he said in a strained slightly squeaky voice.

âœOh my,â Sparkler said, her words punctuated by a giggle.

âœThat night at dinner, my mother started talking to my father about how I was growing up and I wasnât their little colt any more, and I wanted to die,â Rising Star said, his voice still rather squeaky.

âœSo what set you off?â Sparkler asked.

âœOh, itâs stupid,â Rising Star said.

âœWas it my tight little backside?â Sparkler asked.

âœNo,â Rising Star answered.

âœWell, what was it? I told you, this isnât fair,â Sparkler said as she treaded water.

Rising Star took a deep breath and let it out slowly. âœThe way your mane clings to the side of your neck,â he murmured.

Sparkler giggled. âœWhat?â she asked.

âœDonât make me explain it!â Rising Star snapped. âœWe should head back and find the others before we get ourselves into trouble,â he grumbled.

âœYeah we should,â Sparkler agreed. âœYou know Rising, you can tell me these things. I mean, someday very very soon you are probably going to be on my back panting into my ear. What is a little embarrassing and funny story compared to that?â the filly inquired.

Rising Star did not reply, but made his way for the shore, hoping to get himself away from the filly before he lost his resolve.

Chapter 113

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The late afternoon sun caused shadows to lengthen and Buckyâs concerns to deepen. Keg Smasher had not returned, and evening was approaching slowly but surely. Wheatberry seemed perfectly content to stay with them and did not seem the least bit concerned about her fatherâs absence.

Buckyâs concerns were many. Ripple was in considerable pain from flying and was now a curled up ball of misery next to Sentinel, who was also suffering. The two suffered in silence together. Loch Skimmerâs leg was bothering her. While she had not bumped it during takeoff or landing, the flight seemed to have jostled her leg around a bit and now she was in something of a sour mood. Bucky suspected there might be other reasons for her sour mood.

Both Lyra and Bon Bon were watching him hungrily. This was a cause for alarm because Bucky honestly loved both of them and did not wish to do anything that all three of them would regret later.

With family came tension, with tension came stress, and with stress came the need for release. Bucky had spent most of his life learning to hold everything in, and while that still had its place, even some valuable uses, Bucky was learning to let everything out.

He thought about Sombraâs advice for living. Strong drink and hot mareflesh. Evading was also important. Bucky pondered the advice as he tried to push the worry from his mind. He was distracted by a giggle from Loch Skimmer. Rising Star was apparently trying to make her feel better and had whispered something into her ear.

âœBerry! Not in front of the foals!â

Buckyâs ears perked at Derpyâs outburst and his head turned toward the sound. Thistle looked very flustered and she was panting heavily. Berry looked entirely too pleased with herself, and Derpy looked more than a little flustered. She was fanning herself with her wing. He didnât know what had just happened exactly, but knowing what Berry was capable of, it was probably something Berry naughty.

There was a series of popping sounds and Bucky felt himself become startled. He relaxed after a moment, seeing that it was only popcorn. There was a large jar of it that had been sent in the care trunk and Dinky was popping popcorn for Wheatberry.

A loud squeal of alarm actually caused Buckyâs horn to ignite reflexively and his head turned sharply, only to see that Sparkler had her mouth full of water and she was squirting PiÃa. He made himself calm and told himself that there was no danger here in their room. Feeling bad for PiÃa, and still having a considerable amount of magic ready to go, Bucky conjured a small rain cloud over Sparklerâs head and locked it in over her horn.

As he turned his head away to look at Sentinel, he could hear Sparkler crying out about being drenched. He could hear Sparklerâs frantic protests as she attempted to dismiss the rain cloud. He saw Sentinel give him an odd look that he could not make out.

âœWho summoned the rain cloud?â Sparkler demanded to know. âœDinky?!â

Bucky swallowed his laughter and gave Sentinel a gentle prod. He saw Sentinel shaking a bit and felt concerned, until he realised that Sentinel was trying not to laugh. The coltâs serious mien had been shattered.

âœI didnât do it! Sparky, no tickles! Ugh, it is raining on me now, it keeps following you!â

Bucky heard a faint snickering coming from Ripple as he turned to look at the fracas between siblings. He tweaked the cloud slightly and the rain changed to snowflakes. The fracas continued unabated and Bucky sighed.

âœSnowflakes!â

âœHey, wait a minuteââ

âœI canât make snow clouds Sparkler.â

There was riotous laughter from all over the room and Sparkler sat in the middle of it all with a growing blanket of white flakes on her mane and pelt. She shook the flakes from her head and shivered.

âœYou have no idea how good this feels right now,â Sparkler muttered. âœAh, thatâs actually really nice,â she gasped.

âœBucky, snow is getting everywhere!â Derpy protested.

âœEh, the flakes melt and one of the unicorns can make the water go away,â Berry said dismissively.

âœI can understand how awesome this is because I know how hard clouds are to control,â Dinky said, looking up at the cloud in appreciation. âœI want to know how you locked it in place over her horn though,â the unicorn filly added.

âœMagical signatures,â Bucky said, explaining nothing. He figured it was best to make Dinky work for it. Plus, explaining this in front of Dinkyâs mother might earn him a dirty look, and Bucky was learning to evade.

âœIt will go away, right?â Sparkler asked.

âœWell, a cloud that sized could keep pulling moisture in from the air around it and could just keep going,â Lyra explained.

âœI think Iâll keep it for a while,â Sparkler said as she gazed upwards at the cloud.

Little Wheatberry was having the time of her life and hoped that the fun would never end as she watched the snow fall and munched on popcorn. She was going to have a story to tell to her mama.

Bucky was sitting in the dining hall eating dinner when he felt the sun slip below the horizon, the peculiar sensation in his horn letting him know that darkness now claimed the land around him. With the dark came fear, as there was still no sign of Keg Smasher.

The first howls of the evening could be heard outside, and Bucky slammed his hoof down upon the table in frustration. He wasnât very strong, and the sound wasnât very loud, but the emotion that it expressed was clear.

There were a lot of worried ponies, and many of them were turning towards Bucky, looking for some sort of reassurance. Bucky felt all too aware of the looks and slumped down where he was sitting.

Berry Punch was making sure that Wheatberry ate a well rounded meal, and the foal squealed in protest, wanting to eat nothing more than hot buttery peas. Bucky sympathised. Hot buttered peas were delicious, but growing foals needed more than buttery peas. He cast a glance at Ripple, who was tearing into a pile of beets. Ripple had been the very first pony that Bucky had ever seen or known who suffered from malnutrition, and it was something that had changed him profoundly.

Sparkler ate the way she always ate, with gusto and enthusiasm, her food getting a light dusting of snow as she gobbled it down. She had named the cloud âœPoofyâ and called it her boon companion.

As Bucky continued to eat, a pegasus entered into the hall through the smaller doors in the rear rather than the larger double doors that was the main entryway. The pegasus approached him nervously.

The pegasus stood near where Bucky sat, saying nothing, but standing at attention after snapping a salute with his wing. He stared at Bucky expectantly.

âœIf there is something to be said, say it,â Bucky said in frustration.

âœOne does not address their superiours unless spoken to sir,â the pegasus stated as he gave Bucky a fearful look.

âœDo you have something to tell me?â Bucky asked.

âœLord Buckminster, as of delivery of this message, you are now in charge of this castle and these isles until such a time that you are relieved,â the pegasus said nervously.

âœWhat the feck?â Bucky shouted in reply. âœI demand to know what is going on!â

âœLord Buckminster, Laird Keg Smasher had to go and deal with a wolf attack on another island. One of our larger villages fell prey to the wolvesâ predations. Weâve never dealt with an attack like this one. Laird Keg Smasher went there to re-secure the area. We do not know why he has not returned, and there have been no further communications,â the pegasus explained.

Bucky reeled from the information and he felt light headed and faint. Now was not the time to succumb to panic though. He steeled his nerves and a hard glint flickered in his remaining eye. He looked to Wheatberry, who seemed oblivious to everything.

âœWhat if Keg Smasher does not return?â Bucky asked in a low voice.

âœLord Buckminster, you would become Laird Buckminster and you would be responsible for our safety and well being,â the pegasus answered in a trembling voice.

Bucky closed his eye and tried to collect himself.

âœSir, I know how much you value your time with your family, but the other nobles are going to want some reassurance. After you finish your meal, I must request that you situate yourself in the throne room and make plans for what comes next,â the pegasus requested.

âœWhat comes next?â Bucky inquired, all too aware that there were too many eyes to count now looking at him. Had he been able to count them, it would have came out to an odd number given the unfortunate circumstances and the many missing eyes.

âœWe must operate under the assumption that Keg Smasher is not returning and make plans to keep your ponies safe. He said that he would return before sundown and he has not done so,â the pegasus responded.

Bucky gritted his teeth. He noticed that the pegasus had not said Laird Keg Smasher with his last address. It filled him with dread.

âœI am with you sir.â

Sentinelâs voice cut through his inner turmoil like a knife. Bucky opened his eye and looked at his colt, who was sitting a short distance away.

âœI will assist you,â Sentinel stated in a somewhat groggy voice, looking Bucky in the eye and perking his ears forward.

Bucky thought about dismissing Sentinel and sending him to bed for much needed rest, but then he realised that if he did that, it would cause him more pain than his burns. Bucky nodded.

âœI will be assigning the most loyal guards I know near your door,â the pegasus said in a low voice.

Bucky looked at the pegasus in confusion. âœGuards?â he asked.

âœLord Buckminster sir, it is mere a precaution. Others will be jealous of what you have and there might be those who move to take it from you. Keg Smasher laid out a careful bit of planning. I am one of the few that Keg Smasher trusted with his plans, and I do hope that I prove worthy of your trust sir,â the pegasus explained.

âœWhat is your name?â Bucky asked.

âœI am called Thrasher,â the pegasus answered.

Bucky felt a puzzling sense of calm overtaking him. He looked around the table at his family. âœRising Star, you are to keep them safe. I am trusting you with their security,â Bucky instructed. He saw the colt nod and was pleased to see a look of grim determination settle over Rising Starâs face.

âœI am coming with you,â Berry said.

âœAlright Berry,â Bucky replied.

âœNo, you listen here, you are going to need me if things get complicated. Iâm a Shetland ponyâ wait, did you just agree?â Berry said in a confused voice.

Bucky nodded. âœI am going to need your ability to read other ponies,â Bucky stated.

âœRising Star isnât the only pony who can keep our family safe,â Sparkler said, a faint hint of anger in her voice.

Bucky dismissed the cloud over Sparklerâs head with a mental flick and looked at Sparkler. âœSparkler, you are in charge of keeping Wheatberry at your side at all times. You are to keep her safe, secure, and happy. You are not to let her be more a legâs length from you at any time, do you understand me?â Bucky commanded.

Sparkler nodded, her moment of anger now gone, understanding just how serious her task was. She moved closer to Berry and the foal. Once settled, she gave Wheatberry a friendly pat.

âœWeâre coming with you,â Bon Bon said.

âœIâd prefer that Lyra stayed to guard the family,â Bucky said.

âœRising Star and Sparkler are formidable defenders. We have no doubt about their abilities. While we should trust Thrasherâs selected guards, I would feel better if we protected our own. So Lyra and I are coming with you and Berry,â Bon Bon explained.

âœI am more than capable of defending myself,â Bucky said, but even as he spoke his words softened as Bon Bon gave him the stinkeye. Bon Bonâs disappointment was one of the few things that Bucky truly feared.

âœYou swore an oath to never bring harm to one of your fellow ponies,â Bon Bon growled. âœAnd we are going to hold you to that oath. Lyra is under no such compunction. Should there be trouble, I know that Lyra will gleefully render our foes into greasy piles of ash,â Bon Bon said in a loud clear voice.

Lyra nodded. âœYup, because I am feeling frustrated,â she muttered. She lifted her mug of wine, chugged it down, and then slammed the mug down on the table. Her golden eyes glanced around the room, meeting as many eyes as possible.

Bucky nodded slowly and turned to look at Thrasher. âœGive me some time and we will collect in the throne room as soon as I am ready,â he said.

Chapter 114

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The broken throne remained empty and Bucky sat on the floor next to it, just as Keg Smasher had done. He couldnât feel his legs, he could only feel a painful burning sensation and a tingling tightness. For the past few hours, Lord Wrecker had been quietly telling Bucky everything he knew, and the old pegasus knew quite a bit.

As Bucky squirmed and shifted, the pain finally becoming too much to bear, he felt himself lifted in a prickly field of magic. There was a faint pop sound as a rock suddenly appeared into existence, followed by another pop as it was transmuted into a purple-grey cushion. He was plopped onto the cushion without a word spoken.

He cast a grateful glance upon Lyra, who stood nearby, alert and attentive, occasionally pacing back and forth.

âœLay down,â Bon Bon instructed. âœYou can hold court in a more comfortable position. I canât wait to get home and have a doctor look at your legs,â she muttered.

âœI canât,â Bucky said in soft protest. âœLord Wrecker is just as messed up as I am, and he is stuck sitting on the stone floor.â

âœLAY DOWN!â Bon Bon snapped, clearly not in the mood for shenanigans or protest. âœLyra, another cushion for Lord Wrecker if you please,â Bon Bon commanded.

Lyra complied with Bon Bonâs request, lifting Wrecker, summoning a stone and then transmuting it into a cushion. Wrecker grumbled in protest as he was dumped onto his cushion.

Sentinel crawled onto Buckyâs cushion with him and settled in beside his father. The colt had listened to every word spoken by Wrecker, and while he had a few questions, he chose to remain silent.

âœIt nears midnight,â Wrecker stated.

âœThank you for telling me everything,â Bucky said as he kicked out his hind legs behind him and made himself comfortable.

âœI had a bit of a talk with your matriarch,â Wrecker said. âœI told her some of what I told you. Sheâs a fine mare, but I think I prefer the fiery spirit of yon daughter of Shetland,â he said as he gestured at Bon Bon.

Bon Bon turned and glared at Wrecker with a burning stare. She was in heat and frustrated, and wasnât in the mood for no guff.

âœSee, that is what you want in a mare. I canât stand it when they are soft and submissive. I want a mare that can bloody my nose and defend my foals,â Wrecker stated. He continued to look at Bon Bon appreciatively.

âœSeems to me that quite a few stallions here want their mares submissive,â Bucky replied in a faint angry tone.

âœSadly, yes. We live under dire and desperate circumstances, which are now changing. But submissive mares can be treated like a resource and managed. Iâve always disliked that sort of thinking. Itâs wrong,â Wrecker grumbled.

âœMakes me feel better to hear you say that,â Bucky said to the battered old pegasus.

âœI am not a popular noble,â Wreckler said in a strained voice, clearly in pain and in need of sleep. The old stallion grimaced as he settled into his cushion and tried to make himself comfortable. âœThere are those that feel that since the sweeps are over and things have changed, Keg Smasher needs to go. I disagree. I think we need him more than ever. He makes mistakes, sure, but he has done a better job of leadership than most of our previous Lairds. And lad, I hope you will forgive him for the many mistakes he has made involving you,â Wrecker stated.

âœI just hope he is alive,â Bucky said in a worried voice.

âœDonât want to be Laird?â Wrecker asked the stallion beside him.

âœI want to go home,â Bucky replied in a flat monotone.

âœBut if it fell upon your shouldersââ Wrecker said, his sentence left open and unfinished.

âœOf course I would do it,â Bucky muttered as he made a sour look.

âœKeg Smasher was right about youâ youâre a noble lad alright. Sort of like yon Sentinel there,â Wrecker said in a low raspy voice. âœI could have went to the mainland. I applied and received clearance. I was ready to go too, was just waiting on the boat to arrive.â

âœWhat happened?â Bucky asked.

Wrecker sighed and looked weary. âœWord got out there was a mad unicorn running amok on the isles. He was capturing earth ponies and pegasi. He was chopping them up for study. He was obsessed with earth pony hooves and pegasi wings,â he explained.

âœThatâs horrible,â Bucky said in disgust.

âœGuess which house he was from,â Wrecker growled.

Bucky sighed in frustration but said nothing. There was nothing to say, and nothing that could be said. It was one of the many things he hoped to make his former house pay for.

âœI was part of the group that hunted him down and killed him. He killed quite a few of us before we finally brought him down,â Wrecker said. âœHe killed my brother and my father. I was sliced up by invisible knives made of magic. But we managed to kill him, and I was given the title of âSirâ for my troubles. Afterwards, I stayed. The boat left without me. And I never went to the mainland to live a life of happy ever after,â Wrecker said sadly.

âœYou did goodâ be proud,â Bon Bon said in a low emotional voice.

âœThank you pretty lass,â Wrecker replied. He was old, but not far enough gone that he couldnât appreciate the look Bon Bon gave him.

âœAnd this is why I studied abjuration in school, even though it made me a total nerd. For a time, I entertained the idea of becoming one of Celestiaâs black cloaks when I was a foal and full of dreams,â Lyra quipped.

âœWhat is abjuration and what is a black cloak?â Wrecker asked.

âœAbjuration is defensive and protective magic and a well practiced specialist can take it to an offensive degree. A spellbreaker. By knowing so much about magical defenses, it allows a unicorn skilled in abjuration to take out other unicornâs defenses and protections. I was terrible about abjuration in school. It was my worst subject,â Bucky explained.

âœAnd a black cloak?â Wrecker inquired.

âœBlack cloaks donât exist. Theyâre spooks. Everypony knows they exist, but they arenât acknowledged by the Crown. Theyâre the unicorn police and they take out rogue unicorns. And Bucky, I figured with your careful and cautious nature, youâd have been a natural for abjuration. Stupid Twilight Sparkle though, she kept making me look like I was an idiot. Grrrrr,â Lyra responded. âœI did brilliant things in that class, but they were totally ignored because Twilight Sparkle did things that were even more brilliant and the second most brilliant unicorn in the class wasnât worth paying attention to,â Lyra grumbled bitterly.

âœI excelled in a number of areas but did really well in enchantment, transmutation, and the creative magical arts,â Bucky said to Lyra.

âœEnchantment? Really?â Lyra peered at Bucky curiously and then sniggered.

Bucky felt his face grow hot. âœStop laughing!â he grumbled.

âœWhy is this so funny?â Bon Bon asked as she poked Lyra with her hoof.

âœEnchantment is for homemakers and little fillies,â Lyra said.

âœIT IS NOT!â Bucky snapped.

âœOh my,â Wrecker gasped.

âœYeah it is,â Lyra said. âœOne of the classes you have to take is actually called âœHearth and Home Enchantmentsâ and it is the perfect class for every little filly looking for a husband,â Lyra said with a chuckle.

Bucky scowled turned away from Lyra, grumbling wordlessly as he did so.

âœAt least our husband will be useful in the kitchen,â Lyra said.

âœI also have the theory required to create an enchanted suit of armor, which is how I am going to purge these isles from the wolves. I was able to enchant that ship outside and make it weigh a fraction of what it once weighed, which is how I plan to take you home. I could probably create golems, I can create magical objects and appliances, and with my current magical abilities, I could probably create magical artifacts of unspeakable power,â Bucky said in a low forceful whisper. âœHow do you think things like the Alicorn Amulet were made?â he asked.

Lyraâs laughter died. She turned to look at Bucky. âœI am sorry Bucky, I didnât mean anything by it, I was just having a laugh. Look, I know how powerful you are. I was trying to lighten the mood a bit, I guess I screwed up. Iâm sorry,â Lyra said apologetically.

âœI got teased a lot about it in school,â Bucky said in a low voice. âœIâm sorry if I overreacted,â he added. âœAnd now it seems I could possibly become the Dark Lord Buckminster, Scourge of the Hearth and Home Enchantmentâs class,â he snarked.

âœEnchantment and transmutation seemed to have worked out for you, you are the second most powerful unicorn I know,â Lyra said in flattering tones.

âœDo you know what Twilight Sparkle specialised in?â Bucky asked, thankful that Lyra provided the means to change the subject.

âœAbjuration and divination,â Lyra answered.

âœMagic is confusing,â Wrecker interjected. âœIâm glad I am a pegasus,â he said.

âœBeing an earth pony isnât so bad,â Bon Bon said.

âœWe need a school for magic here on the isles,â Wrecker stated. âœNow that the sweeps are over, weâre going to have a lot of unicorns here that will need to learn all about abjuration and enchantment.â

Bucky took the pegasusâ words to heart and he fell silent, thinking about how a school could change the isles. More than alcohol or raw resources, a school for unicorns could turn the isles into a civilised place.

âœIt will be dawn soon,â Lyra said in a low whisper so she would not wake the two sleeping ponies. Bucky and Wrecker were sound asleep on their cushions. Sentinel had dozed on and off through the night, and was currently awake. Lyra was exhausted. She was maintaining two lyre spells, one in the throne room and one back in their private room.

Bon Bon nodded. She felt irritable and hungry. She knew that Lyra was hungry, because she could hear Lyraâs stomach grumbling. Guards paced around them, occasionally glancing at the two mares in concern.

Sentinel pressed himself up against Bucky and didnât care who saw him doing it. He too was thankful to feel warmth and life in a body that he loved. Several ponies had come to the hall during the long night to speak to Bucky, and Sentinel had stayed at Buckyâs side.

âœHeyâ youâ yes you, you right there, since it is getting to be about dawn, I want you to go off to the kitchens and tell whomever is cooking that I want fried potatoes for breakfast,â Lyra commanded.

The guard blinked at Lyra several times in astonishment.

Sentinel raised his head. âœI do believe that was a direct order from one of Lord Buckminsterâs wives,â the foal growled.

The pegasus snapped a wing in a cautious salute, went to the door, whispered something to a guard outside, and then returned to his position. âœFried potatoes for the lady,â he said in neutral tones as he resumed his post.

âœLyra,â Bon Bon muttered while rolling her eyes.

âœHey, no eye rolling. Iâm not sharing my potatoes with you,â Lyra grumbled.

âœBut now I want potatoes,â Bon Bon whispered.

âœToo bad,â Lyra quipped.

Bucky stood at the castle gatehouse looking over the mustered guard as they presented themselves for inspection. There was still no sign of Keg Smasher. There had been no new word. Wrecker moved slowly beside him, wobbling around on three legs.

âœThis isnât like Keg Smasher at all lad. There should have been word by now. Or something,â Wrecker said in worried tones.

âœI hope the guard Iâve dispatched to check on Keg Smasher return with some kind of word soon,â Bucky said as he eyed the assembled pegasi.

âœLad, I have a bad feeling. I wouldnât expect good news,â Wrecker warned. âœCome lad, letâs go have breakfast.â

Bucky stood in place and gave the guard a final once over before giving a nod, which seemed to satisfy them. He looked down at Sentinel beside him. âœLetâs go to breakfast and try to reassure some scared ponies. Then weâll get Thistle and have a nice breakfast of fish. Sound good?â he asked of the colt.

Sentinel nodded. âœI think I smelled potatoes cooking. I hope I get some,â he replied.

Chapter 115

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Berry Punch yawned. It had been a long night of being mostly unnoticed. She had remained in a quiet corner, dozing lightly, waking only when somepony had come to speak to Bucky. Sleeping on the stone floor was unkind to her joints and everything crackled and popped as she stretched.

âœDid I miss anything?â Berry asked of Lyra. At some point, during her dozing, Bucky had slipped off.

âœBucky went out to inspect the guard. Weâre waiting here until we are summoned for breakfast, in the event of somepony coming to inquire about events,â Bon Bon said, her words punctuated with a yawn.

Berry scratched her cutie mark with her hoof. âœSome of the nobles last night,â she muttered to herself.

âœDo you think any of them actually tried to kill Keg Smasher?â Lyra asked the red eyed earth pony.

âœThose neep headed numpties that talked to us last night? No,â Berry replied. âœThey were all scared and clueless, weren't they Bonnie?â

Bon Bon nodded.

âœHey, there are cushions?â Berry asked as she saw the cushions on the floor.

Lyra kicked her hooves. âœI was keeping two lyres going last night, several detection spells, and making those two cushions nearly did me in. I only did it because Bucky looked miserable,â the unicorn explained.

âœItâs okay Lyra, I was just giving you a bit of a hard time,â Berry said. âœOh gosh, I wish I hadnât slept, I feel more tired now then I would if I had just stayed awake all night,â she muttered .

âœYou can always come to bed with us,â Bon Bon offered.

âœYeah, you are always welcome in the bed with us,â Lyra said. She paused when she realised what her words might sound like and she blushed. âœUh, actuallyââ

Bon Bon raised her eyebrow at Lyra. âœLyra, why are you acting funny?â

âœWell, um,â Lyra began.

âœWeâre lesbians. Sheâs female. Itâs okay Lyra. I mean, come on, weâre married to her too,â Bon Bon said in irritation.

âœAre you saying what I think youâre saying?â Lyra asked.

Berry giggled. âœYou know, I wouldnât feel right about this until I talked with everypony else. I am flattered of course. But for right now, no stepping outside of our current arrangement,â Berry said coquettishly.

A guard coughed and Bon Bon turned and looked in irritation. âœSome kind of problem?â she asked.

âœNo maâam. Er, no Lady Bon Bon, there is no problem at all,â the guard replied.

âœI bet youâre probably thinking that if you could just spend just one night with us, you could change our minds, is that what you are thinking?â Bon Bon asked.

âœBonnie,â Lyra whispered forcefully.

Bon Bon scowled but said nothing else to the guard.

The trip to the lake caused nothing but irritation. A contingent of guard insisted on following him. Keg Smasher went around alone quite often, and Bucky felt as though he was being foalsitted, which made him feel cranky.

Lord Wrecker was quite unable to follow Bucky to the lake and had stayed back at the castle. Bucky worried for the old pegasusâ safety but said nothing. He walked around with jittery nerves and gritted teeth.

To make matter worse, the guard unit dispatched to Keg Smasherâs last location had not returned, something which all of the rest of the guard agreed wasnât right.

They should have returned by now.

Finally, Bucky could take no more. He needed sleep. He had secured himself in the room he shared with his family, and was now settling into the bed, where there were already a few sleepers. After laying down, he was quickly piled upon by Berry, Bon Bon, Lyra, and Sentinel, who arranged themselves all around him.

The last sound he heard was Wheatberry giggling.

âœBucky, wake up.â

Bucky awoke to the sound of Derpyâs voice. He blinked his remaining eye a few times and felt his head thudding. Awaking with a headache was not something he was fond of and he kept his head where it was, resting on something soft and warm. Had he looked, he would have noticed there were the image of three wrapped candies just below his chin, more commonly called bon bons. He could feel the most delightful heat against the base of his throat and his chest. There was something heavy on his foreleg and it too felt warm. And rather damp.

As Bucky came around, he became aware of where he was resting his head and where his foreleg was tucked. At some point, he had used Bon Bonâs backside as a pillow, his foreleg had somehow wound up between her legs, and she was clenching it tightly between her solid thighs in her sleep. His leg felt damp.

âœGah!â Bucky said, extracting himself from the awkward situation with a strange wordless cry. Once he was free of Bon Bonâs clutches, he looked up at Derpy. âœForbidden nethers,â he muttered. Much to his own shame, he could not resist sniffing his damp foreleg.

Derpy laughed at her husband and stroked him with her wing. âœGood news,â she said.

Bucky looked up and around him. He pulled himself from the bed, hearing commotion in the hall. He was on his hooves in an instant, and out the door in moments.

He saw Wheatberry and what could only be her mother. Winter Wheat looked battered and bloody, joyful and grief stricken. Fear made Buckyâs balls feel as though they were being jammed full of pins.

âœWhere is Keg Smasher? Is he okay?â Bucky asked.

Winter Wheat looked sad even as Wheatberry clung to her neck and was kissing her face. âœHeâs still alive,â she said, her eyes glancing down at Wheatberry in some unspoken communication.

âœWhat happened?â Bucky asked.

âœLater, please,â Winter Wheat pleaded. âœKeg Smasher needs you right away,â she said, her eyes locked on Bucky and looking at him, begging him for his help.

âœBrace yourself Lord Bitters, and follow me,â a guard said.

Bucky fell into step with the guard. He glanced over his shoulder, shut the door behind him with his magic, and then turned his head around to watch where he was going. All thoughts of Bon Bonâs well cushioned backside were now gone and Bucky wondered what had happened.

Bucky had never been to Keg Smasherâs private quarters before. There was a door that looked like any other, plain, simple, and solid. The room was spartan. There was a wooden desk, a tall wooden cabinet, a table with stuff scattered over the surface, and a pile of straw in the corner.

And in the pile of straw was what remained of Keg Smasher.

Bucky wanted to ask what had happened, what had gone wrong, but all of those words seemed useless. âœHow can I help you?â Bucky asked, his voice little more than a scratchy whisper. Bucky moved in close, scarcely able to take in what he was seeing. He heard the door click behind him and he knew that he was alone, that he was trusted alone with Keg Smasher.

âœI need your help lad,â Keg Smasher grunted weakly.

Keg Smasher needed more than help. He was a bloodied mess from ear to hoof. One wing was missing, leaving behind a trickling bloody stump. He was covered in bite marks and gashes. One leg had a rope tourniquet around it and most of the flesh from fetlock to knee had been stipped away.

Bucky swallowed his revulsion and kneeled down beside Keg Smasher. âœWhat do I do?â he asked in a strained voice. His head was thumping now, thudding away, as though there was hammer inside of it.

âœI need for youâ to magic my leg away… whatâs left of it. I donât think Iâd survive the sawing. And then I need for you to burn it shut,â Keg Smasher said breathlessly.

Bucky looked down at the bloodied straw. There was a lot that needed to be burned shut. He would start with the leg first, and then go from the largest to the smallest wounds. It seemed to make sense, at least in his own mind.

âœNo dying,â Bucky commanded.

âœI donât want to go lad,â Keg Smasher wheezed. He looked terrified and both eyes were wide with fear.

Bucky felt sick knowing that he was about to use his magic to sunder another ponyâs flesh. He fought back his growing nausea and panic, knowing that he wasnât actually bringing harm to another pony, but doing what he could to save Keg Smasherâs life. None of Sombraâs memories that he had recovered so far could prepare him for this.

âœSleep,â Bucky commanded, his horn igniting and his words carrying the force of magical compulsion. He watched as Keg Smasherâs eyes slowly closed and the big pegasus went still. Bucky steeled his nerves and drew together his force of will.

He teleported the remains of the leg away from the body. It reappeared a few feet away and fell to the stone floor with a thud. To Buckyâs credit, he did not throw up, but he came close. He removed the tourniquet and as he was doing so, gathered a telekinetic ball of energy together, imbuing it with great heat. He paused before burning the leg shut. He teleported away several inches of bone and muscle from inside of the stump, pressed the flesh together over the now smooth ends of bone, and pressed his magical brand against the bloodied flesh.

There was a sizzling crackle as well as the smell of burning flesh and hair.

The wound closed and Bucky looked around for his next target. He chose to work on the wing stump. He removed the bloody stump completely, teleporting what little bit was left away, and then pulled the remaining bit of bone free from the ball and socket joint with a wet sounding pop. He cringed as he worked. He pulled the skin closed with his magic and applied his magical brand, cauterising the wound shut.

Bucky felt that he was off to a good start. He licked his lips nervously and looked over Keg Smasher, trying to figure out what to do next. He went to work on the legs, knowing that a pony could bleed out from leg wounds. One hind hoof was cracked and Bucky didnât know how to fix that. It would need time to heal.

He lifted Keg Smasher into the air using his magic and checked his belly, checking everything for wounds. He pressed his magical brand to every spot that oozed blood.

And then, Bucky realised, his task was finished. There was nothing left to burn shut after many agonising minutes of work. He looked around the room and found a bucket, a clean bucket that was half full of water. He conjured more. He set to work cleaning Keg Smasher up, carefully wiping away the blood using his magic and rinsing Keg Smasher off with water. He held the maimed pegasus in the air and pondered the current situation. He could turn the straw into a mattress and get a big rock later for something more substantial, or he realised, he could get a big rock now. Teleporting that much mass would have been difficult if not outright impossible, but now Bucky realised it was within the realms of what he was capable of. He teleported the bloodied straw into the fireplace and set it ablaze to be rid of the mess. He touched a large rock from somewhere with his mind, took it within his will, and teleported it. As it winked into existence in the room, he transmuted it into a thick mattress, some sheets, and a few blankets and pillows. They were crude things, but better than the cold floor and straw.

Unsure of what to do with the severed leg and the remains of the wing, he lifted them in his magic, wrapped them in a blanket, and set it upon the table.

He felt his stomach growling. Teleporting that much mass was not without consequences. He felt tired, weak, and starving. He couldnât remember ever having a headache this bad in a long time and he wondered if his remaining eye was going to pop out of its socket from the pressure.

He settled Keg Smasher into the bed and covered him with a blanket. He lifted Keg Smasherâs head and placed a slightly lumpy pillow under it, and then let the pegasusâ head gently drop.

He went to the door, pulled it open, and stepped out into the hall. Winter Wheat was looking at him imploringly. Her eyes were red and she had been crying. Wheatberry was on her back, looking distressed and afraid.

âœI think heâs going to make it,â Bucky reported in a low voice. âœI did what I could. Heâs comfortable. I made him a bed. A real bed.â

The earth pony moved swiftly and Bucky felt her kiss his cheek. She drew away after she had done it and looked down at the stone floor. âœForgive me Lord Bitters,â she said in a wavering voice.

âœThink nothing of it,â Bucky said soothingly. âœAnd please, call me Bucky. Everypony calls me Bucky,â he offered.

Winter Wheat looked back up at Bucky and he saw moist gratitude in her eyes. She was young and pretty, and couldnât be too much older than Sparkler. She was also bitten, but she didnât look too bad. She was a big solid sort of earth pony, broad shouldered and thick legged.

âœMy fellow-wives know what has taken place,â Winter Wheat said in a quiet concerned voice. âœThe guard have gone to fetch them. Keg will be looked after,â she continued.

âœIf you need my help, you come to me and you ask. If you need somepony to look after Wheatberry for a while, she is safe with us. And when you get to feeling better, Iâd really like to know what happened,â Bucky said gently. As he spoke, his words made his head thud painfully and he felt light headed. âœThere are some remains in the blanket on the table. I do not know what you might want done with them.â

The earth pony filly nodded gratefully. âœThank you for the warning,â she said in a low voice. âœAnd again, thank you for everything. My husband speaks highly of you. I see why.â

Bucky nodded, reached out, touched her softly with his folded fetlock, and then excused himself. âœI need to go. I do not feel well,â he said apologetically. And with that, Bucky pushed his way through the guard, thankful that he was not Laird Buckminster Bitters.

Chapter 116

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At least somepony was nice enough to make sure that he had lunch. Bucky sat in the dining hall scarfing down as much food as he could. There was leftovers from breakfast and lunch and a small cask of mead had been brought to him.

He was so empty that the alcohol could take no immediate effect upon him. He could feel his stomach converting food into energy almost as quickly as he could take it in. As he continued to gobble down enough food to feed several ponies, he had himself a troubling thought. Going on a magical rampage wearing a suit of enchanted armor was going to require a lot of food. He had experienced this thought before several times, but now it settled into his mind uncomfortably. A bit of teleporting with his own body mass wasnât too bad, but wearing several hundred pounds of armor was going to deplete him quickly. Even if he lightened his armor like he did The Scorned Mare, he still had the molecular mass to deal with and magical molecular reassembly every time he winked.

He thought about it as he chewed. Alcohol was good source of easily consumed calories and if he was using magic constantly, he could stave off the effects of inebriation. Unicorns could get drunk if they wanted to, and so could alicorns as Bucky recalled, thinking of Barley and Luna. He made a few mental notes. It might just be a beer and whiskey fueled rampage that drove the wolves from the isles.

Sombraâs suggestion of strong drink made more and more sense. Bucky whipped his head around and looked at his hops cutie mark for a moment. He wasnât sure if it was irony or not, but it almost made sense in a perverted sort of way that a unicorn warrior would have such a mark. Extreme magic took fuel, and alcohol was an exceptionally good fuel. He brought his head back around and eyed the food before him, selecting his next target.

He took out a dozen fried oatcakes in mere moments, and then guzzled down half of the cask of mead in one go. He belched and let go a sound that would make Sparkler cheer in appreciation. There was a sound that would never be welcomed in a library. For a brief moment, Bucky was thankful that he was not the Scholar.

There was leftover corn, turnip, and potato chowder. He lifted the large wooden bowl to his lips and guzzled, swallowing the creamy broth and chewing the vegetable bits.

âœIâm practically a pegasus,â Bucky muttered to himself, his mouth still full, something he would have never done even just a few months ago. He let go of another frightful resonating belch that echoed through the dining hall. âœOr an earth pony I suppose.â

âœDo you need anything else sir?â a skittish looking serving filly asked.

Bucky looked at the filly. She looked to be older than Sparkler, on the cusp of actual marehood. She was of solid earth pony stock and was looking at him with some small concern, worried that she would fail to please.

Or, Bucky realised, be asked to satisfy other appetites. He didnât know how to put the filly at ease or explain to her that he wasnât that sort of noble. Instead, he went for an entirely different approach. He couldnât tell why the filly seemed so skittish.

âœThere is lot of cheese and butter here. The chowder is fantastic. Iâve seen a few goats, the occasional cow, and even a few sheep, but there doesnât seem to be enough dairy animals here to keep up with the sheer amounts of butter and cheese ponies eat. By the way, the gratin potatoes were fantastic lass, you tell whomever cooked them that they did a good job,â Bucky said in what he hoped were friendly but not too friendly tones.

âœThat would be my mother sir,â the filly said with a blush.

âœYour mother made the gratin potatoes? She did a wonderful job,â Bucky replied.

âœShe also helps to make the butter and the cheese,â the filly chirped happily.

âœSo, sheâs a great cook, she knows how to churn butter, and she can make good cheese? Sheâs a treasure. So where does all the milk come from?â Bucky asked.

âœMy mother. And many of the other kitchen staff mares,â the filly answered cheerfully.

Bucky looked down at his chowder bowl and then his eye looked up at the filly.

âœBeing a milk mare means a comfortable life. If your milk makes the grade, it means a comfortable life of working in the kitchens and being fed the best food so you can make the best milk. My mother has high hopes for me, making good milk runs in our bloodline. I hope that I get a milk bucket mark just like my motherâs and my grandmareâs,â the filly explained.

Bucky lifted his bowl and guzzled down the rest of the chowder. A small part of his brain screamed that he had just learned too much and consuming the rest of the chowder was folly. He didnât care. Why was it okay to drink cows milk or goats milk but pony milk was somehow taboo? His brain implored him to stop thinking about this line of reasoning. He taunted his brain that milk was milk, and it all came from teats. Delightful life giving teats. Drinking cows milk or goats milk was milk meant for another species. At least pony milk was meant for ponies. His brain fought back the only way that it could under the mental onslaught. His higher processes shut down and all he was left with was various mental images of the teats of those he loved. Berryâs were small and firm. Thistleâs were growing and softâ and oh so inviting. Derpyâs pointed in different directionsâ He looked down at his foreleg and thought of Bon Bon. He immediately pushed that troubling thought from his mind. Forbidden teats and forbidden nethers were a no no.

He wiped his muzzle and looked up at the filly. âœI wish you the best of luck miss, and you tell your mother that Bucky says thank you,â he stated.

The filly squirmed and blushed. âœI just need to find a good husband,â she said suggestively. âœIâm under Keg Smasherâs protection until just the right husband can be found. Keg Smasher values his cheese and I am a worthwhile asset,â she said with a bit of a titter as she looked at Bucky shyly.

It was time to go.

âœWell thank you again miss. I am almost done here. And I am a very busy pony,â Bucky said to the filly. He smiled at her one last time, lifted the cask, emptied it, scarfed down a few remaining morsels, and then rose from the table. He wondered if the filly knew what had happened to Keg Smasher.

As he departed, the filly gave him a final nervous but fetching smile.

PiÃa flipped the page to Starjammerâs Shadow Bestiary and cursed Starjammerâs name. He might have been a brilliant unicorn, but she was growing to hate his books. She had just read almost a hundred pages that could be summed up in just a few short words, that corrupted shadow creatures tended to have necromantic bites and drained life from their victims, giving them strength in return and healing their wounds if they had any. The more they bit, the stronger they became, until they were truly formidable foes.

The earth pony scowled and looked up from the book. Her ears splayed out sideways as she thought about everything she had read. Corrupted shadows fed on thaumaturgical energy as well as life energy, which made them magic stealers. Starjammer mentioned in his book that enterprising unicorns had used corrupted shadow creatures to gather needed magical energy and then siphoned it off to power magical experiments and arcano-tech contraptions.

PiÃa turned as the hum from Dinkyâs horn intensified. A single fly buzzed around Dinkyâs head, surrounded by a magic nimbus. PiÃa smiled, feeling pleased. She returned to her study.

âœWhat are you girls up to?â

PiÃa nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard her fatherâs voice. âœNot mischief!â she said defensively. The earth pony foal looked up and saw Bucky. âœI was reading and doing some thinking,â PiÃa explained.

Dinky managed to keep her concentration and held her control over the fly. She was lost in her own world at the moment, completely unaware that Bucky was near.

âœRipple is sleeping,â PiÃa said in a low voice. âœShe lifted us up here on the deck of the ship and we stowed away inside the cabin. It is nice in here,â PiÃa said.

âœI was wondering how you girls managed to get up inside of here on your own. I was worried about you. You slipped off and didnât tell any adults,â Bucky said.

PiÃa squirmed. âœWeâre safe. We are with Ripple,â she said a small guilty voice. âœI think I understand what the wolves are doing,â PiÃa said. She watched as Buckyâs demeanour changed suddenly. Where he seemed mildly upset before, his eye now blazed with a curious intensity and he sat down. PiÃa felt her mouth go dry.

Bucky settled himself on to the mattress next to PiÃa, sitting first, and then sprawling out on his belly. PiÃa felt herself being tugged away from her book and she found herself in Buckyâs warm embrace, one foreleg wrapped around her and holding her close. PiÃa settled against Buckyâs chest and pressed her snoot into his neck for a moment, glad that he wasnât angry.

âœSo what are the wolves doing PiÃa?â Bucky inquired.

âœBeing earth ponies,â PiÃa replied.

âœI donât understand,â Bucky said. âœCan you explain it?â he asked.

PiÃa pursed her lips together and further settled into Buckyâs embrace. She could feel his heart beating as her back pressed into his chest. All of PiÃaâs fears and worries melted away. âœThe shadow wolves are harvesters. They go out and collect energy from the ponies they attack. The book says that they can collect energy. And that unicorns can collect this energy from the wolves. Now, I donât know a whole lot about harvesting, but I am an earth pony and I get hunches. If the wolves are collecting magical energy, they are probably bringing it back to some place where it is being collected, since new wolves keep being made. But since the attacks keep getting worse and worse, they are probably getting stronger and stronger, and with this much harvesting, there has to be a lot of surplus,â PiÃa explained.

PiÃa squirmed and giggled as she felt a kiss on her ear.

âœSo the wolves are bringing back what they harvest like earth ponies returning to a barn,â Bucky said. âœAnd whatever they donât use to make more wolves, they are gathering up and storing it away some how?â

PiÃa nodded, feeling a little bit nervous now and hoping that her father would take her seriously. âœIt is just a guess,â she squeaked.

âœIt is a very good guess PiÃa, and I think you might be on to something,â Bucky said soothingly.

PiÃa relaxed in her fatherâs embrace, taking a deep breath and letting it out in a sigh of relief. âœNopony ever takes us earth ponies seriously,â she whispered. âœI donât understand why. We have good minds. We can think. Smart Cookie was one one of the Founders. But nopony ever takes us seriously,â PiÃa muttered.

âœI do,â Bucky said. He kissed PiÃa again and gave her a squeeze. âœYou keep studying. I am in need of a nap. I had a very difficult morning PiÃa,â he whispered.

As PiÃa watched, Ripple was gently lifted from her spot and brought closer. Bucky settled the pegasus filly beside him and PiÃa reluctantly slipped free of his embrace. She returned to her book and looked over at Bucky, who had lowered his head to the bed. He looked very tired.

As PiÃa returned to her book, she could hear a faint wheezing snore coming from Bucky as he slipped into slumber. She dragged her book over and leaned up against his other side. She flipped through several pages and then the book fell open to an illustration of something called a âœshadow battery.â It was a crystal column infused with raw magic, heavily ensorcelled by the strongest forms of enchantment, and when connected by something called an âœethereal bridgeâ to a unicorn, it could give the unicorn a vast reserve of external power so that they would not tire so quickly from prolonged spell use. PiÃa read the description carefully several times. She had come to her conclusion before reaching this page and she felt a small sense of pride.

At the bottom of the page it stated that the shadow battery was created by a unicorn named Sombra. PiÃa shivered in horror, now all too familiar with that name, the boogeypony himself.

Chapter 117

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The afternoon loomed before him and Bucky felt better after a nap. Thankfully, all traces of his headache were gone. He was still worried about Keg Smasher and so many other things, but there were things to do.

He settled a large boulder near the ship and sat down. Already, he was feeling a bit peckish. He was going to need an enormous gasbag. Even with the ship being lightened, there were still going to be plenty of ponies on board. He was working entirely by gut instinct and approximation. He was going to need a gasbag at least one hundred feet in length and sixty six feet in diameter. Give or take a bit. It was a lot to transmute and then enchant. Every square foot of the canvas would need to be enchanted to hold in the super compressed cloudstuff. This was a task that was going to require several days, followed by thorough checking. If one single inch lacked proper enchantment, it would leak, and that would be all kinds of bad. He was also going to have to craft an opening so that more super compressed cloudstuff could be added. The magic in the clouds faded with enough time and more clouds had to be added. That would be easy enough. A canvas flap opening with a magical adhesion spell to hold it shut.

Bucky sighed when he realised the enormity of his task. This was a task for entire teams of unicorns. He had once visited the shipyards of Canterlot as a colt and watched the construction of airships. It was a school related trip to show the practical applications of enchantment and transmutation. The fillies he was with had shown no interest at all in the construction process, but it was a day that had always stayed in Buckyâs memory.

Enchantment was power. A lone unicorn by themselves wasnât much of a credible threat. Dangerous sure, lethal perhaps, but still fragile. But that same unicorn on an airship outfitted with magical weaponry, that held potential for being a real threat. Wars had been won this way, and it was the reason that Equestria was a major world power. The Equestrian Navy guarded the borders and protected vital trade routes.

And it all came down to enchantment really.

He heard the flutter of wings and saw Ripple struggling to ease PiÃa to the grass. The landing was a little rough, but PiÃa was a hearty little earth pony filly. He watched as Ripple took to the air again, returning to the deck to get Dinky.

Bucky did nothing to ease their landing. They were big fillies, and a few bumps wouldnât hurt them too much. Ripple came in for a much harder landing this time, and hugged Dinky to her barrel protectively as she tumbled through the grass. The two of them giggled as they pulled apart from one another and then the trio drew near to Bucky.

âœThatâs a big rock,â Dinky said as she rubbed her bumblebees on her backside.

âœYes it is Dinky,â Bucky agreed.

âœMy arse hurts,â Dinky said as she sat down.

âœDinky! Donât let your mama hear you say that,â Bucky said in a half hearted scold.

âœFeck, shite, arse,â Ripple said. âœJust words.â

âœRipple!â Bucky exclaimed in exasperated tones at the pegasus filly.

âœGobshite,â Ripple said with a smile.

Bucky shook his head in disapproval. âœLook, I probably shouldnât say this, but I really donât mind it all that much, but if you said those things around a certain grey pegasus mareâ I suspect that you would excite her enmity,â Bucky warned.

âœWhatâs enmity?â Dinky asked.

âœAn-ani-er-animous-noâ animosity,â PiÃa said after failing the first few attempts.

âœWhat is ani-whatever you said?â Dinky asked.

PiÃa rolled her eyes. âœOdium, you noodlehead,â she said in a peeved voice.

âœI still donât know what that is!â Dinky cried. âœEver since youâve been reading that dictionary youâve been all wordy you booger licker!â

âœDinky, enmity means hostility and anger,â Bucky explained patiently.

âœSo why not just say that it would make mama mad?â Dinky demanded.

âœYou could have said âœarouse her abhorrenceâ and I think it sounds a little better than âœexcite her enmityâ does,â PiÃa said calmly.

âœPiÃa darling, how much time do you spend reading the dictionary?â Bucky asked.

âœShe keeps reading it in school and Sparkler had to pull it away from her so other foals can use it,â Ripple said. âœAnd snot face here skips out on her lessons to pick it up and read it.â

âœFart fluffer,â PiÃa returned to Ripple.

âœGirls,â Bucky said patiently.

âœYes?â Dinky said sweetly.

âœSuch ugly names you call one another,â Bucky replied.

âœI was going to say âœfart lickerâ but I thought that âœfart flufferâ was nicer,â PiÃa admitted.

âœOh yuck PiÃa!â Dinky cried.

Ripple fell over into the grass with a case of the giggles.

âœWe love each other enough to know that the names are just meant in fun, there are never any hard feelings,â Dinky explained.

âœWeâre sisters,â PiÃa said. âœSisters torment one another.â

Bucky nodded in defeat, realising there would be no stopping this behaviour. âœLook girls, I need to turn this big rock into a giant expanse of canvas so I can make a gasbag for the ship. If you want to watch, that is fine, but I need to concentrate,â he said in gentle tones.

âœOkay, shut up everypony, daddy is about to unleash the deep magic and I wanna watch,â Dinky insisted.

âœTransmutation,â PiÃa said.

âœI know what transmutation is you show off,â Dinky muttered.

Ripple settled in between her two smaller siblings and held each one with her wings, hugging them to her sides. She blew her light blue forelock out of her eyes and awaited what was sure to be a good show. She yawned, feeling rather sleepy from the spell that eased her heat. Her nap earlier had helped, but she was already wanting to return to a nice nap.

âœSettling down, being quiet, and being a good foal, beginning now,â Dinky announced.

Bucky smiled and raised his head high. He closed his eye and as he summoned his magical reserves, his emerald eye flashed blue green for a moment. The ground around him began to vibrate.

Dinky could feel it buzzing in her teeth and horn vibrated. She could feel pressure just behind her eyes. Deep magic. The sort of magic that only type threes and higher could summon. The sort of magic that changed things. Real power. Dinky had experienced it and was now hungry for it. Transmutation, like cold magic, required tremendous amounts of willpower and focus.

PiÃa meeped faintly as Buckyâs energy began to coalesce around his horn. She could feel it in her bones and down in her hooves. She huddled closer to Ripple and watched as the glowing orb of blue green magic grew brighter and brighter.

Bucky wasnât sure this was going to work. He had never attempted anything like this. It was sheer balls out experimentation. If he failed, he was going to have to make several sections of canvas and sew them together somehow. If this worked, he was going to have a long canvas tube and he would need to secure the ends. He felt dangerously close to a surge yet at the same time he felt as though he was in perfect control. He wanted a surge. He needed a surge. The air around him began to grow cold.

The three fillies could see their breath and Ripple wrapped her wings around Dinky and PiÃa even tighter, trying to keep them warm. Ice crystals were forming in the air and falling to the grass. As Ripple watched, the rock began to look funny. The air around it shimmered and warped. It was like staring a patch of stone on a hot sunny day and seeing the heat shimmering off of it.

Dinky felt the feeling of alarm that all unicorns felt when they sensed a surge coming from another unicorn. Panic overtook her body and she began to worry, fearing that Bucky was going to have the mother of all surges.

Her panic was not unfounded. With an explosive roar, Bucky did have the mother of all surges and the world around them exploded with colour. Dinky felt herself wrapped in protective magic and a wave of cold washed over her. Her mane was blown back from her head and her horn tingled strangely. The air crackled and reeked of ozone.

And when Dinky could finally see again the massive boulder was gone. There was an enormous grey mass of fabric where the boulder had been.

âœUgh, I am starving,â Bucky shouted as he clutched at his stomach. His horn was encased in ice. He allowed himself to fall over in the grass and rested on his side.

Dinky broke free from Rippleâs embrace and rushed to Buckyâs side. She kneeled down and touched his face, her own face full of worry.

âœI need food,â Bucky said. âœI didnât think it would be this bad, ugh, it feels as though my insides are going to implode,â he muttered.

âœCome on, letâs go find him something to eat,â Dinky said.

âœThat was amazing,â PiÃa said.

âœLetâs go,â Ripple said as she rose up on wobbling legs. She used her wings to steady herself.

âœWeâll be right back,â PiÃa promised.

For the second time this day Bucky was chowing down. After being brought a few oatcakes by the girls, Bucky was able to stumble his way indoors and to the dining hall, where he was brought much needed food and a big jug of watermelon wine.

The three fillies stayed to watch their father eat and Ripple stole a swig of wine, lifting the jug up in her forelegs and tilting it back.

âœI wonder where everypony is,â PiÃa inquired.

âœRising Star said he was going to go off and explore his magic,â Ripple said in reply. âœSparkler went off with Derpy, Berry, Loch Skimmer and Thistle. Some sort of big mare discussion and I wasnât a big mare,â she grumbled.

âœAnd Sentinel is sleeping with Lyra and Bon Bon,â Dinky said as she watched her father eat.

âœWhat do you think they are talking about?â PiÃa asked.

Ripple shrugged. âœI just know that I wasnât asked to be part of it,â she said in annoyance.

âœDonât be upset Ripple,â PiÃa said gently. âœIs it really so bad spending time with us?â she asked.

âœNo,â Ripple replied, her expression softening. âœNo, no it isnât.â

âœI was hoping to find you.â

Bucky turned at the sound of the voice and saw Winter Wheat. Wheatberry stood close near her leg and looked quite distraught. Both of them had red bleary bloodshot eyes.

Ripple held her forelegs out in a welcoming gesture for a hug and Wheatberry ran to her. She lifted the yearling and held her close, and Wheatberry began to sob after burying her face into Rippleâs neck.

âœHow are you?â Bucky asked in between bites.

âœI am holding up,â Winter Wheat said in a dull voice. âœI seem to be alone in caring for Keg Smasher. There is so much going on. Our little hospital was overrun. The others want to come here but there is too much need for them,â she explained in a flat exhausted voice. âœOr they cannot leave their towns and villages, lest what happened to mine happen to theirs.â

âœHow is Keg Smasher?â Bucky inquired.

âœHe sleeps for now. I gave him strong wine laced with the crushed seeds of poppies. One of my fellow-wives sent it back with the guard sent to collect her. The guard returned with only the packet of crushed seeds and no help for me,â Winter Wheat replied.

âœWhat happened?â Bucky asked, not sure if he actually wanted to know.

Winter Wheat stared at Bucky for while and then moved to sit down beside him. She placed both of her forelegs on the table and leaned forward. âœThe wolves came. Two nights ago. Not long after I sent Wheatberry away to be with her daddyâ I had this feeling. Earth ponies, we get this feeling sometimes, we just know when something is wrong,â she explained.

Bucky nodded and glanced at PiÃa.

âœThe wolves came by the dozens and started winking into homes. An alarm was raised. The wolves were everywhere. Theyâre vulnerable in the bright light, in the fire light, but it is like they didnât care. They were just popping into houses and cottages and began killing,â Winter Wheat said in a low frightened voice.

Bucky shivered and lifted the jug of wine to his lips. He drank quite a bit in one go.

âœI took up a torch in my mouth and I ran around the town setting things on fire with wolves snapping at my heels. Iâm fastâ and with everything burning they couldnât wink and blink around. They had to run after me. I had a few nips but I kept running. Once everything was blazingâ I set many of the thatched roofs on fire, we started getting everypony into the big common hall. The pegasi of our village engaged the wolves to buy us time and try to keep us safe. They gave us their foals and begged us to keep them alive somehow and to remember them,â Winter Wheat said, her voice now husky with emotion. âœThose brave pegasi picked a fight with the wolves. Many earth ponies did too. The stallions stood together and made a wall so the mares to could escape to the hall where we could stand together.â

PiÃa and Dinky clung to one another and Ripple held tightly to Wheatberry, horror visible on all of their faces. Bucky felt a twinge of worry upon seeing their reactions.

âœSomehow, we held out until dawn, and the wolves vanished. Most of our stallions were dead. We sent a messenger to Keg Smasher, a pegasus mare that had made it through the night without too many injuries. The wolves couldnât take us in the hall, not with all of us herded together,â Winter Wheat said.

Bucky passed the mare his jug of wine. She lifted it and drank, guzzling down a fair bit and setting it back down upon the table with a thud.

âœKeg Smasher and his guard came. The state of the town, the dead bodies everywhere. They tried to help us get together. They helped the wounded,â Winter Wheat said and then fell silent. She stared at Bucky with wide frightened eyes. âœYou have to believe meââ she insisted. âœI know it sounds impossible, but you have to believe me!â

âœWhat happened?â Bucky asked, casting a glance at his foals, worried about whatever came next.

âœThere was magic. We all felt it. Bad magic. It made everypony sick. The pegasi couldnât fly. We all started vomiting. And thenâ and thenâ and then the impossible happened,â Winter Wheat mumbled, now looking quite distraught.

âœWhat?â Bucky asked urgently.

âœThe dead ones, both wolves and ponies, they got up,â Winter Wheat whimpered.

Bucky felt his blood run cold. He looked at his girls. All of them looked terrified. âœLeave. Now. If you argue you will regret it,â Bucky commanded. âœGo and take Wheatberry to our room. Sit with Lyra and Bon Bon. Now,â he added.

The foals and Ripple didnât need to be told twice, they scrambled away in a hurry.

âœNow I want you to tell me exactly what happened,â Bucky said, his control reasserting itself.

âœThe dead got up. They attacked the living. We were all sick from the magic, whatever it was. Keg Smasher was the first to recover and he set about trying to protect us. He kept shouting, barking commands. He finally got through to his guard and they started to fight back. There was a pitched battle and we were all ushered back to the common hall. I defended my ponies once again. The dead had to be put down. Keg Smasher and his guard killed them, but it was difficult. How do you kill what is already dead?â Winter Wheat asked.

Bucky reached out and touched the frantic mare with his foreleg and encouraged her to take another drink. She did and seemed to calm a little.

âœAnd then the sun began to set. Keg Smasher refused to leave unless he could get all of us and carry us home. He just wouldnât go. We holed up in the common hall and waited. The wolves came at us by the hundreds. They didnât stop. There was so many bodies that began to pile up. Keg Smasher had been fighting all day and he was starting to tire. He can only do so much. Eventually the wolves brought him down some time near dawn. Almost a hundred ponies went into the common hall, less than thirty saw the dawn. That guard you sent discovered us. He flew back and fetched help, and we brought Keg Smasher back,â Winter Wheat said in sorrowful tones. âœMy town is gone. And I think some of the dead made it away,â she said in a frightened whisper.

Bucky scowled. It was too late in the day to do anything. But he was already making plans to hunt down the remaining dead tomorrow. He knew that he was going to need Lyra, and even though Derpy was going to kill him, he was going to need Rising Star and Sparkler too.

âœWe will watch Wheatberry, I want you to get some rest. I believe you. I want you to go to bed and lie close to Keg Smasher and I want you to sleep,â Bucky commanded gently.

Already, his mind was putting a plan into motion and he had dozens of questions already forming. He would need Lyra well rested, but he also needed her to keep the cold and the fear away during the night with her magic lyre. He worried about Keg Smasher. In his current state, the cold would be dreadful for him. Bucky realised that there was much that needed to be done and just no means to do it. He was going to be forced to cut corners somewhere.

Bucky hated cutting corners.

Chapter 118

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The entire herd sat in glum silence, unsure of what to make of Buckyâs words. He had told them everything that he knew, which was very little. The foals were frightened, and clung to one another for comfort. Even Sentinel seemed unnerved and leaned gingerly upon Ripple. Wheatberry was sandwiched between PiÃa and Dinky, looking quite frightened.

âœIt would take a type three to raise even one reanimated corpse. But to raise an army of the undead like that, all at once, and make everypony sick?â Lyra asked of nopony in particular and breaking the silence. âœThatâs like a type four or even alicorn level magic.â

âœIt scares me that you know this,â Bon Bon murmured as she squeezed Lyra gently.

âœI wish I knew how I know this. I just remember coming around on the Ponyville train platform and my head was full of things I shouldnât know and I donât remember learning,â Lyra replied.

âœSo if we get bitten, will we become zombies?â Sparkler asked timidly, not wanting to look stupid.

âœNo,â Bucky stated flatly.

âœNo Sparkler, you need a lot of magic to reanimate even one dead body. Thereâs no known way of just randomly reanimating the dead. The energy required to move a body under magical motivation is immense and has to come from somewhere. What you see in those lousy movies isnât based on solid magical theory or science. If reanimation was based on bites, the energy would split upon the instant of the bite, and be halved, with one half remaining in the host, and the other half going to the pony bitten. And you would have two very weak undead,â Lyra explained.

âœAnd further bites would continue to weaken them,â Bucky continued.

âœI see,â Sparkler said.

âœDoes taking off their heads work?â Rising Star asked. He had seen a lot of zombie movies, and he realised that everything he knew was probably worthless.

âœNo Rising, think of the dead body as a golem. It is animated. It does not require a brain. Destroying the head merely keeps it from biting and devouring. The undead do try and eat others, converting flesh into energy to keep going. Fresh fed undead can move very quickly while undead that havenât snacked on anypony for a while continue to operate in a sort of low energy mode,â Lyra answered.

âœTotal obliteration is required. Most reanimated corpses regenerate over time. Slowly but surely. Theyâll have to be dismembered to stop them from fighting and then burned,â Bucky explained.

âœSo how are we doing this?â Sparkler asked.

At Sparklerâs words Derpy let out a low growl. She wasnât happy about this at all, but hadnât said anything so far. She snatched up PiÃa, Dinky, and Wheatberry and began to squeeze them in her forelegs, kissing each of them on the head.

âœRising Star burns them. I freeze them solid. Lyra unloads lightning on them, which will probably set them on fire due to electrical burns. And you will find a way to deal damage, of this I am certain,â Bucky said to Sparkler with a grim smile. âœNothing too flashy though. We donât know what we are dealing with, and we donât want to burn out right away. Weâll need to conserve our energy and let loose in controlled outbursts. Fire will be most efficient. Once they start burning, they should keep burning,â Bucky stated.

Rising Star nodded. âœI guess this is good practice,â he said in a strangled voice.

âœLyra canât go alone,â Bon Bon announced.

Bucky scowled.

âœShe canât. If she has a panic attack, I am the only one that can calm her down. And you as well Bucky,â Bon Bon retorted. âœI protect what is mine. I have need of you for my future plans. Iâm going.â

As much as he didnât want to, Bucky nodded in agreement.

âœI know a spell that will allow us to track the undead,â Lyra said sheepishly. âœI donât know how I know it,â she muttered quietly.

âœSo we hunt them down, hit them hard, and then make it home before the sun sets,â Rising Star said, summarising everything. âœWhat if everything doesnât go as planned?â

âœWe cut our losses for a day, we come home, and we set out again the next day. As bad as it might be leaving thoseâ things wandering around, we are the ones best suited for stopping them. We cannot place ourselves at risk. We will leave several hours before the sun actually sets to give ourselves plenty of time to return home. Soon, our time will come and we will strike back against the darkness. Now is not yet that time though,â Bucky replied.

âœThatâs awful. What sort of sick depraved psycho unleashes a horde of zombies on an island where there is nowhere to run?â Berry Punch asked, looking very disturbed.

âœIt does seem cruelly effective,â Thistle replied. âœBucky, no getting hurt. Please. I think I speak for all of us when I say that you have more to fear from us than you do from those reanimated corpses. Donât do anything stupid,â the kelpie begged.

âœYeah, no playing the hero. If you come home all bitten and chewed up, I donât think I can take it,â Derpy said as she squeezed the foals in her forelegs again.

âœWhich one of you has been giving Thistle lessons?â Bucky asked.

Berry Punch and Derpy Hooves looked at one another and then glared at Bucky in unison. Bucky slumped under the withering stare of the two mares.

âœI bet that this is what you were doing when you all got together todayâ how to wrangle your husbands,â Bucky muttered.

âœNone of your beeswax,â Derpy replied.

âœOh by Lunaâs stars, that is what you were doing todayâ having some big mare get together and explaining to the fillies how to lead us around by the nose! Ugh!â Bucky exclaimed.

Derpy continued to hold her foals but now looked even more unsettled.

âœI am not a filly,â Thistle insisted, her face contorting into a pout. âœI am a mare. And donât you forget it Buckminster Bitters, or I will make your days miserable and your nights even worse!â

âœUgh, she was so sweet and innocent,â Bucky muttered. He cast an accusing glance at Berry Punch and she looked back at him smugly. Bucky knew how to wipe that smug look off of Berryâs face and silently resolved to do so the first chance he got.

âœYouâre stubborn and pig headed and it takes an army of us to keep you in line,â Thistle quipped.

âœI feel unsettled by this revelation,â Rising Star muttered.

âœOh shush,â Loch Skimmer said timidly to her husband. She looked apologetic even as she said it. She reached out a wing and touched Rising Star gently. âœWe love you and want to look after your better interests. I donât think youâre headstrong like Bucky, and I said so today that all we have to do is nudge you in the right direction,â she said softly. She became aware of what she said a moment later and realised that several mares were now staring at her. âœOh bother,â she squeaked.

âœOh thatâs it, Rising, weâre going to have our own secret meetings,â Bucky snapped.

âœThere are far more important things to be discussing,â Sparkler said forcefully. âœYes, mom tried to give us some helpful advice and we all talked about the males in our lives that we love and how to keep them safe. We have more pressing issues.â

âœYes,â Bucky agreed. âœLyra, we are going to need you well rested for tomorrow. If you are well rested, that means letting down our guard and dealing with the cold. And waking up feeling unsettled and afraid. Also, I am worried about Keg Smasher. I donât know how to help him. The cold and the fear will not be good for him in his condition,â Bucky said.

âœWe canât help him Buckyâ it pains me to admit it, but I donât see a way of doing it,â Lyra said. âœAnd if you want me awake and aware for tomorrow, youâre right. It means me sleeping tonight. Which means no magical enchanted lyre to keep the fear away,â Lyra replied. She looked sad and defeated.

âœI can do it,â Dinky said from her motherâs arms.

âœDinky?â Bucky asked.

âœMy bees can make music, remember? Iâve been practicing sometimes. Ask PiÃa,â Dinky answered.

PiÃa nodded and squirmed in Derpyâs grasp. âœWeâre little, but weâre not helpless,â she insisted.

âœStaying awake all night and keeping my magic going might be tough,â Dinky said.

âœWe have a few hours before sundown,â Derpy said. âœYou could get a nap and we could wake you,â she said, her voice filled with maternal pride.

âœDinky, if you can do this, it will be a big help for all of us,â Bucky said solemnly.

âœI know,â Dinky said. âœIâll need some help though. If I start to nod off Iâll need somepony to poke me,â she added.

âœI will aid you my sister,â Sentinel said.

âœI know you will,â Dinky said.

âœIâm in,â Ripple announced. âœSentinel isnât the only noble pegasus around here. If he can do it, so can I,â she stated.

âœWe should let Dinky sleep now,â Derpy said.

âœProblem is, I am not sleepy,â Dinky said.

âœI can fix that,â Bucky offered.

âœOooh foal raising is going to be nice with a unicorn in the house,â Derpy said. âœThere is still some junk food in the trunk. I think Dinky will need the extra sugar to keep her going to through the night,â the mare suggested.

âœThat seems wise,â Bucky agreed. âœDinky, I want you to understand something. By doing this, you are potentially saving the lives of other ponies.â

Dinky blinked a few times and struggled to take in her fatherâs words. She looked very confused and a little bit frightened. âœSo if I fail that meansââ

âœYou will not fail,â Bucky said soothingly. âœYouâve been learning what I have to teach you, right? Control? Do you remember your lesson after I was mauled by the wolves and I told you what I did wrong? Did you take it to heart Dinks?â he inquired.

Dinky nodded. âœI think about it all the time,â she answered. âœI had to stop being such a foal after that.â

âœDinky, being a type three means that certain expectations are placed upon you. It isnât fair. We can either run from what is expected for us or we can rise to the challenge,â Lyra said to Dinky.

âœBut it isnât that different from other types of ponies. Among us earth ponies, the biggest and the strongest of us are expected to pull the heaviest loads. Being gifted means giving more of yourself in return,â Berry said with a nod to Lyra.

âœOr in the case of being a pegasus like Keg Smasher, being the biggest and the strongest means that you are expected to hold the line and defend everypony smaller than you are, and everypony is smaller than Keg Smasher,â Bucky said.

âœDaddyâs big,â Wheatberry said sadly. Her ears were folded back against her head and she looked frightened.

âœYour daddy is a giant,â Derpy said. âœAnd a hero,â she said to the distraught foal.

âœWe need to let Dinky sleep. Dinky, you and I will spend a bit of time together when you wake up,â Bucky promised. âœIâm proud of you.â

âœSentinel is going to be a monster when he grows,â Ripple said.

âœThen I shall have to protect everypony smaller than I am,â Sentinel stated.

Bucky lifted Dinky away from Derpy in his magic and carried her to the bed. He set her down gently, kissed her on the head, and then touched her gently with his snoot. A moment later, Ripple was in the bed. She lifted her head and exposed her cheek to Bucky, waiting for a kiss, which Bucky gave her.

âœI probably will not make it through the night, but it doesnât stop me from trying,â PiÃa said as she jumped into the bed after working free from Derpyâs embrace. âœWe sisters have to stick together.â

âœYes we do,â Loch Skimmer said. She hobbled to the bed on three legs and settled in with the foals. âœIâll take first watch in keeping Dinky awake. And then somepony else can take over. Weâre bound to have a busy day tomorrow, and the rest of us will need to function,â she stated.

âœGood idea,â Berry said. âœIâll relieve you.â

âœAnd Iâll take the last watch,â Derpy said. âœThatâs what, three hours each?â

âœAbout that,â Berry answered.

âœNine hours of keeping my bees humming,â Dinky said, her voice full of honest foalish fear.

âœIâll give you some tips,â Lyra promised. She approached the bed and gently kissed the fillies each in turn.

âœDonât be afraid,â Bucky said. âœYou were meant for greater things. Now sleep,â he said, his words carrying magical compulsion.

Dinky tried to say something in reply but found that the darkness was impossible to resist. Her fear melted away and the last thing she was aware of was Loch spreading her wing over her, making her feel safe and secure.

Chapter 119

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The room was chilly and Dinky struggled through her own disappointment, grappling to keep her resolve and her focus. When Lyra had her lyre going, the room stayed warm and toasty from the fire, and the fear was gone. The room was chilly, but not freezing, and Dinky couldnât tell if it was the wolvesâ fear that plagued her or her own sense of failure, but she felt nervous and unsettled.

The others had settled in for the night, and for the first night in quite a while, ponies in the bed were huddled under blankets. Dinky could feel the chill on her nostrils and it was her siblings that kept her warm, piled around her on the couch. Sentinel in particular was a great source of warmth due to his thick shaggy pelt and higher than a normal pony body temperature.

She looked up at her father and gave him a half smile, and she felt some of her courage returning when he touched her. Dinky knew that he believed in her, and she was determined not to let him down. He had always believed in her. All Dinky could think about was everything that Bucky had done for her, starting with being her tutor and keeping her at home with her mother. He had endured so much in keeping her safe and Dinky wanted nothing more than to offer something in return, something to prove to him that all of the time he had spent trying to both teach her and be a good father was something she appreciated.

Lyra had helped to fine tune the hum coming from her bees and now the musical unicorn was sitting on the couch and spending a final bit of time offering reassurance before going to bed.

Dinky thought about everything that the wolves had taken from her. She thought about her fatherâs eye. She thought of PiÃaâs misery and everything that PiÃa did to hide it. As she did so, the room felt a little warmer and Dinky felt a little more confident about her task. Where foalish determination was not enough, it seemed that anger gave her the edge she was seeking. She settled in between her siblings and thought about everything the wolves had done.

âœHow are you holding up Dinky?â

Dinky did not reply to Berry Punchâs inquiry. Her head was hurting, she felt tired, and talking would require effort. She just gave a nod.

âœIt is a little past midnight. Youâre doing so well,â Berry whispered.

âœShe hasnât even dozed off yet and the bees just keep humming,â Ripple said.

âœHow are you holding up PiÃa?â Berry asked her smaller sibling.

âœI am studying dweomers,â PiÃa replied, looking up from her book and rubbing her eyes with her fetlock.

âœPiÃa, hugglebug, tell me, what is a dweomer?â Berry asked, raising her eyebrow and feeling slightly concerned about PiÃaâs study habits.

âœDweomers. Magical auras. The subject of study for auroramancers,â PiÃa replied. âœAll I have in this book here is a short section explaining some of the basic theory. The study of magical radiation, magical fields, different types of magical light, which comes from different magical fields, and the generation of magical darkness,â the foal explained.

âœI see,â Berry said, now more aware than ever that her sister was developing signs of being devastatingly intelligent.

âœDaddy gave himself a sunburn when he used his light spell. He burned the wolves. Which means he generated actual daylight. There is something called âœultraviolet radiationâ and that is what causes the wolves to burn and sunburns to happen. Ponies that can generate actual daylight are very rare the book says in a hoofnote. The only ponies that can do this come from a bloodline of unicorns who once kept the sun moving back when the world was still in chaos,â PiÃa said, tapping her book with her hoof.

âœBucky has ancient blood. His lineage goes all the way back to before the Long Walk, when ponies from the Old World came to Equestria,â Berry said.

âœBut werenât there ponies already here in Equestria?â PiÃa asked as her muzzle scrunched up in concentration.

âœYes there were,â Berry answered. âœThe Founders hadnât encountered them yet. It wasnât long until they ran into Discord and the ponies that Discord kept as slaves. And then the battle for Equestria began. Our Founders saw this as a land worth fighting for. The Royal Pony Sisters were freed from their prison. More ponies came from the old world. The Elements of Harmony were recovered. And then there was a big fight, a terrible fight, and it lasted for many years. Discord was defeated but that was only the beginning. There were griffons and dragons and so many other foes that had to be subdued. At the cost of many lives, Equestria was founded, secured, and eventually had our borders expanded from ocean to ocean.â

âœWeâre so small thoughâ Iâve always wondered how ponies stand up to dragons,â PiÃa said thoughtfully.

âœBy working together. Unicorns need a lot of food to keep using their magic. Youâve seen how Bucky can eat. He can eat more than a whole clan of earth ponies when he starts using the deep magic. Before the founding of Equestria, unicorns were limited by what food they had. Magic was extremely limited. The old tribes squabbled and fought for resources. Some kept slaves. Some traded services for food. But after the founding of Equestria, we all worked towards a common goal. Earth ponies grew tons of food. All of this food caused a magical revolution of sorts. We saw an era of magical exploration that made us a major world power. The extra food and the extra magic allowed the pegasi to grow in number. They had always lived bloody lives of violence and conquest, keeping their numbers low. But with the surge in the pegasi population, we had armies. Vast powerful armies that could protect the unicorns while they slept and recovered. By working together, we grew strong. Even dragons learned to fear us. We stopped being an easy meal, and after the dragon wars, where we slaughtered several thousand dragons, most of the dragon clans agreed to a treaty to prevent their race from being exterminated completely,â Berry said, finding all of the history she had learned in university was finally useful.

âœIt was ponies like Bucky that made the dragons fear us, right?â Ripple asked.

âœYes, very powerful unicorns. Star Swirl the Bearded. Clover the Clever. Sombra,â Berry replied. The earth pony shivered for a moment after saying the last name. âœPrincess Platinum was a powerful unicorn in her own right. She came from those who learned how to control the sun. She was a brilliant strategist. She played to win. Along with Smart Cookie and Clover the Clever, those three clever ponies used their minds to carve out an empire. Platinum was full of cunning and was always thinking ahead of her enemies, Smart Cookie was probably the smartest pony who has ever lived and was the brains of the outfit, and Clover the Cleverâs talent was luck, which was an immensely powerful talent. She was lucky at everything she did.â

âœWhat of Hurricane?â Sentinel asked.

âœHurricane brought an end to clan warfare of the pegasi,â Berry answered.

âœHow did he do that?â Sentinel inquired.

âœBefore I answer, you have to understand, those were very different times,â Berry replied in a nervous whisper.

Sentinel nodded and Berry continued.

âœHurricane, at Platinumâs request, moved against the heads of the other pegasi clans. He made them squabble with one another. He instigated fights and restarted old blood feuds. And once everything was stirred up and everypony was fighting and weak, Hurricane took to the field and killed all of the clan heads. He then killed their wives. And he killed their oldest offspring. Hurricaneâs army committed The Purge, something that isnât talked about very often. Hurricane spared the youngest of clans. They had no parents to teach them that they had to hate one another. What they had was Hurricane telling them that they were all brothers and sisters. There was no oral tradition passed along about the blood feuds and why one clan had to hate some other clan. All of that was over. Hurricane erased history and taught the pegasi a new way. The pegasi were unified, and those that grew up under Hurricaneâs iron hoof fought savagely to defend one another. If you were some monster and you injured even one member of the flock, the entire flock would hunt you down and kill you. The new generation of pegasi were of one mind and one body, made that way by Hurricaneâs fanatical teachings,â Berry explained.

âœThat seems awfulââ Sentinel said slowly.

âœBut necessary?â Berry asked.

Sentinel nodded but had no words to say.

âœHurricane also taught them it was their sacred duty to defend the unicorns and protect the earth ponies. You had an entire generation of foals that were blank slates, foals that did not learn to hate from their parents. They learned unity and togetherness. And then those foals as they grew up and started having foals of their own, they taught their foals what they learned from Hurricane. And so the pegasi entered a new era of savagery. Hurricaneâs doctrines were horrific, but they are part of what made us the world power we are now. The new generation grew up believing that a dozen griffons had to die for every foal or pony taken or killed during raids. Eventually, the griffon colonies in the New World were all but exterminated, and many griffons fled back to Griffonholm. But that wasnât enough. The pegasi followed them across the ocean, determined to get their pound of flesh for all of the atrocities the griffons visited upon our kind. Griffonholm was sacked and much of it was left a ruin. The twin capitals of Griffonholm, Huginn and Muninn, were turned into a pile of rubble. Finally, the last few surviving chiefs of the griffons came to Celestia and begged for mercy, which she refused. The war lasted another half a decade, and Celestia accepted surrender from the king of the griffons himself,â Berry said, enjoying the chance to tell a tale.

Sentinel gulped and and his ears folded back against his skull. âœThatâs awful,â he murmured.

âœCan we talk about happier things?â Dinky asked, her voice wavering.

âœSorry Dinks,â Berry apologised. âœWe still have a few chocolate covered shortbread cookies, ya want one?â she asked.

Dinky nodded gratefully and Berry slipped from the sofa to retrieve some cookies.

Dinky wasnât sure how much longer she could keep this up. She was sweating profusely, and her mane clung to her face and neck. She couldnât stop trembling and the corner of one of her eyes kept twitching. Her horn ached and her head throbbed. She looked at PiÃa and saw that the earth pony filly she called her sister looked every bit as miserable as Dinky felt.

At some point during the night, the bees had changed. The droning buzz became more of a melodic hum, a softer gentler sound. Occasionally a bee would wink out of existence and Dinky would have to replace it.

âœDinks, you are starting to worry me,â Derpy said in a hushed whisper.

âœIâm not quitting,â Dinky whined. âœDaddy endured worse keeping me safeâ I will not quit,â she said through gritted teeth. Dinky felt a large drop of sweat bead up on her brow and roll down her face, increasing her irritation. She could feel more muscles in her face beginning to spasm and she wasnât sure of the cause. The drop of sweat was annoying, or it could have simply been the strain.

âœIt will be dawn soon,â Derpy said soothingly. âœNot much longer Dinks.â

âœI didnât think Iâd make it all night,â PiÃa said. âœBut I am so worried about Dinky.â

âœDinky is a tough little unicorn, just like Bucky,â Ripple said.

At Rippleâs words Dinky felt a surge of pride and some of her trembling eased off a bit. She leaned on Ripple and rested her head on Rippleâs shoulder. She felt Rippleâs wing brush over her face and wipe it off, and her mane was brushed away from her eyes.

âœI can feel the humming inside of my head,â Dinky murmured.

âœDinky, I will never forget this,â Derpy said to her foal. âœWhen we get home, I am going to spoil you. You get a free pass for toys, books, ice cream, whatever you want,â Derpy promised.

âœDinky?â

Dinky struggled to make out what was being said. The voice sounded far away. There was a loud painful ringing in her ears. She could feel something hammering away on the inside and the outside of her horn. Her eyes felt dry and she could feel her eyelids sticking to them every time she blinked.

âœDinky, it is dawn, you can stop now,â the voice said.

Dinky did not relent. She was going to keep the bees going. They were the only thing holding back the fear and the cold. She felt something lift her and a strange cool tingly feeling enveloped her body. Something held up her head, which was limp on her neck. She felt like she was flying, her body was weightless and free.

âœDinky love, sleep now,â the voice said.

Dinky struggled and kicked feebly, trying to fight back against the sudden feeling of sleepiness. âœNo!â she shrieked. She struggled against the coming blackness. She shivered and felt hot at the same time. âœNo no no!â she cried. She felt her body going limp against her will and she felt something large and warm pressing up against her side. She was laying on something soft.

âœDinkyâ stop struggling. Itâs over Dinkyâ now sleep,â the voice said.

Very much against her will, Dinky felt herself sliding into darkness. One by one, she felt her bees popping out of existence and her careful control was broken. She kicked and squealed, trying to rouse her body which had turned against her.

âœNo!â Dinky murmured, her final word before she finally succumbed to the magical compulsion that was overtaking her.

Finally, Dinky slept.

Chapter 120

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Bucky looked down at the foal that he had just put to bed. Dinky was still fighting, and even in her state of exhaustion, had somehow managed to resist his sleep spell after he had cast it several times. He felt fiercely proud of her, as both his daughter and his student.

As he turned around to look after the other foals, he saw a grey blur in his field of vision. A strong leg wrapped around his neck and he felt himself pulled close to a warm firmly muscled body. A moment later, there was two lips pressing into his, and waxy drool flooded into his mouth. The kiss was enough to make his hind legs buckle, afterwards, he felt himself being pushed down to the floor and rolled over, where the kiss continued.

Finally, Derpy pulled away and Bucky gasped for air. He felt as though he was on the verge of being aroused, and he was on his back and fully exposed. He quickly rolled over and struggled to his hooves.

âœYou helped her to become so strong,â Derpy whispered into Buckyâs ear as he made his way upright. âœWeâre going to have strong foals. Help me make more,â she said in a seductive whisper.

âœWhatever you ask of me I will do,â Bucky whispered in reply.

âœCome home to me safe then,â Derpy whispered back.

The day already felt too short as Bucky inspected the wagon in the courtyard. He had cast a featherweight spell on it to make it lighter, and a slipstream spell so that the pegasi could pull it behind them. Supplies were being loaded onto the wagon. There was a lot of food being packed in. It was only few hours after dawn and the group had eaten as much breakfast as they could possibly hold. Bucky felt hungry for fish, but he didnât feel there was time.

âœReporting for duty Lord Bitters.â

Bucky turned and looked at the young pegasus saluting him. He couldnât be much older than Rising Star. He was already heavily scarred and had the distinctive patches of missing hair on his pelt that indicated cauterisation. The other three pegasi were not covered in scars, and they looked scared, even though they were doing their best to hide it.

Bucky had learned too much about pegasi body language and was able to see right through their efforts to hide how they felt.

âœDo you understand what is expected of you?â Bucky asked.

âœWe are to be your shields,â the scarred pegasus said.

âœNo,â Bucky said forcefully. âœIf you are in a position to be my shield, then I have failed. You four are to remain at our sides at all times. You are not to engage the enemy under any circumstance. I am in charge here and you will listen to me. We strike at distance and do not engage them directly. Do exactly as I say and weâll all come home with our skins intact,â Bucky explained.

The three frightened pegasi relaxed a bit and the scarred pegasus whipped out a wing in salute. âœMy name is Deadspin and it is an honour to serve you Lord Bitters, loyal equal to our Laird,â the scarred pegasus said brusquely.

âœOne more thing,â Bucky said.

âœAnd that is sir?â Deadspin asked.

âœNever again call me Lord Bitters,â Bucky demanded.

âœSorry sir, would never mean to offend sir,â Deadspin responded.

The sound of hooves on his blind side made Bucky turn sharply. He saw Sentinel, who looked bleary eyed and tired.

âœShouldnât you be in bed where I left you?â Bucky asked.

Sentinel snapped out a wing in salute to the four pegasi, folded his wing, turned, faced Bucky, and then snapped out a wing in salute once again, while standing at attention.

The response from the four pegasi was immediate, all of them returning the salute and dropping their heads down low to Sentinelâs head height.

This was a new behaviour to Bucky, and he watched it in great interest. Pegasi of both types that held true to their militaristic culture were fascinating, and completely different than the pegasi of the mainland.

Sentinel then turned towards the other members of his herd a short distance away and saluted, his wing once again snapping outwards.

The four pegasi followed Sentinelâs lead and saluted the others, which left Bucky wondering what sort of unspoken communication had just taken place.

Derpy stepped forward and offered a salute, trying to mimic the well practiced gestures of the soldiers and Sentinel. Her attempt was clumsy but produced a snap, and the soldiers drew sharply to attention, all eyes focused on her. There was another salute from the four pegasi.

âœYou do us a great honour maâam!â they said in unison.

âœLook, time grows ever shorter,â Bucky said gently, wishing there was more time to watch the display. The look of joy upon Derpyâs face was impossible to ignore and it made his heart feel warmed. She never had this sort of respect afforded to her on the mainland, and watching the mare basking in the attention and devotion being offered to her now made Bucky feel good. Bucky felt thankful for the soldiersâ respect and it was little moments like these that almost made the isles bearable.

As Bucky watched, Rising Star pulled Loch Skimmer close to him and kissed her passionately, and then whispered something in her ear. The filly giggled nervously and pranced around on her hooves as her wings fluttered at her sides. Her body language indicated apprehension, fear, and arousal.

âœLook, I know you canât help yourself when it comes to doing stupid things, but try to listen to Bon Bon today, will you?â Berry said as she drew near to Buckyâs side.

âœToday I intend to be my careful and meticulous self,â Bucky said reassuringly.

âœYeah, today you just act like an accountant. You subtract what you need to and you come home. And keep an eye on Lyra. Sheâs jittery already and I am getting weird vibes from her already,â Berry said in a low voice.

âœTell Thistle I love her and that I thank her for looking after my foals,â Bucky said, wishing that Thistle was here. She was back in their room watching over the sleeping foals who had kept watch all night. âœGive her a kiss for me Berry,â Bucky asked.

âœWhere?â Berry said with a seductive eyebrow waggle.

The brazen words of the earth pony made Bucky chortle and he felt his spirits lift. âœAnywhere you think you can get away with,â Bucky whispered.

âœGet away with what?â Derpy asked as she drew near.

âœNothing,â Berry said with a giggle.

Derpy scowled at the earth pony and then turned her good eye on Bucky. âœSparkler is scared. She is trying not to show it, but as her mother I can see it plain as day. Be gentle with her if you can, be harsh on her if that is what it takes to get her to move. I want her brought back to me safely and whole of body,â Derpy instructed.

âœSo long as everypony does what I say, weâll all come home in one piece. I have thought this through and I know what to do,â Bucky replied reassuringly.

âœAnd Rising Star scares me,â Derpy said. âœHeâs scared too, but heâs also eager to pick a fight. Thatâs never good. You keep him under control by whatever means you have available,â she added.

âœRising Star is young and wants to prove himself,â Bucky said in return. âœIâll keep him focused but it is my intention to release his rage today. There is a lot that needs burning and by the end of the day, Rising Star will be a colt that knows his worth and measure.â

The grey pegasus mare looked over her shoulder at Rising Star and then turned back to Bucky. She nodded gravely, leaned forward, and then kissed Bucky.

Berry Punch took her chance to also get a kiss and then backed away from Bucky, understanding how precious the daylight hours were.

âœOkay, everypony into the wagon. Iâm going to hitch up the pegasi and weâre going to go,â Bucky commanded. His voice was smooth and authoritative, sonorous and proud.

The flight was short. They flew over the Hydra Teeth, over a short expanse of ocean, and then landed in the ruined port of the Isle of Wheat. The pegasi were skilled fliers, and, even though none of them had ever pulled a chariot or a sky wagon before, they had quickly adapted to the extra load and had compensated accordingly.

The landing was a little rough, but there wasnât a landing strip or even smooth road, just patches of dirt and grass.

After landing, many supplies were loaded on to the pegasi and Bon Bonâs sturdy backs. The pegasi bristled at the idea of Lady Bon Bon being used a common pack animal, but Bon Bon bristled right back and insisted that she was here to do her part.

Bucky surveyed the ruins and had trouble taking in what he was seeing. There were still dead bodies everywhere, probably those that had died after the others had risen. Burnt buildings still smoked and smouldered. The stench of death was everywhere and flies had already began arrive.

It was heartbreaking. Bucky wanted to give each and every body the respect it deserved, but there was just not enough time. He silently resolved to come back here once the crisis was done.

âœLyra, you said you have a spell that will allow you to track the dead?â Bucky asked.

The green unicorn nodded and looked nervous. âœYeah I doâ give me a momentâ Bon Bon, I need your hoof to steady me,â Lyra requested. âœHere we go, Iâm committing necromancy,â she muttered.

Bon Bon looked worried and moved close to Lyra. She touched her mate, pressing her hoof into Lyraâs ribs as the unicorn began taking deep breaths.

Lyraâs eyes closed but her horn did not ignite. There was a whiff of ozone in the air and there was a faint hum. A moment later, Lyraâs eyes snapped open. They were red and the whites of her eyes were now a sickly green colour. A purple haze drifted from her open eyes and black flames shot from her horn. âœThe painâ the painâ no please no… no more cutting and burningâ Iâll be good I promiseâ please stop cutting things off and making them grow back… I can hear the voices of those who diedâ noââ

Bucky felt worried and moved to Lyraâs side. She was twitching and continued to mutter horrifying things. He exchanged a worried glance with Bon Bon, who looked terrified.

And then, the black flames went way, Lyra closed her eyes, and her whole body slumped. She leaned on Bon Bon and panted heavily. When she opened her eyes again, they were normal.

âœLyra, you okay?â Bucky asked.

âœIâm fine, I just feel a little shaky,â Lyra replied.

âœYou were saying stuff while you were casting that spell,â Bucky said.

âœI was?â Lyra asked as she shook her head. âœI think Iâd remember saying somethingâ I donât remember saying anything,â she stated.

Bon Bon rubbed her mate affectionately and stared at Bucky, her eyes narrowed and glinting. âœWeâll talk about it later,â she said gently.

âœIt is really weirdâ all of them went off in this direction. Which doesnât make sense. Theyâre mindless killing machines. Golems made of flesh. They should have just wandered off randomly in different directions hoping to find something to kill,â Lyra said as she rubbed her head. âœWas I really saying something? Iâm kinda worried now,â she added.

âœNever mind about that now Lyra,â Bucky said. He looked in the direction that Lyra pointed. âœWill you need to cast that spell again to track them?â he asked.

âœNo, should be good for about twelve hours or so,â Lyra said. âœWe should be heading home before the spell expires, so weâre good,â she added.

âœOkay then. We move. You four stay as close to us as possible. We are not to be separated. If we see something that looks like a pony, we check and see that it is a pony. If it is undead, we put it down. If it is fast and it charges, I will freeze it solid. Rising, set them on fire and use your magic sparingly. Donât focus on making them burn, just ignite them and get them burning, and then let your flames do their job. Lyra, you are free to zap anything that draws near. Sparkler, this is your chance to experiment with offense. Try to see what you can do,â Bucky commanded.

âœAlright,â Rising Star agreed.

âœWill do,â Sparkler replied.

âœGotcha,â Lyra answered.

âœAny idea what sort of numbers weâre facing?â Bucky asked.

âœNo clue!â Lyra exclaimed nervously.

âœShite,â Bucky muttered. He set off in the direction that Lyra pointed, the others falling into step behind him. He moved slowly but with purpose, and then realised that he should not be taking point because of his blind spot.

âœRising Star, up front with me. I need you to be my eyes,â Bucky requested.

The colt moved up front quickly and walked abreast at Buckyâs right side. Bucky turned and looked over his shoulder. Sparkler was just behind him, Bon Bon and Lyra walked together, and the four pegasi had spread out, two on each side of the column of unicorns.

âœKeep watch over our rear,â Bucky commanded.

âœDoing that sir,â Deadspin responded.

Not knowing what was ahead, the group left the wagon behind and trotted out of town. They moved together, staying close to one another, a unified herd in the face of danger.

âœSomething draws near,â Lyra warned. âœI can feel it. Just ahead.â

The group was walking through a vast wheatfield and ahead of them was a collection of boulders, a few trees, and a thicket. The group stopped and all ears perked. A rustling sound could be heard.

âœRising, come with me. The rest of you, move closely behind. Rising and I will assess the situation,â Bucky said as he began to move forward. His legs were aching and he was already having trouble walking, something he had not taken into account. He hoped that he could hold it together. There was whiskey, beer, and a cask of gin in the supplies. If he had to, heâd start drinking just to dull the pain.

The pair moved forward and a jet of flame curled from Rising Starâs horn. Bucky turned his head so he could get a look at his companion and he realised that he was looking up at Rising Star. The colt had grown at some point during their exile, and it had escaped Buckyâs notice. Bucky cursed silently at being so short and continued onward, seeing that Rising Star appeared to be fine.

âœThere,â Rising Star said, narrowing his eyes. âœPony shaped. Only has three legs. Looksâ messy,â the colt reported.

âœWe need to be sure,â Bucky said. âœReady?â Bucky felt Rising Star nudge him and Bucky took a deep breath.

âœYou there, identify yourself. Can we help you?â Bucky asked.

There was a low moan in response.

âœIt isnât living!â Lyra shouted.

âœWe have to make sure,â Bucky said.

âœBut I can tell, I can sense the undead right now, and thatâs undead!â Lyra retorted.

âœAnd I wanted to be sure!â Bucky shouted. âœRising Star, burn it!â he commanded.

The three legged pony had pulled itself out of the thicket and was now shambling towards the group. Rising Star growled, a deep resonating sound deep in his barrel, and there was a wash of heat from his body.

The pony burst into flames. It continued to move forward for a few steps and then fell over, rolling and writhing in the wheat, setting the field on fire.

Bucky watched as it burned, waiting patiently. Beside him, Rising Star was muttering to himself. The undead abomination burned with surprising intensity, bright blue and green flames rising up into the sky as the cleansing fires destroyed it. Sparkler came up along his left side and he saw her come into view.

âœI hope it doesnât feel anything,â Sparkler whispered.

âœThe soul is gone. Off to Tartarus to be judged and then off to Elysium once theyâve paid their penance. What you see is just a shell Sparky, just remains that havenât stopped moving yet,â Bucky said reassuringly.

âœItâs awful. To violate someponyâs body like that. Seems so wrong,â Sparkler said sadly. She reached up with a foreleg and wiped her eyes as the body burned.

Bucky extinguished the flames in the field but allowed the body to continue to burn, now surrounded by a black patch of earth. He stood with two young ponies that he considered his foals, aware that their innocence was burning away as they watched the body that was consumed by flames.

Finally, Bucky gave the signal to continue to move ahead, and the group left behind them a pile of bones and ashes.

âœSomething is aware of us,â Lyra hissed. âœI sense a group. No idea how many. Fast moving. Coming right for us,â the unicorn warned.

There wasnât much time Bucky realised. He peered ahead, his head cocked to one side, his ears perked.

âœI see them,â Rising Star hissed.

Bucky realised that he couldnât see much of anything that far ahead and it concerned him. It was something he was going to have to worry about later and he shoved the thought from his mind.

Several things happened at once. Sparkler shouted âœWolves!â and a feeling of panic settled over the herd. Rising Star let loose with what appeared to be a meteor shower, and the flaming missiles homed in on their targets. Bucky was still having trouble seeing at such a distance. He felt a tremendous magical surge from his left and wondered just what Sparkler had done.

There was a crackle of lightning and the stench of ozone, and as suddenly as it began, it was over. A large fire raged in the fields ahead of them. He moved forward cautiously, ready to freeze something solid if need be.

âœThere is a wolf there but it isnât moving,â Rising Star said as he peered forward. âœIt looks funny,â he reported.

âœThatâs the one I zapped,â Sparkler said. âœIt does look funny,â she added.

The pair followed Bucky forward, and the rest of the group moved behind them. Each unicorn was ready, horns ignited, and all of them were curious about the strange looking wolf ahead that was not moving.

Bucky was the first to approach, waving Sparkler and Rising Star back with his hoof. He had trouble understanding what he was seeing. The wolf was grey and unmoving.

The undead wolf was petrified Bucky realised.

âœOh my,â Bucky gasped.

âœWhat is it?â Rising Star asked as he approached cautiously.

âœSparklerââ Bucky said.

âœWhat did I do?â Sparkler asked, her voice full of concern.

âœThat undead wolf is petrified,â Bucky stated in shock.

âœThatâs a useful spell,â Rising Star said.

âœNo, you donât understand,â Bucky said. âœThis isnât common magic. Youâd need the Elements of Harmony to do this or a rare number of magical creatures,â he explained. âœPonies do not cast petrification spells.â

âœSparkler does,â Rising Star said, wiping his nose and shaking his head as the stench of burning wolves assailed his nostrils.

âœI was scared! I didnât know what I was doing!â Sparkler shrieked in panic.

âœSparkler, you need to stop being afraid,â Bucky said in a serious voice. âœWe need you to keep it together and fear is not a luxury we can afford right now.â

âœI canât help it,â Sparkler said.

âœWhat if Rising Star accidentally scared you?â Bon Bon asked.

Sparkler couldnât bear the thought of what Bon Bon said and burst into tears. She stood crying, the soot in the air clinging to her wet cheeks and turning her face black. She sobbed even more when Rising Star pressed up against her side.

âœWeâre both going to have to learn control,â Rising Star whispered, trying to comfort the pony that he loved so much. âœAnd we need to begin right now by holding it together. No more tears Sparky.â

Sparkler sniffled and tried to contain herself. She covered one nostril with a hoof and snorted forcefully, expelling snot and ashes from her nose, and then covered the other nostril and cleared it out with one mucusy blast.

âœAnd this is why I married you, such an attractive pony,â Rising Star said softly.

Sparkler turned and gave him a weak smile. âœMy nose was running,â she said in reply. âœI didnât know what else to do.â

Bon Bon patted the distraught filly and gave her a smile.

âœWe need to keep moving. The sun is almost overhead. Weâll need time to get back to the wagon and I can still sense something in that direction,â Lyra said.

Bucky nodded and looked at the collection of burning corpses. Their work here was done. One undead wolf had been left to mark their passing as statue, a monument to lost innocence and of foalhood left behind.

The group came upon a collection of crude stone cottages with thatched roofs. There were corpses all around, and something had been feeding on them. Several families had lived here, farmers, and they were all dead now. Mares, a few stallions, and a fair number of foals, all dead and mostly devoured.

Sparkler wept bitter tears upon seeing them and Rising Star could only wrap his foreleg over her withers and hold her close, unable to speak himself.

The group hadnât stood a chance.

Bucky took the chance to sit down, and he noticed Bon Bon giving him one of those looks. He smiled weakly at her.

âœWeâre taking a lunch break. No protesting,â Bon Bon commanded.

The group moved away from the mass of corpses and then ate in silence, eating out of necessity, none of them taking any pleasure in what they ate. After eating a meal, it was Lyra that urged them onwards. The group departed from the massacre, all of them looking over their shoulder one last time at the cottages.

âœEverypony holding up?â Deadspin asked. He was mostly concerned about Bucky, who was limping along, but didnât want to say anything about Bucky directly that might get him a dressing down.

âœIâm managing. I feel kinda sleepy,â Lyra said with a yawn. She said nothing about her itching nethers that seemed to be ignoring the spell she had cast to relieve her heat. Her gaze fell upon Bucky and she felt a mix of concern and horniness. But mostly horniness. She pushed the thought from her mind and looked at Bon Bon instead as she walked, but found her gaze being drawn back to Buckyâs gnarled and scrawny backside. His tail had grown as long as any mareâs tail and it made her feel confused when she looked at him.

âœI could keep this up for days if I had to,â Bon Bon reported. She looked at Lyra and then at Bucky. She too was feeling concerned. Among other things. And she had noticed Lyraâs glances. She began to wonder if it would be so bad, Bucky was her husband after all. She bit her lip and ignored her thoughts.

âœI am young and impervious,â Rising Star said, not feeling at all impervious. He felt miserable and scared. And part of him wanted to cry, to bawl his eyes out and let everything go. But he couldnât. He was the most effective weapon they had against the undead threat, and he began to notice that Bucky couldnât see very well, so Rising Star made sure to keep his mind focused and his eyes free from things that would cloud his vision, like tears.

âœIâm okay,â Sparkler announced. âœIâve been better, but I am coming to terms with the idea that I am a magical abomination that is probably going to be locked away once I head back to the mainland,â she muttered. She noticed that both Bucky and Rising Star were giving her the stinkeye and her steps faltered. âœLook, it was a halfhearted attempt at humourâ I didnât know what else to say,â she explained as she resumed her pace. She shut her mouth and stared ahead, refusing to acknowledge the dirty looks she was getting.

âœBucky?â Deadspin asked.

âœWhat?â Bucky snapped, feeling irritated from Sparklerâs comment and the pain shooting up and down his legs.

âœWanted to make sure you were alright sir,â Deadspin stated.

âœIâm fine,â Bucky grumbled unpleasantly.

âœWeâre getting close,â Lyra said in warning. âœJust ahead,â she added.

The group moved through a copse of trees and saw ahead of them a long stone house with a thatched roof. They saw the undead wolves moving in a circle around the house and they heard screaming.

âœNo more death!â Sparkler shouted as she charged forward.

âœDamnit Sparkler, no!â Bucky shouted. In his panic, he failed to think of the fact that he could grab her and pull her back with magic, he bolted forward after her and summoned his magic for other purposes. A chill filled the air.

Rising Star let go a stream of profanity that made the four soldiers ears feel soiled, every word spoken were words he had heard from Bon Bon or Berry Punch. As he charged forwards, he felt his own magic surge, and his body ignited into flames.

Bon Bon held Lyra back and the pegasi as well, worried about the chill in the air and the flaming unicorn far more than she was worried about the wolves. Something bad was about to go down and Bon Bonâs own earth pony sense told her to stay back.

As Sparkler continued forwards she felt a strange tingling travel through her body. She felt heavy and solid. She realised that she had turned to stone again. The first wolf reached her, moving with alarming speed, leaping for her, mouth open.

The wolfâs teeth shattered against her stony skin and then it bounced away from her.

The stone unicorn lifted her hoof and stomped downwards, crushing the wolfâs skull. She continued onwards, hurrying for the stone house, now screaming at the top of her lungs, which came out sounding like two stones grating together.

Rising Star felt an overpowering sense of relief when he saw Sparkler shift forms and turn to stone. He had shifted himself, and was now on fire. He welcomed the wolves. Fire needed things to burn. And to make fire happen, you needed rage.

And Rising Star was nothing but a burning ball of rage at the moment.

Around him, the fields began to burn as he ran forward. Sparkler was safe, and he was free to simply let go, so he did. Flaming meteors shot from his horn and went blazing off, looking for targets. Several undead wolves ahead burst into flames and Rising Star felt a grim feeling of satisfaction. All of his fear had burned away, consumed by flames that burned from within and without.

Buckyâs adrenaline allowed him to move much faster than he expected, his terror urging him onward. As he watched, he saw Sparkler turn grey and his mind flooded with relief. He knew that she would be safe. He focused his magic on a cluster of wolves up ahead and summoned a gravitational singularity, which sucked them all in to one confined area and crushed them. He blasted their crushed and broken bodies with cold, freezing them solid and then hit them with a tiny ping of telekinetic energy, which caused them all to shatter like glass.

In all of his life, he had never done anything like that, something so perfect and complex. It was almost as if something else had channeled his spell energy and cast through him. He dismissed it as reflexive spellcasting and went about the work of killing.

There had been a lot of undead wolves, but now their numbers were rapidly dwindling.

As Rising Star watched, an earth pony stallion was brought down, half a dozen undead wolves pulling at him from all sides. He had been around the corner of the house and had only now become visible as Rising Star had drawn near. There was nothing he could do. He watched helplessly as a geyser of blood shot into the air and the sight filled him with even more rage.

He focused his rage upon the wolves and they exploded violently into clouds of ash and flame. There were no corpses, no bones, no nothing left behind but bits of black ash.

Sparkler slammed her way through several wolves and carefully leapt over the body of a fallen pony. The door of the house was ripped off of its hinges, which were old and rusty. She charged through the doorway and into the house. The first thing she saw was a mare having her throat torn away, but still kicking and fighting, and behind the mare was a younger filly backed into a corner.

Sparkler charged.

The mare fell and the wolves fell upon the filly, yanking at her legs, seizing her by her throat, and taking her down. One bit down savagely on her belly, trying to open her up.

Sparkler was far too enraged to notice the fillyâs swollen belly.

She kicked the first wolf she reached and its head exploded into a fine red mist. She stomped down on the second, shattering its spine. The second stomp crushed its head. She kicked out, her stone hoof inches from the fillyâs face, and the wolf crushing the fillyâs throat was tossed away.

One wolf bit down savagely on Sparkler and she felt nothing. She kicked out with her hind leg and half of its body turned into soupy chunks of wolf bits, splattering all over the wall and dirt floor behind her.

Sparkler let out a roar that sounded like an avalanche, and continued to rampage like the angry earth elemental that she was.

Under her angry gaze, another wolf turned to stone.

Bucky entered into the house behind Sparkler as Rising Star dealt with the few remaining wolves outside. The inside of the house was a mess. There was several dead ponies, many dead wolves, and a sobbing purple-pink filly in the corner.

He rushed to her side, seeing that it was safe. Some of the limbs and body parts were still twitching, but there were no longer any solid foes except for the stoned undead wolf near Sparkler.

âœHelp her,â Sparkler begged.

Bucky looked down at the bloodied filly. Her eyes were glassy and she twitched feebly, still barely alive. Even as he watched, her opened throat continued to release her precious lifeâs blood.

The fillyâs lips moved but only a gurgle came out. Bucky looked over her body and realised with dawning horror that she was pregnant. He looked down at her belly, and then his gaze fell between her legs, where he saw two tiny hind legs protruding. She had been in the middle of a difficult birth when the wolves had finally reached the cottage, freshly fed and full of fight.

âœSparkler, close your eyes honey. Donât look. Stay here with me though, Rising Star is still killing a few wolves outside I think. I need you to close your eyes,â Bucky commanded.

Sparker was busy staring at the two little hind legs protruding from the fillyâs bloodied slit. One leg still kicked feebly. Sparkler closed her eyes and turned her head away.

Bucky wasnât sure what to do. He knew what he needed to do, but the filly was still alive and he had trouble with the knowledge of what was going to happen next. The filly had suffered enough.

As he watched, the light finally faded from her eyes and she went still, giving out one final gurgle as she passed. Her eyes were vacant as she stared up Bucky. He prepared himself for the grim task ahead. He had precious seconds.

Teleportation was never used for difficult foal births. The teleportation bubble was never exact and important bits could be sheared away. Bucky was left with one option. He closed his own eyes and summoned his magic. Reaching down with telekinetic feelers, he prodded around the slit and around the foal, and worked tendrils of magic up inside of the birth canal. He wrapped the barely moving body of the foal in a protective bubble.

And with a heart wrenching splattering sound, he tore the filly open.

The foal fell free of its confines and Bucky lifted to his neck, trying to keep it warm. It did not cry and Bucky felt his heart sinking.

âœAll clear!â Rising Star bellowed.

Bucky stumbled away from the remains of the foalâs mother and out the door, leaving the house of horrors behind him. Sparkler followed, her chin resting on Buckyâs withers as they walked, her eyes still closed. She was wailing with grief.

Feeling nauseated, Bucky felt a small twitch from the foal, but it was not crying, and there was no hot breath on his neck from the foalâs muzzle. He staggered and fell into the grass, his hind legs finally giving way as his adrenaline ran out. He felt Sparkler collapse atop him, and could both feel and hear her grief stricken sobs.

A stupour fell over Bucky, his mind falling into a daze. He lay in the grass as the other ponies gathered around him.

âœGive it to me!â Lyra barked, cutting through Buckyâs mental fog.

Bucky felt the foal torn from his telekinesis and he looked up at Lyra.

The foal was wrapped in a golden glow and Lyra held it before her. Lyra bent her head down and touched the foal with her horn and there was a faint crackling sound.

A moment later, there was a shrill cry of a foal that was feeling the coldness of the world around it, free of the womb.

âœWhat did you do?â Bon Bon demanded. âœWhat did you do Lyra?â she repeated.

âœI saw it in a movie,â Lyra replied. âœA doctor used his horn to electro-zap somepony back to life just after they had just died,â she explained.

âœLyra,â Bon Bon whispered.

Sparkler looked up, scarcely believing what she saw. She could feel her own heart racing. She wrapped her legs around Buckyâs neck and squeezed tightly.

âœLyra Heartstrings,â Bucky gasped. âœI want you to mother my foals.â He blinked a few times in astonishment.

âœIt is a little unicorn,â Lyra said. âœA filly. A little unicorn filly,â she announced.

âœAnd sheâs alive,â Rising Star said in startled awe.

âœNo more death,â Sparkler murmured, pressing her face into Buckyâs neck and releasing the rest of her tears.

âœWhile this is a very happy occasion, we need to get out of here,â Deadspin said, his voice of worry.

Bucky leaned his head into Sparklerâs warm embrace. âœI hate to say this, but I think my legs are done for,â he announced.

âœOh shite and buggery,â Bon Bon swore.

âœThe foal needs to be fed,â Sparkler said as she wiped her face off on Buckyâs neck.

âœIt does,â Lyra agreed. âœI know a spell. Gimme some time,â Lyra begged.

âœIâm going to need somepony to haul the gear Iâm carrying so I can haul Bucky back to the wagon,â Bon Bon stated in an irritated grunt. âœAnd before you noble pegasi say anything, heâs my husband and he belongs on my back,â she added, blushing fiercely as she spoke.

Rising Star collapsed into grass. âœI feel dead inside,â he muttered.

âœAll of you, eat, as hard as might be, you need to eat. We need you strong so you can make it back to the wagon,â Bon Bon commanded.

âœFoal,â Bucky said in a strained whisper. The crying foal was music to his ears.

âœSomepony is going to need to put out the fires and torch the remains of the undead,â Bon Bon announced.

Bucky lifted his head and called to mind a spell of extinguishment. In moments, the fields ceased to burn.

âœIâll take care of the wiggly bits in a moment,â Rising Star groaned.

âœThis is awkward,â Bucky muttered. He was sprawled over Bon Bonâs back and the mare kept cursing with every step she took.

âœOf course this is awkward. Iâm a lesbian. In heat. With a stallion draped over my back, and I can feel your balls slapping up against my croup with every step,â she grumbled. âœAnd your hot sweaty pony smell is making me crazy. Iâm tempted to drag you into the bushes right now and shatter your pelvis.â

âœOh, this isnât any easier on me Bonnie,â Bucky replied.

âœWeâre almost to the wagon you two,â Sparkler said in a dull voice.

âœI ate but I feel like my legs are going to give out at any moment,â Rising Star announced. âœSo this is what magical fatigue feels like,â he groused.

âœI am having a troubling thought. All of the those undead took off in one directionâ what if they were after this unicorn foal?â Lyra asked.

Bucky felt his blood run cold and his balls shriveled.

âœThatâs a horrifying thought Lyra,â Bon Bon said as she felt Bucky shivering on her back. She felt a twinge of pity for poor Bucky, especially when she felt his testicles retract.

âœThatâs awful,â Sparkler said. âœWhy was that undead pony in the thicket?â

âœProbably after some rabbit that had gone down its hole,â Lyra guessed.

âœTomorrow we are coming back here to deal with the dead,â Bucky announced.

âœNo need sir. We will have an honour guard dispatched and they will deal with the dead. You need to be at home recovering with your family,â Deadspin replied.

Bucky did not reply. His head sank down on Bon Bonâs broad withers and he felt a quiet sense of relief. He stroked Bon Bonâs side with his foreleg and he felt her muscles quiver beneath him. âœSorryâ Iâ I guess I just need comfort,â Bucky whispered.

Bon Bon steeled her resolve and continued for the wagon.

Chapter 121 (Warning! Contains a creamy filling in the middle!)

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Immediately after landing, Bucky was approached by a pegasus and told that Keg Smasher needed to see him. Bucky was sore, exhausted, and on the verge of falling apart. But he agreed to see Keg Smasher right away, knowing exactly what Keg Smasher needed to know.

He slipped away from his own family, who was eager to see him, and was led to Keg Smasherâs quarters. Keg Smasher was awake, sort of, he looked almost delirious with pain. Winter Wheat was close to his side, and there was a pegasus mare that Bucky did not know with him.

Starting with their landing in the port town, Bucky told Keg Smasher everything, from the first encounter with the undead pony to the last encounter, the battle at the large farmhouse. He reassured Keg Smasher that all of the undead abominations were gone, and that Keg Smasher could rest easy. He also told Keg Smasher of the foal. The unicorn foal. He explained that Lyra was currently caring for it.

Afterwards, Bucky seemed to run out of things to say. The two stallions sat in silence, the two mares saying nothing, and Bucky found absolutely nothing interesting to stare at on the walls. There were things that needed to be said but Bucky didnât know how to say them.

âœSoâ those things… theyâre all gone?â Keg Smasher asked again, seeking assurance. His words were slightly slurred and would have been difficult to be heard had it not for the oppressive silence.

âœPetrified, burned to ash, or shattered into thousands of tiny pieces after being frozen solid,â Bucky replied, his eye finally resting on Keg Smasher.

The big pegasus took a deep breath and sighed. âœIn a day or three, I will want Sparkler, Rising Star, Lyra, and Bon Bon brought before me,â Keg Smasher said in a weak wavering voice.

âœI can do that,â Bucky said, wondering why Keg Smasher might want them. He did not press the issue, knowing that he would find out soon enough.

âœIâve never been this close to death beforeâ my thinking feels so clear but so muddled at the same time,â Keg Smasher said. The pegasus whimpered as he shifted in the bed, trying to get comfortable.

âœI felt the same way,â Bucky admitted. âœI had some days where I had this amazing clarity of thought. I began to understand what was important to me. I felt some gratitude for things I hadnât felt grateful for.â Bucky shifted. Sitting on the stone floor was causing him to ache. âœLook, about the foal, Lyra is taking care of it, but I need to know what you want done with it,â Bucky asked in a strained voice. âœBefore Lyra gets strongly connected to it.â

âœKeep it safeâ and take it with you when you go. Get it away from these wretched isles,â Keg Smasher whispered.

âœBut you need unicorns here,â Bucky protested.

âœYeah we doâ and Iâd say in about a year or so there are going to be plenty of foals being born. A year from now when the wolves are gone and the isles are safer,â Keg Smasher replied.

âœKeg, look, I already have Sentinelâ being what I am, I feel funny taking more foals,â Bucky explained. âœI am glad that you seem confident that I will exterminate the wolves,â he added.

Keg Smasher glared at Bucky and drew in a deep breath. âœYouâre my best defender. You are my knight, and I donât know what else you might be implying. I require my nobles to look after orphans and widows. With the wolves, that unicorn isnât safe. I already have a couple of little unicorns locked up safe and secure within this castleâ but those have parents. This one doesnât. So I am trusting you with its care. I am not in the mood for argumentsâ my word is law,â Keg Smasher said weakly. âœDo not defy me Buckminster Bitters.â

âœThis castleâ can the wolves get in here?â Bucky asked, changing the subject.

âœNo lad, and I donât know whyâ I do wonder sometimes. Iâve seen them right outside the gatehouse, pacing, blocked by some kind of invisible barrier. The guards go out and taunt them sometimes. This castle is almost a thousand years old and was actually built by the noble of House Avarice who was exiled to these isles for marrying an earth pony. Story has it, he built this castle out of a love for his bride, and he made it to keep her safe. I donât know how true it is, but I find it a touching story. The stories say that after the exile, House Avarice sent assassins to kill him and his bride, but none could make their way inside this castle. They both lived for a long time, and had many foals together,â Keg Smasher answered.

âœI still feel funny about the foal,â Bucky mentioned in a soft passive voice.

âœDamnit, youâre still going on about that?â Keg Smasher snapped in pain filled anger.

Bucky hung his head and his mane fell down over his face.

âœLook, you look like youâre about to fall overâ go get rest,â Keg Smasher ordered.

âœI definitely need to,â Bucky agreed. âœBy the way maâam, I donât think weâve met before,â he said to the pegasus mare.

âœI am Meadowlark,â the pegasus replied. âœI married this big dumb lump.â

Bucky staggered into his room, crossed the room with his hooves dragging, and collapsed on the bed. He lay where he fell and did not move. He was quickly swarmed by a number of ponies, who approached him in silence, most of them little and rather foal sized.

Lyra was on the bed resting, the newborn nestled at her belly, and it was feeding noisily.

There was a tingly feeling of magic all around him and Bucky felt himself being pulled to the middle of the bed where the foals around him scrambled to resume their positions. Bucky groaned as he tried to kick his his hind legs out to a more comfortable position and his head felt swimmy.

âœFather?â Sentinel asked, looking very concerned. He spoke in a hushed whisper, his eyes darting to Lyra and the foal.

âœYes Sentinel?â Bucky replied. âœHow are you Sentinel? Feeling better? How is your back?â he inquired.

âœWhen I was saluting today, I pulled the skin. It hurtsâ but I will endure. How are you?â Sentinel answered, his voice full of worry.

âœYeah, talk to us, weâre worried,â PiÃa said.

âœWe were sleeping most of the day,â Dinky said.

âœRising Star and Sparkler went off to the dining hall with Loch, they didnât look very good,â Ripple said. âœIâm worried,â she stated.

âœAnd what about the foal?â Dinky asked.

âœYes, what about the foal?â Lyra repeated in an exhausted voice.

âœDinky, PiÃa, Sentinel, Ripple, all of you have a new sibling,â Bucky replied in a low tired voice. He heard a gasp from Derpy and a moan of relief from Lyra. âœYouâre not off the hook Lyra, you still owe me one foal,â he said with a half hearted laugh. He heard an odd sound coming from Lyra and he felt a bit of panic. âœLyra, are you choking?â he asked, lifting his head in worry.

The green mare was crying and rubbing at her golden eyes with her forelegs. Bucky wanted to go to her and comfort her, but he was currently buried under foals and wasnât sure he could move even if he wanted to. His bones ached from exhaustion.

Instead, it was Bon Bon who went to Lyraâs side and settled into the bed beside her, and she began stroking the emotional unicorn, trying to sooth her.

Finally, Derpy could take no more and she tumbled into the bed, squashing Dinky and moving to Buckyâs side. âœYou smell like smoke,â she commented as Dinky tried to escape from beneath her.

âœIâm probably filthy,â Bucky said, now feeling some worry about the state of the bedâs cleanliness.

âœMama, youâre smooshinâ me,â Dinky protested from beneath Derpy.

âœGood. Take note Lyra, when they get big and squirmy, foals must be sat on,â Derpy said, giving advice to the new mother and trying to cheer Lyra up.

âœToday was so awful,â Lyra whimpered. âœI donât mean to be a wet blanket, but I need to get some sleep so I can resume my watch tonight,â she said as she cried.

âœBucky, you look like you could use some shuteye,â Berry said, looking Berry worried as she said it.

âœYeah Bucky, you take a nap. And when you wake up, Iâll have you a fish waiting,â Thistle offered.

âœMmmâ that sounds incredibly good,â Bucky said.

âœOkay, every foal must go,â Derpy said as she rolled away from Dinky, freeing her.

As the foals scrambled from the bed, Bucky felt himself being dragged by magic over the bed and closer to Lyra. She had rolled onto her back, and the foal was curled into a little ball on her belly, the foalâs head resting near Lyraâs teats. Bucky couldnât help but notice that Lyra was opened and exposed in this position, and for a brief painful moment, he had a reminder of his old life. He felt a stinging sense of embarrassment seeing Lyra supine and recalled the night that Berry Punch had exposed herself to him while he was in the bath tub. Bon Bon was resting her head on Lyraâs barrel, and the foal was but a short distance away from her face.

The foal, now cleaned up and no longer bloody, was a faded indigo colour, and tufts of frizzy bright orange mane stood on end.

The door clicked shut but Bucky barely noticed. He was overwhelmed by too many feelings to comprehend at once. He could smell Lyraâ there was the faint smell of her heat. There was the sweet smell of her milk. He could smell the salty smell of her sweat. And all of these scents made him feel something different. Mostly, what he felt was protective. A strange new feeling crept over him and it made his flesh tingle.

âœSo what do we do if she pees? Or worse?â Bon Bon asked.

âœOh bother,â Bucky said in alarm. âœNo diapers.â

âœIt is a problem, but I donât think the ponies here use diapers,â Lyra said. She yawned. âœWeâre going to need straw. And then we put the foal in the straw. And when the straw gets messy, we change the straw. And meanwhile, we hope that the foal doesnât soil us too badly,â she added.

âœBut we have no straw,â Bucky said.

âœAnd no cradle,â Bon Bon added.

âœSo reach out with your mind and summon up some straw,â Lyra said in an exhausted voice. âœAnd for now, weâll just pile it up by the bed. And then the foal and I will sleep in the straw.â

âœI could try transmuting diapers,â Bucky said.

âœStraw. Now. Daddy will do what he is told or there will be trouble,â Lyra warned. âœIâm sleepy. Want to sleep. Sleep. No more talk.â

Bucky concentrated, thinking of straw, knowing it was all over this castle. He didnât want to take anyponyâs bed, so he focused on finding the largest mass he could find, which he reckoned would be the source. He latched on to it and tugged it through the aether, causing it to pop into existence in the corner of the room near the bed. There was a very large pile. Using his magic, he pushed a portion away from the main mass, what he hoped would be a big soft pile.

Lyra eased herself from the bed and into the pile of straw, holding the foal in protective bubble of magic the entire time.

The unicorn seemed comfortable as she settled in.

âœLook, about earlier, and the whole pelvis shattering thing,â Bon Bon began.

Bucky raised his head and looked at Bon Bon. She seemed upset.

âœI wanted to say I am sorryâ I donât know whatâs come over me lately. I even made a pass at Berry Punch and I think I might have upset her, I donât know. Iâm not myself,â Bon Bon explained.

âœI doubt Berry Punch would ever be upset over something like that. Donât worry about it Bonnieâ just wondering thoughâ you let me have it for saying âœscrewâ the other night but you seem pretty comfortable with swearing,â Bucky replied.

The earth pony blushed. âœYouâre a unicorn nobleâ like it or not, certain things are expected from you. Somepony has to hold you to certain standards. Iâm an earth pony. Ponies expect nothing from me. I have no societal obligations,â Bon Bon returned.

âœShut it, sleep now,â Lyra insisted from the straw pile.

âœIf I am a unicorn noble and you are my wife, then I would say certain things are expected from you, Lady Bon Bon,â Bucky said teasingly.

âœOh donât you dare throw that up in my face,â Bon Bon retorted.

âœYou know, this double standard does not suit you Bonnie,â Bucky said, his tone a bit more serious.

âœAll killing and no sleep makes Lyra a cranky pony,â Lyra singsonged.

âœHey, as a unicorn, you donât get to talk about double standards,â Bon Bon snapped.

Bucky felt the sting of Bon Bonâs words and recoiled. âœYeah. I get it. Canterlot. The city built on a foundation of double standards,â he grumbled.

âœSleep!â Lyra begged.

âœLook, Lyra is rightâ we need rest. I am cranky and cross. I am sorry. I shouldnât have said what I said, I was in the wrong. Forgive me?â Bon Bon said.

Bucky gently kissed Bon Bon on the cheek. âœPlease hold me to higher standards,â he whispered. âœSomepony has to, I find myself stooping lower and lower and it worries me.â

âœAs much as I want to shag you right now, I am going to settle with cuddling you instead,â Bon Bon said. âœGet over here,â she commanded.

Bucky felt a strong foreleg hook over his barrel and drag him over the bed. He felt Bon Bon pressing up against his back. She was a lot like Berry Punch, solidly muscled with a heavy bone structure. One foreleg was wrapped over him protectively and Bucky felt secure in her embrace.

As he lay there spooning with Bon Bon, the final sounds he heard were the snuffling sounds of a tiny foal breathing, and he felt better about the miserable day.

âœRising, talk to me, you havenât said anything,â Loch Skimmer insisted. The filly was frantic with worry and her wings fluttered as she pranced around on three jittering hooves.

âœIâm okay I think,â Rising Star replied. He felt tired. His head hurt a bit, and he was hungry, even though he had eaten in the wagon on the way back home. He eyed the jug that had been left on the table for him. Using his magic, he pulled it close, uncorked it, and took a sniff. He didnât know what he was smelling. âœWhat is this?â he asked.

âœGin,â Loch Skimmer said. âœI think,â she added nervously.

âœAh, well then, gin,â Rising Star said as he lifted the jug. He took a long swallow like he had seen Bucky do and immediately wished that he hadnât. The faintly blue liquid burned like fire going down and when he pulled the jug away some of it dribbled from his chin. Even with the painful burning, he felt better. His head hurt a little less and some of the horror of the day faded from his mind.

âœGimme some,â Loch begged, using her nose to point to her leg in the sling.

Using his magic, Rising Star lifted the jug, held it up to Lochâs lips, and then tilted it slightly. It was not a well practiced gesture and a sip turned into a big swallow. Loch took it down bravely, her teeth gritted and her wings shot straight out from her sides. She banged her good front leg down on the table, her hoof making a thudding sound that echoed in the dining hall.

Sparkler took the jug next and took down a long pull. She coughed and sputtered for a moment, and then took another drink. After swallowing and composing herself, she looked sorrowful. âœThe sound,â she muttered.

âœSound?â Loch asked.

âœThe sound of her ripping open,â Sparkler replied.

Rising Star felt his heart drop. âœSparky, now isnât a good time,â he said gently.

âœI keep hearing it though. I keep seeing it tooâ well, not actually seeing it, I did close my eyes just like father said to do, but I can see those two little legs poking out. And then he told me to close my eyes. After that, there was that sound. He pulled her wide open with his magic. And then I realised that I could do that to a ponyâ not that I would want to do that to a pony, and nothing feels right on the inside,â Sparkler said in a dull monotone.

âœSparkler, I donât mean to sound harsh, but as type threes, we need to find a way to keep our selves held together. You and I both. We accepted this. We chose to do this so we could help these ponies. And today, we made a difference. You carved a path for Bucky to follow and because of you that foal lives. You think it is any easier on him? I know it must be tearing him up inside, even if he is doing a much better job of hiding it than we are. At some point it will come to the surface and he will be forced to deal with it,â Rising Star said gently to his mate.

âœThe fighting has only just started,â Sparkler said. âœI donât know what I expected. I knew it would be bad, but todayâ today wasââ as she spoke her words died and she fell silent.

âœToday was glorious,â Rising Star said. âœI saw my wife rampage and Iâve never been more in love with you than I was today when I saw you fearlessly rush forward and charge those wolves.â

Sparkler blushed. âœFearlessly? I nearly dropped a steaming load as I ran forward. I was so scared that I turned to stone,â she said in a shame filled admission.

âœDoesnât change how I feel about you,â Rising Star said as he took another slug of gin.

âœThanks, that actually makes me feel better, I mean that,â Sparkler said weakly.

âœI wish I could be there with you,â Loch said. âœFor now, all I can do is comfort you when you get home,â she offered.

Rising Star was in need of comforting, and he was full of liquid courage. He snatched Loch Skimmer in his magic and pulled her to him, and he released his emotions upon the pegasus filly. Her kiss was waxy and slobbery, and he gently held her to him with one foreleg. Finally, he pulled away with a wet smacking sound and dribbles of drool spattered to the floor.

âœOchâ that doesnât make dealing with my heat any easier,â Loch said in flustered tones as she fanned herself with her wings.

âœI think I need one of those Risingâ I donât know if I can be as enthusiastic, but I want to feel something warm and alive,â Sparkler said as she advanced on Rising Star. Her lips touched his, briefly brushing across one another, and she could feel the waxy residue left behind from Lochâs kiss. She could smell Rising Star, he reeked of smoke and fire. And then after a moment of feeling him close, she was able to let go. Her lips parted and gave him an aggressive smouldering smooch that she knew was making his legs wobble, because she could feel him struggling to stand.

The two pulled apart and stood looking at one another, panting heavily, and Sparkler briefly toyed with the idea of having a foal.

âœI think part of me has turned to stone,â Rising Star said with embarrassment.

Even though she didnât want to, Sparkler found herself laughing at the joke. It started off with a nervous giggle that turned to a titter, and then full blown guffaws. And as she laughed, she felt better about what had happened today. She could feel some of the pressure in her mind being released.

She didnât feel done though. She snatched Loch Skimmer next and practiced her lip lock techniques on her, following through with her motherâs advice on how to make a ponyâs legs go weak. She invaded Lochâs mouth and tried to tickle her tonsils.

Finally, Loch pulled away with her wings now fully erect. âœOh, that felt weird,â she said breathlessly. âœI mean, I kinda liked it, but it still felt weird.â

Sparkler felt much better now. She pulled the jug of gin over and took a long swallow. She grimaced as the fire burned in her throat and then she belched out a thunderous blast. âœI think Iâm bi-sexual,â Sparkler announced. âœBecause I really enjoyed that. I wasnât totally sureâ but then Ripple kissed me and now I just slipped Loch the tongue, and I have the biggest filly boner right now.â

âœIâve got something going on,â Loch skimmer whispered nervously. âœMy wingsâ stiff as board. And I can feel something throbbing back there,â she confessed.

âœFilly bonerââ Rising Star said, mostly to himself. âœBucky said to use the edge of your tongue where it is really rough,â he murmured.

Sparklerâs eyes went wide and she froze. She turned her head slowly towards Rising Star, her ears perked forward. âœWhaaaaat?â she said slowly.

âœOh nothing,â Rising Star replied. âœI was thinking out loud. Never mind. I think the gin is making me feel better. I feel really relaxed. Except for the parts of me that feel really tight,â he explained.

âœI heard him too,â Loch said. âœI think Bucky has been teaching Rising Star âSecret Stallion Sorceryâ so he can subdue us,â the filly stated, the charcoal grey pelt of her cheeks turning purple.

âœSecret what?â Sparkler asked incredulously.

âœSomething Berry Punch said to me,â Loch replied. âœShe warned me that Bucky might teach Rising Star how to weaken our resolve.â

âœI havenât had enough to drink yet to have this day make sense,â Sparkler said.

âœSo drink more,â Rising Star said. He lifted the jug and tilted it back, taking a long pull from the brown crockery. He wheezed and sputtered as his throat burned and he set the jug down on the table. âœOh noâ here it comesâ uncontrollable boner,â Rising Star grumbled.

Sparkler lifted the jug, took a long drink, and then slammed the jug down on the table. âœLoch, we should do something about that,â Sparkler announced boldly.

âœOh I dunno,â Loch replied.

âœI was old enough to go into battle today. Here I am getting plastered, and I intend to get shagged,â Sparkler insisted.

âœThis scares me,â Loch said in a low whisper.

âœI was scared today too,â Sparkler said. She belched loudly and wiped her face with her foreleg.

âœLook, as much as I want to, I refuse to do anything until all three of us are ready,â Rising Star said in a low whisper.

âœRising is right of course,â Sparkler said.

âœLetâs go,â Loch said.

âœWhat?â Rising Star asked.

âœBoth of you faced what needed to be done today, I can do no less,â Loch murmured.

âœBut this isnât something that needs to be done,â Rising Star said gently.

âœYes it isâ I canât live in fear anymoreâ it is hurting me and it is hurting youâ you are my husband and we have an obligation to keep each other happy,â Loch said in a fearful whine.

âœWeâll need to find a quiet place,â Sparkler said. âœSomeplace out of the way. Secluded. Here in the castle. There is bound to be something somewhere.â

âœMy sister said there is an abandoned library in the back wing,â Loch said.

âœSounds ideal,â Rising Star said nervously.

âœIâll grab the gin jug,â Sparkler said.

âœThereâs no books,â Sparkler observed.

The library was dark and quiet. As Sparker had stated, the shelves were empty. The floor was dusty and there were little hoof prints that could be seen from when little curious fillies had gone exploring. The only light came from two unicorn horns.

Sparkler set down the gin jug after taking a good sized swallow. She felt brave, ready for almost anything. Out of her herd, she was the oldest, and it had always been generally accepted that she was in charge. Even Rising Star followed her lead.

Sparklerâs bravery fled the moment she felt a muzzle push past her tail, slip between her cheeks, and a tongue gave her a curious lick.

âœYeeaaaaUUUUGH!â Sparkler grunted as she leapt forward. âœOh gross, itâs dirty back there. I havenât bathed,â she cried in panic.

âœTastes salty and kinda smokey. Not bad,â Rising Star said.

âœBut Iâve been sweating,â Sparkler protested.

âœSo what?â Rising Star said. âœCome here filly,â he said boldly, pulling Sparkler in close with his magic. âœWe need to give Loch a good show,â he whispered. He kissed Sparkler forcefully and he felt her moan into his mouth. Rising Star felt Sparkler take charge during the kiss and he let her, submitting passively to her whims, mindful that Loch was watching their every move.

Sparkler pulled away breathlessly. âœReady to mount me?â she said brazenly.

âœNo,â Loch said. âœBerry said there must be lickingâ to get us slicked up so it doesnât hurt,â she said in a timid voice.

âœAnd Berry is right,â Rising Star said as he licked his lips. He lifted Sparkler in his magic, flipped her over, and gently placed her on the floor, belly up before him. He watched as she squirmed nervously. He leaned down his head and his snoot brushed over one of her teats, which caused Sparkler to kick one of her legs out. âœSparkler, just relax,â he urged.

Sparkler closed her eyes took a deep breath. She felt vulnerable and exposed. She spread her legs a little wider, not sure what else to do, and part of her felt that letting Rising mount her might have been easier. She wouldnât feel so exposed, and parts of her would remain hidden. From this angle, Rising Star could see everything. Her thoughts were interrupted by the curious feeling of two ponies breathing on her. She opened her eyes and she could see Lochâs face inches from her navel.

âœI was curious,â Loch whispered. She lifted her head and backed away. âœYouâre beautiful,â she added.

Sparkler smiled and then gasped as she felt two lips kissing her just below her breastbone. She felt another kiss, and then another, and Rising Star was working his way down slowly. âœRisingâ I know we shouldnât rush things, but we need to rush things, we need to be back before dark,â Sparkler whispered.

Rising Star, thankful for Sparklerâs prompting, went right for the prize. He pushed his snoot into Sparklerâs snatch. She was a bit sweaty, but just below the surface she was rather dry. When he heard her cry out, he stopped and pulled away.

âœItâs tenderâ I didnât expect for it to be so sensitive,â Sparkler explained. âœIâm okay, but the feeling of being parted hurt just a little.â

This time, Rising Star didnât push his snoot down, he extended his tongue and gave a careful lick along the surface, then another lick, and with the third lick, he applied pressure and parted her again. This time Sparkler moaned and squirmed beneath him and ground her hips upwards eagerly.

"More of that,â Sparkler begged.

With Sparklerâs urging, Rising Star prodded her cleft with his tongue, exploring as he gently parted her with each lick. He found a tiny little nub just under a sheath of flesh, and he licked around it in a circle. He was rewarded with a loud moan from Sparkler. She was still felt rather dry, and her flesh clung together rather than sliding around smoothly when manipulated.

âœRisingâ I donât have a filly ribbonâ mine got busted when I was doing the Running of the Leavesâ I was still a young filly and when I saw the blood in my tail… I freaked outâ and my mother took me to the doctorâ and the doctor said that this kind of thing happens all the timeââ Sparkler panted out in warning.

Finding his tongue far too busy, Rising Star did not reply with words. He licked around until he found an inner opening and then plunged his long orange tongue inwards, encountering no resistance. It was salty, sort of smokey near the surface, and he supposed it was meaty as well, but he had nothing to compare it to. Sparkler giggled nervously and then thrust her hips upwards.

âœThat actually felt really good,â Sparkler said. âœYou can do more of that,â she added.

As his tongue probed Sparklerâs depths, he felt her begin to moisten. Her breathing was heavy now, and her legs twitched. He was so focused on making Sparkler happy that a sudden touch on his cheek startled him. He pulled his head back and saw Loch Skimmer. She looked frightened.

âœI didnât mean to scare youâ donât magic me,â Loch begged.

âœYouâre fine,â Rising Star said reassuringly.

âœI want to look. At her I mean. Compare her to how I looked when I saw myself reflected in the lake water,â Loch said bashfully.

âœHave a look, sheâs beautiful,â Rising Star whispered. He lowered his head and shone his light on Sparklerâs now glistening folds.

The flesh was swollen and the puffiness caused Sparklerâs slit to open slightly Loch saw as she studied Sparklerâs filly bits. The flesh inside the parted folds was a deep rich purple. Unable to help herself, Loch extended her wing and drew a feather over Sparklerâs flesh. The reaction was immediate. Sparkler exploded into laughter and tried to squirm away.

âœNo! Loch! No!â Sparkler begged as she laughed.

Loch prodded her with a feather again, this time near the top of her parted mound, near where the nub of flesh was still hidden. Sparkler squirmed along the floor and tried to escape. Loch delighted in her newfound power to make Sparkler squeal. Feeling curious, she extended her tongue and gave a careful lick.

âœThat really gets me goingâ watching you lick her,â Rising Star said with unabashed honesty. âœBucky was rightâ there is nothing quite like watching two mares that you love making each other feel good.â

Loch licked again and Sparkler gasped. âœBlech, this tastes kinda weird,â Loch commented. âœRising, can you give me a drink of gin?â she asked.

Rising lifted the jug of gin to Lochâs lips and then tilted it so she could drink. He watched in awe as the pegasus took down several swallows without effort. Loch pulled away and let out thunderous belch that rivaled Sparklerâs own famous frog calls.

âœKeep licking,â Loch commanded. âœYour pegasus wife demands more licking take place,â she said as she sat down on the stone floor.

âœPlease keep licking,â Sparkler pleaded.

Eager to please, Rising Star went to work. After teasing the outer edges for a while, he took a more direct approach and suckled on Sparklerâs clitoral mound. The sound of Sparklerâs mewling cries caused his cock to throb. He was beginning to feel a strong need to bury himself inside of something. He felt Sparkler trying push up against him so he applied more pressure, pressing his muzzle downwards.

Loch extended a wing to tickle Rising Starâs nose, but as she did so, her feathers brushed over Sparklerâs teat. There was a loud cry from Sparkler.

Sparkler tensed, every muscle tightening, she could feel her belly muscles clenching. The feeling of the feather being drawn over her teat had been too much and it had pushed her over the edge. She cried out as her body shuddered and shook. As the wave of pleasure broke over her, she cried out again. Rising Starâs tongue plunged deep and wiggled along the back of her now slick depths, rubbing the tender flesh in the passage behind her clitoris. Sparkler clenched her teeth together and her eyes rolled into the back of her head. The light on her horn flickered for several moments, becoming considerably brighter.

âœI need to get off before this boner runs out of skin!â Rising Star said urgently. âœI feel like Iâm going to split open or something,â he whimpered.

âœSpellâ protection,â Sparkler murmured. Her horn flashed for a moment, and she struggled to cast the very simple spell that was meant to protect her in times like these. She cast another on Loch Skimmer.

Rising Star cast his own spell, thankful that this spell was incredibly easy. He couldnât do anything complicated at the moment.

âœLay down on me Risingâ just be gentle,â Sparkler said.

Rising Star eased himself down on top of Sparkler and fumbled around, needing to be inside of her. It was a painful urgent need. âœIâm not going to last long, Iâm sorry,â he said apologetically. âœI wanted this to be special, but you donât know how bad this is,â the colt explained.

âœI just had the best orgasm of my life,â Sparkler said warmly. âœJust get it out and youâll last longer for Lochâ make it special for her,â she whispered.

After poking around in the dim light for what felt like several painful hours, Rising Star felt something warm, wet, and inviting brush up against the tip of his cock. He prodded a bit, trying to find the inner opening. When he felt it, he eased himself in slowly, giving Sparkler time to adjust. He could feel her squirming a bit beneath him.

âœDoes it hurt?â Rising Star asked in a whisper.

âœNot exactly,â Sparkler said after she took a deep breath. âœBut I can feel the stretching.â

Loch Skimmer watched with open eyed interest the love making going on before her. In her short life, she had never seen anything like it. Her mouth hung open and her breathing was shallow. She felt a damp moistness down in her own as of yet unexplored folds. She could hear the wet slick sounds of penetration, the soft pleading cries that Sparkler made, and the breathless grunts that Rising Star was making as he slowly eased himself in. There was no violence here, no anger, no dead look of resignation on Sparklerâs face. There was only love being expressed in physical form.

And Loch wanted it desperately for herself. She hoped that her fear would subside.

Rising Star eased himself in and out of Sparkler, and could feel her hips thrusting upwards to meet him. He picked up the pace, feeling an urgent need to blow his load. He held back a little though, hoping to make it last as long as he could, but he wasnât able to hold it back much longer.

Sparkler wrapped her forelegs around Rising Star and held him close, feeling warm in the afterglow of her own orgasm. She could feel him breathing heavily against her neck. With a sudden jerk, Rising Star tensed up and thrust himself deeply into her. She felt what was almost painful pressure as he buried himself and then she felt a curious wet sensation deep inside of her. It took several moments to realise that Rising Star had gone off and left his seed inside of her. She felt his body go limp and he collapsed on top of her, panting heavily on her neck. She squeezed him and kissed his ear.

Rising Star finally summoned up enough strength to roll off of Sparkler and he lay on his back on the floor, trying to catch his breath. He felt proud of himself. He had made Sparkler go off at least once, which he felt was pretty good for his first attempt.

Sparkler rolled and rose into a sitting position. She took a long drink from the gin jug and then helped Loch Skimmer down a few swallows. Sparkler felt damp and sticky, and when she moved she could feel her breath catch in her throat as her sensitive skin tugged and pulled around her overstimulated nubbin just beneath her folds.

As Rising Star was laying supine, something warm touched his belly. He looked up and saw Loch Skimmer smiling down at him.

âœItâs kinda long and skinny,â Loch Skimmer observed as she checked out the goods on Rising Star. The opportunity was too good to resist so Loch Skimmer extended a wing and ran her feather tips along Rising Starâs shaft, starting as his balls and ending at the tip. She felt a thrill of exhilaration as Rising Star squirmed and moaned beneath her touch. Loch realised that she had power in her touch and she did it again. This time, Rising Star made a series of pleading whimpers. Her third stroke caused Rising Starâs cock to twitch.

âœLoch, if you keep doing that, I am going to have to find some way of paying you back,â Rising Star muttered.

Loch tittered and stroked the wiggling appendage once again. This time, Rising Star threw his head back and cried out.

âœOh wow, heâs getting hard again,â Sparkler observed.

âœI need more gin,â Loch said.

Sparkler raised the jug and both fillies took turns having a drink. The crockery was nearly empty now.

Rising Star pulled himself into a sitting position, took a deep breath, and then killed off the gin jug. He gasped, shook his head, and shuddered.

Loch Skimmer eased herself down upon the floor and rolled over onto her back. âœIâm so scared,â she whispered. âœI am so very afraid.â

âœIt will be okay Loch,â Sparkler said soothingly. Sparkler rose, took a step, and then stood over the frightened filly that was her fellow-wife. âœHe was so very gentle. I had a moment where it sort of hurt, but it passed. Just say something when it hurts.â

âœI donât want him on top of meâ I donât want to be pinned down,â Loch whimpered.

âœOkay,â Sparkler said.

âœBerry said that I could mount him,â Loch said in a fearful whisper.

âœIf that is what it takes to put your mind at ease, Iâll lay on the floor and weâll try it that way,â Rising Star offered in gentle tones.

âœThank youâ I think Iâm ready now,â Loch said as she closed her eyes. âœNow get to lickinâ,â the filly said bluntly.

Sparkler lowered her head and took one exploratory lick, curious about flavour.

âœSPARKLER? IS THAT YOU?â Loch shouted. Her voice echoed in the empty library.

âœYes Loch,â Sparkler replied.

âœSorry, that felt weird. It spooked me,â Loch whispered. âœWell, donât stop lickingâ Iâm a scared pony and I need to be slicked up so I need to be licked,â the filly insisted.

Sparkler shrugged and continued licking.

Rising Star felt himself hardening even more.

âœLicky slicky,â Loch said. Afterwards, she giggled.

âœHey, stop hogging the snatch,â Rising Star said. He pushed his muzzle down next to Sparklerâs and stuck his tongue out.

Loch felt the distinct tickle of two tongues lapping at her outer folds and she burst into laughter. She melted into the floor and allowed the moment to happen. She was still afraid somewhere deep inside, but it was hard to feel her fear at the moment.

Rising Star enjoyed the feeling of his tongue brushing up against Sparklerâs as he went to work on Lochâs unexplored recesses. The worry and stress from earlier in the day were now completely forgotten, and all he could think about was the slightly drunk giggling filly on the floor.

Loch rested her bad leg on her barrel and drifted away on a current of bliss. Part of her was still weirded out about the idea of Sparkler licking her. She wasnât sure how she felt about it, but it was hard to think about at the moment. She felt herself being parted gently and then felt two tongues ease their way in, teasing just below the surface. There was a moment of pain, which made her tense, followed by a moment of panic, but it passed quickly and Loch relaxed.

âœGo slowly Rising,â Sparkler said as she pulled away. âœDid you feel that?â

Rising Star lifted his head. âœYeah I did,â he said.

âœHeyâkeep lickingâ Iâm okay,â Loch Skimmer said to her mates.

Sparkler was the first to lower her head and explore a little deeper into Lochâs quivering mound. A moment later, her tongue was joined by Rising Starâs tongue, and she followed his head as he began to delve for a little nubbin of flesh that was hiding somewhere.

Unable to stop herself, Loch let out a shrill whinny when she felt two tongues brush over her little fleshy knob. Her ears splayed out and her hind legs kicked out straight. She felt her wings snap out to her sides.

âœI dunno what just happened, but please keep doing that!â Loch begged.

Rising Star obliged the flailing pegasus. Lochâs wings fluttered along the floor and her legs were kicking with each lick. He felt Sparkler's tongue move away and work its way downward, deeper into Lochâs slit, and Sparklerâs wet cheek was pressed up against his.

Sparkler probed deeper into Lochâs now swollen folds and savoured the flavour of what she found. She called up her magic and made her own little nubbin begin to vibrate, just as she had done in the shower so many times. As she worked her way in, she encountered resistance, unable to find the inner opening. She pulled back her head.

âœLoch has a filly ribbon,â Sparkler said in concern. Her spell ceased, and the pleasant thrum in her nethers ceased.

âœMmmm,â Loch moaned, feeling fear and apprehension.

âœLoch, I think I can help youâ Iâve been working myself to orgasm all by myself for many years. I have a very gentle touch with my magic. I think I could push down on it until it breaks,â Sparkler said in gentle tones.

âœIt is going to hurt, isnât it?â Loch asked.

âœMaybe,â Sparkler said, not wanting to lie to Loch, not during a moment like this. âœBut if we get it over with now, by the time you and Rising Star join with one another, if there is any pain, it should be over,â she suggested.

âœOkay,â Loch said in a fearful whimper. âœGet it over with,â she begged.

Sparkler leaned her head down and gently parted Loch with her muzzle. It didnât take her long to find what she was looking for. She rested her chin just below the ribbon of flesh and gave it one final parting lick. She summoned her magic and began to bear down.

Loch felt pressure on her folds as she was parted and the faint tickle of Sparklerâs soft pelt on her delicate inner skin. She felt Sparklerâs warm tongue drag along her inner depths. And then she felt pressure. There was a sudden sharp stabbing painâ

Sparkler applied pressure, adding just a little more every few seconds. Suddenly there was a wet popping sound followed by the faint sound of flesh tearing. Loch Skimmer shrieked in pain and tried to crawl away, all of her good legs kicking, and even her wings trying to pull her over the floor.

âœLoch, itâs okay, Loch just listen to my voice,â Rising Star said soothingly to the filly.

Loch bawled and tears trickled down the sides of her face.

Sparkler took Loch in her forelegs and pulled her close. She felt Loch cling tightly to her, and she could feel the plaster cast pressing into her withers. âœLoch?â Can you say something Loch?â Sparkler begged, seeking reassurance. âœWe can stop if you want to Loch. We can do this another time,â she said.

âœIâm okay,â Loch sobbed. âœIt really hurtâ just hold me,â she requested.

âœIt sounded thick. Some fillies have really thick ribbonsâ your poor filly bitsâ I would never want to hurt you,â Sparkler promised.

Loch sniffled. âœOkay, the worst has passed. Iâve come too far to quit now. I think my fear made it worse somehow,â she said.

Sparkler nodded and gave Loch one final squeeze before letting go. She looked over Lochâs filly bits and saw a rivulet of blood. She wiped it away with her foreleg and she felt Loch shiver as she did so. âœRising Star, sheâs all yours. Try to replace the pain with something sheâll want to remember,â Sparkler instructed.

Rising Star lowered his head and planted a loving kiss on Lochâs navel. The filly let out a nervous giggle and he saw her wiping away tears with her good leg. He saw more blood dribbling out, and, not knowing what else to do, licked it away. It was warm, salty, and rather coppery. He felt Loch shudder as he licked. He eased his tongue in, tasting blood and feeling her quivering inner muscles flexing as he prodded past the outer entrance.

Loch felt her pain subsiding and her fear melting away once again. âœI love you Rising,â she murmured.

Rising, hearing her words, started down low with his tongue and worked his way upwards in a long slow motion, ending with the rough edge of his tongue sliding over her quivering nubbin. He heard Loch hiss and felt her shiver. He started low again, teasing the flesh as he lingered over every wrinkle and fold, and pressed his long tongue in a little deeper as he worked his way up. He tried to recall everything Bucky had told him during their long talk. With his next lick, he prodded at at Lochâs perky pegasus pucker before working his way up. The rubbery texture felt strange on his tongue, and the flavour he wasnât too sure about, but the delighted squeal coming out of Loch made it the slightly uncomfortable experience worth it.

Sparkler watched with great interest, her magic once again buzzing on her little filly knob. She was sitting on the floor with her legs kicked out to the sides, and her eyes were half closed. She felt euphoric. A jolt of pleasure spiked through her when she heard Loch make a happy squeal and she could see Rising Star gently lapping at Lochâs stormy grey pucker.

Loch had no idea that something could feel so good. She closed her eyes and she felt as though she was floating. She could feel Rising Starâs tongue lingering over all of her secret places and loving every inch of what she kept hidden from the world.

âœGo inside of me,â Loch begged.

Rising Star, hearing Lochâs request, did as she asked. He plunged his tongue down deep and waggled it inside of her. He saw her back arch and her legs kicked on either side of his head.

âœMore of that!â Loch demanded.

Rising Star felt a strange perverse pleasure in watching the pegasus warm up to his affections. He was throbbing now, desperately needing a release. He began thrusting in and out with his tongue and Loch made little squeals and squeaks in time with his pumping.

âœOh something is happening,â Loch squealed. âœMy button needs loving,â she demanded.

Rising Star smiled broadly. The pegasus had let go and was now thoroughly enjoying herself. He took her delightful little button into his lips and suckled, giving it a gentle tug with strong suction. Based on the reaction he was gettingâ

Loch began to whinny fiercely and her wings became useless and stiff. She felt a hot gushing sensation down below as Rising Star squeezed her most tender part between his lips and tickled it with his tongue. Her ears were on fire. She bucked and snorted as she continued to whinny and nicker. She clenched her hind legs together, trapping Rising Star in her filly folds, and she realised that she was having an orgasm.

The first wave of euphoric joy washed over her and was just beginning to wear off as the second wave hit. The second wave was almost too much to bear. She squeezed down upon Rising Star with her thighs and let out an equine scream of passion.

Rising Star let go of Lochâs button and tried to let the filly recover, fearing that his head was going to be crushed. The pressure was already almost too much to endure. He realised that Lochâs strength dwarfed his own. She was a titan with wings and he was completely at her mercy. The thought made his cock twitch with need.

Try to survive Rising Star remembered painfully. Buckyâs words rang inside of his head.

Finally, Loch let let go and Rising Star pulled his head free.

âœWe need to finish this,â Loch demanded.

Sparkler felt herself approaching another orgasm. âœThis is hawt,â she murmured, not caring if anypony heard her.

Rising Star eagerly laid down on his back and made himself as comfortable as he could on the stone floor. He had needs and the lusty pegasus seemed sure to please.

âœI canât get up,â Loch cried. Her wings were too stiff to allow her to roll over.

Rising Star lifted the filly into the air, flipped her around, and lowered her on to his belly. Loch straddled him, balancing herself with her one good leg.

âœBe careful,â Rising Star warned.

âœNo,â Loch Skimmer growled.

âœBe gentle?â Rising Star pleaded, suddenly aware that he was not rutting Loch Skimmer, she was rutting him.

âœWeâll see,â Loch Skimmer grunted.

Loch bounced around on Rising Starâs belly. She could feel what she wanted, but couldnât seem to get it in. She growled in frustration and bared her teeth.

Sparkler, seeing the struggle, used her magic to ease the tip into Lochâs eager snatch.

Loch felt herself parted and eased herself backwards. About halfway in she paused, feeling some pain but not feeling any fear. She was still sore inside from where she had been torn. She looked down at Rising Star and snarled. Her head darted downward and she kissed him, a violent needy kiss that left waxy drool all over Rising Starâs muzzle. Loch could taste her own juices and it inflamed her mind.

Sparkler came rather suddenly as she watched the change come over the pegasus. Loch was a savage feral creature now. Sparkler felt incredibly aroused as she watched Lochâs tail slash through the air. Lochâs head lifted and she thrashed it about, causing her mane to whip around. Loch was beautiful and it filled Sparklerâs heart with desire.

No longer feeling pain, Loch began to rock her hips back and forth, feeling Rising Starâs fleshy ring rubbing up against her nubbin with each pelvic thrust. Her frenzied motion soon caused her to have another explosive climax. She laughed after the wave broke, feeling free, feeling as though she was flying. She loved the unicorn beneath her and she was no longer afraid. Her manic pelvic jerking caused Rising Starâs penile ring to keep rubbing over her now swollen and throbbing nub.

Rising Star felt nearly delirious. He had no control as he was being rutted silly. He couldnât even see straight anymore. He dug his forelegs into Loch Skimmerâs hips and held on. None of Buckyâs advice had prepared him for this. Finally, he wrestled some control from the filly and began to thrust his own hips upward, feeling a need for release. He felt Loch climax once again and she eased off, becoming a bit more passive and letting him work out his own frustrations. Rising Star let go completely and shagged the needy pegasus with everything he had, and he was pent up. Seeing her long tongue dangling from the corner of her mouth and flapping around pushed him over the edge. He thrust upwards and held her in place, releasing his load and gritting his teeth as he felt himself pumping out seed into her volcanic valley. He gave a few final pumps and then lay still.

Loch Skimmer ground her hips a few last times, grimaced, and then rolled away. She collapsed on her back beside Rising Star and let out a few final whinnies.

Sparkler eased herself down beside her herdmates and fanned her over overheated filly bits with her hoof. âœI love both of you so much right now,â Sparkler whispered.

âœI canât believe I was afraid of that,â Loch Skimmer said in a loud voice.

Keg Smasher looked up at the grey pegasus mare by his bed. This was the last pony he expected to see in his current state. Wheatberry was currently hugging her leg and the grey mare smiled pleasantly.

âœYou wanted to see me?â Keg Smasher asked weakly.

âœI wanted to make sure you were okay,â Derpy replied. âœAnd maybe talk a moment,â she added nervously.

âœI ainât going anywhere, we can talk,â Keg Smasher said in a low raspy voice.

âœI wanted to apologise. And say thank you,â Derpy said in a low voice.

âœFor what?â Keg Smasher answered.

âœThings got out of hoof between us. We donât see eye to eye. Iâve been feeling some regret. And I wanted to say that I am sorry. Can we be flockmates?â Derpy said cautiously.

âœI did something bad and you called me on it. I should be thanking you. I make mistakes, and I need honest ponies to call me on it. I need ponies that will take me to task,â Keg Smasher wheezed.

âœMaybe so, but I feel bad about it. Youâve given us so muchâ youâve given us Thistle. And Sentinel. I, uh, I love them more than anything. They both mean the world to me. I canât actually express with words how much I need them in my life,â Derpy said, baring her soul to the mutilated pegasus in the bed before her. âœAnd now, the foal. You have no idea how happy youâve made Lyra. That unicorn is full of darknessâ something bad has happened to her but nopony seems to know what. And when she was feeding that foal, I could sense the joy coming from her.â

Keg Smasher smiled weakly and took comfort in knowing that he had done the right thing. The pegasusâs words did more to make him feel better than all of the whiskey he had been drinking.

âœAnd I wanted to say thank youâ youâve given us family. That is a rare and valuable gift. We appreciate it,â Derpy said warmly.

âœI owe you so much moreâ you have no idea what your husband and your herdmates gave me today. I feel better knowing that I managed to give something back for all you and your herd have offered me,â Keg Smasher said, his eyes filling with tears.

âœI will leave you beâ you look like you need rest. We will talk again though. And Wheatberry is always welcomed with us,â Derpy said.

âœIf Iâ look, when she is older, if I wanted to send her to the mainland, for a visit, to learn about the outside the world, the good parts of the outside world, would you look after her for me?â Keg Smasher asked hesitantly.

âœOf course,â Derpy offered. âœI am honoured that you would trust me with your foal,â she said.

âœLass, I canât think of a safer place for my foal. Iâve never had a soldier who can throw a punch as hard as you can,â Keg Smasher replied with a weak smile.

Derpy blushed. âœI really am sorry about that,â she said.

Chapter 122

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âœI canât believe I was afraid of that,â Loch Skimmer said in a loud voice.

âœI canât believe we just did what we just did in a deserted library with no books,â Sparkler said.

âœIt was quiet and secluded,â Rising Star said breathlessly.

âœIt was until Loch started to whinny,â Sparkler replied as she began to giggle.

âœI could feel that little ring of his banging into my bump,â Loch tittered. âœBerry was right about mares mounting stallions.â

âœSo, uh, what do we do if there are foals?â Sparkler said.

Rising Star groaned, rolled over, and buried his face into Sparklerâs side. The cold stone floor beneath them felt good on his skin. âœBucky said he wouldnât be upset if there were foals,â he muttered into Sparklerâs ribs.

âœYou used the spells,â Loch whimpered.

âœYes Loch, but weâre in heat. And spells arenât always effective when dealing with a solar magic induced heat,â Sparkler explained.

âœWhere do you learn this stuff?â Loch asked.

âœThey teach fillies these sorts of things in school when they get old enough,â Sparkler replied.

âœThis morning, I was a colt. Today, I burned down an army of the undead and shagged both of my wives until they made funny faces and their ears went in different directions. I think I am slightly drunk. And tonight, when I go to bed, I will do so as a stallion,â Rising Star announced.

âœHey, you might even be a father,â Sparkler tittered.

âœYou know, I am strangely okay with that,â Rising Star said, revelling in his newfound sense of self confidence. âœWeâll be looked after. Weâll still go to university. We might have to accept some razzing for the help weâll need from our parentsâ but I am okay with that.â

âœAny of that gin left?â Loch asked.

âœNo, we drank it,â Sparkler replied.

âœI feel light headedâ was it the shagging or the gin?â Loch inquired.

âœDoes it matter? Both make you feel good,â Sparkler said. She lifted her tail and farted.

âœI wonder what time it is? Thereâs no windows in this library,â Rising Star said.

âœOh shite, weâll scare mama something awful if weâre not back before dark. Sheâll think weâre outside with the wolves,â Sparkler said.

âœHow long have we been here?â Loch questioned.

âœI dunno,â Rising Star returned. âœA while. Long enough for me to give both of you a proper case of the shudders,â he said with a chuckle.

âœShite!â Loch hissed.

âœDo you think weâll have time to head to the lake and take a quick dip so we can clean up?â Sparkler said, now actually concerned and full of worry.

Rising Star rolled to his hooves and then lifted Loch Skimmer up on three wobbling legs.

âœIâve been shagged too well, I canât walk,â Loch said as she almost fell and leaned into Rising Star.

âœI think weâre drunk,â Sparkler announced.

âœYouâre drunk!â Loch accused. âœIâm tipsy. Thatâs it.â

Rising Star pulled Loch Skimmer up on his back, where she proceeded to grind her filly bits against his croup and squeezed his neck with her good foreleg.

âœIâm mounting youâ yeahâ youâre mine now,â Loch said lewdly as she scratched her itch against Rising Starâs backbone.

âœOh this is such a turn onâ can we stay just a little longer?â Rising Star asked.

âœNo!â Sparkler snapped. âœWe donât know what time it is!â she exclaimed as she rose to her hooves.

Rising Star exited the library, pushing open the door and exiting the room. His horn was lit to keep away the darkness. He moved down the hall at a swift trot, wobbling somewhat unsteadily. There were lewd wet sounds as Loch continued to grind away on his back.

âœOh thatâs hawt,â Sparkler said as she followed along behind the pair.

As he trotted down the hall, Rising Star felt Loch Skimmer tense up and go still. She squeezed him painfully and he felt her body stiffen into total hardness, just as she had done not that long ago.

âœWait, Loch, did you justâ did you just do what I think you did?â Rising Star asked as he felt damp dribble running down into his dock and his tail.

âœSomehow she didnât whinny,â Sparkler quipped.

âœNo I had to grit my teeth together,â Loch said. âœOh this is nice, we need to do this more often, Berry was right, this is a lot of fun!â

âœSheâs gone from being shy and skittish to being a total pervert,â Rising Star said as his hooves clattered over the stone floor.

âœIâm no pervert, Iâm a pegasus, hear me whinny!â Loch shouted, her voice echoing through the hall.

âœAhead there will be a window I think, I think I saw one,â Sparkler said.

The trio hurried forward, moving at a brisk trot down the corridor, laughter peeling from the walls as they all felt the joy of being young and in love, as well as the euphoria of a good and proper shagging.

âœRising, when you run, youâre bouncing me up and down,â Loch panted. âœDonât stop runningâ I think Iâm getting close againââ

âœWhat have we done?â Sparkler questioned as she laughed.

âœBucky said to hang on and try to survive,â Rising Star answered. âœPegasi!â he snorted.

Rising Star skidded to a halt at the window and fear made his balls turn into ice cubes. âœOh we are so deadâ itâs dark outside,â he squeaked as his testicles were yanked up into his stomach, through his body, and into the lump he felt in his throat.

âœIt should be about dinner time, there is still a tiny bit of light, maybe we can run for the dining hall and get there before the rest of them do,â Sparkler said as she took off at a run.

âœYou stopped running!â Loch shouted in disappointment. âœI was so close!â

Rising Star bolted off after Sparkler and Loch began to whinny.

As Rising Star turned the corner, he saw total doom looming before him. A short unicorn with a jagged looking stony horn had come around the other corner, leading a troop of ponies behind him. Rising Star braced his legs and came to a skidding halt and a second later Sparkler crashed into his backside, nearly bowling him over.

âœWow you are drenched back here,â Sparkler said. âœWhy did you stop so suddenly?â she asked as she regained her footing. She stepped around Rising Star and froze.

âœHi!â Loch Skimmer said cheerfully.

âœHello daughter of mineââ Bucky said dryly.

Rising Star could not help but notice that Derpy and Berry had begun to circle, one taking one side, the other taking the other side. He gulped. Well, it had been nice while it had lasted.

âœYou stink of gin and nookie,â Berry Punch quipped as she sniffed a bit.

âœYes we do!â Loch Skimmer agreed.

âœYou scared us,â Derpy said. âœWe were hoping that youâd show up for dinnerâ we were worried sick,â she said angrily.

âœWe were making you some grandfoals!â Loch Skimmer announced.

âœShut up Loch!â Sparkler begged.

âœI took your advice Berryâ it was great. Now I know what it means to be a mare!â Loch Skimmer said gleefully. âœThe licking really did help,â she quipped.

Rising Star groaned. He had survived the undead, but he wasnât certain about his odds with the grey pegasus and the plum coloured earth pony. He heard more hooves and Bon Bon stepped from around the corner, shaking her head.

âœOh shite weâve stepped in the pony flops now,â Sparkler moaned.

âœOther than my filly ribbon breaking, I didnât feel a thing!â Loch announced. âœNo wait, I felt all kinds of thingsâ it was great!â

Rising Star dropped his head and tried to look as submissive as possible.

âœWeâre not mad at you about the sex, weâre mad because you scared usâ it got dark and we didnât know where you were,â Derpy growled.

Rising Star took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

âœAfter everything that happened today, we just sort of talked ourselves into itâ it made us feel better,â Sparkler pleaded.

âœLeave them be,â Bucky commanded. âœStop spooking them. Theyâve endured enough today. Let them feel good about what theyâve done,â he said he in a loud clear voice.

âœThe shudders feel really really good!â Loch Skimmer said as she giggled.

âœYou smell funnyââ PiÃa said from beneath Bon Bon.

âœYeah, you three stink,â Dinky agreed.

Sentinel nodded but said nothing as he moved to Buckyâs side.

âœMy sister looks stupidly happy,â Ripple remarked.

âœOh, you have no idea Rippy!â Loch Skimmer shouted. âœHey, did I ever tell you how Ripple got her name?â she asked nopony in particular.

âœOh no!â Ripple said pleadingly. âœNo!â

âœShe was in the lakeâ she was sitting down in the shallows watching our parents fish. I think she had just hit her decade mark or soââ Loch Skimmer said as she squeezed Rising Star.

âœNO!â Ripple begged.

âœAnd some of my mothers were on shore, repairing a netâ anyway, Ripple farted. So I said, âœHey! You farted!â and she says âœNo I didnât, I rippledâ back to me and everypony starts laughing at us and from that day onwards, everypony called her Ripple,â Loch Skimmer explained.

Ripple ran around in a circle burning with embarrassment and then finally ran to Bucky. She buried her face into his side and covered herself with her wings.

After a moment, the laughter started.

It started with a giggle, then a titter, followed by a few chuckles, until it was finally guffaws and Berry Punch had fallen to the floor to roll around and clutch her sides. Even Sentinel was laughing.

âœWe need to do more of this,â Derpy said. âœLaughing is good for us,â she said as she wiped a tear from her eye. âœWe forgive you for scaring us. I think I speak for all of us when I say that we hope you enjoyed yourselves. Now letâs go to dinner, they're probably waiting for Bucky since Keg Smasher will not be there.â

âœWe left the gin jug back in the library,â Loch Skimmer announced.

Bucky nudged Derpy and gestured at the giggling freshly consummated trio. âœLook at them, look how happy they are,â he said in a low voice. âœAnd everypony keeps looking at them. Everypony knows what they have done.â

âœThey stink,â Derpy said. âœOur wedding nightâ and the following morning, we stunk up the house. We need to do that again.â

âœWait for a heat and then have a marathon of sloppy shaggingâ with Thistle,â Berry suggested.

âœOooooh,â Thistle moaned.

âœI gave her that kiss like you told me,â Berry said.

âœOh?â Bucky asked in a low voice.

âœDerpy and I pinned her in a threeway smooch,â Berry said.

Thistle blushed and covered her face with her forehooves.

âœI never did get my fish,â Bucky said in a worried voice.

âœI had them put it on ice,â Thistle said from behind her hooves. âœTheyâll bring it out with dinner.â

âœSheâs so adorable when she tries to look innocent,â Berry said.

âœLyra, how is the foal?â Bucky asked.

âœSheâs fine,â Lyra said. She was holding the foal in a bubble of magic as she sat at the table.

âœSheâs been bleeding,â Derpy said in a worried voice.

âœThe cord keeps dribbling a little bit,â Lyra said.

âœLyra, while that is the herdâs foal, you are her mother. Please give her a good name,â Bucky instructed in gentle tones.

Lyra blinked a few times and then burst into tears. âœIâm sorry,â she said softly. âœIâm so emotional right nowâ Bon Bon help me,â she pleaded. She leaned into Bon Bonâs embrace and fell silent.

âœLyra is emotionalâ and letâs face it, sheâs just as troubled as I am. She is going to need our patience and our help. Please, all of you, be extra considerate of her needs,â Bucky said to his herd. He tapped his horn with a hoof. âœUnicorn problems cannot be faced alone. Unicorns need a herd to support them.â

âœI think it would be wise to get another mareâs milk started,â Bon Bon said. âœWhile I would suggest myself, I keep the same schedule as Lyra. We might want somepony from the daywatch.â

âœThat seems wise,â Derpy agreed.

âœDerpy produces pegasus milk, I say we lay the magical whammy jammy down on her,â Berry suggested.

âœThere is a difference?â Bucky asked. Quite without meaning to, he licked his lips.

âœPegasus milk is really thick and creamy. I mean, really thick. Frothy. Bucky, are you drooling?â Berry inquired after she answered.

âœNo!â Bucky retorted as he slurped and then wiped his chin with his foreleg.

Berry Punch narrowed her eyes. âœYouâre droolingâ does baby want a teat?â Berry teased.

âœBerryâ do you know what they make the cheese and the butter here from?â Bucky asked.

âœOf course I do you numptyâ did you just find out or something?â Berry returned.

âœYou knew and you didnât tell us?â Bucky cried.

âœKnew what?â Derpy asked.

âœBerry, want to tell them?â Bucky asked.

âœNo,â Berry said, pulling her head back and sitting up straight, which was a defiant posture. Her eyes widened and her ears perked forward.

âœDerpy, that butter that you like to slather all over everything, do you want to know where it comes from?â Bucky asked.

âœYou fool,â Berry hissed.

âœA goat? So what?â Derpy said dismissively.

âœBucky donât, mainlanders are happier not knowing!â Bon Bon begged.

âœYou knew!â Bucky said accusingly to Bon Bon. âœYou knew and you said nothing as I ate wedge after wedge of delicious cheese, gratin potatoes, and butter over everything!â

âœKnew what?â Derpy said in confusion.

âœBucky knows and now he hungers,â Berry said in a low voice. âœYou were droolingââ

âœHeâll be after our teats,â Bon Bon warned. âœThe unicorn knows and now he hungers.â

âœWhat is all of this silliness?â Derpy demanded.

âœThe cheese and butter all comes from mare milk,â Berry Punch said to Derpy in a low voice.

âœWHAT?!â

Chapter 123

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Thistle hesitated outside of the door to their room. She was afraid of what she was about to do, and she took a deep breath as the group of equines began to pass through the door. She took another deep breath when the first one didnât work, and, finding that didnât help matters at all, went ahead with what needed to be done anyway.

âœDerpy, can we talk? Here in the hall?â Thistle asked.

âœSure, what about?â Derpy replied. The grey mare still looked a bit unsettled. It had been a long day and there had been something of an unsettling revelation during dinner.

Thistle began to have second thoughts and wondered if this was a good time. She intended to let it go but then other words came out of her mouth, much to her surprise.

âœAbout our agreement,â Thistle said.

âœOh?â Derpy huffed inquisitively.

âœI know that we talked, and we discussed what was best for meâ and at the time, I thought it was the best for me, but I am having second thoughts,â Thistle admitted. She felt her breath catch sharply in her throat as Derpyâs ears folded back. She felt even more afraid when Bucky lingered in the hallway, and then he took a seat on the floor next to Derpy.

âœMare business,â Derpy said to Bucky.

âœI see that,â Bucky said.

âœSo go inside. Leave us be,â Derpy said.

âœNo,â Bucky replied. âœThistle looks terrified. I refuse to go while she remains distressed.â

Derpy shut the door and the three of them remained in the hallway. Much to Derpyâs dismay, Berry Punch opened the door and stepped out into the hallway. Berry shut the door behind her and sat down next to Bucky. She then heard Thistle make a sound that was the unmistakable sound of a filly holding back tears.

âœThey all seem so happyâ Sparkler is the same age as I amâ and Loch is younger than I amâ When I am taken into this herd, I want Bucky to be able to have me,â Thistle begged.

âœBut our agreement,â Derpy said.

âœI know what I asked you to doâ but when I asked for that, I was scared. And now I am realising that you canât be my fellow-wife and my mother. I know you didnât want me hurt, but I am hurting,â Thistle said in a strangled voice.

âœWhat is it that you two agreed on exactly?â Berry asked.

âœNot now Berry!â Derpy said forcefully.

âœThat isnât important,â Thistle said. âœWhat matters is, I made a mistake and I wedged myself into this herdâ I acted like a foal but expected to be treated as an adultâ and I allowed myself to be a scared little filly, which made Derpy want to protect me, and we both agreed to some pretty unreasonable things I think because we were both scared. But look at them. Look how happy they are. I want the same thing,â the kelpie explained.

Derpy groaned and sat down on the stone floor next to Bucky. âœThistle, we agreedâ Bucky is hung like a barrel. And with your pregnancy-â

âœI know what we agreed on. I requested some of those things, and you laid out what you wanted from me. And now I am begging you to reconsiderâ I did what I did out of foalish fearâ and desperation to get into your good gracesâ I was so hurt already,â Thistle pleaded.

âœDerpy, the truth is, as was previously stated, you canât be her mother and her fellow-wife. Just like with Sparkler, you are going to have to let her grow up and get hurt. It isnât going to be like how it was with you. Thistle is going to be loved and protected and we will never let go of her. Donât rob her of something important out of a misplaced motherly desire to keep her safe,â Berry said in a low soothing voice.

âœAnd it seems Thistle is showing some maturity in admitting that she made a mistake,â Bucky added. âœEven though I donât know exactly what went on.â

âœI am very confused and overwhelmed right now,â Derpy admitted, stating her honest feelings.

âœSo am I,â Thistle confessed.

âœWeâre not leaving this hallway until this is settled,â Bucky said in his quiet authoritative voice.

âœNo plan ever survives contact with the enemy. When we got together, we laid down our own rules of engagement and look at us now. Weâve had to make a few changes. We all agreed to some things because we lacked the foresight to understand how much we would change. Thistle came into our lives. Bon Bon and Lyra joined our herd. We had to create new rules of engagement. But we canât afford to squabble with one another. There are wolves trying to eat us. Some dark shadow looms over our family and wants to claim our husband. So we need to sort this shite out, get it over with now, and Derpy, you need to figure out where Thistle stands in this herd,â Berry said with her usual fine spoken eloquence.

âœI want you to protect meâ I am a scared stupid filly and I know thatâ I have made some stupid mistakesâ just try not to protect me too much,â Thistle asked of the grey mare beside Bucky.

âœYou are not a filly,â Derpy said in a strained voice. The pegasus wiped her eyes with a wing and took a deep halting breath. âœYouâre a mare and deserve to be happy. And I was wrong to think I could protect you as a filly. And to be honest, part of me is probably always going to be a bit protective of you, because that is just the way I amâ so call me on it when I do it.â

Thistle nodded, unable to speak.

âœSoâ when do I get to have a go at Thistle?â Berry asked as she waggled her eyebrows.

Thistle squeaked and looked at Berry. âœYou know, to be honest, there are times when the idea of you taking me scares me more than Bucky taking me,â she stated.

âœReally?â Berry said, her demeanour changing to something far more gentle. âœYou need to tell me when I overstep my bounds.â

âœBerry Punch is a shag-happy extravert,â Derpy said in a voice that was both happy and sad. âœIâll help you put her in her place,â she promised.

âœHey, Thistle is an extravert, I can tell,â Berry said. âœAnd nopony can tame me, I am berry wild.â

âœI made such plans to keep Thistle happy and safe,â Derpy said bitterly. âœAnd I feel so bad about it right now,â she added. The pegasus heaved a sigh. âœI feel so foolish. I thought I had everything figured out."

âœCheer up Derpyâ you can still be a mama bird. There is a foal in the next room that is going to need you. Lyra is going to need you. I am going to need you. And Thistle keeps getting bigger, so she is going to need you for other reasons,â Bucky said in kind tones.

âœI guess I still have some growing up to do,â Derpy said.

âœWe all do,â Berry said.

âœAre we done? Because I have important business in the next room,â Bucky said.

âœWeâre done I think,â Derpy said as she gave a glance to Thistle.

âœThere is one more thing I wantâ what I was promisedâ when weâ you knowâ do what needs to be done, I want to be with her first,â Thistle said to Bucky as she gestured to Derpy.

âœI can give you that,â Derpy replied with a husky whisper.

Bucky settled himself into the straw by the bed and then looked at Lyra. âœBring her to me,â he requested.

Lyra moved hesitantly, clearly wanting to keep the foal close to her. She took a few half steps and her ears folded back against her head. âœThis is really hard for some reason,â she said in a pained voice.

âœI know Lyra. Come here, lay by my side. Weâll share her,â Bucky said soothingly.

Lyra went to Buckyâs side and eased down next to him. As she pressed against his side, she felt better. Leaning over a bit, she kissed Bucky on the cheek and then pulled away blushing. She eased the foal down between Buckyâs forelegs, released her magic, and then rested her head upon Buckyâs foreleg, her snoot inches from the foal that she already so loved.

âœLyra Heartstrings, it is good that you are already so protective,â Bucky said in a low whisper to Lyra. He raised his other foreleg and stroked Lyra, brushing her mane from her eyes. He felt her sigh in contentment. He lowered his leg and stroked the tiny foal with his folded fetlock. âœLyra and I would burn down continents for you,â he whispered in the foalâs ear.

Lyra found herself giggling. This was an aspect of motherhood she had not expected. Her body was flooded with a crazy level of hormones after the spell she had used to start her teat milk. She could feel the foal breathing on her and could smell her milky breath.

Bucky continued to inspect the foal. She was tiny, her pelt was a faded indigo, and she had the orangest orange mane he had ever seen. A tiny nub of a horn protruded from her forehead. He heard a giggle from behind the privacy barrier as Sparkler, Rising Star, and Loch tried to clean themselves up a bit. He felt good about the giggles as he leaned down and placed his lips upon the foal, kissing her softly. He pressed his nose into the wild orange tuft of frizzy mane and inhaled her scent.

He felt a spike in his mood as he was flooded with oxytocin, his body rewarding him for fatherly behaviour. Dopamine raced through his slight frame, easing his many aches and pains from the long day of horror. The terrible visions of mutilated corpses and free roaming undead abominations were pushed out of his mind as serotonin went to work, changing his thinking and making him feel slightly drowsy. The triggered fatherhood response was a great natural antidepressant.

Bucky knew none of this, only that he felt better, and Lyra was feeling much the same. The two unicorns were letting go and allowing themselves to feel everything, life unfiltered and raw. Their herdmates stayed back, giving the both of them the space they clearly needed.

Overcome with strange new feelings, Bucky kissed Lyra again, nibbling on the corner of her mouth, and Lyra turned her head towards Bucky. The kiss intensified and both of them were quite overcome with emotion. After a few moments, they pulled apart and both of them snoot bumped the foal together.

âœBucky, I feel so funny,â Lyra whispered.

âœJust let go and allow this to happen,â Bucky breathed.

âœIâm scared Buckyâ Iâve never felt this much emotion,â Lyra murmured.

âœIâm scared out of my mind Lyra,â Bucky confessed under his breath. âœWe need to break the cycle of what was done to us and allow ourselves to feel this.â

âœThis much emotion is dangerous,â Lyra whimpered. âœI can feel it just behind my horn.â

âœI know,â Bucky said as he kissed Lyraâs cheek again.

âœWe owe it to her to love her completely and hold nothing back,â Lyra whispered.

Lyra pressed her face into Buckyâs neck and began to weep, letting go of a flood of emotion.

Bucky, feeling Lyraâs tears, gently nudged the foal closer to her. He could feel the small warm body and treasured the sounds of the foal breathing in and out. The foal tumbled over onto her back and Bucky pressed his snoot into her belly, once again breathing deep of her scent. He caught the faint scent of blood from the dangling remains of the cord and his muscles tensed as though they were flooded by some electric pulse. Some deep primal instinct took over and he licked the foal, tasting her on his tongue, and his body flooded with even more hormones. He cleaned away traces of dried blood and then licked away traces of gunk from her ears. It was not a conscious action, Bucky was no longer fully aware of what he was doing. He had slipped into some sort of primeval equine state, and this, coupled with the physiological changes that had been done to his body when his teeth had changed, now steered his behaviour. He continued to lick the foal until it was clean, and each touch of his tongue upon the foalâs body strengthened the bonds between them.

Sentinel watched the whole thing as though he was hypnotised, his eyes wide and almost unblinking as he sat, still as statue, fixated on Buckyâs interaction with the foal. When Bucky raised his head, Sentinel approached, moving oddly, his head low and his tail tucked between his hind legs. His wings drooped and the tips dragged over the stone floor. He approached slowly and when he drew near, he dropped to his belly and crawled forward through the straw.

The equines in the room fell into silence, realising they were seeing something new and unknown.

As Sentinel approached, Buckyâs remaining eye narrowed. He growled, and it was not an equine sound. It was a terrifying sound, a deep throaty rumble. And Sentinel replied with his own growl as he continued to approach. The lunar pegasusâ eyes were strangely glassy. The lunar pegasus colt sidled up alongside Bucky and then rolled over on his side, exposing his throat to the much larger male.

There were gasps as Buckyâs head dropped and he licked Sentinelâs exposed throat. The tension in the air grew thick as everypony watched, waiting for whatever happened next. Even Lyra was transfixed, realising that she was near two creatures that were no longer entirely ponies.

Sentinel rolled onto his belly and lifted his head, and the colt foal bumped his head against Buckyâs. There was more savage growling between the two. Whatever exchange was taking place, it was no longer wholly equine. Bucky nosed the tiny unicorn foal towards Sentinel, and the colt foal lowered his head. He too licked the infant a few times, and then pressed his face into the damp unicorn newborn. A deep throaty rumble emerged from Sentinel as he inhaled deeply, taking in the infants scent.

Bucky licked Sentinelâs ears as the colt bonded with the infant.

Lyra dared not speak. The two savage creatures beside her had slipped past the need for speech. She felt a surge of emotions and her heart began to race. She felt safe. She was secure. She was near two equine apex predators, something not natural to the equine herd structure, but welcomed by Lyraâs inner equine because of the feeling of protection the two of them brought. Trembling, realising she was in the presence of something completely new to her, Lyra cautiously extended her tongue and licked the side of Buckyâs face. She squeaked in fright as his foreleg lifted and then fell over her withers, pinning her down. Lyra had never been very strong. For a moment, she worried that she had set off whatever terrible beast that Bucky seemed to have become, but her fears turned into feelings of mild disgust and confusion when she felt the rough gritty texture of Buckyâs tongue along the side of her face and her ear, licking away her salty tears. Lyra, always the scholar, allowed the experience to happen and didnât move. She closed her eyes and let go, letting the experience take her.

As she felt the broad tongue brushing over her face, Lyra felt awash in a powerful new sensation of love. She felt her muscles relaxing, even as she came to the realisation that there were dangerously sharp fangs so very near her soft and tender flesh. There was nothing left to fear, and nothing could possibly harm her.

Lyra Heartstrings was now a mother, and her foal was safe.

Chapter 124

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âœI am having some trouble taking in what I saw earlier,â Berry Punch confided to Derpy, who sat beside her on the sofa. She looked over at Bucky, who was asleep on the bed. âœI mean, I canât help but think about how he was. He would cringe just from watching other ponies touch one another. If you touched him he would jump out of his skin. You tried to teach him pegasus manners, and he was disgusted. He was so brokenâ so hurtâ it filled me with such rage that somepony conditioned him to be that wayâ and then seeing him with that foal just a little while ago,â Berry said in a low strained voice. Berry leaned against the grey mare beside her and rubbed her own belly affectionately.

âœSomething about that whole display really turned me on,â Derpy confessed. âœI donât know what it is, but I liked it,â she stated.

âœYouâve changed too you know,â Berry said.

âœI am sure I have,â Derpy agreed with a sigh. She watched Lyra and Bon Bon, who were fawning over the foal, trying to keep her quiet so other ponies could sleep. Seeing her herdmates happy filled her with a contented feeling. âœHave I changed for the better?â asked Derpy in a quiet whisper.

âœI think so,â Berry said reassuringly. The earth pony gazed lovingly at the foal as Bon Bon nuzzled it. âœIâve been thinkingâ you know, while I am working, you know how I get Derpy, I can only have a clear head when I am doing something physical,â she stated.

âœWhatcha been thinking about?â Derpy asked in a tired voice.

âœHow are we going to move on once we leave this place?â Berry asked.

Derpy frowned and she rested her head on Berry Punchâs head.

âœI am so afraid that we are going to go back to the mainland only to find that we are not welcome. Or worse, go back to the mainland and not be able to fit in even if we are somehow welcomed back. Iâm too smart for my own good. Weâre a herd, and thatâs bad enough in most ponies eyes, but what a collection of horror we will be when we return to civilised society. Ponies are afraid of what they donât understand. Look at how ponies still treat Zecora. Or how ponies treat you. But little Sentinelâ if somepony was to tease him or mistreat them, I would probably kick them into a greasy puddle of chunks. And where does that get me? I have a bad temper Derpy. I love little Sentinel. Or Bucky. I couldnât bear somepony saying something bad about him,â Berry confessed.

âœI heard my name,â Sentinel said as he slid from one sofa and moved across the room. He clambered up on to the sofa with Derpy and Berry Punch. âœBoth of you should be asleep,â he whispered.

âœSentinel, do you know what came over Bucky earlier?â Berry asked.

âœNoâ and I donât know what came over me either. It felt like I was dreaming or something,â Sentinel replied as he crawled into Berryâs embrace.

The earth pony held Sentinel carefully, not pressing down on his withers where his charred flesh was. Berry Punch kissed the top of his head and then patted his backside affectionately.

The foal began to squall, causing both Lyra and Bon Bon to try and shush it, before it woke the sleepers. Bon Bon was making cooing noises while Lyra tried making silly faces and waggling her ears.

âœShe wants to go to sleep,â Derpy said knowingly. âœYouâve spent all this time playing with her, talking to her, feeding her, burping her, and you keep passing her back and forth. If you laid her down, sheâd be asleep in moments,â she added patiently.

âœOh?â Bon Bon said.

Lyra settled the foal down in the straw and then sat down beside her. She touched the foal with her snoot one last time and then backed away. It didnât take long before the squalling ceased and the foal fell silent. âœShe needed sleep,â Lyra whispered.

Derpy smiled and then turned to look at Berry Punch and Sentinel. She kissed them both. âœI am going to bed,â she announced as she pulled away and slipped from the sofa.

Berry watched as Derpy settled into the bed. âœI guess youâll be up all night Sentinel. Keep watch over your new sister,â Berry said and then she kissed the foal in her forelegs. She carefully set Sentinel down and then slipped from the couch herself, off to join her mates in the bed.

Bucky set down yet another glass orb. It would be dawn soon. He had awoken about an hour or two after midnight and had been hard at work since. He had filled several spell jars with minor spells and had made dozens of new glass orbs. He was getting good at working with glass and it made him feel good that it was a practical skill. Beer and booze could go into decorative glass bottles.

The lab was chilly because Lyra was back in their room. Bucky found he didnât mind the cold so much now. What was bothering him was his pelt. He was shedding heavily, which bothered him. Usually, in the summer, he was a light shedder, occasionally losing a few hairs. He had kept himself well groomed and well brushed, but recently he had let himself go. His mane was now long, and his tail had grown down to his chewed up heels. He scratched furiously at his ribs and even wondered briefly if perhaps he had fleas.

Much to his relief, his eyesight seemed to be back. It was a distressing thought that lingered in the back of his mind. He had not been able to see for any sort of distance, nor could he see much in the way of details when they had set out to purge the undead. But now as he worked in the dim light of a few candles, his new green eyelight, and his own horn, he found that he could easily read his spellbook from across the room.

He scratched yet again at his new sideburns. The growth of thicker mane-like hair was itchy on his cheeks. As he scratched, he cackled to himself with maniacal glee, and turned his head to look at one of his recent creations. In one of the spell jars he had placed a very powerful version of a âœwant it need it spellâ and he longed to throw it at one of the wolves. It swirled inside of the globe, looking purple and violent somehow, and it was a similar corrupted version of the spell that Dinky had once cast that had caused rampant sexual desire. It hadnât took him long to figure out what had gone wrong and he had easily replicated the spell. He intended to save the orb for when there was a large number of wolves and then unleash it when the time was right.

Above all else that had changed, Bucky had developed a hateful mean streak. Creating a glass jar of magical rape was stooping low by any stretch of the imagination. Celestia would never approve Bucky had thought to himself upon the completion of the magical ordinance. The unicorn version of the spell was never intended to work on ponies, it was meant to be a distraction cast upon something so a clever unicorn could escape and live to cast another day. Bucky had kept this aspect of the spell unchanged.

He laboured in the cold dark room, continuing to make more glass orbs, the effort to create one now a minor task. He was feeling some minor magical fatigue, but it wasnât anything he couldnât handle. As he worked, he formed a plan for enchanting the gasbag. It was going to take a while. And after the gasbag it would be time to forge armor. He had ideas. New knowledge filled his head now, his mind was flooded with all kinds of useful information from Sombraâs memories. Sombraâs fallen shadow had made a terrible mistake in trying to merge with Buckyâs mind and had left behind a wealth of information after its failure.

Chains would also need to be forged, and a harness for the gasbag, so The Scorned Mare could be hung from it. He would need an anchor as well. He was going to have some exhausting days up ahead of him. he lifted a jug of mead to his lips and guzzled down a considerable amount, relishing the warmth of the sweet frothy liquid. He belched loudly, patted his stomach with his hoof, and then belched again.

After another hour spent making glass globes, Bucky rubbed his head and realised it was time to quit for the night. His mead jug was empty.

In the moments just before dawn, Derpy was kissed to wakefulness by sweet mead flavoured lips, just as the kiss was getting good, Bucky had pulled away, and Derpy heard the sounds of another kiss on different lips. After another moment, there were more smooching sounds, and when Derpy had opened her eyes, Bucky was kissing Thistle gently.

The pegasus smiled as she blinked a few times and tried to adjust to the waking world. She had been having the most wonderful dream of being surrounded by foals and walking through a pleasant meadow full of grass and butterflies.

Derpy watched as Bucky continued his rounds, pulling in a squealing Bon Bon and kissing her on the cheek, and then Lyra, kissing the unicorn on her nasal bridge. Bucky then lifted the newborn foal in his magic and spent a quiet moment with the foal pressed to his neck. Unable to contain herself, Derpy reached out and grabbed a foal, any foal would do in a moment like this, and the foal she grabbed was pink.

âœI was sleepinâ,â PiÃa protested as she was squeezed.

âœDonât care,â Derpy said as she continued to cuddle PiÃa.

âœI care,â PiÃa muttered as Derpyâs lips pressed into her cheeks. She resigned herself to the pegasusâ affection and closed her eyes. Her mouth opened in a wide yawn as she rested her head against Derpyâs forelegs.

Dinky took yet another bite of pease porridge. It was disgusting, but it was food, and Dinky knew that she needed food for what she had planned. She chewed thoughtfully. Her long night of suffering had taught her a great deal, and now Dinky had a better idea of what she was capable of. She understood the power of music now, and Lyra had been right. It was a magic all of its own.

âœDaddy?â Dinky asked.

âœWhat Dinky?â Bucky replied.

âœI think that PiÃa and I know everything that Sparkler and Rising Star can teach usâ I want to study and experiment today,â Dinky requested.

She waited and watched as her daddy considered her request. He seemed to be taking a long time to answer and he had something of a silly looking half smile on his muzzle.

âœPiÃa wants to start reading Gabbensternâs Grimoire and weâre not trying to get out of school to go and play, honest,â Dinky pleaded.

âœI know Dinky, and that bothers me. Youâve been very focused lately,â Bucky said.

âœSo have you,â Dinky retorted in foalish frustration. She heard a sharp intake of breath from her mother and Dinky flinched, waiting for a stinging wing slap. After a few moments of sitting at the table with her eyes closed, Dinky realised she was in the clear. She opened her eyes cautiously and saw her mother glaring at her, and Dinky shrank down.

âœWhat are your plans Dinky?â Bucky asked.

Dinky tried to ignore her motherâs burning stare and in a far more respectful tone, she answered her father. âœI can connect to flies now. I was going to touch minds with different flies around the island and see what I can learn. I also want to test how much distance I can get,â she explained.

âœPiÃa, who was Gabbenstern?â Bucky asked.

PiÃa chewed her food and swallowed before saying anything. âœShe was a hippogriff naturalist,â she replied. âœIâve read the introduction already. She studied the habits of pack animals. And herd animals too. The book was included in the trunk with the others.â PiÃa paused. "She was a prolific writer who created a plethora of works."

âœPlethora?â Dinky asked.

âœA whole bunch,â PiÃa explained.

âœOh… why not just say âœa whole bunchâ and make things easier?â Dinky demanded. She stared at PiÃa and felt mildly frustrated as PiÃa rolled her eyes. Dinky shoved her muzzle into her bowl and ate angrily, feeling rather cranky this morning and not knowing why. She was impatient and wanted to use her magic. She didnât want to use little useless magic like scribbling out her lessons. She wanted to use real magic. The stuff that scratched the itch. And Dinky had a terrible itch.

âœPiÃa, do you know what a hippogriff is?â Bucky asked.

âœHalf griffon and half pony. The book I read said that the pegasi might exist from griffons and ponies mixing together and then many years later all the ponies had from that mixing was wings,â PiÃa answered.

Dinky swallowed and felt even more annoyed. She was a unicorn, and she felt she should be the smart one. Unicorns were supposed to have brains and horns. PiÃa was stronger than her, and recently, Dinky had come to the conclusion that PiÃa was smarter than her too. On some days, she felt okay about it, but today, Dinky was in a bad mood. The corner of her eye wouldnât stop twitching and it had been bothering her all morning since she had woken up. She felt her frustration boil over and Dinky filled with anger.

âœI need to cast!â Dinky shouted angrily as she slammed her hoof down on the table. She banged her hoof a few more times and the corner of her mouth began to twitch along with her eye, increasing her feeling of frustration. âœI donât have time for stupid foalish stuff anymore!â Just as Dinky was getting ready to bang on the table again, she felt a rush of cold all around her and she thought for a moment that she was being turned inside out as the dining room seemed to melt away all around her.

Chapter 125

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Bucky reassembled himself and Dinky in the courtyard and then watched and waited as the foal recovered from being pulled through the aether. Dinky stumbled around at first, and then she proceeded to hurl out her breakfast. Suffering molecular dissipation, having your molecules forcibly shifted from one location to another, and then reassembled bit by bit was difficult to endure no matter how many times one did it, but the first time was always the worst.

He waited patiently for Dinky to finish puking and when she stood there gasping and choking, he gave her a gentle whack on the backside, causing her to hack and dislodge pease porridge from her nostrils. She drew in a shuddering breath and then stood there heaving for several minutes.

While she was still trying to situate herself, Bucky struck.

âœCome on Dinky. Weâre going on rock patrol,â Bucky announced.

Dinky, still trying to get air into her lungs, couldnât find the means to protest. She stood in place, still sucking in wind and hating the sour taste of bile in her mouth. The sour stench of vomit clung to her nostrils. She was covered in a thick layer of frost and it make her shiver painfully. She was so miserably cold that all she could think about was her motherâs downy wings and the warmth they offered.

As Bucky walked away, he turned around to look at Dinky. âœCome on Dinky, or I will make us wink again,â he threatened.

A groan escaped from Dinkyâs lips as she struggled to catch up with Bucky. She didnât want to be teleported again. She was still having some trouble breathing from the first time. She spat out chunks of breakfast from her mouth and forced her legs to work. As she began to follow her father, she felt an odd envious sensation. That was power she realised, winking away and having near instantaneous recovery from the aftereffects. As the thought settled into her mind, she puked once again onto her own forehooves.

Bucky tugged Dinky along on a tether of magic, dragging her behind him as he walked. She struggled to keep her hooves and he could hear her laboured breathing. âœPegasi have to endure intense gravitational forces as they fly and loop through the air. It is very hard on their bodies. Weâre not so different Dinky. We unicorns have to endure a lot on our bodies too. Magic takes a lot out of us. Winking for example, as you have discovered, is not a fun experience. Feels unpleasant, doesnât it?â Bucky inquired loquaciously as he chatted amiably with his suffering foal. âœBeing a unicorn doesnât mean a comfortable life Dinkyâ this is why most unicorns stick to simple magic or donât even bother casting very much if at all. They stick to simple magic, cantrips, and very few explore their powers as wizards. You have to be hard Dinky. Tell me Dinky, do you like pain? Because being a wizard means pain. It is the cost of our spell casting. This is where my family has failed with our magical gifts Dinky. Every one of us could be master level wizards, like my father, heâs a type three, but heâs afraid of pain. Suffering is for other ponies he says. He said I was a damnable fool for delving so deeply into the magical arts. My mother could be a brilliant wizard. She was born with an extraordinary gift. Sheâs a type three as well. Sheâs let it go to waste. Sheâs afraid of a little pain. Letâs find out what you are made of Dinky, shall we?â

Dinky could not respond. Every time she opened her mouth to talk, she felt more vomit threatening to spew out.

Bucky tugged Dinky along through the gatehouse and as he walked, everything looked hazy and out of focus. He realised that he was having trouble seeing, and he dismissed it as fatigue from a long night of magical labour. âœWeâre going to gather a large pile of stones Dinky. I need rocks for all kinds of things. Well, correction, youâre going to gather a large pile of stones. Iâm going to relax and hope that Thistle takes pity on me and brings me a fish, because I had my breakfast so rudely interrupted by a foalish outburst,â Bucky explained. He took a deep breath and turned to look over his shoulder at Dinky. âœYou can have a drink and wash the taste out of your mouth once youâve earned it or youâve conjured your own water,â he added in a stern voice.

Dinky moaned in frustration and felt the hot sting of tears in the corners of her eyes. Bucky had been hard on her many times before, pushing her onwards to bigger and better things, but she had never seen him like this. On some level, she knew she deserved it after having her temper tantrum. She wondered just how bad her punishment was going to be.

The rocks were getting difficult to keep holding and Dinky had more than a dozen good sized stones held in her magic as she marched along behind Bucky, her short little legs forced to work double-time to keep up to him. She was miserable as she followed her father.

âœThereâs another one. I like that one. It has heft,â Bucky stated as he pointed at a nearby stone.

Dinky nearly cried. It was as large as Buckyâs head. She struggled to lift it in her magic along with all of the other stones. She wondered briefly what would happen if she refused, but then realised, she didnât want to find out. She supposed that there might be things worse than winking that Bucky could do. She was sweating and she could smell the hot pony smell wafting off of her. Dinky hated being hot and stinky, and it offended her budding feminine sensibilities. She wobbled after her father on trembling legs, no longer sure just how many stones she was carrying.

âœWe have lumber to move tooâ The Scorned Mare needs more work. Well, you will be moving lumber. Guess what Iâll be doing?â Bucky said informatively.

âœWaiting for fish?â Dinky panted.

âœYes! You catch on quickly,â Bucky replied.

A low moan escaped from Dinkyâs lips. She wanted to quit, to fall over and let everything fall, but she knew that Bucky would never accept her excuse that she was out of energy. She had stayed up all night and endured, and now she knew that she was probably going to labour all day because Bucky knew what she was capable of.

âœIâm going to sit over here in this shady spot and eat this lovely fish that Thistle was kind enough to bring me. Youâre going to move lumber. No less than a dozen planks at a time. If I see you moving less than a dozen planks from the gatehouse to the ship, there will be a crack lesson in teleportation mechanics. Do you understand me?â Bucky asked. As he spoke, he was uncertain if he could even see how many planks Dinky was carrying. His eye was having trouble again. He had spent too much time in the lab working and reading. He supposed that he wasnât as young as he once was. Not even at the quarter century mark, he already had grey hairs coming in and was having eye trouble. He pondered the thought of getting glasses. Some ponies needed them.

Dinky broke down into tears and nodded. He had been working her over for an hour or two by now. She suffered in mind and body. Most of her breakfast had been barfed out and her stomach growled painfully. Her legs were already getting sore and had a tremble. Her sides ached from the puking she had done. She hadnât had any water, and her mouth was hot and dry. There was also a terrible taste that coated her tongue. She resigned herself to her fate and marched off to collect lumber.

Berry Punch prodded her teat with a hoof and watched as a dribble of milk ran out. She felt weird all over and strangely emotional. Before going to bed, Lyra had laid down the magical whammy jammy on her and made her start producing milk. She licked her teeth and enjoyed several lewd thoughts.

âœConsider this your punishment for not telling us about what we were eating,â Derpy whispered.

Tingles coursed through Berryâs body and she giggled. âœThis isnât punishment at all. I canât wait to tease Bucky,â Berry said in a soft gleeful voice.

âœYouâre enjoying this far too much,â Derpy muttered with a smile.

âœI think I have a new fetish,â Berry announced. âœShould I be this turned on after having a foal suckle on my teats?â she asked, Berryâs voice now far more serious.

âœOh, you have no idea how bad it can be just yet. There were times after feeding Dinky that I had to go take care of myself after she was done,â Derpy answered. She said nothing to Berry, but she felt a twinge of worry for Dinky and her foal was on her mind.

âœI felt a tingling sensation,â Berry reported. âœIs that normal?â she asked.

âœMy doctor told me it was just hormones being released. Teat feeding is supposed to feel good otherwise mothers wouldnât want to do it,â Derpy explained.

âœI felt so empowered,â Berry whispered. âœLooking down and seeing that little foal latched on to my teat. I felt like I could carry the world upon my back. Do you think Bucky was teat fed?â

Derpy felt her wings flare outwards a bit as the question flummoxed her mind. âœBerry, where do you come up with this stuff?â she questioned.

âœI dunno, but think about it, Buckyâs mom, that hateful frosty bitch, and all those other stuck up Canterlot snobs, do you think they teat feed? I mean, teat feeding feels good and requires equine on equine contact, so Iâm thinking they hire a nursemaid to do it for them or use bottles and formula, which makes me spitting mad and I canât even figure out why,â Berry said in a heated whisper.

âœI used bottles,â Derpy said guiltily.

âœBut you used teat milk,â Berry retorted. âœYou were out working and Dinky had to eat.â

âœAre you okay?â Derpy asked.

âœYeah, I know, something has come over me,â Berry confessed. âœPoor Bucky,â she said with a sorrowful sigh. Berry could feel her emotions threatening to overcome her. She wanted to cry and laugh right now. She wanted to be cuddled. âœI feel really strange right now,â the earth pony announced.

Derpy stroked the foal sitting in the straw pile and looked over at Lyra, who was sleeping with a dopey looking exhausted grin. âœBon Bon said that Lyra has never behaved like this before. Sheâs never been this happy. Bon Bon thinks being a mother will help heal Lyra,â she whispered to her best friend.

âœThanks for talking me into this,â Berry said to the grey mare sitting in the straw. She felt tears welling in her eyes and she wiped her face with her foreleg. âœIâm crying,â she muttered.

âœThere there Berry, itâs okay,â Derpy said soothingly as she stroked her herdmate with her wing.

âœNo it isnât okay,â Berry said. âœEverything feels weird and I feel so in love with everything right now like you and Bucky and that foal and part of me wants to get laid but I donât want it rough, I kinda want somepony to spend some time being sweet and gentle with me and tell me I am a good pony while they shag me,â she explained.

Derpy blinked several times and stared at Berry, and then she realised that Berry Punch was being serious. More tears were coming and Derpy realised that Berry Punch was going to be in for a trying day. âœPregnancy hormones are tough, but suddenly having your body jolted into producing teat milk must be really hard on you,â she said out of concern for her friend.

âœI really wish we had some sweet potato chips,â Berry Punch said wistfully.

âœIâve been craving waffles,â Derpy admitted. âœWaffles with lime marmalade.â

âœSo this morning sickness thing?â Berry inquired.

âœIt comes and goes,â Derpy said. âœYou think Dinky is okay?â she asked, no longer able to contain herself and feeling very concerned.

âœI think Bucky is going to help her get her head screwed back on straight,â Berry replied.

Dinky laid in the grass and cried, too tired to do anything else. She had been at work for hours. Her back ached, her horn hurt, and her legs cramped painfully. She was a sobbing blubbering mass of misery. Moving rocks, moving lumber, carrying bucketfuls of water out and refilling the common drinking troughs in the middle of the courtyard, her labours allowing the earth ponies that usually kept the drinking troughs full a well deserved break. Then she had unloaded a wagon, lifting each sack from the wagon and stacking it neatly in a supply shed. After that, Bucky had set her to work greasing the gate, slathering everything down with goop in the never ending battle against rust.

And now, Dinky wanted nothing more than to crawl into her motherâs embrace and be a good foal. She was ready to be a foal again. As a stabbing pain shot through her head, she covered her face with her forehooves as she gibbered in agony.

She felt a hoof touch her gently and she pulled away. Bucky was not so easily refused though and Dinky found herself pulled into his embrace as he sat on his haunches in the grass. After trying to resist for a moment, she melted into his forelegs and wept. She wanted to say she was sorry, but the wracking sobs would not allow her. Her horn sparked and fizzled, sending off showers of sparks. Each bit of magical discharge was excruciatingly painful.

âœThe day is only about halfway done Dinkyâ do you want to do stupid foalish stuff or do you want to continue working like an adult?â Bucky whispered into Dinkyâs ear.

A wordless shriek escaped Dinkyâs lips and she worried that her punishment could stretch on all day. She was certain that a whole day would kill her.

âœThe day has only just gotten started Dinkyâ and there is much to do. Even after the sun sets, there is so much work that needs to be done. Now I want you to pull yourself together and give me an answer. Do you want to do stupid foalish stuff or are you ready for some adult responsibilities?â Bucky inquired in a hard voice.

Dinky wanted to tell him that she was sorry, that she had messed up, but she could not get the words to come out. Instead, she lay limply in his embrace and continued to blubber and dribble snot everywhere. In the distance, a bell rang out.

âœI bet stupid foalish stuff sounds pretty good right about now,â Bucky stated in a flinty voice. âœJust imagine how nice it would be to be sitting at a table doing your schoolwork. Or a bit of magical experimentation with PiÃa at your side. By being an insufferable brat, you took yourself away from PiÃa. Just imagine how miserable she is right now, and how worried she is about you,â he said in a stark whisper.

Her fatherâs words cut deep and Dinky recoiled in mental anguish.

âœWell, since you wonât answer me, I guess we go back to work,â Bucky announced.

âœNO!â Dinky blurted out in a gagging ragged scream. She started to choke on her own snot and she felt herself lifted in magic, turned upside down, and then thumped lightly. She hacked up large wad of phlegm and tried to spit it out. It clung to her lips and to her tongue, dribbling out slowly in what seemed to be one long impossible to break strand. Still sobbing, she sputtered and spat, trying to get the blob of mucus to let go. She felt humiliated and embarrassed on top of everything else. The hateful slimy substance was finally pulled away from her by some unseen force and she continued to spit, trying to get the last of it from her mouth.

âœSo, are you ready to do some stupid foalish things again, like having lunch and taking a nap?â Bucky inquired in a flat monotone.

Dinky, unable to stop sputtering and still hanging upside down with snot dribbling from her nostrils, nodded her head yes as best as she could given the situation.

âœI lost an entire morningâs worth of labour that needed to be done because of your outburst. That is a half a day lost. That means it is going to be a half a day longer to finish up what needs to be done, which means another half a day before we can begin to remove the wolves,â Bucky said in icy tones.

The dreadful realisation settled into Dinkyâs mind and she experienced the worst spike of mental pain she had endured so far today. More than anything, she wanted to crawl into a dark hole in the ground and die. Shame flooded her mind and guilt gnawed at her insides. She felt herself being righted and felt a rush of gratitude that her blood was no longer flooding into her head and making her throbbing horn hurt even worse.

âœDo we have an understanding of one another? Donât try to speak, just nod your head yes or shake your head no Dinky Doo Hooves,â Bucky commanded.

Dinky nodded and then felt a rush of relief as once again, she was taken into her fatherâs embrace. She wrapped her forelegs around his neck and squeezed tightly, never wanting to disappoint him ever again. She felt herself being swung around to Buckyâs back and she felt him rise on unsteady legs. She clung to his back as he walked, still bawling, aware that other ponies were probably watching her foalish outburst. It made her feel even more miserable and ashamed as her father trotted through the gatehouse and then through the courtyard. Dinky was painfully aware of how she must look right now with her messy snot covered face.

Miserable and in pain, Dinky resolved not to make the same mistake twice.

Chapter 126

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Her punishment it seemed, was not over. After getting cleaned up, having a long drink, eating lunch, and then returning to their room, Dinky found herself gently pushed away by her own mother. This was worse than anything she had endured this morning. This hurt. She wanted so badly to be hugged, but now understood that her mother was furious with her.

âœYou were a brat,â Derpy said in a wavering quiet voice. âœYou made everypony miserable. We have the wolves making ponies miserable. We donât need you making it worse. What you did was rotten. PiÃa cried and couldnât pay attention in school. Your fatherâs legs are paining him from following you around. I raised you better,â she added in a cold voice as she pushed Dinky down on the bed.

Dinky crawled away from her mother and cuddled into Bon Bonâs side. The earth pony did not wake. She buried her face into Bon Bonâs well padded ribs and forced herself to not cry, not wanting to add any further misery by waking the sleepers.

Derpy walked away from her foal slowly, shaking her head from side to side as she did so. She exited the room and carefully shut the door behind her. She stood on the other side of the door and took a deep shuddering breath.

Failing to hold it in any longer, the grey pegasus mare burst into tears all alone in the hallway.

Bucky stared at the massive expanse of the canvas gasbag. It was mind bogglingly large. Absolutely huge. He was going to have to enchant one side of it, and, when that was done, crawl inside the canvas tube and enchant the other side of it. He groaned in anticipation of the task ahead. It was going to mean a lot of time on his legs, moving around, going from section to section as he cast various enchantments on it to make it cloud worthy.

For one brief moment, he worried about Dinky and felt a shudder in his barrel. Seeing her in the condition she had been in had almost made him cry.

Just spreading the gasbag out from its wadded up state had physically worn Bucky out. It lay spread out in the meadow next to The Scorned Mare, more than twice the length of the ship. It was going to kill the grass and bugs would nest under the canvas. The very notion of infestation caused Bucky to shiver.

Resigning himself to his task, Bucky set about enchanting the vast expanse of canvas.

Loch Skimmer lay half dozing in the sun. She felt pretty good about everything in life at the moment. All of her fears about Rising Star were now gone, replaced with a strong feeling of closeness. She could hear him and Sparkler splashing in the water not too far away. She rolled over onto her back and sprawled out, just like she had seen Berry do so many times. She could feel the sun on her teats and shining on places that usually she did not present to the sun. She rested her bad leg on her barrel and heaved a sigh of satisfaction.

Without even realising it, she started to whistle, something she had only done when she was truly happy and safe. Her mothers had scolded her for whistling, telling her that it only made other ponies think that pegasi were part bird and that whistling made them all look bad. Loch Skimmer had taken to doing it when she was all alone or with Ripple.

In the trees all around the lake, birds joined in and sang along with Loch Skimmer. She was completely lost in song now, feeling a rapturous sense of joy, and sunning her belly. She was unaware that the splashing had stopped and that her mates were enraptured by her song.

She was completely unaware of the new mark adorning her hips as she continued to chirp and warble her song of joy. She just wanted the world to feel as happy as she did. And now, following her lead, the many birds in the trees echoed her song, filling the woods and the loch around them with a feeling of happiness.

Without knowing why, the fisherponies and the farmers in the area felt happier, their spirits lifted. The nets werenât so heavy and their tasks were not so arduous. There was now a spring in their step. Those in love or falling in love felt their passions quicken. Kisses became far more fevered.

In mainland Equestria, pegasi managed the moods of the day with dawn songs, and certain rare pegasi manifested rare magic to influence animals capable of song. It was old magic, primeval magic, one of the cornerstones of harmony magic, and it was one of the many ways that the equine civilisation had tamed the earth. Music was a magic all its own, and nature was full of many voices. All that was needed was a conductor of sorts to bring them all together into harmony.

Rising Star stood next to Sparkler, frozen in awe. Both of them could feel it, strange magic in the air, it made their horns tingle as their spirits lifted. The birdsong was breathtaking. And the cause of it all was a pegasus in the grass, sunning her belly and whistling. The pair clung to one another, realising they were seeing something wonderous. Both wanted to say something, but were fearful to interrupt something so beautiful and precious.

Rising Star could scarcely breathe and Sparkler leaned against him trembling. As he watched, there was a flash of light and then Loch Skimmer was changed forever. On her hip was a glorious golden sun with a music note in the middle. Rising Star had witnessed a few things in his life that would forever leave a lasting impression upon him, but this was a moment he knew he would treasure, seeing the pegasus that he so loved getting her mark.

He pressed his cheek against Sparklerâs and did nothing to break Lochâs concentration, hoping the song would continue.

As Bucky worked, he couldnât help but notice that the birdsong was becoming louder and more focused. His legs didnât hurt as much and he found that it was much easier to work. The song was soothing and after the troubling morning he had endured, he felt strangely happy.

His horn tingled strangely and Bucky realised he was feeling magic. Old magic. Primal magic. He had felt it coming from Cadance on the day he was married. He lifted his head and looked around. Whatever this was, it was strong. It carried with it a demanding magical compulsion that was difficult to resist. Not that Bucky wanted to resist. He closed his eye and let the moment take him. Something was focusing the latent energy of the nearby ley lines and turning it into raw emotional suggestion.

Realising that the magic was being focused caused an alarm to go off in Buckyâs mind. You needed a unicorn to channel this sort of magic, and there shouldnât be any unicorns this powerful on the isles. His eye opened and he cast several warding spells upon himself in rapid succession. He then cast several more spells that would allow him to locate the source of this strange magic. He then went shambling off on unsteady legs to investigate the source of the magical disturbance.

Loch was oblivious to the effect she was having on the world around her. The sun on her teats and her delicate bits was arousing, and she reached down with her good leg and rubbed her navel, reveling in the sensation of her own touch.

Belly rubs felt good.

Her folded fetlock traveled further down as she thought of the events in the library just yesterday.

This felt good too.

Her whistling changed with her mood, becoming a bit more amorous. She rubbed the soft flesh just between her teats with the soft velvet covered knuckle of her fetlock. She moved in a slow lazy circle that made her whistle warble and change in pitch.

âœRisingâ is sheââ

âœShe is or she is about toââ

âœRising Star, this is hawt, what is she doing?â

âœShush Sparky, I want to keep watchingâ just a little lower Lochâ you can do it, thatâs my filly.â

âœRising Star, you pervert.â

âœI said to shush Sparkyâ donât tell me this isnât turning you on, enjoy the show.â

âœOh I am Rising, I am.â

âœOh sweet mercy, she is! Go Lochââ

âœThe songâ the musicâ it is driving me crazy. Oh who would have thought watching a pegasus stroking herself off would be so hot?â

âœI could watch this all day Sparky.â

âœYou and me bothâ wow Rising she is really getting into it. Look how she kicks.â

âœUncontrollable boner Sparklerââ

âœOh Iâve gone hard too Risingâ wait, are those ducks doing what I think theyâre doing?â

âœUh huh.â

âœHow is she doing this Rising?â

âœLook, I am trying to watch a really sexy pegasus rub one out, I have no idea how this works.â

âœI know that pegasi can affect the weather and the atmosphere, but sheâs affecting the atmosphere with what sheâs doing.â

âœSparkyâ shush.â

âœSo uh, wanna fool around?â

âœMaybeâ but let her keep doing her thing. She just got her cutie mark Sparkler.â

âœWatching those ducks go at it and making me kinda good to go.â

âœSparkyââ

âœI am a horny teenager Rising, what, you think just because I am a filly that I am somehow immune to looking at something and not getting turned on somehow? I went shopping with my mom and Berry one time, saw a display of bananas, nearly lost my cool, turned around and then ran right into a display of cucumbers. Berry Punch laughed at me because she knew what the deal was. Mom was kinda confused.â

âœOh Sparky, youâre not helping me at all.â

âœI just heard something hitting the waterâ are you dribbling?â

âœSparky, please, this is embarrassingââ

âœEeeew youâre drooling!â

âœI canât help it, Iâve gone past the uncontrollable boner stage and into the I am going to explode stage.â

âœThatâs kinda hawt. So, uh, anything I can do to help you explode so I can watch?â

Bucky approached the lake, moving slowly and cautiously. The animals were actingâ strangely. Strong primal magic was in the air. He could feel it. He had felt it before when Cadance had bound them together. Ahead of him was whistlingâ a loud clear whistling, a warbling wavering whistling.

He pushed ahead through the tall grass and wove in between the many saplings all around him.

As he approached the small private clearing where Thistle had made her home and the other ponies tended to stay away from, he saw a lone figure sprawled out in the grass.

Several things happened all at once. Bucky realised it was Loch Skimmer. He came to understand that she was the source of the magical disturbance and it was her whistling that was the cause. He saw Rising Star and Sparkler a short distance away standing in the shallows of the lake. He discerned that Loch Skimmer had turned herself into a musical instrument and she was giving herself a good strum. There was a conclusion that he was terrible at metaphors under these sorts of circumstances. If anything, she was some kind of woodwind or a horn, but she was incapable of giving herself a good blow. He understood that Rising Star and Sparkler were engaged in a very private act.

At the end of these realisations, he realised that he needed to go. He had seen too much. He turned tail, and, on aching trembling legs, left the young trio to have a private moment to themselves. As he departed, he thought about the deep primal magic he was feeling, how it was a pegasus of all creatures who was channeling it, and then he came to his final mind blowing conclusion.

Princess Cadance had been a pegasus before becoming an alicorn.

Loch Skimmer basked in the sunny afterglow, feeling alive. Her whistling had ceased during her shuddering gasps. She was vaguely aware that Rising Star and Sparkler had probably watched her. She hoped that they had enjoyed the show. The itch in her nethers felt a little easier to bear now, just as Berry had said it would be if she gave herself a little nudge now and then.

Loch intended to give a very heartfelt thanks to Berry Punch.

She took a deep breath, held it for a moment, and then let it out slowly. As she lay there recovering, she heard hoofsteps approaching. She rolled over and looked in the direction of the sound. She saw Sparkler and Rising Star, and both looked more than a little flustered.

âœEnjoy watching me?â Loch inquired.

âœOh you have no idea,â Sparkler replied.

âœLoch Skimmer, you crazy crazy pegasus, you have a cutie mark,â Rising Star said proudly.

âœYou can get a cutie mark for doing THAT?â Loch cried out in alarm.

Chapter 127

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The itchiness in his pelt was driving him to distraction. He reached up with a hoof and scratched at the base of his throat; this caused a mass of fine small hairs to drift down the grass. He glanced around him, twisting his head to make sure no pony was looking. He sat down on his haunches, balanced himself carefully, and then reached up with one trembling hind leg to scratch behind his ear. A front hoof lacked the leverage required for this kind of itch. Little tan hairs drifted away in the faint breeze.

For a moment, Bucky wondered if one could go mad from itching.

He tried to distract himself by thinking about something, but his thoughts drifted to Loch Skimmer and his discovery of strange magic. He wasnât in the mood to ponder that so he pushed it out of his mind. He thought of Cadance briefly and felt a strange longing for her. He wanted her near so he could know that she was safe. That was distracting and he didnât need distracting. He needed focus.

He needed help.

The canvas loomed before him and it was daunting. Heâd been at at for a fair number of hours. He couldnât remember how long he had been awake, but he was starting to feel a bit sleepy. The summer day seemed entirely too bright and a nice nap seemed like a really good idea.

He continued about his task and then he realised in a rather sudden burst of mental clarity that he had helpers. He cursed himself for failing to grasp the obvious. He had three unicorns that could potentially help himâ what they lacked was the education. It had taken him years to learn the sort of enchantments needed for this kind of work and thousands of hours of practice in school to become confident in his abilities.

Princess Celestia insisted that ten thousand hours spent at a task was required for expertise.

The problem was, Bucky didnât have ten thousand hours to bring his helpers up to speed. What he did have was the ability to commune. Passing along the subtle nuances of his craft would be difficult if not impossible. He would have to go over and check every square inch of their work repeatedly. He could give them the basic gist of what needed to be done, and thenâ Bucky wasnât sure what came next. Simple spells were easy to pass along. Theory and thought was manageable. But this, this was going to be complex. He wasnât sure about Rising Starâs ability to perform the task. Rising Star was more about brute force. Sparkler was a good candidate. She was a quick learner and had a keen mind. And then there was Dinky.

Dinky had given him quite a scare. Watching her growing irrational behaviour, coupled with the twitching and the fact that she wasnât acting at all like herself had frightened him a great deal. He worried briefly about Sparkler and Rising Star, wondering when any issues might surface or manifest in their behaviour. He needed them leveled out. Too much was depending on them.

He reflected back on all of the times he had been âœworn outâ as a foal. Hours spent scrubbing the floors of Canterlot castle and the school. Polishing the marble staircase in the grand gala hall. Polishing every bit of brass, silver, and gold finish in one of the many well appointed rooms. A couple of times, Princess Celestia herself had taken time out of her busy day to loom over him, give him the stink eye, and lecture him into submission. She was a stickler for details, letting him know when he missed a spot or if there was a smudge left somewhere on a reflective surface.

And now, he understood why. It didnât make it any easier to do to Dinky though.

He recalled one particularly harsh day polishing statues in the Hall of Memory. Princess Celestia had raked him over the coals. She and her assistant Raven had even had a nice lunch in the hall, a lunch he had not been invited to share. As he laboured, his itching now temporarily forgotten, he even remembered why he had been in so much trouble. He had broken into the book depository, stolen several books intended for classes far more advanced than the classes he was currently in, and then he recklessly experimented, accidentally creating a carnivorous potato that had latched on to one of his teachers with sprouted vines and then gnawed upon his teacherâs hide. Advanced transmutation spells were dangerous and he had learned the hard way.

He had wanted power, and Celestia had shown him how to endure. How to survive mindless drudgery and magical exhaustion. And now, he had power. He was able to sit here and perform this mindless, dull, repetitive task that he was doing now because he had spent so much time being âœworn outâ and subdued as a foal. He could sit in a dark room and mindlessly create spell jars for hours on end. He could prepare. And it had all started with scrubbing floors, polishing statues, washing windows, and menial magical labour.

For Dinky, it was carrying rocks, hauling lumber, fetching water, and greasing a gate. Later in life, it would be repeating the same dull experiment a thousand times hoping for the one time that produces usable results, if she chose that path, and Bucky hoped that she would.

It would also mean control, which Dinky had been on the verge of losing this morning.

Another few feet of canvas were now enchanted and Bucky prepared to move on to the next patch.

âœRipple, please, donât make me.â

Ripple looked back over her shoulder at Dinky. The foal was frightened and she had frozen in place. Her eyes were red and bleary from crying. A few sparks fizzled from her horn.

âœI am sorry Dinky, but I promised that I would escort you to our daddy,â Ripple said apologetically.

âœI blew it, I let him down,â Dinky said as she stood there trembling.

âœAw, Dinks, it isnât that bad,â Ripple said as she turned around.

âœYou donât even understand what I did,â Dinky said, sitting down with a plop and dropping her head. Her ears drooped.

PiÃa, unable to bear her siblingâs suffering, sat down beside her and leaned on her.

âœDonât touch me PiÃa, I donât deserve you being nice to me,â Dinky mumbled.

PiÃa frowned and pulled away, only to turn herself around so she could throw her legs around Dinky. She pulled Dinky into a crushing hug that stole the unicornâs breath away. Dinky was unable to draw enough air to protest.

âœMaybe I donât understand what you did, but I am sure you can be forgiven. Look, Iâll stay and sit with you through whatever happens. And even if he tries to send me away, Iâll stomp my hoof a few times and look adorable or sad or something. Heâs a sucker for a foal face,â Ripple said in gentle tones. The pegasus was a quick learner and Sparkler had been giving her lessons in how to sway Bucky.

Dinky lifted her head and looked up at Ripple. âœPromise?â she asked.

âœOn my wings,â Ripple replied.

âœWell, letâs go,â PiÃa said.

Bucky stood, stretched, and then arched his back. His spine crackled and his hind legs made odd clicking sounds. He watched as more of his pelt hairs drifted away in the wind. He was shedding, Derpy was having a bit of a molt, it was little moments of misery like these that could push a pony over the edge.

âœIâve come bearing a message and a foal.â

Bucky turned at the sounds of Rippleâs voice. He saw Ripple, PiÃa, and Dinky, the unicorn hiding behind Ripple and peeking out at him.

âœGive me the message and then I will want some time alone with Dinky,â Bucky said.

âœSorry, I canât do that, I promised her Iâd stay here with her for whatever happens,â Ripple responded.

âœLoyal pegasi. A pony could ask for no better companion,â Bucky commented. When he saw Ripple blushing from his praise, he felt glad that he had made the filly feel good about herself. âœMessage?â

âœMama bird says you are done for the day and she wants you back in the nest. Youâve been awake for too long,â Ripple said. She leaned forward and narrowed her eyes. âœI promised her Iâd bring you back. Donât make me break my promise.â

Bucky nodded. âœI will go once we are done here,â he agreed. âœDinky?â Bucky said gently.

Dinky, hearing her fatherâs voice, buried her face into Rippleâs wing.

âœDinky, come here, Iâm not angry,â Bucky said.

âœI know youâre not angry, but I am ashamed,â Dinky whined.

Bucky waited patiently and sighed. He had hoped to lure Dinky a little closer so he could hug her, but she was still hiding behind the pegasus, trying to look as submissive as possible.

âœDinky, do you know what went wrong today?â Bucky inquired in a gentle and loving voice.

âœA little,â Dinky admitted.

âœOnly a little?â Bucky asked.

âœI thought about it as I went to sleep and after I woke up,â Dinky answered. âœI donât understand everything,â she confessed.

âœI see,â Bucky responded. âœSo, care to tell me about it? Youâre surrounded by those who love you, you know you can talk about anything, right?â

âœYeah,â Dinky squeaked. âœDonât make it any easier.â

âœNo Dinky, I suppose it doesnât,â Bucky agreed.

âœI donât even understand why I was so angry. Everything was just making me angry. Everything. And then I felt jealous of PiÃa. And that made me angrier. And thenâ and thenâ and then my face started twitching and that made me angrier too and then I could feel a lot of pressure in my horn and-â

âœEasy Dinky,â Bucky interrupted, seeing the foalâs distress.

âœIf I had kept going, something bad might have happened, right?â Dinky said fearfully.

âœPerhaps,â Bucky said.

âœDONâT BE SOFT WITH ME!â Dinky shouted. The little unicorn took a few deep breaths and tried to compose herself. âœI donât want be to be angry. Iâm not angry. But please donât be soft with me. Not about this,â she begged.

Ripple shifted her body around and wrapped a wing around Dinky. She wiped a few tears away with her other wing. Saying nothing, she leaned down and kissed Dinky on the head, something Loch had always done for her to make her feel better.

âœI know what I can doâ and I couldnât live with myself if I ever hurt any of you. And today, I hurt you. I feel awful,â Dinky said. âœI was just so angry. And it kept building up. Iâve been doing so much magic lately and now when I am not using magic I just donât feel right and I start to get all shaky and I can feel my eyeballs vibrating,â she admitted.

âœThat sounds awful,â PiÃa murmured.

âœIt feels awful! And the feeling makes me angry,â Dinky confessed.

âœDinky, do you have any idea or do you understand why I punished you the way that I did this morning?â Bucky inquired. âœYouâre a smart foalâ have you thought about it?â

âœI donât feel the magical itch. And right now I feel really calm. Mostly. I got a little upset a moment ago, but that was for a good reason. I donât feel twitchy and angry. Iâm not jealous of PiÃa. I donât have this burning need to use magicâ so I am guessing you drained me?â Dinky asked in a voice of uncertainty.

âœYes Dinky. I drained you. When I was a foal, we called it being âœworn outâ and it happened to me frequently,â Bucky said.

âœThat makes me feel so much better,â Dinky huffed.

âœFor those of us with ambition and the desire for power, tasks like these help us learn to endure and focus. You do want to be an actual wizard, right?â Bucky said, not mincing any words. âœYou want power.â

âœYes,â Dinky replied in a low voice. âœAnd this morning I learned something from youâ after you winked, you acted as though nothing was wrong. How?â

âœSuffering,â Bucky replied. âœI had to learn how to suffer.â

âœI sufferedâ did I do a good job suffering?â Dinky inquired with foalish honesty.

âœYes Dinky, I think you did. We quit because you finally threw yourself down on the ground and gave up. You lasted much longer than I thought you would,â Bucky answered.

âœYou mean to tell me that if I had just fallen over and gave up, my punishment would have been over?â Dinky asked incredulously. The foal took a few deep breaths and let them out slowly.

âœYes Dinky. I thought you would have quit much sooner to be honest,â Bucky said bluntly. âœDo you see what being stubborn and willful will get you?â

Dinky narrowed her eyes and glared at her father. Her muzzle scrunched. âœIâll show youââ she hissed. Her tiny nostrils flared and her breath came in snorts.

âœNext time you are feeling a bad case of the angries, come to me. It is better to work these things out than to hold them in. Celestia and my teachers told me to do the sameâ but I never listened. I held it in until I got in trouble,â he admitted in shame. Bucky felt an odd sensation in his heart. Dinky was adorably angry and her tiny snorts made him feel a strong sense of affection.

âœI know this is a funny thing to ask, but can we do this again? I mean, just push me until I canât go no more?â Dinky asked.

âœWhy would you want that Dinks?â PiÃa asked, her eyes widening in shock and surprise.

âœI want to be able to wink and just walk away from it. I donât want unicorn mind problems creeping up on me. I donât want the angries,â Dinky answered. âœAnd I want power,â she admitted in a small whisper.

âœDo you want lessons in how to wink?â Bucky inquired.

Dinky looked thoughtful and stared off blankly in the direction of The Scorned Mare. She remained silent for quite some time. Finally, she turned and looked her father in the eye. âœI want that,â she said in a flat determined voice. âœIt is going to mean a lot of barfing isnât it?â

âœOh, today was nothing. Nothing at all. Wait until you have two winks in a row,â Bucky warned. âœYouâll swear that walking is preferable and that you will never wink again.â

âœThat sounds bad,â Dinky said with a gulp. âœSo uh, as a foal, was I able to carry a lot of stuff today?â she inquired bashfully.

âœAt one point, you had about two hundred pounds of rocks,â Bucky replied. âœI donât want to give you a big head, but thatâs impressive. It also illustrates the point that you need to control yourself.â

âœHuh,â Dinky grunted. âœAnd earlier today I felt so angry because PiÃa was stronger than me. Which is silly. I can lift things with my magic. Why was I so angry?â she asked, hoping to find some understanding.

âœUnicorn neurosis,â Bucky replied.

âœSo I am just going to feel angry for no reason at all?â Dinky questioned.

Bucky nodded. âœThatâs the way it is for most of us,â he answered.

âœAnd you feel this way?â Dinky asked.

âœAll the time,â Bucky replied.

âœHow do you deal with it?â Dinky inquired.

âœI used to just squash it down and then let it out slowly through hobbies and other activities. Now, I talk about it. I channel it out. Bon Bon and Berry Punch for some inexplicable reason have the uncanny ability to calm me down by touching me. I canât explain why. I spend time with my foals, whom I love,â Bucky explained.

âœI kinda have a love hate feeling for the new foal,â Dinky confessed. âœEverypony thinks sheâs great,â the little unicorn muttered sullenly.

âœDinky thatâs awful!â Ripple chided.

âœRipple, thatâs honest. And as unicorns, we need to be honest. It helps us,â Bucky said in Dinkyâs defense. Bucky sighed. âœDinky, we need to work on making sure your head is clear about your new sibling. Unicorn siblings can do terrible things to one another in heated moments, which is why so many of my kind in Canterlot are only-foals,â he said in brutal honesty. âœRegular pony siblings punch each other and fight with words. Unicorns can set each other on fire or any number of horrible things could happen.â

Dinkyâs eyes shrank into terrified pinpricks. âœNoââ she murmured in fear.

âœThatâs awful,â Ripple said.

âœI once sat on Dinkyâs head and fartedâ should I be worried?â PiÃa asked.

âœYouâll be fine PiÃa,â Bucky said reassuringly.

âœAre you sure?â PiÃa inquired. âœIt was wetââ

Dinkyâs eyes narrowed and she nodded. âœNoâ I donât feel angry. But now that I remember it, I have to pay you back,â Dinky announced.

âœThat seems fair,â PiÃa said in a small voice.

âœDaddy, do I have the potential to be an actual wizard? Please donât coddle me or tell me what I want to hear,â Dinky asked suddenly, and she could see that she caught Bucky off guard.

âœYouâre a tough little foal. Tomorrow, I am going to teach you some new magic, and then I am going to work you until you fall over again,â Bucky answered. âœBut I think youâll manage. Most foals your age donât know what they want,â he said. âœHow bad do you want it?â

âœBad enough to suffer for it,â Dinky replied.

Chapter 128

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Derpy waited impatiently, pacing in the room they called home. Every day it seemed smaller somehow. Each day, the walls shrank just a little more. And with the new foal, things were tighter than ever. She trodded back and forth, glancing nervously at the door.

Lyra, Bon Bon, and Sentinel were asleep still, at least for a little while longer. Lyra had awoke briefly when the foal had cried, but Berry had been in the room at the moment and had looked after the infant. Berry was now gone, off with Thistle, off for a quick dip so Thistle could catch enough fish for those who hungered.

The foal was sleeping and Derpy wanted so much to nest with it, but right now she had another foal on her mind. Trusting Bucky on the issue of what to do with Dinky when the foal displayed worrying behaviours had been one of the most difficult things she had ever done. She had seen all of the worrying signs herself, had an inkling of the danger posed by them, but part of her still believed that it could be fixed with a few well placed wing slaps and then a hug once the punishment was over.

This was taking too long. Ripple had promised to bring Bucky back. Derpyâs lip curled back. If her headstrong mate made sweet little Ripple break her promise, she was going to go out, snatch him up, and drop him in the lake.

Derpy paused to reflect on her feelings for Ripple. She trusted Ripple with her foals. She loved Ripple a great deal. She loved Loch Skimmer too, but Ripple was still just young enough or perhaps just scrawny and small enough to trigger her extra strong feelings of motherhood. Ripple was filling out though. She was a sleek and beautiful creature, long legged, delicate framed, and she had beautiful slender wings.

It was nice having other pegasi in her herd.

Finally, after an eternity of waiting, the door opened. PiÃa entered first, peering cautiously around and trying to see if the new foal was still sleeping. Ripple came second, gently planting a hoof in PiÃaâs backside and scooting her through the door. Dinky came third, and Derpy struggled to keep her emotions in check. Bucky came last, and as he walked through the door, his eye met hers. She saw a faint nod.

Unable to hold back, Derpy pounced.

Dinky was not crushed to the stone floor, but instead was snatched between Derpy's forelegs. The pegasus mareâs momentum carried her forward, and she tucked, pulled Dinky to her barrel, rolled, and landed on her back with Dinky pulled tight to her.

It was not the most graceful move and it was hard on Derpyâs body no doubt, but no foal had ever come to harm from one of her âœsnatch and rollâ hugs.

Bucky left the two alone for a much needed private moment with one another. He shut the door behind him, smiled at Ripple and PiÃa, and then moved to the straw pile. The foal was sleeping. Once again he felt a curious sensation traveling through him and his mind felt odd. He could smell her. The scent was like strong drink in his nostrils. It filled with him desire and need. Suddenly, he wanted all of his mares together in one place where he could watch over them, keep them safe.

He backed away from the foal, not wanting to wake it. He eased himself into the bed, needing to hold something, an almost overwhelming compulsion. He grabbed PiÃa instead, lifting her in his magic and bringing her close. She soared through the air with a startled squeak and then settled in beside him.

âœYouâre shedding,â PiÃa accused as her nostrils crinkled. âœPoor thing. Does it make you itchy? Iâve been shedding a bit, but youâre shedding a lot,â she added as she brushed away little tan hairs from her pink pelt.

Bucky was about to reply when he was suddenly crushed. The air in his lungs whooshed out in a gasp as Ripple settled on top of him. After taking a moment to get air into his lungs, he turned his head to look at PiÃa. âœIâve been shedding a lot. It is driving me crazy,â Bucky said.

âœThereâs a brush around here somewhere. Lyra spends a lot of time brushing Sentinel. He sheds a lot in the heat,â Ripple quipped as she made herself comfortable. âœYouâre bony,â she observed as she examined Bucky. She poked him with hoof and then rubbed her head along the back of his skull.

âœSo are you,â Bucky responded, enjoying Rippleâs affections. It was easy to know when a pegasus loved you and the bruising went away eventually.

âœI canât help it,â Ripple answered in a soft voice, aware of the sleepers just a few feet away. âœBut I am getting better. I eat well now,â she whispered.

âœWhatâs your excuse?â PiÃa inquired in a tiny voice, looking directly at Bucky.

âœIâve always been little and scrawny,â Bucky replied. âœYouâre getting big PiÃa.â

âœI donât want to get big,â PiÃa said sadly. âœI want to stay little so I can be cuddled.â

âœBerry is a big solid earth pony, and I cuddle her,â Bucky said. âœWhen you grow up, you will find somepony that will cuddle you,â Bucky said reassuringly.

âœThose are special cuddles,â PiÃa whispered. âœI want cuddles like these, cuddles without the surprise going up your backside. Quiet cuddles without all of the moaning and heavy breathing. I know what you are doing to Berry Punch. Sheâs talked to me about it,â the earth pony foal murmured.

Bucky chortled and tried to contain his laughter so the sleepers would not awaken.

âœEverypony, come on, weâre going for a walk so Bucky can get some sleep,â Derpy commanded. She stood at the door, Dinky by her side, waiting patiently.

PiÃa got up rather reluctantly and slipped off the mattress. She turned and looked at Bucky one final time, and then watched as Ripple climbed from the bed. The pair walked slowly for the door and PiÃa wished she could stay with Bucky for just a little while longer.

Bucky watched them go, wishing they would stay.

Sentinel awoke to a strange sound, not one of the usual background sounds his ears could tune out. There was gurgle and a bit of a low moan. He lifted his head and his tufted ears stood erect, taking in everything around him. He raised a hoof and scratched behind his ear, sending sooty brown hairs flying. Bucky was nearby, and his night mothers were still asleep.

He scooted from the bed with shocking speed, his movements catlike and graceful. He landed in the straw and prodded the foal with his nose. The little foal made snuffling sounds and looked up at him. Sentinelâs nose crinkled as he scooted away soiled straw with his hoof and moved in some fresh straw to replace it. A little foreleg brushed his face, causing him to freeze for a moment. He waited, allowing the touch to happen, and then he began to sniff the foal with his nose. He continued sniffing, moving around the straw pile, aware of the soiled straw, but worried about other things, like rats. He didnât smell anything, but it never hurt to check. Sentinel was perhaps too cautious. The rats had learned to fear him and avoided him at all costs. There was a foal here though, and Sentinel knew from dreadful experience that rats would devour any unattended foal they could find.

He moved to the wall and rubbed the side of his face along the wall, leaving behind a greasy oily smear on the stone. He stopped to sniff his work, and then he moved over to the foal. He rubbed the side of his face along the foal, careful to move the little bumpy places below his ears along her soft pelt. Part of him felt a strong compulsion to piss and mark his territory, but that was uncouth. The instinct was still strong, but the actual practice had long since died off.

He lifted a wing, exposing the underside of his wing joint, and rubbed that against the foal, continuing to mark her. He had marked her several times already, leaving her thick with his scent.

The rats feared his scent.

His work done, he flopped down into the straw with his still unnamed sibling, wrapped her up in a wing, lowered his head with a soft growl, and then went back to sleep.

Bon Bon awoke. She still felt a needful itch in her nethers, but it had eased off a bit. In a day or two, she reckoned it would be gone completely. She lifted her head and looked around her. Bucky was nearby, sleeping on his belly as he always did, his his hind legs kicked out behind him rather than folded beneath him. Lyra was still asleep beside her. It took a moment to find Sentinel, who was asleep in the straw with the foal.

She slid from the bed, crossed the room, vanished behind the privacy barrier, filled the bucket a fair bit, sniffed, crinkled her nose, and then hurried away from the bucket. More than anything, Bon Bon wanted modern plumbing again. A unicorn was going to have to dump it out the window. Bon Bon knew she could do it, but had been forbidden from lifting the bucket in her mouth to spare her the humiliation.

Her gaze fell upon the two sleeping unicorns. Both of them needed her, and Bon Bon liked being needed. She also needed them, but had different reasons for each of them. She recalled meeting Bucky, it felt like a lifetime ago now, and she remembered fondly the wagon ride home. She remembered the long talks with Bucky in the bed, and how he had bared his soul to her. She had fallen in love with him at some point during his convalescence.

Maybe not love, she thought to herself, reflecting upon her own honesty. Infatuation perhaps. A curious crush. You felt the same way about Lyra when you nursed her back to health. You are an earth pony that can cultivate unicorns, and how can you not love what you spend so much time nurturing and growing? It is the earth pony way, her inner voice said to her. She considered her thoughts and watched both of them as they slept.

She thought of Dinkyâs troubling outburst at breakfast. She had another unicorn to cultivate and nurture. And then there was the little infant tucked away in the straw.

She watched as Bucky twitched and began to spasm and kick. He whimpered in his sleep. Bon Bon went to his side, touched him with one hoof, and watched as he settled. All it took was a touch. With each passing day, Bon Bon became more and more aware that something was going on, and Berry Punch shared her observations. With Lyra, Bon Bon had believed it was because ponies simply needed to be touched. Now, it was clear that something was going on. Bon Bon lifted her hoof, turned up upwards, and examined her soft fleshy frogs. She stared at them for a while, lowered her hoof, and pressed it into Buckyâs side. He leaned back into her touch, his body moving beneath the pressure she applied. His sleep became even quieter and finally, he went still, a faint smile upon his face.

Bon Bon realised just how much she really loved him. It was different than her love for Lyra, but it was love, no matter how confusing it might be. He had resisted her, drawing a clear line. He has kissed her, held her, cuddled her, been exceedingly intimate with her, but he had held the line. Even when she was carrying him on her back that horrible day, somehow, he had held back his arousal, even with her being in heat and her every step bouncing him on her back. All of his kisses had boundaries.

The realisation actually inflamed her desire.

And then there was his behaviour with Lyra. He had done the same with Lyra, the other unicorn that Bon Bon loved. Lyra seemed just as confused about Bucky as Bon Bon felt. Bon Bon wondered at Buckyâs motivations and intended to ask him about it at some point. Why was he doing this? Bon Bon had her suspicions, and her most logical conclusion so far was that he was doing this so future foals would know that he loved all of his wives equally and unabashedly, because foals needed to see that their parents loved one another. Bon Bon thought of her future foals and how hard it would be, how confusing it would be, if they never saw their father touching and loving on their mother.

A part of Bon Bon never wanted to ask, but wanted to continue to believe that it had to be the reason.

Chapter 129

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Bucky awoke to the horrible sensation of the infernal itching that had been plaguing him. Before his eye had even opened, he had already begun to scratch, and a whimper of pain escaped his mouth. He dug furiously at his own skin, determined to skin himself alive if need be to get rid of the horrible itch. His eye stayed closed, now clenched shut tightly as he tried to relieve himself.

âœBucky?â

That was Derpyâs voice. Full of concern and worry. Buckyâs senses told him that the sun had not yet set, but would soon, which meant it was almost time for the evening meal. He scraped at his flesh with his hooves, trying to make the itching stop.

âœHelp me,â Bucky begged. âœI donât want to sound like a pretty pony princess, but I think I need to be brushed and I canât do it in this state,â he pleaded.

âœI have this, I like brushing other ponies,â Lyra said enthusiastically. âœWell, I like brushing Bon Bon and Sentinelâ theyâre other ponies. I uh, donât actually like to be around âœotherâ ponies all that much,â the unicorn admitted in nervous neurotic tones.

A few moments later, Bucky felt some minor relief. Lyra worked in slow long strokes and he melted completely under the sensation. As Lyra brushed, Bucky felt his head being lifted in two forelegs. He opened his eye to see who it was and suddenly there was a grey blur before him.

Derpyâs wings unfurled and the pegasus landed several feet away, wings spread out wide, her eyes wide and panicked.

The room fell quiet, everypony wondering what had spooked the pegasus.

âœBucky there is something wrong with your eye,â Derpy whimpered.

Bucky blinked a few timesâ his eye felt fine. His vision seemed to be normal. In the commotion, Lyra had stopped brushing and the terrible itching was threatening to overcome him. He squirmed and began to scratch at himself with a hoof.

Bucky watched as Derpy slowly approached the bed, Bon Bon on one side, and Berry Punch on the other side. All three of the mares looked spooked.

âœOhâ well thatâs newâ sort of matches his teeth,â Berry said in curious tones. She lifted her head and gave herself a good shake. âœI donât know what I am afraid of, Bucky is still Bucky.â

Confusion was beginning to overtake Bucky now. He scratched and then he felt his hoof snatched in magic and pulled away. The brushing resumed and he squirmed against the brush. âœI donât understand what is going on,â Bucky grumbled.

Derpy was shaking her head and looked frightened. Berry Punch was peering curiously and drew closer. Bon Bon was pressed up against Derpy. Foals had begun to gather. Thistle was peering out from behind Derpy.

Sentinel lept up into the bed and peered at Bucky, looking intently, nearly nose to nose.

Bucky, still not sure what the big deal was, booped Sentinel on the nose, which caused the colt to go cross eyed for a moment. He uncrossed his eyes slowly and looked mildly annoyed. âœThis is a serious moment and you just tweaked my nose. Your eyeâ has changed father. It is like my eyes now,â Sentinel said in a vaguely irritated voice.

Just as Bucky was getting ready to reply, the brush traveled over his croup. âœIs that so-ooo-aaaah that feeeeeeels good,â he moaned.

Derpy moved forward and gently shoved Sentinel out of the way. The colt squeaked and made room for the much larger pegasus, understanding pecking order all too well. She closed her bad eye, leaned down, and carefully looked Bucky in the eye.

Bucky, who was still in the throes of ecstasy from Lyra brushing his croup, could barely even see Derpy. The brush moved over the spot where his dock met his croup and Bucky melted completely, going limp on the bed.

âœWell, heâs still Bucky,â Derpy reported. âœHis eye does look like Sentinelâs now. It spooked me. Looking into your husbandâs face and seeing a different eye looking back at you is hard to deal with,â she added.

âœHeâs shedding horribly,â Lyra announced. âœSentinel has the same problem.â

âœSo is this Sentinelâs shadow essence changing him or is this Sombraâs fallen shadow changing him?â Berry Punch inquired.

âœI have no idea,â Lyra replied. âœMaybe both. I donât know much about this sort of thing. Bucky has endured strange magic, has done radical body modification upon himself, infused himself with shadow, and has survived the attempted takeover of his mind by an undead fallen shadow. In spite of all of this, I have rendered him completely helpless with a brush. He is now mine to do with as I please, by right of conquest,â the unicorn announced.

âœOkay,â Derpy agreed. âœYou can have him for a little while. He seems happy.â The pegasus mare, still looking somewhat concerned, turned and walked away. She went to the straw pile and laid down carefully, and then cradled the tiny foal in her forelegs before her. She looked down and made cooing noises that the foal made little burbling sounds in reply.

Berry, her curiousity not sated, moved forwards and got herself a good look at Buckyâs eye. Sitting down, she grabbed his head between her hooves, twisted it around, and peered into his eye. She scratched under his chin affectionately as she peered into his now slitted grey orb.

âœHave you been having any trouble seeing during the day?â Sentinel asked.

Bucky did not reply right away. The brush was now moving over his ribs and the sensation was almost as good as a good shagging. Almost. âœYeahâ I noticed it the other day. Rising Star could see things I couldnât,â Bucky replied.

âœI have trouble seeing during the day,â Sentinel said.

âœSomething about him right now makes my heart go pitter-pat,â Thistle confessed.

âœItâs kinda awesomeâ I wonder how I would look with slitted eyes?â Rising Star inquired.

âœRising, no! No radical body modification,â Sparkler demanded. Sparkler felt embarrassed for a moment, and she felt odd that she had just channeled Bon Bon.

âœIs it wrong that I am kinda disappointed that everypony stopped talking about my cutie mark and now I am forgotten?â Loch Skimmer quipped.

âœJust a little, but Iâd be miffed too,â PiÃa said in a quiet voice. âœIt is impossible to get any attention in this family,â the earth pony foal muttered as she settled into a pout.

âœThis whole family is weird. Next thing you know, one of us will sprout wings or something,â Dinky stated.

âœI could be the alicorn of wine,â Berry Punch said proudly.

Bucky began to recover his senses. He reached out with his forelegs and pulled Berry Punch into a kiss, which caused all the foals present to squeal in disgust.

âœOh grossâ tongue!â PiÃa protested. âœThere are foals watching!â

âœI bet heâs trying to touch that dangly thing that hangs down in the back of everyponyâs throat,â Dinky muttered.

âœI dunno, seeing your parents kiss isnât so bad,â Loch Skimmer said in a subdued voice. âœThere are worse things you could be watching.â

âœHush Loch, donât spoil the moment,â Ripple said as she poked her sister.

âœOh wow, theyâre really going at it, usually they pull apart by now,â Sparkler observed.

âœI was supposed to have Bucky to my self,â Lyra groused.

Bucky pulled away from Berry Punch, looking berry breathless. âœSorry Lyra. I got distractedâ give me a moment and Iâll kiss you next.â

âœNo, thatâs okay,â Lyra replied in panic.

âœNo, no I think I need to thank you for brushing me,â Bucky insisted as he sat up. The unicorn turned his eye on Lyra and his ears perked forward.

âœNo, Bucky, itâs no bother, heyâ uuuuuurgh oh pony farts now my cheek is all wet and slobbery,â Lyra said as Bucky smooched her. She allowed herself to be held in Buckyâs embrace, trying not to squirm. Blushing heavily, she kissed Bucky on the cheek and then resumed brushing him, trying to work a few tangles out of his mane.

Bon Bon watched the display carefully, looking for any signs of discomfort from Lyra. Her heart melted slightly when she saw Lyra relax and lean into Buckyâs gentle embrace. Her gaze settled on the tiny foal in Derpyâs forelegs, the earth pony sighed, and then felt a warm rush in gratitude in knowing that the filly was going to know that her parents loved one another.

âœOh yuck watching my sister kissing is even worse,â Dinky shouted. âœThe sound is horrible, Iâll never be able to listen to Berry Punch try and win the Sisterhooves Social pie eating contest ever again!â Dinky watched in horror as Sparkler and Rising Star exchanged a heated kiss.

âœWhat have I been adopted into,â Sentinel muttered to himself as he shook his head.

âœI wonder if we will be home in time to attend the Sisterhooves Social,â PiÃa wondered out loud. âœIf we do, I get dibs on Ripple. I want to win.â

âœOh you little snot!â Berry retorted.

âœSorryâ but I do want to win,â PiÃa offered apologetically.

âœWhatâs a Sisterhooves Social?â Ripple asked.

âœWhere I go to be disappointed every year,â PiÃa said glumly.

âœWe should have a Sisterhooves Social here,â Dinky said. The unicorn foal became aware that the whole room had gone silent. She licked her lips and swallowed a few times, now painfully aware that she had everyponyâs attention. âœIt might be really good to help the fillies and mares here to know that they can turn to one another in time of need,â the foal said hesitantly. Hearing only dreadful silence, Dinky screwed her courage to the sticking place. âœWe could make some really simple pies maybe, they use berries to make wine here, so maybe just a few pies wouldnât be too hard. I know there is no sugar, but most berries are kinda sweet, and there is honey. We could make an obstacle course and other things where sisters have to rely upon one another,â she continued in a nervous squeaky voice.

âœIt might brighten up the ponies spirits. That would hurt the wolves I think,â Sparkler said as she leaned on Rising Star. âœDinky has a solid idea.â

âœYes she does,â Derpy said, her motherly pride making her voice waver.

âœI get dibs on Dinky,â Sparkler said.

âœI am going to make this happen,â Bucky stated. âœIâll use whatever authority I have here to make sure this happens. Lord Wrecker and I are basically in charge with Keg Smasher down. This was a brilliant idea Dinky, and it will help to foster a sense of unity between the females here,â he continued.

âœI can bake pies,â Bon Bon offered. âœIâve been to the kitchensâ they donât know how. Resources were far too precious to squander on things like pies.â

âœI will make them relax some resources,â Bucky said as he stroked Lyra gently. The unicorn was relaxed now and he enjoyed rubbing his fetlock along her ribs.

âœI can bake. Bonnie and I can bake pies and teach some of the kitchen ponies how to make some simple sweets with what they have available,â Berry said. âœAnd there is milk available, which means whipped cream,â she added, licking her lips as she did so.

âœUgh, Bucky is drooling again,â Lyra grumbled.

âœI am not,â Bucky retorted as he wiped his mouth.

âœWe could set up so it happens right after we get The Scorned Mare airborne and all of the ponies could come and see her. It would give them hope. They would see that somepony is here to fight for them,â Rising Star suggested.

Bucky pointed his hoof at Rising. âœThat right there is why I consider Rising Star one of my own colts now,â Bucky said.

âœI guess I have to sit this out,â Loch Skimmer said sadly.

âœIâll serve in your honour,â Ripple said.

âœAw, Ripple, now I feel guilty for telling everyone how you got your name,â Loch Skimmer said as she wiped at her eyes with her good foreleg.

Ripple gently embraced her sister and squeezed.

âœI think itâs already brought two sisters a little closer together,â Sparkler observed.

Bucky pulled free from the now tight embrace of Lyra. âœI gotta goâ and it will be dinner time soonish,â he said apologetically. He slipped from the bed and disappeared behind the privacy barrier.

Lyra watched as Bucky vanished from view, wanting to say something about how nice it was to be held by a male pony without expectations, but she could not find the courage to say the words. He had only been a gone for a moment, but she was already missing his warmth and the feeling of happiness she felt when he was near. The feeling of his fetlock stroking her ribs, being held close, and the feeling of his barrel expanding and contracting as he drew breath.

âœWe can use the day to educate mares about mareâs rights and teach them to band together. To treat each other better. To protect their interests. To behave like something other than livestock,â Berry suggested.

âœOH! OH! I CAN HELP DO THAT!â Loch offered excitedly, shouting as she did so.

Berry, sitting too close to Loch, rubbed her ears, and she watched as Ripple did the same. âœSomebody had a life changing orgasm,â Berry quipped.

âœBERRY!â Derpy scolded. âœFoals!â

âœBut I did!â Loch said.

Derpy shook her head, gave up, and returned her attention to the foal she was holding. She understood that Loch was now lost to her, lost forever to Berry Punch. She took consolation that she still had Ripple for now.

âœWe need to tell other mares that they have control over their own bodies,â Loch stated.

âœAnd that sisters have an obligation to keep each otherâs bodies safe,â Ripple added.

âœI hate to cut everything short,â Bucky said as he emerged from behind the privacy barrier. âœBut I am starving and I do believe it is dinner time,â he announced.

Chapter 130

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Bucky reclined and watched as Lyra fed their foal. The foal seemed to be absolutely enchanted with Lyraâs enchanted lyre, and watched it intently after it sprang into existence. As he watched, he reviewed his plans for the evening. He felt confident after his many hours of making spell jars to create something a little special. Tonight, there were dozens and dozens of spell jars to fill and Rising Star was going to help him.

In the quiet of the evening, Sparkler was studying Bucky's own personal spellbook. She looked confused at times, shocked at other times, and keenly interested most of the time. Sentinel was practicing his writing, a crude pencil held in the grasping digit that opposed the central knuckle on his wing. PiÃa and Dinky were tucked away in bed, cuddled up against Derpy, and now sound asleep. Derpy was still awake, and Bucky could hear her talking in a low whisper to Thistle and Berry Punch. Loch and Ripple were still awake, but on the verge of falling asleep. Their quiet giggles were becoming fewer and fewer.

âœBucky, I need to understand something,â Sparkler said in a low whisper.

Bucky slid from the sofa, crossed the narrow path between the sofas, and settled in beside Sparkler. He leaned over and looked down at the page she was looking at. âœWhat do you need to know?â he asked in a soft voice.

âœRight here, there is a spell called âœAcidulent Assault pH 0â and a long series of notes and hoofnotes. I donât understand any of this,â Sparkler whispered. âœWhat does acidulent mean and what does pH 0 indicate?â she inquired quietly.

âœAcidulent means something that is highly caustic or acidic. The pH is how you measure if something is an acid or a base. I took a simple cleaning spell that removed tough stains and that was mildly acidic, about on par with vinegar, which is about a three to a five. I modified it through some magical experimentation until I created the ultimate cleaning spell. This spell will dissolve almost anything. Stone, wood, metal, even living beings. I took a simple cleaning transmutation and turned it into something else,â Bucky explained in a low voice.

âœOhâ oh dear,â Sparkler whispered, her mouth now hanging open. âœSo you could clean away something or somepony you didnât like.â

âœOh, I would never use it on a pony,â Bucky insisted in a gentle whisper.

âœWhat about something not a pony?â Sparkler whispered with full body shudder.

âœThings not a pony better make sure they never hurt a pony in my presence,â Bucky said in an icy whisper in return.

âœSo you just figured this out one day because you were curious?â Sparkler questioned quietly, looking down at the finely scribbled notes.

âœYes,â Bucky replied in a nod.

âœAnd you worked as an accountant,â Sparkler whispered in a trembling voice.

âœI enjoyed making the numbers add up,â Bucky admitted. âœIt satisfies my obsessive compulsive disorder,â he explained in hushed tones.

âœI see. OCD. Explains why all of your notes are kerned to perfect justification to invisible margins,â Sparkler murmured.

âœYou know what kerning is?â Bucky asked in stunned disbelief.

âœI worked in the school newspaper for a while. I too, like neat looking text,â Sparkler answered as she leaned over and whispered near Buckyâs face.

Bucky suddenly felt extremely close to Sparkler, more so than he ever had. He smiled a broad smile and cherished the moment he was experiencing.

âœCan this be put in a spell jar?â Sparkler asked.

âœOf course,â Bucky answered, his smile broadening as he replied.

The paper crinkled as Bucky reviewed his notes and magical calculations. He glanced over at Rising Star, whose face still showed signs of being in awe every time his horn slid through the sides of a glass orb and he filled with a tiny puff of fire. The colt inserted his horn, his eyes widened, he released a gout of flame, and then lifted the orb away.

âœThat is so awesome,â Rising Star muttered quietly.

Bucky grinned and returned to his notes. He was creating a new type of spell jar. Something to hold a volatile liquid and a special type of stasis field woven into the glass. It would also have a sort of magical spigot, which would allow the liquid to pass through so it could be used.

âœYou are allowed to drink here with me you know. Youâve earned that right,â Bucky said, reminding Rising Star of his privilege.

âœBeen sipping, I donât feel drunk though,â Rising Star answered.

âœContinuous casting of magic nullifies the onset of inebriation,â Bucky explained.

âœI donât feel magically fatigued yet,â Rising Star reported.

âœIt will happen eventually. As long as you keep taking in energy, raw calories, you will be fine for a while, but soon your thaumaturgical nerves will begin to wear out and need rest. Youâll know it when you feel it,â Bucky said, informing the colt so he would be aware.

âœSo I could chug a gallon of whiskey and not feel at all drunk?â Rising Star asked.

âœI do it frequently now,â Bucky said.

Rising Star let out a low whistle.

âœWonât need to piss either, the continuous casting burns it right out of your system. Last night I killed a three gallon jug of mead down here,â Bucky explained.

âœI am a living inferno powered by booze now,â Rising Star quipped as he returned to work.

Bucky chuckled and flipped through his pages. Everything looked right. Inside of the glass globe, time should stop completely in a very localised sense, much in the same way that it did inside of a spell jar. Decay would also be prevented, which was important for what he had planned. There were multiple spell matrices and various latticeworks that could contain something very powerful. This was the very pinnacle of transmutation and enchantment. This was ten thousand hours of his life now finally paying off.

His eye roamed over his supplies. Salt. Sand. His notes. Images of a heptagram drawn to perfect proportions, done in seven perfect strokes. Several sketches of anatomy, detailing the internal structure of a chest cavity and the tissue structures around a heart, all drawn from memory after having seen a book once a long time ago.

âœRising Star, things are going to get weird for a while. I am going to need you to stay silent. No matter what happens, you must not break my concentration. You must stay silent. Do I make myself clear?â Bucky said in a commanding tone.

Rising Star nodded and set down the glass globe he had just gone done filling. âœBefore you start, what is going to happen? I mean, so I can be prepared. Iâll keep quiet,â he asked, hoping for some kind of warning.

âœI donât know what is going to happen exactly, but if everything works, you are going to see something that nopony would believe if you told them,â Bucky said.

Rising Star nodded, stood up, and backed off to the corner of the laboratory. He sat back down, took a deep breath, and prepared himself for whatever was about to happen.

Bucky prepared himself mentally for what he was about to do. He was the only pony on the isles that could do what he needed to do, but he was alone, and he needed a second pony with his spell casting abilities. The problem was, type fours were rare. He had found a solution though, and he had been preparing himself for a while.

He closed his eyes, focused his will, and manifested a direct tie to the ley lines nearby. Raw magic flowed through him and the air around him began to crackle. His horn glowed with a bright blue-green aura. The stench of ozone filled the air. There was a thunderous roar and a flash of bright light.

And then he saw himself stepping out of a ball of crackling energy.

âœWe have very little time,â he said to himself.

âœI know,â Bucky replied. âœReady?â Bucky asked of himself.

The other Bucky nodded.

Rising Star watched as Bucky had a conversation with himself and wondered if he was going to go mad. He gritted his teeth together to keep from crying out. One Bucky stood, his horn glowing in blue-green magic, and, as he watched, the other Buckyâs eye changed. It turned red, the white of his eye turned a diseased green, and a pestilent purple haze drifted from it. Black flames crackled from his horn. A whirlwind formed and sand was sucked up into it. Raw magic crackled from both Buckies and the sand turned into liquid glass. The two types of magic shaped the glass into a large orb, it glowed with heat and Rising Star felt as though he was standing too close to a fire. Rising Star realised he had no idea what he was seeing.

Both Buckies stopped casting and the magic orb was held aloft in a blue green aura. The one that had been using dark magic vanished suddenly with a loud popping sound that made Rising Starâs ears ache.

âœRising Star, hold this up for me, do not drop it. I shall return shortly,â Bucky promised.

Rising Star did as he was bid, holding the glass orb up in his magic. It felt both light and heavy. As he stared, he couldnât tell if the orb was growing larger or if somehow, he was growing smaller. And then, Bucky vanished.

Rising Star was alone in the lab with an impossible object that seemed to be ignoring reality. It felt wrong in his magical grasp. It was a violation of the natural order and every cell in Rising Starâs body screamed at him to let go of the horrible object, or, better yet, hurl it into the wall. Time seemed all wrong. Rising Star wasnât sure if a few moments or a few hours had passed.

And then, as suddenly as he had vanished, Bucky returned, reappearing with a thunderclap. Rising Star felt the orb taken from his magical hold. Somehow, he remained silent.

He watched as Bucky sat down and the orb was further manipulated. The whole room thrummed. He could feel a terrible pressure both inside and outside of his head, and it felt as though it was crushing him.

âœI bet you are wondering what just happened,â Bucky asked.

âœYes,â Rising Star said in a gibbering whisper.

âœBe calm Rising Star, you sound troubled,â Bucky said soothingly as he worked.

âœThere was two of you,â Rising Star whimpered.

âœYes there was. Do you want to know how I did it?â Bucky inquired.

âœYes,â Rising Star replied.

âœA pony named Star Swirl created a spell that allowed a pony to step through time. The ultimate winking spell if you will. Star Swirl was very clever. He used the spell to send multiple copies of himself back in time so he could give himself details about what he observed, and all of the different versions of himself would watch and observe and experiment as it happened. He would then write down everything he saw from all the different angles of study into his notebooks. I learned this from Sombraâs memories,â Bucky explained.

âœFascinating,â Rising Star whispered .

âœI used the spell to step back into time and help myself infuse magical glass with harmony magic and dark magic. I bent the rules a little bit, but I didnât break them,â Bucky said with a hearty chuckle.

âœSo thatâs what happened,â Rising Star said, still trying to understand what had just taken place. He took a few deep breaths, rose, and came forward slowly. He took a seat beside Bucky and watched the glass globe take on more enchantments.

âœYou canât change the past. I didnât change the past. I merely lent a little assistance to the present. Took my self a bit of convincing that I had succeeded in the future, but I believed that I had and I used my will to cling to that belief,â Bucky explained.

âœSo you willed the future into existence?â Rising Star questioned.

âœSomething like that. Star Swirl did it a few times, Sombra pulled it off once, and I figured if he could it, I had no good excuse for failure,â Bucky answered. He turned the globe around and examined it. It seemed perfect.

âœThat thingâ it feels wrong,â Rising Star muttered. âœIt messed with my head,â he added.

âœYeah, it is trying to mess with mine too. Not doing a very good job. Iâve had much stronger things mess with my head, and a lifetime of learning how to repress everything. All that neurosis has been good for a few things. The essence of dark magic infused into the glass doesnât like being woven together with harmony magic. This is an artifact Rising Star. The perfection of unicorn enchantment. An impossible object. Sombra made several artifacts. Star Swirl was obsessed with mirrors and made many reflective artifacts,â Bucky said as the room grew cold and the glass orb was cooled.

âœSo, what is that thing?â Rising Star asked.

âœA prison and a cask,â Bucky replied. âœWell, of sorts. When it is completed, I will show you. Youâve earned that right.â

âœI suddenly want to learn magicâ I mean really learn magic. Teach me,â Rising Star begged in a soft pleading voice.

âœWe begin tomorrow,â Bucky replied as multi-hued lightning crackled and popped around the orb. âœI have so much to show you,â he added.

Bucky carefully set the orb down on a simple shaped wooden stand he had prepared. It was cool now, and it swirled with darkness and the colours of the rainbow. It was mesmerising to watch, almost like a lava lamp, the darkness an amorphous greasy looking mass that refused to blend with the rainbow whorls.

âœOther than my wives, it is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen,â Rising Star murmured.

Chapter 131

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It was now several hours after midnight, and Bucky had returned to the room his family now called home. Rising Star was collapsed in the bed, exhausted, and sleeping soundly, his mares piled around him. Sentinel was still working on his writing, tireless in his efforts to improve.

As Bucky watched, the foal yawned. He kissed her softly and then he rested his head down beside her. Bon Bon was stroking his back in slow lazy circles and Lyra was helping Sentinel master fine print.

And Bucky could not help but feel that everything was perfect.

âœYou look tired, you should go to bed for a little while,â Bon Bon suggested.

âœI plan to,â Bucky responded. âœGoing to be a long day today. And tonight is going to be even longer,â he added.

âœHow did Rising Star do?â Bon Bon asked in a low whisper full of concern.

âœSplendidly,â Bucky answered, thinking of Rising Starâs newfound interest in learning the magical arts. He yawned and his muscles softened under Bon Bonâs touch.

âœHer neck is getting stronger. She can hold up her head already. I think tomorrow sheâll take her first steps,â Bon Bon whispered in a prideful voice.

Bucky eyed the foal. Having larger brains had radically changed the equine physiology. Some of the more primitive equines could walk after birth. Pony kind took a little longer. Early development was still rapid though and Bucky was eager for just one thing. âœI want to hear her talk,â Bucky said as the foal squirmed up beside his cheek.

âœGive her time,â Bon Bon replied. âœThat will happen soon enough.â

âœNot soon enough for me,â Bucky muttered.

âœBucky, be patient. Every father wants to hear their foal talk,â Bon Bon whispered soothingly into Buckyâs ear, her breath causing his ear to fidget. âœYou take so readily to fatherhood. So many stallions will have nothing to do with a foal not their own,â she said silkily, still making Buckyâs ear twitch with every word.

The foal was making burbling noises, and then blew a slobbery raspberry, her little orange tongue sticking out as she did so.

âœThere is something wrong with her Bon Bon,â Bucky stated.

âœBucky, that foal is perfect. There is nothing wrong with her,â Bon Bon replied.

âœBut there is Bonnieâ her mane ignores the effect of gravity. I think it has gotten worse. Look at her. It just sticks out in all directions,â Bucky whispered.

Bon Bon let out a wry chuckle and poked Bucky with her hoof. âœDonât you say another word about our foal,â she warned.

âœI am going to go to bed before my mouth gets me into trouble,â Bucky announced.

âœThat would be wise,â Bon Bon agreed.

There would be no school today, the teachers now busy with other tasks. Four unicorns assembled in the field where the The Scorned Mare was being slowly resurrected, brought back to life through love, care, and patience.

Bucky, full of fish, whiskey, and ambition, readied himself for the task ahead. Sparkler looked calm and steady, dependable and reliable as always. Rising Star was twitchy and nervous. The young colt had changed in the past few days. He had discovered ambition and now dared to dream. Dinky, the smallest of them all, awaited the moment with a hungry look in her eyes and impatiently tapped one forehoof against the other. She had scarcely been able to eat breakfast and was behaving like a foal during Hearthâs Warming Eve.

âœWe begin,â Bucky announced as his horn began to glow. He settled into the grass and extended his now well focused will. He took Dinky first, the foal was eager and slipped into his mental grasp with no resistance. He could feel her mind. While she looked outwardly agitated, her mind was calm and her thoughts placid. Wearing her out had been a good thing and now, she was well prepared. He took Sparkler next. Sparkler, calm on the outside, was full of fear on the inside, and Bucky could feel it. Fear of the coming conflict. Fear over somepony in her family getting hurt. Fear of failure. Behind the fear was resolve and a determination to protect and defend. Bucky made mental notes to take time to hone Sparklerâs defensive nature. The fear would need to go if she wanted to be truly resolute and become a protector. Slipping into Rising Starâs thoughts was like stepping into a fire. Bucky could feel the coltâs anger. Here there was aggression. Passion. The troubling events of the other day and their battle with the undead had changed Rising Star a great deal. There was also focus, which surprised Bucky somewhat. Rising Star had always been sort of aimless and directionless before. Now, his thoughts mirrored Buckyâs own feelings. Protect other ponies at any cost. Bucky now had a kindred spirit, and he felt a wash of gratitude come over him.

The exchange of information began, and Bucky tried to give them as much of his experiences as possible. The knowledge of the spells was passed along easily enough, but the nuance and exacting nature of the spells could not be passed along so easily. Still, it was years worth of study transferred in mere moments. True to her nature, Sparkler took in the enduring aspects of the permanency spell the easiest out of the three, and it was the most complicated part of the entire task.

Long after the information had been exchanged, Bucky continued to hold his foals in his mind. This was a private moment of closeness. He let them feel the love that he had for them, what they meant to him, and how proud he was of them for their efforts.

Berry Punch lay in the grass with the newborn foal huddled against her belly. She watched the unicorns working not too far away and basked in the warm sun.

âœMotherhood suits you,â Derpy said.

âœIt is like looking after PiÃa all over again,â Berry replied wistfully. âœWell, I never teat fed PiÃa, but you get the idea.â

PiÃa, hearing her name, looked over at her sister. She had been stroking the foal and sitting quietly in the grass. She said nothing, but continued to enjoy her time with the adults in silence.

âœSheâs really enjoying some time out in the sun,â Thistle said as she watched the foal. She lay on her side and her tail twitched occasionally. âœUgh, my back is killing me, I canât seem to get comfortable no matter how I lay,â she muttered.

âœI am glad my nausea from earlier is gone,â Derpy said.

âœI feel so emotional. I keep thinking about how all of us are pregnant and we are experiencing this magical moment all together, and it makes me want to cry,â Berry blurted out.

âœSo cry, let it out,â PiÃa said softly to her sister.

âœI kinda wish I could,â Berry replied.

Thistle rolled over on to her back and the shift in pressure caused a blaring blast to come trumpeting out of her backside. âœAaaaah that feels better,â the kelpie said as she sighed in relief.

âœThatâs one way to let it all out,â PiÃa said as she fell over backwards into grass.

âœThere is just something about Bucky,â Derpy said as she watched the unicorn working.

âœWhat do you mean?â Berry asked.

âœWell, when we met him, I found him so handsome. Sure, he was a bit scrawny, but his tan hide and his black maneâ he had classical good looks. His looks have changed a bit, but I still find him appealing. Now, he looks dangerous and rough, and that makes my heart flutter,â Derpy explained.

âœI see,â Berry responded.

âœWhat do you see in him Berry?â Derpy asked.

âœI dunno if I see much of anythingâ I found him handsome, and there is still something about how he looks that I like, but to be honest, with him, it was never about how he looked. He had something that the other stallions Iâve had in my life never had. Iâve been with a number of good looking fellas. Bucky is my mental match. Nopony has ever challenged me quite like he does. Iâm attracted to his grim determination and his tenacity,â Berry confessed. âœMaybe it is an earth pony thing, but he is just as stubborn as one of us. Plus, I like how he applies his unstoppable force against my immovable object,â she added coquettishly with a titter.

PiÃa listened to all of this, and her young mind struggled to take in everything she was hearing. She wanted to say something, to ask questions, but she chose to stay silent.

âœThistle?â Derpy inquired.

âœI feel safe,â Thistle stated. âœI spent so much of my life being scared. Scared of everything. Scared of what I had to do, scared of my kind becoming extinct, scared of being alone, and scared of just having to settle into some horrible life because of my obligations. Iâm not afraid anymore. Now I am free to be myself and I am not even sure who I am,â Thistle said. âœI never bothered trying to figure myself out. I never thought it was important. When we lay in the bed, and I feel his head resting on my back, or just having him near, I start to dream,â the kelpie confessed.

âœWhat do you dream about Thistle?â Berry asked.

âœIâve listened to Dinky talk about paintingâ I want to learn how to do that. I want to fly on that ship over there. I want to hear a musical concert. I want to watch a play. Iâve heard about all of these things talked aboutâ and I want to see what they are,â Thistle replied.

âœAll of those things are possible,â Derpy said to Thistle. âœWe all see something different in Bucky. That makes me feel good,â she added.

âœI think a better question is, what do we see in each otherââ Berry quipped.

The enchantment process was going well. Rising Star wasnât terribly skilled, but that was expected. Sparkler took to certain aspects quite well. And Dinkyâ Dinky took to the task with a ferocious tenacity that seemed impossible for her age. Her eye for detail rivaled his own. On her own, without his prompting, Dinky had begun using detect magic spells to make sure that her castings overlapped and provided good coverage.

It made Bucky proud.

Even with having to teach as they worked, progress was far ahead of what Bucky estimated it to be. The work needed some touch up and correction, and it was easy enough for him to clean up the messy spots.

Somewhere, in the middle of all of this, Bucky found his groove as an educator. He was gentle, he was supportive, and he remained patient, all of which noticed by his students. There was no fear of making mistakes or causing disappointment, which made the work much easier.

At the rate they were going, it would only take a few more days Bucky reasoned.

âœOh, this is very difficult,â Thistle said shyly as she laid on her back. She stroked PiÃa gently, the little earth pony foal had her head resting on Thistleâs belly and was waiting for the foal in Thistleâs belly to kick.

âœLook, we know that Derpy gets you going,â Berry said in a berry straightforward manner.

âœShe does,â Thistle squeaked.

âœSo tell us, because we have ways of making you talk,â Berry warned in teasing tones.

âœIt is the same thing as Buckyâ I feel safe. Sheâs a pegasus and she is all muscle and protection,â Thistle admitted, covering her face with her forehooves. âœWhen she is holding me I know that nothing can reach me. Nothing can touch me. Iâm safe and I can let down my guard.â

âœDâaw,â Derpy said, suddenly feeling more than a little bashful.

âœAnd what about me? Do I make you feel safe?â Berry asked.

âœNot exactlyâ sometimes you scare me just a little bit and I like it because it makes my heart race and then other times you scare me a lot and I donât like that at all, but I keep wanting to you to just scare me a little bit so I can feel my heart beating and in those moments, I find you very desirable,â Thistle explained.

âœI see,â Berry Punch replied. âœSo I need to work on dialing it back a little bit,â she said as she thought back something Thistle had said previously about being nervous. âœYou need to tell me when I am crossing a line. A good time is only a good time if everypony is having fun.â

âœAm I attractive? I mean, I have pointy teeth and I donât have a long pretty mane, and I am not like either of you,â Thistle said nervously.

âœI think youâre pretty,â PiÃa announced.

âœWhy thank you PiÃa,â Thistle said warmly.

âœThistle, your talent is undoubtedly sex appeal. It is very hard not to find you attractive,â Berry said as she patted the newborn foal laying on her belly. She could feel it wiggling towards her teats, hungry yet again. She supposed that little unicorn foals had little unicorn appetites as their magical systems developed, because Berry had never heard of such a hungry foal.

âœYou never shy away from touching, that goes a long way for me,â Derpy said.

âœAm I pretty?â PiÃa asked suddenly of the adult females around her. âœI am a boring little earth ponyâ I wonder sometimes.â

âœI am an earth pony and Bucky canât resist me,â Berry said with entirely too much self confidence. She began to giggle as she felt two little lips tugging on one of her teats.

âœPink is a very pretty colour,â Thistle said. âœSo I think youâre pretty.â

âœWhen you grow up you will have a lot to offer to the right pony,â Derpy said gently. âœYou are smart and you are pretty. Just like Berry Punch.â

âœSo Derpy, what do you find irresistible about me?â Berry asked in a berry curious tone of voice. Berry stroked the foal on her belly and shivered as tingles rippled through her body.

âœYou were there,â Derpy replied in a morose voice.

âœWhat?â Berry questioned, not understanding.

âœYou were there,â Derpy repeated. âœI was alone. My friends all abandoned me. I couldnât exactly go out and have a good time with them anymore. My parents shut me out. I lost everything. The love of my young life ditched me. I was alone. And you came along and you wereâ well, you were you. Same as you are right now. Hard on me when I needed it, soft on me when I was broken, and you were just there. Just like youâve always been there. You were there when Dinky was born. You took care of me, Dinky, and PiÃa when I was sick from the infection and my pelvis had to mend after being broken so Dinky could get out. It was just you and Amethyst Star, Sparklerâs mother,â she explained.

âœI am your friend, what else could I do?â Berry Punch replied.

âœMost of your friends abandoned youâ you stopped going out with them. You lost so much,â Derpy said in a sorrowful reply.

âœFeck them, they werenât my friends. They ditched me. Iâm better off without them,â Berry grumbled.

âœThis is why I love you,â Derpy said to Berry in an emotionally charged voice. âœAnd this is why I wanted to help you Thistle. Somepony was there for me when I needed them most, I can never pay Berry back for everything she has done for me, but I am in a position where I can help somepony else now, and I want to help you,â she explained to Thistle.

PiÃa, silent and humbled, realised she was in one of those moments. The adults were all quiet. There were no words. But there was so much emotion. She felt a strange sensation. She could feel it inside of her head, in her hooves, and deep inside of her barrel. She became hyper aware of everything, and she could feel it all. Every green plant in Thistleâs mane and tail. Every blade of grass around her. Every bit of clover. All of the living things in the dirt. She even became aware of the lives around her that she could not possibly see or even know about. There were two such lives in her sisterâs belly. There were two more in Derpyâs belly. And the life in Thistleâs belly was so strong and so well connected that PiÃa could hear, no, she could feel its heart beating inside of her head, inside of her skull, where it thudded against the inner portions of her skull.

It was all too much and it overpowered her. Her senses shut down and PiÃa felt herself slipping away. To feel the world around her so completely and unfiltered was overwhelming. She went down smiling.

Chapter 132

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Bucky struggled to deal with his rising panic as he prodded PiÃaâs limp body with his hoof. She was not responsive. Bucky forced himself to calm, knowing that a panic attack now would be the worst possible thing that could happen. Berryâs panic was not helping him to concentrate and her emotional shrieking echoed in his ears.

The air around him felt odd, it was magically charged and there was all of the signs of some kind of magical discharge. He cast a simple detection spell, and was very surprised to see PiÃaâs body glowing in the blue-green aura of his magic.

It puzzled him, but he could not think clearly.

He lifted his head, looked at Berry, feeling bad for her, and then looked at Derpy. Both of them were clinging to one another and trembling. Thistle was holding Dinky. Rising Star and Sparkler held each other. The foal lay in the grass before Derpy and Berry.

He turned his gaze back down to PiÃa and tried to block out everything. Using his telekinesis, he gently opened one of her eyelids to check her eyes, and what he saw caused him to jerk his head back in alarm. He let go of her eyelid and allowed the eye to close.

Pinaâs eyes were a glowing milky white, flooded with magical essence in much the say way a unicornâs eyes might react during heavy magic or a surge. Bucky shook his head at the impossibility. Earth ponies didnât have a thaumaturgical system.

He lowered his head and placed his ear against PiÃaâs barrel. Her heart seemed normal to his ears, but he wasnât overly experienced in this sort of thing. She was warm to the touch, but not feverish feeling or sweaty.

He took a hoof and held it in his magic, staring at it intently. He ticked the bottom of her hoof along her sensitive frogs with his magic and her leg twitched. It gave him an idea. He gave a soft tickle to her belly, just below her ribs, around her navel.

PiÃaâs whole body wiggled under his magical touch.

âœPiÃa baby, stop scaring daddy, heâs feeling really panicky,â Bucky whispered. âœPiÃa honey, you can stop scaring daddy any time now, wake up PiÃa,â he begged.

Bucky was roughly shoved aside by Sparkler, whom Bucky suddenly realised was much stronger than he was physically. He nearly fell over as he was bowled out of the way. As he struggled to regain his footing, he saw Sparklerâs head drop down to PiÃaâs belly.

A moment later there was a rude flatulent sound as Sparkler blew a loud raspberry against PiÃaâs tender flesh. The effect was immediate and sudden. PiÃaâs body jerked and the foal gasped. Her legs kicked. And then, a moment laterâ

âœSTOP IT SPARKY!â PiÃa cried as Sparklerâs raspberry assault continued. The foal opened her eyes and blinked a few times, and then rubbed her head. âœWhyâd you do that for?â she asked.

âœYou passed out,â Sparkler said in a worried voice.

Berry tore away from Derpy, charged forward, grabbed PiÃa, and fell over into the grass with her, holding her close. Dinky came next, piling in, trying to wiggle her way into Berryâs embrace.

Derpy held back and looked at Bucky, nervous and afraid. âœWhat happened?â

âœMagic surge,â Bucky said.

âœHow?â Sparkler asked.

âœI have no idea,â Bucky replied.

âœEarth ponies have some magic of their own, but how can they have a surge?â Rising Star questioned in a worried voice.

âœI donât know, but her eyes were flooded with mana residue and she gave off an unmistakable magic aura,â Bucky explained. âœShe had a surge,â he insisted. âœBerry, I know this is hard, but while the magic is still present, I want to do some tests,â Bucky said patiently but firmly.

Berry, now sniffling, looked up at Bucky. âœTests?â she asked.

âœYes Berry, tests. Nothing that will hurt her, I promise,â Bucky said reassuringly.

âœOkay,â Berry replied as she continued to sniffle. She wiped her nose.

âœPiÃa, love, are you feeling alright?â Bucky asked.

âœI feel light headed. What happened?â PiÃa answered.

âœI want to find out,â Bucky said. He gently took PiÃa in his magic and lifted her up to his face. He cast a simple magical focusing spell, something a bit more informative than a simple detect magic spell. For a moment, Pinaâs whole body glowed in a faint blue-green light, and then the glow from most of her faded. The glow intensified around her hooves and shone brightly.

âœCurious,â Bucky said. He kissed PiÃa on the snoot and gently set her down in the grass. âœBerry, I need your hooves,â he stated.

Berry rolled over on her back and stuck her hooves in the air. Bucky cast his spell again on her, watched her whole body glow, and then the glow faded. Berryâs hooves also glowed, but faintly. She looked at her hooves with a confused look on her face, and then looked at Pinaâs still brightly glowing hooves.

Bucky snatched Sparkler in his magic and pulled her close. Turnabout was fair play. He cast his spell again on her, waited, and watched. The blue-green glow surrounding her body faded away, leaving behind a harsh glaring orb of luminescence around her horn.

Sparkler squeaked in surprise from being tugged over and then watched crosseyed, staring up at her own horn as the magic coalesced around it.

âœThe spell shows where magic is most focused,â Bucky explained. âœI learned it in school to solve magical puzzles and unravel magical mysteries. Most unicorns think this simple cantrip is worthless, but I find that it has so many uses.â

âœSo I have magic hooves?â PiÃa inquired curiously.

âœIâm not sure, but you have magic,â Bucky said. âœIn the book I read about Twilight Sparkle and her friends, Pinkie Pie has a Pinkie Pie Sense. It drove Twilight Sparkle nuts trying to figure out how that worked. Most earth ponies have some kind of minor earth pony senseâ but I guess some earth ponies end up with a bit more,â he reasoned.

PiÃa stared at her own forehoof and blinked a few times. It was still glowing faintly. She continued to stare at her hoof even as Dinky grabbed her and pulled her close.

Bucky, not finished, lifted both PiÃa and Dinky in his magic. âœStick out your hoof PiÃa,â he instructed.

PiÃa, trembling slightly, stuck out her hoof and watched Bucky with wide open eyes. âœMy hooves feel tingly and vibrate while you are holding me in your magic,â she said.

âœInteresting PiÃa,â Bucky replied. He lowered his head and touched her hoof with the tip of his horn. PiÃa squeaked and jerked her hoof back from him, which caused several alarmed gasps and cries from all around Bucky. âœDidnât hurt did it?â he asked in concern.

âœNo, but it felt weird,â PiÃa answered. She reached out her leg and touched Buckyâs horn again. There was a little fizzle of magic and some sparks. âœWeird,â the foal muttered. With a swift and sudden movement, she reached out and touched Dinkyâs horn.

âœHey, nothing happened,â Dinky said disappointedly.

âœIgnite your horn Dinks,â Bucky instructed.

Dinky, cottoning on quickly, lit her horn and then grabbed PiÃaâs foreleg in between her hooves. She lifted PiÃaâs hoof to her horn and brought them together. âœHey, she zapped me!â Dinky shouted as the hoof touched her horn.

âœWhy?â PiÃa asked, staring at her hoof as she did so.

âœWhen unicorns touch horns, it creates a magical circuit if they are actively channeling magic. You get a little zap. Or a big zap. Depends on the unicorns really and how much power they are channeling. PiÃa is channeling magic right now through her hooves,â Bucky explained.

âœHow?â Dinky questioned.

âœWell, a hoof is made from the same sort of organic material as a horn casing really,â Bucky said as he sat down in the grass and made himself comfortable.

âœSo PiÃa has magic?â Berry asked.

âœYes,â Bucky answered.

âœSo like a Pinkie Pie Sense?â Derpy asked.

Bucky shrugged and took a deep breath, his muscles finally relaxing from his state of panic. He gently set PiÃa and Dinky down in the grass.

âœPinkie Pie knows stuff,â Dinky said. âœI miss Pinkie Pie. She was always so nice to me and PiÃa,â the foal said sadly.

âœI know stuff too,â PiÃa stated.

âœAnd what do you know PiÃa?â Thistle asked.

âœI know that Berry and Derpy are both going to have twins,â PiÃa replied.

In the late afternoon hours, Bucky slumbered in the bed, having a bit of a nap so he would be well rested for the night of work that had been planned. Derpy watched him in the bed, sitting on the couch with her foals, PiÃa still awake and looking alert, while Dinky had dozed off after a long morning of spellcasting.

Derpy stroked PiÃa and tried to ease her own worries. She looked over at Berry, who was sprawled out in the straw. The pegasus could see the worry on Berryâs face. PiÃaâs announcement had hit Berry like a ton of bricks. As she sat on the couch, she could not help but think about what PiÃa had said to them.

Twins.

PiÃa seemed completely unconcerned about everything as she sat and read her book.

Derpyâs head turned as there was a soft rapping upon the door. She scowled, feeling irritated, knowing that there were sleeping ponies. She slid from the sofa and made her way to the door. She erased her scowl and opened the door slowly. There was a pegasus outside who looked at her blankly.

âœMaâam, while Keg Smasher is awake and lucid, he requests the company of Lord Bitters, Lyra Heartstrings, Bon Bon, and he asks that the foal be brought to him as well,â the pegasus said gently. âœSparkler and Rising Star have already been informed and are on their way to see him now,â he added.

âœI will wake them,â Derpy replied, unable to hide the irritation in her voice.

âœI do apologise, but Keg Smasher has not been well. He has suffered an entire night of delirium. He is quite anxious to speak to those who have done so much to protect his ponies,â the guard explained.

âœI understand,â Derpy said, her tone now softening. She shut the door slowly and turned around to wake the others.

Standing just outside of Keg Smasherâs door, Bucky yawned. As he was closing his mouth, the door opened and he was ushered in along with Bon Bon, Lyra, and the foal. He saw Rising Star and Sparkler in the room already and heard them speaking in low voices.

âœAre you doing okay Keg?â Bucky asked in a voice of warm concern.

âœI had a rough night, feeling better now though. These two have told me about all the work that has been done,â Keg Smasher replied.

âœThe Scorned Mare nears completion,â Bucky reported. âœSo why are we here?â he inquired.

âœI donât plan to keep you long,â Keg Smasher said in a raspy voice. âœI just want to do what needs to be done,â he added. âœFirst things first, might I see the foal?â he asked.

Lyra moved forward, the foal held in a bubble of magic. She approached the bed and gently laid the foal down before Keg Smasher. She jerked nervously and twitched as she stood there waiting.

âœYou look nervous lass,â Keg Smasher said as he eyed Lyra.

âœIâm sorryâ I have some issuesâ I find myself being very protective and I donât know how to cope with it yet,â Lyra replied with total honesty. âœPlus, I just woke up and everything in my head is jumbled up. Iâve never been a mother before,â she explained.

Keg Smasher nodded and then lowered his head down to look at the foal. He sniffed her and then gently bumped her with his snoot. After examining the foal for several minutes, he closed his eyes. âœSo precious,â he murmured to himself. He opened his eyes and looked at Bucky. âœSomething is up with her mane,â Keg Smasher said.

Bucky nervously glanced at Bon Bon and then back at Keg Smasher. âœI, uh, I think I know what you mean,â Bucky replied.

âœHush, both of you, hush!â Bon Bon scolded. âœSheâs perfect.â

âœShe looks like a little fireball,â Keg Smasher muttered. âœAn adorable little fireball.â

âœBon Bon, her maneâ it just sticks out in all-â

âœShut it Rising Star, you will not say another word if you know what is good for you,â Bon Bon interrupted. She turned and gave Rising Star the stinkeye.

âœAye, this is why I love earth ponies,â Keg Smasher quipped. âœI summoned you all for a very important reason. Normally, this would be a bit more formal, but I ainât in no position to rise and be all courtly about this,â he grumped.

Lyra, unable to contain herself, snatched up the foal and held it close to her neck, surrounded in the golden glow of her magic. One eye twitched frightfully and the muscles along her ribs quivered visibly.

Bon Bon reached out a hoof and began to stroke Lyra, calming the twitchy unicorn.

Keg Smasher watched all of this with a curious expression as he continued. âœRising Star, for your service in the destruction of the undead, I grant you the title of âœSirâ and add you to my stable of nobles. Now and forever on these isles you will be known as Lord Rising Star. I thank you for your service,â Keg Smasher said in a wavering voice.

Rising Star, overcome with emotion from Keg Smasherâs words found he could say nothing. Tears came to his eyes and he bowed his head low. He nodded and then swiped at his eyes with his foreleg.

âœSparkler Doo Hooves, for your service I am granting you the title of âœDameâ and you are to be added to my stable of nobles. Now and forever on these isles, you will be known as Lady Sparkler Doo Hooves. I thank you for your service,â Keg Smasher announced.

âœThank you sir,â Sparkler said as she bowed her head.

âœLyra Heartstrings, for your service you have earned the title of âœDameâ and I am adding you to my stable of nobles. Now and forever on these isles, you shall be known as Lady Lyra Heartstrings. I cannot thank you enough for your service and for being that foalâs mother. To give of your whole life in service to another is a most noble act,â Keg Smasher said in a gruff voice.

Lyra froze, unable to reply, her eyes wide. She finally blinked, but remained unable to move. One ear drooped and fell down to the side of her face.

âœShe thanks you,â Bon Bon said apologetically as she continued to rub Lyra.

âœBon Bon, for your service I am giving you the title of âœDameâ and you are now added to my stable of nobles. From this day forward and for the rest of time, you will be known as Lady Bon Bon on these isles. I thank you for everything you have done,â Keg Smasher said to Bon Bon.

âœThank you,â Bon Bon said graciously.

âœI thought I was already a Lady because I was Buckyâs wife,â Lyra whispered, looking very confused.

Keg Smasher chuckled. âœAnd now you are a Lady by your own merits, and not through marriage,â he said to Lyra. âœSparkler,â he said, now looking at the purple-pink filly, âœIn addition to your title of âœDameâ I am granting you the rank of âœBuck Sergeantâ as well. This is not an honourific. You showed great courage charging forward and your actions saved a life,â he said solemnly.

âœI was so scaredâ I nearly messed myself,â Sparkler confessed. âœI donât deserve that.â

âœYou were scared, but you did it anyway,â Keg Smasher said. âœAnd yon filly is alive most likely because of your advance.â

âœThank you sirâ I will try to be deserving of this honour,â Sparkler replied, trying to think of how Sentinel might talk as she answered.

âœAnd you Buckminsterâ I am giving you the title and rank of âœKnight Captainâ for your own part in this. Everypony came home safe and you came back with one pony extra. Quite a feat. Consider this your official commission for command over your airship, the first vessel of the Clan Pickled Navy. She will not be the last,â Keg Smasher said in a dry pained voice.

âœThat is a title I will gladly accept sir,â Bucky replied, standing up straight and turning his remaining eye upon Keg Smasher.

âœNow if you will forgive me, I need to rest. I donât feel well,â Keg Smasher said in weak voice.

Chapter 133

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âœWhere have you two been all day?â Rising Star demanded, finally finding his missing wives. He raised his eyebrow and glared at them with what he hoped was gentle anger. He really didnât want either of them afraid of him.

âœWe went flying for a while. And then we landed out in the middle of an island in another loch that can be found a fair distance from here. After that, we had a sisterly talk. So there,â Loch Skimmer replied. Feeling saucy, she cautiously stuck out her tongue, worried that Rising Star might take it wrong. She had seen Sparkler do it, and Sparkler got away with an awful lot for a female.

âœYou scared me,â Rising Star stated. He was secretly pleased that Loch Skimmer had stuck out her tongue. It inflamed his desire for her. âœSo what did you talk about?â he asked in a soft voice.

Loch Skimmer, taken off guard by Rising Starâs lack of anger felt a little more emboldened. âœSister stuff!â she said with a snort. âœWhat sort of day have you had?â Loch Skimmer asked, changing the subject.

âœYeah, sister stuff,â Ripple repeated.

Rising Star rolled his eyes. âœKeg Smasher thanked us for destroying the undead. I earned a title and now I am Lord Rising Star apparently. Which makes both of you a Lady through marriage. Sparkler earned a title too, and some kind of promotion. Keg called her a Buck Sergeant. I donât even know what that is or what it means, but I am so proud of Sparkler right now,â Rising Star reported.

âœSo Sparkler got a title and a rank, you just got a title, and youâre happy for her?â Ripple asked, looking more than a little confused. Her muzzle scrunched.

âœYeah, she did. Why is that a big deal?â Rising Star asked.

âœBut youâ youâre male. Sheâs a female. She got something and you didnât. And youâre not angry? Jealous?â Ripple inquired.

âœWhy would I be any of those things? Sparkler was scared out of her mind. And you didnât see herâ. she just charged. At that moment, she was never more beautiful. She didnât want anypony else to die. She deserves a little extra because of how hard it was on her,â Rising Star explained.

âœIâm having some trouble taking this in,â Ripple said.

âœI am too,â Loch Skimmer admitted.

âœSo because I am male I should be angry because Sparkler got a rank in the military and I didnât?â Rising Star asked in confusion.

âœWell, I dunno,â Loch Skimmer said.

Ripple started to reply, made a half hearted squeak, and then fell silent.

âœBut now sheâs a Buck Sergeant and you are not,â Loch Skimmer muttered.

âœHey, I get to shag a Buck Sergeant,â Rising Star pointed out.

Loch Skimmer began to giggle nervously and then she slipped into guffaws that were free of any sort of apprehension. She stood on three legs and laughed with her eyes squeezed shut.

âœMy sister sometimes,â Ripple quipped. âœAnd Sparkler, she has rank now, as bossy as she is, she is going to be impossible to live with,â she added.

Loch stopped laughing suddenly. âœOh my gosh you are right Ripple,â Loch blurted out. âœRising Star, my sister and I talked. Quite a bit of it was about you. About what we did. About me getting my filly ribbon busted. How gentle you were. Iâve been worried that she is the way she is because of fearâ after a number of things that have happened she has a right to be afraid. I was trying to tell her she has nothing to be afraid of,â she explained.

âœOhâ I see,â Rising Star said, now blushing a bit.

Ripple looked at her sister and advanced on Rising Star, drawing close. âœThank you,â she stated in a timid quavering voice.

âœFor what?â Rising Star asked.

âœFor making my sister better,â Ripple said.

âœI, uh, oh, er, Iââ Rising Star stammered.

âœPlease never betray my trust,â Ripple begged. âœIt is fragile and so easily broken. I want to trust you like my sister does, because I want to be happy,â she said.

Unable to say anything, Rising Star wrapped a foreleg around Rippleâs neck and hugged her close. He held her for several minutes, she was tense at first but relaxed slowly, and once he felt her relax he buried his face into her pale blue mane.

Loch Skimmer, watching this, smiled and hoped that her sister would one day share her happiness.

Bucky prepared himself for what was sure to be a long night. There was a lot of work to do, and he was going to be doing it alone. Other ponies were beginning to settle into the bed and Bucky could hear soft voices still talking about the events of the day, murmurs of PiÃa having magic and the talk of two sets of twins.

The two sets of twins made what he was about to do even easier.

Bucky needed to live, needed to survive impossible odds. He needed a trump card, and after much planning, he believed that he had one.

âœYou look well rested for once,â Bon Bon said.

âœI feel rather well rested,â Bucky said.

âœIt is easier for us to be awake at night,â Sentinel announced.

âœI think you are right Sentinel,â Bucky agreed. âœAnd the night should fear us.â

Sentinel nodded slowly, his face flashing with emotion for a brief instant before going blank. âœDid Lyra brush away the itchies? Are you going to be able to work?â Sentinel asked.

âœI think soâ and thank you Lyra,â Bucky replied.

The unicorn smiled at Bucky. âœThanks for being sweet to me,â she said in reply.

âœLook after our foal,â Bucky instructed. âœAnd try to comb her mane, it kinda sti-â

âœThere is nothing wrong with her mane!â Bon Bon snapped in interruption.

Grinning sheepishly, Bucky backed away towards the door.

âœYouâre in no position to talk you scruffy little hairball,â Bon Bon grumbled.

The lab was dark. Bucky saw no reason to light any lamps or use any candles. His emerald eye glowed green and filled the room with a light that was easy on his remaining eye, bathing everything in a soft green luminescence that was strangely relaxing.

Bucky carefully laid out the salt into a perfect heptagram with his magic. The floor had been scrubbed and carefully prepared. Bucky had pulled the spells from Sombraâs memories. He felt ready. Tonight, Bucky was going to make a bold gambit and he hoped that it would pay off.

He understood that what he was doing was considered wrong by other ponies, but Bucky wasnât sure if he considered what he was doing wrong. It was unicorn cleverness and a means to get a leg up on what was sure to be a terrible foe.

There was simply too much at stake to risk a chance of losing.

Bucky closed his eye and summoned his magic. But not his harmony magic. When he opened his eye, it was a glaring red colour and the white of his eye had turned a pestilent shade of green. Black flames wreathed his horn.

Using his magic, he sliced open his leg, cutting deep, needing blood. Sometimes, magic meant suffering. He shook his leg over the center of the heptagram, sprinkling blood in the center.

Terrible words came out of his mouth, ancient guttural words, more growls and grunts than anything, words now mostly forgotten, lost in time. The air around him crackled. Motes of black energy floated all around him. A soft purple glow formed around the heptagram.

And then, Bucky was not alone in the lab.

A small fell creature stood within the heptagram, a strange looking monstrosity, it looked like it was part ape and part hippopotamus. In blinked a few times, and then stared down at the blood on the stone floor, licking its lips.

âœThink of it as a peace offering,â Bucky growled. âœFor your cooperation,â he added.

The creature began to greedily lap up the blood and then looked at Bucky hungrily. âœWhat do you want?â the creature croaked.

âœI want information imp, and in payment, I offer you freedom,â Bucky replied.

âœFreedom?â the imp inquired, scarcely believing its good luck.

âœI give you my word, I will free you,â Bucky offered.

âœWhat sort of freedom?â the imp asked in lawyerly tones.

âœFreedom from your suffering. I will release you from your bondage,â Bucky said in his most authoritative voice.

âœI seeââ the imp stated. âœWhat do you want to know?â it asked, looking hopeful.

âœI need to create armor for a battle. I will be fighting corrupted shadow creatures. But they are the least of my concerns. Fighting their master worries me. I have seen signs of necromancy and strong dark magic. I need to know how to defend myself. Iâve heard that the blood of demons infused into metal will grant considerable protection against dark magic,â Bucky replied.

The imp nodded enthusiastically. âœOh yes, the blood of demons would help you. If you would like, for some more of your blood, I could give you the name of a very powerful demon you could summon. With his name, you could control him. Bleed him dry. Make him screech,â the imp croaked.

Bucky pondered the impâs offer and peered at the imp thoughtfully. âœHarvesting the bloodââ he asked. âœYour kind are almost functionally immortal on this plane. I could say, cut off your arm, make you bleed, harvest your blood, and your arm would grow back, am I correct?â

The imp began to look nervous. âœYeahâ my arm would grow back,â it replied.

âœSo long as the heart exists, you continue to live. A big dangerous demon would have a heart that is very difficult to get to, so I would have to do a lot of chopping to wear him down and subdue him. Meanwhile, he would be healing rapidly and using his own magic against me. I assume that at some point, he would break free of the heptagram,â Bucky reasoned.

The imp nodded, his nervousness now gone, replaced by a gleeful expression at the idea of violence against other demons.

âœSo if the heart was say, ripped free from the body, what would happen?â Bucky asked.

âœWe would grow a new body so long as the heart survived intact,â the imp answered.

âœAnd the heart would continue to bleed?â Bucky inquired.

âœYes,â the imp said evilly. âœMuch suffering. The big nasty demon would feel the pain of having to grow back a body. So much pain. Pain. PAIN! Delicious! I could tell you his name!â the fell creature said excitedly.

âœAnd with this big demon, what if I found a way to keep the body from growing back, but kept the heart preserved? What would happen?â Bucky questioned.

âœThen the big nasty would suffer and suffer and SUFFER!â the imp singsonged. âœA pain unimaginable by mortals! Endless agony. So beautifulââ it shrieked gleefully. âœHeyâ you think like usâ youâre not so bad for a pony,â the imp complimented.

Bucky smiled broadly, revealing his fangs. He took a perverse pleasure in watching the imp study him appreciatively.

âœYou know the value of suffering,â the imp said in a serious voice. âœPower in pain. You are like us. You have seen beautiful misery. You have felt agony and the rush of power that it brings. Youâre like us. Youâve seen enlightenment!â

âœI have,â Bucky agreed. âœAnd now, our conversation is nearly over. I must confess, when I planned this, I assumed that what I would do would free you from your suffering, but it seems that I am wrong. For this, I am glad. I want you to suffer,â Bucky hissed. âœHow many of my kind have you tormented?â

The imp panicked and its eyes went wide. It began to claw at its throat as invisible bonds tightened around it. It tried to speak, but no words came out, only a guttural utterance that sounded like âœglurkâ if such a word as âœglurkâ actually existed.

âœYouâre tiny and pathetic, but as long as I keep your heart beating, you should provide me with what I need,â Bucky said as he went to work. Tendrils of dark magic writhed along the impâs body and Bucky enjoyed watching the imp squirm.

The magic cut deeply into the impâs flesh and Bucky began to pull him open. After ripping open the filly in the farmhouse, this was shockingly easy. He had felt bad for the filly, it grieved him know what he had done to her body, and he was going to spend the rest of his life making it up to her by raising her foal. But he felt no such guilt as the imp was slowly torn asunder.

âœFor too long, your kind has preyed on my kind. You feed on our fear. You keep hate in our world. You reach into the dreams of ponies and feast upon their suffering. You plant horrible thoughts into the minds of my kind. You are the source of so many tears upon the cheeks of foals,â Bucky snarled as he worked.

âœAND YOU SHOULD BE AFRAID,â Bucky roared.

The imp looked down and watched as its chest was rent open. It could feel every cut, every slice, every careful stroke of magic. It was beautiful and even the imp felt impressed somewhere deep inside. As he watched, his heart was carved from his chest along with a giant lump of gristle and other meaty bits. As he tumbled over backwards, his body going limp, he watched his still beating heart spurt a little dribble of blood. He reached up weakly with one nine fingered hand, wanting to put his heart back into his chest where it belonged.

Bucky impaled the heart on his horn, stabbing it through the meaty chunk of gristle so the heart itself would not be damaged. Moving swiftly, he phased the still beating heart inside of the glass globe he had so carefully created the night before. It passed through the artifact glass and then Bucky gently shook it free.

He stood back and waited, his ear to the glass. He began to worry, fearing that his attempt had failed. And then, he heard it. A faint thumping sound as the heart thudded inside of its glass prison, now held in stasis.

He turned away from the horrible artifact he had created and surveyed his mess. The body would need to be disposed of. He relaxed his will and ended the spell that had called the creature forth into this plane. In moments, the body faded and fell back into Tartarus. He used the salt to clean the blood from the floor, and then he carefully collected the bloody salt and placed inside of a container. Using a pen, he marked the container carefully, labeling its contents, and then checked for any further signs of mess. Everything looked fine.

Using a scrap of cloth, he wiped the blood from his horn and then, when he could contain himself no longer, he went to the glass globe with the still beating demon heart and gave it a gentle shake with his magic.

Inside, there was a faint sloshing sound as it began to fill with liquid. Bucky chuckled to himself. He had his trump card. He placed the orb back into its stand. With time, he would have the demon blood he needed to enchant his armor.

His work finished, he looked at the door. He was tired, what he had done had taken a lot out of him. He decided to call it quits for the night.

Bucky settled himself on the sofa beside Sentinel and smiled at those who shared the night with him. Sentinelâs back was healing and the foal was looking much better. Bon Bon crawled onto the sofa beside him and he leaned into her. His muscles relaxed as Bon Bon stroked him.

âœLyra has named the foal,â Bon Bon whispered.

âœOh really?â Bucky replied.

Lyra, hearing Bon Bon, nodded. âœSheâs obsessed with my enchanted lyre,â Lyra said in a low soft voice. âœIâve named her Harper Heartstrings,â the unicorn said joyfully in a low whisper.

âœMight I hold little Harper?â Bucky asked.

Lyra blushed and lifted the foal up in her magic, passing it to Bucky.

Bucky leaned against Bon Bon a bit more and then cradled Harper in his forelegs. She cooed and burbled a bit, spitting and drooling everywhere, and Bucky treasured her warmth after the cold act he had just endured. âœHi there Harper. You have a name now. You should feel special, most foals around here donât get a name for a very long time,â he whispered as he pressed his snoot against the foal.

Harper responded by gumming the edge of Buckyâs nostril and flapping her lips, soaking Bucky in slobber.

There was a time in Buckyâs life where he would have had a meltdown following such an event, but now he felt comforted. Harperâs eyes turned to look at the floating golden lyre and her little legs kicked as she squirmed in his embrace.

Bon Bon, being the sharp eyed earth pony that she was, saw the gash on Buckyâs foreleg and the dried blood. She looked at it curiously, wondering how Bucky had suffered such an injury in the lab, but said nothing, hoping not to spoil the precious moment.

Chapter 134

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The past few days were an exhausting blur. The gasbag was nearly finished. Buckyâs students became much better at their tasks, but mistakes were made. They were easy enough for Bucky to fix though. Harper began to mumble something that sounded suspiciously like âœmamaâ when she saw another pony, even Bucky. Bucky discovered he didnât mind being called âœmamaâ at all. The days became almost ordinary.

And deep within the bowels of the castle, in Buckyâs laboratory, a dreadful glass orb filled with demon blood. The terrible heart continued to beat in the darkness. More spell jars appeared every night, many filled with fire.

Keg Smasher began to make a few public appearances, staggering around on three legs and reassuring ponies that he was still alive and in charge.

There was much discussion about the upcoming Sisterhooves Social. Plans were being made. Word was spreading all around the isles.

Somehow, in the middle of everything, it slipped the minds of those involved to speak to Lyra about the troubling words she uttered as she slipped into darkness. It was one troubling event among many, now lost among the flood.

Berry Punch watched as Bucky entered the room. He was carrying a bucket, a bowl, and several other items. He was also grinning the sort of grin that Bucky grinned when he was up to no good, and with Buckyâs new teeth, the grin was impressive.

Nopony smiled like Bucky.

As she watched, he set the clean metal pail down upon the floor, the bowl upon a low table, and a small container next to the bowl.

âœWhat are you up to?â Berry inquired.

âœHush Berry, ponies are sleeping,â Bucky replied as he pointed to the bed where Sentinel, Bon Bon, and Lyra were slumbering.

Berry raised her eyebrow.

âœNo foals around. Perfect. Well, there is Harper, but Harper wonât mind,â Bucky stated.

âœBucky, what are you up to?â Derpy asked.

âœHush Derpy, stallion business,â Bucky answered, giving Derpy a saucy look.

Berry Punch felt herself grabbed by the legs and dragged across the room, pulled over the bucket, and then held in place. Her eyes widened as she suddenly realised what was about to take place. âœBucky!â she whispered out in warning. She felt her hind legs pulled out apart a bit, and then a delightful tickle over her nethers.

And then came the delightful slow tugging sensation over her teats, followed by the thud of milk splattering into the pail. Berryâs eyes rolled back into her head and her back arched. There was another long slow tug on her teats and the feeling of pressure being applied was nearly orgasmic. There was a wet splashing sound as more milk filled the bucket.

âœYouâ youâ youâre milking Berryââ Derpy gasped. âœAnd she likes itââ

Berry, spread legged over the bucket, hiked up her tail reflexively as once again, more milk was coaxed out. She made little mewling sounds of pleasure as more milk could be heard splashing into the pail.

âœSheâs presenting,â Derpy said. The pegasus could not help herself, she licked her lips and her tongue left behind a waxy sheen. âœI really hope that Sentinel does not wake up,â Derpy breathed.

Berry was completely lost in the moment. A broad smile split her face, her tongue was hanging out, and her tail was flipped over to one side, exposing her femininity.

âœYouâve found a way to tame the wild Shetland mare,â Derpy said breathily.

It didnât take long until Berry was milked almost dry and the pail was partially filled. Bucky scooted Berry away from the bucket, patting her backside with his magic as he sent her on her way. He watched as the mare stumbled away in what could only be described as a euphoric stupor.

Bucky leaned over the pail, sniffed, stuck out his tongue, tasted, smiled, and lifted his head. He nodded appreciatively as and then lifted the mass of milk in his magic, leaving the bucket on the ground.

He sat down on the sofa with bubble of magic full of milk over his head and gently smooched the pegasus mare at his side.

âœWhat are you doing?â Derpy asked with uncontained giggles.

Bucky smiled but did not reply.

After a while of holding the milk in a bubble over his head, he dropped the milk back into the pail, fished out a large lump of butter, dropped the butter into the bowl, added salt, and began to fold it into the butter using his magic.

âœYou made Berry butter,â Derpy gasped.

Berry, now recovering, stumbled over the table. âœYou milked me,â she said accusingly. She didnât seem upset about in the least.

âœOh Berry my sweet Berryâ Iâve decided to make you my little milkmare,â Bucky said informatively as he continued to fold some sea salt into the butter. He took a pat of butter from the wooden bowl and applied it to Berryâs snoot with his magic.

The earth pony mare looked down cross eyed at the butter smeared on her snoot. She licked it off, looking upwards with her eyes thoughtfully as she did so. Her eyes glanced around as she rolled the flavour over her tongue. âœThat is really good butter,â she announced.

âœBerry good butter,â Bucky corrected. He took a dollop of butter and smeared it over Derpyâs nose with magic. A moment later, the grey mare gave him what could only be described as a hot buttery kiss.

In the bed, Sentinel closed his eye. He had only opened it a hairâs width, but he had seen enough. His family was weird. For the life of him, he could not figure out why Berry seemed to enjoy being milked so much. He pressed himself into Lyraâs side and drifted off into slumber. Lyra was warm and warmth made sense.

Several ponies stood gathered around a boulder jutting out of the ground. A few were pegasi, one was a kelpie, and one was an earth pony. The rest were unicorns, and there was a bit of target practice going on.

âœThat was a good shot Sparky,â Ripple cheered.

âœBut my telekinetic blasts are so weak,â Sparkler whined in frustration.

âœBut you hit the target dead on,â Loch Skimmer said. âœRising Star hasnât hit the target dead on yet with his fire bolts.â

âœI donât need to be accurate,â Rising Star muttered. âœI just need to ignite something,â he added with a haughty sniff.

âœAnd with the explosive effect, he just needs to land one in the general area,â Dinky pointed out. âœNot fair. I wish I was a pyromancer. I donât seem to have an element,â the unicorn foal groaned in frustration.

âœDinky, you are scary with fire spells,â PiÃa stated.

âœScary isnât good enough! I want to be terrifying like Rising Star. You can feel the heat coming off of his body and see the shimmering heat ripplesâ so much power!â Dinky shouted good naturedly.

âœDinky, fire isnât all that it is cracked up to be, you saw what Bucky did to me the other day. He sucked the heat right out of me and left me completely helpless. I really donât have anything but fire, and that left me humbled,â Rising Star explained. He shuddered at the memory of being totally subdued and powerless.

âœHow many ponies are there like father?â Dinky retorted. âœFire is awesome.â

âœThatâs a fair point,â Sparkler said. She took aim and let go of another blast, sending a few chunks of stone flying from the boulder. Her eyes narrowed in disappointment.

âœStep aside Sparky, let me show you how it is done,â Dinky boasted. The unicorn foal angled her head at the boulder, closed one eye, squinted the other, stuck out her tongue in concentration, and her horn began to glow. âœI think Iâm surging a bit, stand back!â Dinky warned.

There was a loud âœPWOOMF!â sound and a starburst of telekinetic force shot from Dinkyâs horn. It struck the rock with a thunderclap. Once the smoke and dust cleared, a large crack was visible in the boulder.

Dinky fell over into the grass, rubbing her head. âœOw,â she muttered. âœThat hurts, daddy wasnât kiddingâ ow ow ow,â she cried.

âœI think the boulder felt that,â PiÃa observed, her eyes wide with fear.

Loch Skimmer whistled in alarm. âœWow, look at that,â she breathed.

âœShow off,â Sparkler muttered. âœYou okay Dinks?â she asked a moment later.

âœIâm fine, I must not be afraid of pain,â Dinky said in reply. The unicorn made her way to her hooves and steadied herself. âœPain is a weakness that will hold me back from what I want,â she whispered to herself.

âœDinky cracked the boulder,â Rising Star said. âœA few more hits in the same spot, and I bet she could break it in half,â he stated.

âœI should be able to bust it in half in one shot,â Dinky muttered. âœI keep failing myself,â she added in disappointment.

âœGive it time Dinky,â Thistle said in gentle tones.

âœDaddy could turn this boulder to powder and we keep blasting little chunks off of it,â Dinky muttered.

âœDinky, that isnât fair to say, Bucky is a different type of unicorn,â Thistle replied in a soft voice.

âœIâm just not pushing myself hard enough,â Dinky stated in a matter-of-fact voice. âœJust going to have to work harder,â she grumbled.

Rising Star focused, aiming for one of the black marks on the boulder. He took a deep breath, and, rather than just flinging his magic, out, he held it back. He closed his eyes and focused on the black mark he wanted to hit, and he let his magic build. His mane and tail ignited into flickering fires. He opened his eyes and finally let go.

This time, there were no darts that lept out, but a concentrated stream of fire, a thin red angry beam of flames. It struck the mark and the boulder burned for several moments. A thin trickle of melted stone dribbled from the boulder and the air was filled with heat.

âœOhâ that was awesome!â Dinky shouted.

âœNever done that before,â Rising Star quipped.

âœIâd imagine if you turned your head and swept that beam through a group of wolves, it would be lethal,â Ripple said. She nudged PiÃa gently, letting the earth pony foal know that she wasnât alone in having ideas how magic should be applied.

PiÃa nodded. âœBeam attacks can be used to cut enemies in half. Well, telekinetic beams. I dunno what a fire beam would do,â she admitted.

As Rising Star relaxed, his mane and tail returned to normal. The air around him cooled off a bit. He gave himself a shake and let go of the fiery urges he had inside.

âœHey, you want to see something awesome?â Dinky asked.

âœFigure out something new Dinky?â Sparkler asked.

âœNot exactly. Father showed me a new trick,â Dinky replied.

âœOh no!â PiÃa said, covering her eyes.

âœWhat did father show you?â Sparkler asked.

âœFine control,â Dinky replied with a wicked grin.

âœNo!â PiÃa whined.

âœShush PiÃa,â Dinky said as she giggled.

âœDaddy used his magic for evil nefarious purposes,â PiÃa moaned.

Aware that everypony was watching, Dinky took a few deep breaths, focused her will, and called to mind thoughts of burning. A bit of foalish rage gave her all the motivation she needed. She took a really deep breath, pushed, strained, lifted her tail, and then farted loudly.

âœDragonfire!â Dinky shouted as she ignited her flatulence. There was a gout of flame that shot from her backside and scorched the grass. She felt a wash of heat as the flames gushed forth. As soon as the flames died down, she sat down in the grass to extinguish anything that might be smouldering.

Dinkyâs audience was stupefied.

âœI have got to try that,â Rising Star said in a stunned monotone.

âœSo do I,â Sparkler whispered in awe.

âœFather has brought evil upon us all,â PiÃa lamented as she shook her head.

âœThat is the most amazing magic,â Thistle murmured. âœI want to see it again.â

âœSomepony needs to light mama Derpyâs farts on fire,â Ripple said, her eyes wide with wonder and her ears folded back against her skull.

âœHey, somepony could light Rippleâs farts on fire,â Loch offered. She froze when three unicorns all turned to look at her sister. âœNot all at once,â she added nervously.

Sparklerâs gaze moved from Ripple to Loch. âœNopony farts like Rippleâ I swear, sheâs been taking lessons from mom,â she insisted.

âœIt was just a few pointers,â Ripple said dismissively. âœAnd I donât want to explode violently. Keep all open flames away from my backside if you please!â Ripple began to back away from the group.

âœThe whistling sisters,â Rising Star said with a chuckle.

âœExcept one whistles out the wrong end,â Sparkler continued.

âœI wonder which tribe of ponyâs farts burn the brightest,â PiÃa wondered out loud.

âœOnly one way to find out,â Dinky announced.

Chapter 135

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Bucky worked quietly in the lab, but not alone. Tonight, Dinky, Sparkler, and Rising Star were with him, and the trio worked together to fill the globes. They were all moving towards a more nocturnal schedule now that The Scorned Mare neared completion.

It was a tough adjustment for some, a natural progression for others.

While his students worked, getting a chance to safely practice dangerous spells by casting them into spell jars, Bucky worked on something a little different. Using nothing but his magic, he had created something of a minor metalworking forge. He experimented with brass, and he was working the pliable metal into shape. It was now cooling, two little metal frames that looked a bit like odd figure-eights, one larger, the other smaller. As they hung suspended in the air, his magic leaching heat from them, he worked on creating four glass lenses. This was a practical concern, for him and Sentinel, and he intended to do something about it. Straps of canvas were created. Once the metal was cooled, everything was assembled carefully, and after several hours of magical labour, Bucky placed his finished projects down upon a table.

âœBucky?â

âœYes Rising Star?â Bucky replied.

âœI think I can finally feel what youâve been talking about. Iâve always been a sort to worry. It has been different lately though. I keep focusing on thingsâ and I canât stop thinking about them,â Rising Star admitted while he worked.

Bucky closed his eye and felt a wash of sadness overtake him. âœThat sounds like a symptom,â he answered.

âœI get like that,â Dinky said. âœI keep thinking about being a little brat at breakfast the other day and being so angry, and my brain wonât shut up, and it makes all my muscles feel herky jerky and my eye starts to twitch a bit,â she explained. âœI wasnât like this before my cutie mark showed up.â

âœYeah, thatâs it,â Rising Star said to Dinky.

âœMy thoughts feel a little more unsettled lately, but I canât tell if it is stress or some kind of unicorn neurosis,â Sparkler stated. âœThere is a battle coming and I keep thinking about it. I am lousy at offensive magic and it just burns me up inside.â

âœPetrification is-â

âœFather, petrification cannot be relied upon. I have no control over when it happens, and it isnât like I can sit back and practice to make it better,â Sparkler interrupted.

âœSparky, you are more defensive. Focus on protecting others. You and Rising Star compliment one another. Youâre the stop, and heâs the go. Youâve seen him, he has almost no defensive abilities of his own. He canât make a telekinetic barrier to save his life. He canât even make simple shields. If something ever gets past his offense, he is in big trouble. Be a shield to others,â Bucky explained, trying to comfort and reassure his daughter.

âœIt worries me that I have no defense to speak of,â Rising Star admitted.

âœAnd I still donât have an element,â Dinky said in a pouty voice.

âœDinky, some unicorns never develop a strong connection to a particular element. More and more you are showing signs of strong mental magic, maybe your magical talents are attuned to other things,â Bucky suggested.

The unicorn foal stuck her horn into a spell jar, summoned forth a poof of fire, and then pulled out. âœMaybeâ but just once Iâd like to just burn everything like Rising Star does,â Dinky whispered. âœBeautiful fire.â

âœWhy fire Dinks?â Sparkler asked.

âœWhy not?â Dinky replied. âœIf not fire, then lightning like Lyra. Or that thing with the rapid fire icicles that father does or the explosive ice orbâ I want the whizz-bang burn off your eyebrows spells,â she added. When she was finished speaking, Dinky yawned and rubbed her belly.

âœThe explosive ice orb was something,â Sparkler said, recalling the demonstration a few days previous.

âœThe explosive ice orb is more psychologicalâ sure, it is damaging, but it is as Dinky says, whizz-bang magic. On a battlefield with other sapient, beings, they would see it and panic. There are far more efficient spells for killing but they lack the spectacular whizz-bang effects that Dinky seems to be after,â Bucky explained.

âœI dunno Bucky, the other day when you sucked all those wolves into one little spot with that spell, froze them, and then shattered them, that was whizz-bangy,â Rising Star said in an insistent tone.

âœI am not even sure how I did that,â Bucky admitted. âœReflexive spell casting perhaps. It almost felt like something else channeled the magic through me.â

âœI wish I could have been there to see that,â Dinky said.

âœYour day is coming soon,â Bucky said to Dinky. âœWell, night. Think you will be ready to defend your motherâs blind spot?â he inquired.

Dinkyâs eyes narrowed and a change came over the foal. âœNothing hurts my mama,â she hissed. Sparks flew from her horn as she spoke and her eyes had a manic gleam. âœNothing hurts my family.â

âœEasy Dinks,â Rising Star said soothingly.

âœIâm fine,â Dinky said reassuringly. âœI have it under control. Iâm just motivated now,â she explained.

âœYou look too much like father when he gets that look of his,â Sparkler said to her sister.

âœOur herd is all we have,â Dinky retorted in a soft voice. âœDaddy told me to focus on a reason to hold back all of the rageâ I will keep those I love safe,â the foal growled.

Bucky did not look up as he examined a spell jar. âœDinky is managing Sparkler. Iâve been inside of her head. Sheâs doing the best she can. She is honestly giving it everything sheâs got, and she has nothing left to give. The stress is certainly affecting her,â he said as he watched the swirling fire inside of the spell jar.

âœAnd what about when this ends?â Sparkler asked. âœWhen weâre no longer draining out her excessive magic into glass jars of death? When we go home and have to live among normal ponies? When there are no enemies left to fight?â

âœBy then, with no enemies left to fight, the stress will go away and things will be much easier,â Bucky replied.

âœFather, Iâ I disagreeââ Sparkler said in a small fearful voice. âœWhen we get home, we are going to have to answer for things weâve done here. That will be stressful. And we will be a herd of ponies living among other ponies that probably donât like herds. And that will be stressful. And then there is adapting to life back at home againâ Dinky dealing with other foals in school, foals who are going to tease her about her family and how her father looks and the scary bat pony brother she has andâ andâ andââ the unicorn filly broke down mid sentence and began to cry.

Bucky slumped, feeling a crushing weight bearing down upon his shoulders. âœI was hoping to deal with that laterâ I didnât want to think about that now,â he confessed.

âœIt is all I can think about,â Sparkler screeched, her own emotions finally boiling out. âœI think about my sister being teased and I have nightmares about a town full of pony statues!â

Rising Star, saying nothing, moved over and placed a foreleg around Sparklerâs withers. He pulled her close and the pair sat huddled together, looking grief stricken and hurt.

Dinky went strangely blank, showing no real sign of emotion, which caused Bucky to feel a rising sensation of panic. Bucky realised that he didnât know what to say or do. He had only planned for the wolves, but preparing for life at home seemed far more terrifying. The wolves were a threat that Bucky could obliterateâ other ponies at home were a threat that Bucky had no idea how to even begin dealing with.

âœWeâre done here for the night,â Bucky said in a controlled monotone. âœWeâre going back upstairs, Dinky, you are going to go to bed, Rising Star and Sparkler, you two are going to spend some time together before going to bed, and we will return to this task tomorrow night,â he commanded in a flat voice.

The dawn broke, the grey light filled with promise. Each day felt urgent now, a strong need to get things done. So much was happening so quickly.

Sentinel yawned, feeling exhausted. He had spent the last few hours slipping in and out of shadow, becoming an insubstantial mass of writhing black darkness and then holding to that form for as long as he could. Now, he was laying on the floor clutching his frizzy maned sibling. Harperâs mane had really fluffed out over the past few days, but Sentinel did not dare to say anything with Bon Bon present.

Bon Bonâs raised eyebrow was the worst punishment that Sentinel could imagine.

Using his wing, Sentinel tried to smooth out the foalâs fluffy orange mane, gently stroking along the contours of her skull and down her neck. The foal giggled from his touch and her mane sprang back to its cloud-like mass mere moments after his repeated attempts to smooth it out. He tried smoothing it out yet again, and this time, as his wing caressed her neck, Harperâs horn ignited.

Raw energy crackled and Sentinel felt his muscles all tense from a strong static discharge. It was over in a moment, and then Harper giggled as she rubbed her head with her forehoof.

âœOh my gosh, Sentinel, are you okay?â Lyra inquired in panic.

âœThat wasâ unpleasant,â Sentinel confessed.

âœLittle unicorns get magical surgesâ crazy magic sometimes,â Lyra explained.

Bon Bon came over in a hurry and stood over Sentinel and Harper. She looked worried. âœAre you sure you are okay Sentinel? Your ear tufts are smoking,â Bon Bon whispered.

âœI will endure my sisterâs outbursts,â Sentinel replied. He waggled his ears and looked at Harper. âœThat was a good first attempt at magic,â he said proudly.

âœSentinelâs maneâ it looks a lot like Harperâs right now,â Lyra said as she tried to suppress a giggle.

âœShush Lyra,â Bon Bon commanded.

âœIs something wrong with my mane?â Sentinel asked.

âœNo,â Bon Bon insisted.

âœNothing that canât be fixed with a hairbrush,â Lyra sniggered.

âœWhat happened to Sentinelâs mane?â

Bon Bon turned and looked at Derpy, who was easing herself out of the bed. Bon Bon sighed. âœHarper let go of a tiny bit of magic,â Bon Bon answered.

âœI want to see Buckyâs mane get zapped,â Derpy said as she looked at her slumbering husband. She stretched her wings and arched her back, trying to get the kinks out. Her usual trumpeting honk to greet the morning echoed through the room and several other ponies began to stir.

âœDerpyâ I just donât know what to say. Thatâs horrible,â Bon Bon said.

âœSorryâ I canât help it,â Derpy said.

âœNot the farting, wanting to see Bucky get zapped,â Bon Bon clarified.

âœBut his mane is down past his shoulders nowâ he would look funny,â Derpy retorted. She vanished behind the privacy barrier and said nothing else.

âœIt would look fu-â

âœLyra!â Bon Bon snapped.

âœ-nny,â Lyra continued as her ears drooped.

Sentinel ignored the adults around him and focused on his tiny sibling. âœShe looks unhappy,â he announced. âœYou think sheâs hungry after that magical discharge?â

âœMaybe,â Lyra said as she snatched Harper out of Sentinelâs embrace with her magic.

âœMamamoo,â Harper burbled when she saw Lyra.

âœNuts,â Sentinel grumbled to his empty forelegs. He scowled. It was much easier to be the cuddle-er rather than the cuddle-ee. His ears splayed out sideways as he contemplated his lot in life.

Lyra settled down upon the sofa, rolled over on to her back, and settled Harper on her belly. The foal sprawled out, made herself comfortable, and began to suckle noisily.

âœLook at Lyra,â Bon Bon said to nopony in particular. âœShe used to be so shy. So closed off. And now look at her.â

âœBonnieâ youâre making me self conscious,â Lyra whined. âœThis is much harder than it looks,â she whispered.

âœI know Lyra, but you are doing it,â Bon Bon said proudly.

âœHarper is more important than any discomfort that I might have,â Lyra said in a small timid voice.

As Bucky stepped into the bright sunlight, he adjusted the smoked glass goggles with his magic. His remaining eye was sheltered behind a dark lens, and his replacement eye was hidden from view. He had made a pair for Sentinel as well.

He blinked a few times, and found that he could see much better. Glasses might have worked, but would have let in a lot of light from the sides.

âœThose goggles make you look like one of those airship captains from some movie,â Derpy remarked.

âœKnight Captain Buckminster Bitters,â Bucky said in reply. âœI think that almost every little unicorn wants their own airship at some point in their life,â he confessed.

âœPonies keep talking about movies,â Thistle muttered. âœCome on, letâs go get you some breakfast,â she announced.

âœYou hate your titles, but you seem happy with that one,â Derpy said.

âœLord Bitters sounds dreary, Lord Buckminster makes me think too much about my father and his insistence on being addressed properly, even by my mother and Iâ yeah, I had to call him âLord Buckminsterâ or Iâd be in a heap of troubleâ but I must confess, I like the title Keg Smasher has given me. I feel like I have actually earned this one, rather than just be born with it,â Bucky explained.

âœYou need a jaunty hat,â Derpy said as she squinted at Bucky.

âœI think I do,â Bucky agreed. âœAnd The Scorned Mare is the first of many airships. Everypony that has worked to restore her has learned valuable skills. Keg Smasher will probably have to hire some unicorns to come and do some of the enchanting, but these ponies understand the industry of airship construction now. Once they get themselves a navy, they will have some feeling of power over their own destinyâ even if they do plan to merge with Equestria, they will want some sense of identity and a fleet would provide that. Airship construction is considered one of the foundational cornerstones of an industrialised modern society according to most herdology scholars. This is the first big step out of the dark ages. With their own fleet, they can transport the liquor they produce and sell on their own terms. Theyâll have a shipping industry. That will provide jobs. Generate wealth. They will start getting a mercantile presence in the world marketplace. This is the beginning of good thingsâ and all because we needed an equiliser to fight the wolves,â he elucidated.

âœMy back is killing me,â Thistle said. âœAnd my hipsâ Iâm miserable,â the kelpie confessed.

âœAw, I know how it is Thistle,â Derpy said warmly.

Bucky, saying nothing, scooped up Thistle in his magic and relaxed the effects of gravity upon her body. The look of relief upon her face was almost immediate and she relaxed as she remained suspended in the air.

âœOooh you get extra fish for thisâ and maybe a little something else,â Thistle promised.

âœHey, youâre littleâ and youâre something else,â Bucky quipped as he followed after Derpy on the way to the lake.

Chapter 136

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With the afternoon came fatigue. Wearied, Bucky retired to their room and settled into bed, exhausted but happy, the morning had been productive and the gasbag was nearly complete. Bucky would need to give it a good once over, but he felt that it might be finished by tomorrow. The smoked glass goggles had done much to protect his eye, and allowed him to see in the daylight quite well.

Moments after settling into bed, Bucky drifted into slumber as he felt Sentinel press up against him. He could hear Berry Punch talking in a low voice to Harper. He loved the sound of Berryâs voice when she was talking to little foals, a voice so smooth and sweet. As he slipped away, he wished that she would talk to him like that.

The hinterlands. The land around him was dead. There was life to be found in the hinterlands, but Bucky had no interest in that. He struggled with two sets of memories. He was in his body, but it was not his body. This body was free of pain. This body no longer had to suffer. This body was taller, more powerful, and had wings.

Bucky realised that he was an alicorn.

The alicorn of war.

He drew strength from violence and conflict. All around him was sand, sand to create the perfect army of spell jar golems, massive animated golems made of glass and death. Killing them, shattering them, engaging them in combat, it would break them and release the horrific spells they had contained inside. His army awaited.

His fine tuned senses felt the approaching presence of conflict. Hatred approached. Something came for him that intended violence, and as Bucky waited, he could feel his muscles swell as he drew more strength.

Ascension. Bucky had done so twice. The first was the change from being a pathetic unicorn, the second was from his worthless minor alicorn body. He had bound himself to warfare and all that goes with it, becoming immortal in the process. Much like Celestia and Luna, who had bound themselves to celestial bodies, and as long as those bodies existed, they would continue to endure. And so it was with Bucky. He drew strength from war and conflict, and this world was full of war and conflict.

There were two alicorns leftâ Twilight Sparkle and Cadance, both minor alicorns. Twilight Sparkle, the alicorn of magic, approached rapidly, her need for violence giving him strength. Cadance had chosen to hide, knowing all too well that Bucky was nigh unstoppable as long as there was war in the world.

Celestia and Luna were now gone, banished into their celestial spheres. One of the many privileges of being the alicorn of war was intrinsically knowing the weaknesses of your enemies. Bucky had no such weakness. There would always be war in the world. There would always be violence, hatred, and strife. And once he was done here in this world, he would move on to other worlds, sowing war, death, and destruction everywhere he went.

Trapped inside this body, inside of this mind, Bucky realised that he was merely a passenger, trapped inside of a being that he feared becoming. This body was perfect, free of scars, unmarked by suffering and pain. His horn was long and straight, but more importantly, natural.

In the distance, there was a thunderous boom as something approached, moving past the sound barrier, which meant that she was already here. Bucky flicked his magic and was shielded. He waited.

And did not have to wait long.

âœYOU TOOK THEM AWAY FROM ME!â Twilight shrieked as she approached.

Bucky felt himself seized in magic, lifted, and then slammed into the sides of ravine, shattering stone and sundering the earth from the impact. Several hundred thousand pounds of force had slammed into him, Twilightâs rage giving her power. Too bad Twilightâs rage gave him power as well.

He laughed.

The violence made him strong.

He rose up from the shattered earth, his wings unfurled, and faced his opponent. She was little, she was fragile, and she did not understand. He could see it in her eyes. She truly believed that she could defeat him.

Bucky, the real Bucky, trapped inside, felt pity and wanted Twilight to flee. He existed solely as a passenger, along for the ride, forced to watch as these terrible events unfolded. He watched through eyes his own yet not his own as Twilight was slapped with a raw blast of pure telekinetic energy. She was sent flying, hurled at the earth, her impact dug a long furrow into the sand and stone. She emerged from the trench several moments later, smiling a bloody smile, her feathers now ruffled and her horn glowed menacingly. She was mad with grief and Bucky wanted nothing more to try and comfort her.

Except the body that Bucky found himself in had no such plans.

Twilight let go with all of the magic she had at her disposal, and Bucky felt the blast connect with him. He winced inwardly, expecting pain. He felt nothing. Nothing at all. There was no pain. Just as there had been no pain during his own collision with the earth. The force of the blast flung him backwards, pushing him, and he was driven several hundred feet into the solid stone of the mountain behind him.

Grinning in the dark, he ripped the mountain from its foundations and hurled it at Twilight Sparkle, feeling ever stronger due to her hatred.

Twilight Sparkle, seeing the mountain coming right at her, spread her wings and flew for her life, knowing that such an impact would be fatal. She failed to understand that her foe was immortal, she assumed that there was some weakness, some means to defeat him and as it had always done for her, a means for victory would present itself if she endured long enough.

âœYou do know that there will be no further ascension for you, right?â Bucky boomed. âœYou are not giving your body for some glorious cause or some magnificent end, you are here for revenge plain and simple. When you die, it will be due to your own selfishness and stupidity,â he explained as his horn charged. He knew what needed to be done to break Twilight, how fragile her mind was, he knew her weakness. Fear of failure.

A part of Twilight that still held a spark of reason knew that Bucky spoke the truth. At his words, that last remaining vestige of sanity died and Twilight slipped into despair as she felt the crushing grip of failure close around her. She charged as the mountain struck the earth and shattered into boulders. She bellowed a wordless equine cry of murderous rage.

The two beings battled, but for different reasons. Twilight sought vengeance, wanted revenge, while Bucky allowed the battle to continue, drawing strength from the conflict. He fed from Twilightâs hatred, from her violence, becoming stronger with each passing moment. Spells were hurled. The landscape was forever altered. Canyons that would have taken eons to form sprang into existence in seconds. The sky became black and sooty.

And Bucky watched all of this in horror, knowing that the monster he had become was merely playing with her. He tried everything that he could to assert some control, to extend his will, to reign in the rough beast he had become.

There was nothing he could do.

As he watched, Twilight was hurled several miles straight down into the earth. Even with her protection spells and considerable magic, the impact was terrible. He could see her from his high vantage point, struggling to rise from the ground, one wing now broken. The battle for control of the skies was now over.

Tired of this game, Bucky drew together several hydrogen atoms and began the process to fuse them in the ultimate reaction. It was a casual dismissive act of magic, not even the worst of what he could do. Even as he and Twilight battled, his influence was spreading all over the world as all of the major species began to go to war. It was time to begin the purge. An alicorn of war only has one purpose, and his battle with Twilight had given him the last bit of strength he needed to begin the end of all things.

Twilight, sensing what was going on, knowing of the dreadful atomic chain reaction taking place, wrapped herself in a protective cocoon of magic, bringing everything she had to bear for her own protection.

There was a massive explosion and a monstrous mushroom shaped cloud rose up from the earth. Bucky waited, knowing that his prey would survive, but would be broken into submission. He circled overhead for a long time, feeling the world going to war all around him. The griffons were his most devoted minions, finally free to wreak havoc. Now under his influence, the gates of Tartarus opened and all of the horror imprisoned inside spilled out. The world went mad with the need for war, and far away in isolation, Cadance felt what little power she had left begin to fade and die.

And Bucky, little scrawny Bucky, who wanted no part of any of this, thought that he might go mad. He wanted this to end. His own hold on sanity became a little more fragile with each passing second.

Alicorn Bucky dove down into the fiery horror of the nuclear blast, circling low over the scorched black earth and it did not take long to find Twilight Sparkle. Her defenses had not been enough. She was burnt and blackened, somehow still alive, one eye and most of the side of her face burned away. She writhed on the scorched ground and panted in the gritty radioactive air. Her wings were stumps, the feathers burned away, and she was a leathery withered looking imitation of her former self.

Bucky landed and approached. She was helpless, broken now, and he stood with one hoof pressed down upon her skull. âœYou could still live if you wantedâ beg Twilight Sparkle. Beg me for your existence and I will give you a new bodyâ become my broodmare and birth my foals of war for me,â Bucky demanded.

Twilight did not reply, but spat.

Alicorn Bucky sighed. He applied pressure with his hoof.

Bucky, good Bucky, cringed at the sound of Twilightâs skull being crushed. He wanted this to end, for it to be over, for this nightmare to stop. He knew what came next. Cadance. He knew this future, this when and where.

Alicorn Bucky spread his wings, his work only beginning. If you killed one being, you were a murderer. If you killed many, you became a conqueror. If you killed them allâ

You became a god.

Bucky awoke, pinned under Bon Bonâs weight. She was shaking him, slamming him down into the mattress repeatedly, and as his eye opened she ceased her frantic attempts to wake him.

âœI was about to send Sentinel in there after you, but I wasnât sure if it would be dark enough for him to do anything,â Bon Bon said in a loud jarring voice.

Bucky grabbed Bon Bon and pulled her down on top of him, crushing her body to his. She squeaked in alarm, squirmed, and finally gave into his embrace. He held her close and clutched her tightly. He could feel Lyra stroking him softly, and Sentinel was beside him. Berryâs cool touch was applied to his forehead, and he felt himself calming down.

Eventually, he relaxed his grasp on Bon Bon, but she did nothing to wiggle free. She remained, her head resting on his barrel, stroking his ribs with her hoof in a slow moving circle.

âœIt was awful,â Bucky whispered.

âœShush Bucky, not now,â Berry said gently.

âœDeath, it all ended in death,â Bucky murmured.

âœNo,â Bon Bon said soothingly. âœThere is all life all around you. Think of Berry, of Derpy, or Thistle. Think of the lives in their bellies. Think of Harper. Try to think like an earth pony and focus on life.â

âœWhatever it was, it was just a dream. I have this place well warded from outside influences,â Lyra said reassuringly.

âœNopony can protect me from myself,â Bucky said bitterly. He could feel Bon Bonâs weight bearing down upon him. She was steady and sturdy, just as Berry was. Suddenly, he understood why one of his distant ancestors married an earth pony. It wasnât a feeling he could put into words, or ever even hope to express, but he was grateful for Bon Bon and Berry Punch in this moment. The only words would come close to expressing his feelings, the only notion that expressed his thoughts, was that earth ponies were indeed the ultimate affirmation of life.

âœIf it will make you feel better, you can milk me again,â Berry offered. Her tone was serious, her demeanour comforting. She would do anything to distract Bucky from his suffering.

âœMaybe a bit of time spent with Harper?â Lyra suggested. âœSheâs snoozing in the straw, but I know she wouldnât mind a bit of time with her daddy,â the unicorn said softly.

âœIâm okay, just like this… for now anyway,â Bucky said. He could feel the sweat dribbling from his sides. For a moment, he felt awkward and embarrassed for having Bon Bon pressed up against him in this condition, he could feel his sweaty scrotum pressing up against her navel, but then he reminded himself that she obviously didnât care. He felt his mane being brushed from his eyes and Berryâs cool touch made him shiver.

âœI still have bad dreams tooâ after what happened when I came to you in your dream,â Sentinel said in a low voice. âœMy dreams serve as a warning that I cannot stand alone and remind me just how much I need all of you,â he admitted. âœI donât know much about dreams, but I do have a fewâ instincts I guess you could say. Dreams keep us moral, to serve as a warning,â he explained.

Now calming down, Bucky considered Sentinelâs words. He thought of the impâs words as well, at how much he was like them. His mind filled with words he wanted to say, but no words seemed forthcoming. He felt a strange gratitude for the pain in his hind legs, recalling all to well the sensation of being completely pain free as an alicorn. More of the impâs words lingered in his mind.

All of his thoughts were scattered to the four winds when Berryâs muzzle clamped down upon his and she kissed him. Berry was aggressive, applying heavy suction and invading with her tongue, obliterating his ability to ponder and think deep thoughts.

Finally, Berry pulled away and Bucky was left breathless.

The Alicorn of War was forgotten, Bucky wanted to be the Unicorn of Drunken Sex.

Chapter 137

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âœI donât wantâ. this…â Bucky said haltingly as he gestured to the world around him. He took a long slug of mead and then set the jug down. âœI just want a quiet life with foals and those I love,â he muttered in irritation.

Berry Punch exchanged a glance with Derpy, but neither of them said anything.

âœI want those chains that Celestia saw fit to bind me with. I need those. I keep getting little glimpses of the future, little peeks into what might be, and I donât want any of it!â Bucky bellowed. âœI donât even have the luxury of self pity and neurosis anymoreâ I canât just slip away from reality with a panic attack because so much is depending on meâ but nothing should depend on meâ Iâ Iâ I hate that I have no control over my life or the events that keep happening to me!â he snarled.

âœBuckyâ Berry began.

âœAll I did was poke my snoot into magic a bit more than most and that sealed my fate. Something that I loved. I couldnât control my life, I couldnât control how my parents treated me. I couldnât make them love me and I could never earn their approval now matter how hard I tried, but I could control magic. It was the only thing I could control as a foal. I did impossible things. I couldnât make my parents love me but I could make reality bend and flex to my will. And because I wanted some means of control in my life, some small means of comfort, of something I had control over, I ended up tangled up in this destiny that I want no part of! I donât want to be the alicorn of war. I donât want want to be the alicorn of anything. I donât want to be Sombraâs heir or the Lord of Winter. I want to be the pony that makes my wives make funny faces when I screw them silly,â Bucky rambled. He tilted back the jug he was holding in his magic and guzzled down at least half of it in one go. He wobbled unsteadily. He was expending no real magic to burn away the alcoholâs effects upon him and he had already downed an entire crockery of strawberry wine and a jug of whiskey that had been about one third full when he had entered the lab earlier.

âœBucky pleaseâ Berry continued as she lifted her hoof towards Bucky.

âœI want to have tea parties with PiÃa. I want to watch Dinky grow up and become whatever she is meant to be. I want to grow old with somepony. I want to watch Sentinel grow up and fall in love with somepony, because I know that it would be hilarious to watch the stuffy little guy fumbling around in love and trying to act all noble. I want to live and see just how floofy Harperâs mane becomes because right now her mane is pretty fecking floofy and I donât care what Bon Bon saysââ Bucky ranted.

âœFloofy?â Derpy said, repeating the strange word.

âœFluffy-poofy,â Bucky explained, his words slightly slurred. âœAnd then there is Sparkler, Rising Star, Loch Skimmer, and Rippleâ I want to see them make their marriage workâ Loch Skimmer is already starting to heal and now she is blossoming into the most wonderful fillyâ young mareâ -bluuurghph-that belch tasted terribleâ I worry about Ripple, but she is starting to trust me and I treasure every moment where she touches me or hugs me and she isnât afraid of meâ I want to look after my girlsâ I love my girls. My girlsâ I love them all so much,â he mumbled.

Berry leaned over closer to Derpy and raised her eyebrow. âœHeâs drank himself to the âœI love everyponyâ stage already, look out,â she warned.

Derpy looked around the lab, not sure what she was seeing, and wished she was someplace else. There were glass orbs carefully stacked in crates. There was a big glass orb that swirled with rainbows and darkness sitting on a stand. There were a few ingots of brass, sand was everywhere, and there was a collection of marked containers sitting upon a low table. As she looked around, she saw a glass pegasus sitting on the workbench.

âœWhatâs that?â Derpy asked.

âœA pegasusususususus,â Bucky answered. âœI made it before you two showed upâ I was lonely,â he confessed.

âœItâs beautiful,â Derpy said.

âœBucky, the sun hasnât even set and you disappeared off by yourself. We sort of figured weâd find you here. You donât need to be lonely,â Berry said.

âœIs that me?â Derpy asked, squinting at the glass figure with her good eye. She could see details in the glassâ including a few distinctive bubbles.

âœIn miniature,â Bucky replied. âœEvery curve, every detail, all from memory. Every contour of your body, and I made a copy out of glassââ he muttered. âœI was about to make one of Berry Punch before you both showed up.â

âœYouâ made a little glass version of me?â Derpy questioned, her eyes now misting over.

âœI wanted to remind myself how fragile life wasâ so I made a glass pegasusususususus to talk to,â Bucky explained. He tilted back the jug of mead and killed it off, guzzling down the rest of the contents. He belched thunderously and the sound of rattling glass was ominous.

âœCanâ can I have it?â Derpy asked in a strangely bashful voice.

Bucky looked at Derpy and his head cocked to the side. âœBut I was going to talk to her,â he murmured.

âœYou can talk to me,â Derpy said, moving closer to the figure. âœI guess it is very fragile,â she added as she approached.

âœOh no,â Bucky replied. âœShe isâ she isâ -hiccup-she is very precious to me. I wanted a reminder of how fragile life is, so I made a glass pegasususususususus as symbolismâ sheâs actually harder than steel, just like the pegasususususususus I modeled her after.â

âœNopony has ever done anything this nice for me ever,â Derpy said in a husky voice. âœSomething so beautifulâ I am just an ugly grey mare with messed up eyes,â she added. The pegasus mare broke down into tears and began to sob pitifully. She covered her face with her wings as her whole body was wracked with sobs.

âœOh sheesh, one is drunk and the other has mommy hormones,â Berry muttered.

âœOhâ noesâ I did something to make my pegasusususususus cryâ I am such a shite,â Bucky groaned as he wobbled back and forth.

Berry covered her eyes with one fetlock and shook her head. âœBucky, use some magic, sober yourself up,â Berry requested.

âœNoâ and you canât make me,â Bucky retorted as he crashed to the floor. âœStop moving the floor Berry, thatâs cheating. I donât know how you are doing it, but I donât like it,â he grumbled.

Berry Punch looked at the two ponies in the room with her, and she felt her own mommy hormones threatening to kick in and make life uncomfortable. She took a deep breath and tried to hold on to her patience.

âœBerry, leave the floor aloneââ Bucky begged.

âœSomepony thinks I am pretty,â Derpy wailed. The pegasus fell over onto the floor and curled into a little ball of misery as she cried.

âœKeg Smasher said that a member of Clan Pickled is never drunk just so long as they can hold on to the earth and not fall offâ I refuse to let goâ now stop it Berry!â Bucky pleaded.

Berry Punch rolled her eyes and rubbed her head with her forehoof. She was supposed to be the irresponsible pony. She had the reputation of being the wild untamed Shetland mare. She knew all too well what other ponies thought about her. They never thought of how she was PiÃaâs caretaker or how hard she worked. And she wished that the gossipers could see her now.

âœBerry!â Bucky shouted.

âœDerpy, pull yourself together. We need to haul Bucky back to our room and try to get him to sober up somehow,â Berry said gently to the sobbing pegasus.

âœHe thinks Iâm beautiful,â Derpy sobbed.

âœHeâs told you that you are beautiful,â Berry said, trying to hold back her rising frustration.

âœBut those are wordsâ the glass pony is proof,â Derpy whined in a shuddering voice.

Berry Punch felt her frustrations slip away and her heart softened.

âœI married a pretty pegasusususususus and a pretty earfy pony -braaap-and Iâve done things so perverted with both of them that it would make my mommy throw up,â Bucky announced as he rolled over onto his back. âœMy mommy is an insufferable coont,â he added, his words both slurred and filled with the Shetland accent. âœCoont coont coont.â

Berry bit down on her lip and it took all of her willpower to keep from laughing.

âœI canât even imagine how my daddy kept his dick hard when he was screwing that frigid coontâ I wonder if -bleeeeergh-if that is why I am a unicorn with cold magicâ cold coont,â Bucky ranted.

Berry nearly choked on her own tongue as she tried to keep her composure. She pulled Derpy up into a sitting position.

âœCoontcicle,â Bucky muttered.

The earth pony mare suffered total failure and could no longer hold it in. Berry Punch brayed with laughter as she tried to comfort the miserable pegasus.

âœI spent eleven months -bruuuurph-escaping that cold coont, and I am going to spend the rest of my life trying to get inside of a hot one,â Bucky muttered as he rolled on the floor.

Derpy, still crying, began to giggle as Berry held her. Her barrel hitched from both sobbing and laughter. âœHeâs really drunk,â she said in a shuddering voice.

Berry struggled to catch her breath. âœI do believe the booze has had time to settle in,â she replied breathlessly.

âœI once caught my father whipping himself -hurk-with a drapery cord because he had a stiffy,â Bucky announced.

Berry fell silent for a momentâ Buckyâs words were far too serious to laugh at. Yet even as she tried to hold it in, she felt it slipping out. She chortled at first and then slipped back into laughter.

Derpy wiped her eyes, looked at the glass pegasus, looked at her husband sprawled on the floor, and then looked at Berry. âœDo we have any hope at being a normal family?â Derpy asked as she sniffled and giggled softly.

Berry watched as Buckyâs horn ignited. âœOh good, heâs going to sober himself up,â she whispered in relief. She waited, hoping that Bucky would burn away his inebriation with a magical release. As she watched, a brown crockery jug popped into existence. She heaved a sigh of frustration.

âœI conjured it from the kitchen cellarsâ maaaaaagic,â Bucky said as he pulled the stopper free. He hugged the jug to his barrel, lifted his head from the floor, and chugged down a fair bit. âœOoohâ -huuuuurgh!- brandywine,â he grumbled.

âœOh he is going to be as drunk as a lord,â Berry sighed.

âœBerry Punchâ my faithful earfy -huuuurgraaaap!- pony wifeâ give me a foal named Brandywine and I will forgive you for making the floor move,â Bucky announced. He held the jug up to his lips and gulped down the contents held within.

âœWe need to get him back to our room,â Berry Punch said to the pegasus beside her. âœYou grab the glass pegasus that is the proof of your beauty and Iâll try to get Bucky on my back,â she instructed.

âœIâd rather crawl on your belly and rut your teats,â Bucky stated. He belched again before chugging down more brandywine.

âœChange of plans Derpyâ I am going to give him what he wants if thatâs okay. If he wants rough drunken nookie, he is going to get it,â Berry said.

âœUh oh,â Bucky said, his voice full of real fear. He started to try and wiggle away across the floor, tugging his jug with him.

âœYou go ahead Berryâ Iâm not in the mood at the moment, but Iâll be happy to watch,â Derpy consented. âœI feel really emotional,â she added.

âœBucky, youâd better have a few more drinks, because I am going to screw your bones into paste,â Berry threatened.

âœHeâs sleeping so peacefully now,â Thistle commented as she held Harper close to her.

âœHeâs soused,â Derpy replied, her gaze lingering on the glass pegasus on the table. Derpy made no mention of the roughing up Bucky endured at the hooves of the sexually frustrated earth pony. He had passed out with a smile on his face, just as Berry had said he would.

âœDaddy smells,â PiÃa said.

âœHeâs had some drinksâ he had a rough moment and he needed a way to let his mane down,â Derpy explained gently.

âœHe stinks like booze and hot sweaty pony,â Dinky quipped.

âœI know,â Derpy said.

âœHe smells like Berry,â Sentinel announced.

âœSentinel!â Bon Bon snapped.

âœWell, he does. I can tell everypony apart by how they smell,â Sentinel muttered.

âœWell, you shouldnât say itâ Iâm sure you know what he smells likeââ Bon Bon said uncomfortably.

âœOh, I do know exactly what he smells like,â Sentinel confirmed.

âœSentinel!â Bon Bon snapped again.

âœNopony can hide anything from my nose,â Sentinel muttered.

Lyra squirmed uncomfortably at Sentinelâs words and then stared at Bon Bon. She made an embarrassed squeak after a moment of staring and then looked away, looking at the glass pegasus instead.

âœOh this is not going to help Lyraâs neurosis,â Bon Bon muttered.

âœHeâs been giving my sister special cuddles again, hasnât he?â PiÃa asked.

âœYes PiÃa, he has,â Bon Bon replied in a gentle voice.

âœWhen heâs inside of her, heâs not poking the foals in her belly is he?â PiÃa inquired out of foalish curiousity.

Derpy choked and tried to suck in wind, and Lyra began to pound her on the back. The pegasus wheezed as she tried to fill her lungs with air and failed repeatedly. Her face turned a frightful shade of purple.

âœNo PiÃa dear,â Bon Bon replied. âœThe foals are safe, I promise you,â she added in a strained voice.

âœDo the foals know that he is poking around in there? Does it scare them? Do they see it coming right at them and then swim out of the way or whatever it is they do in there?â PiÃa questioned.

Derpy horked at each and every one of PiÃaâs questions until finally she threw back her head and opened her mouth wide, struggling to draw air. Lyra continued to pound on her back, now looking quite frantic and distressed.

Sentinel sat quietly, his ears splayed out to the sides of his head. His eyes were closed and he was as still as a statue. PiÃaâs words were going to haunt him forever, and he was already struggling to find some way to live in peace with them. He silently cursed PiÃaâs inquisitive nature. He loved his sister dearly, but lived in constant fear of some of her questions.

Dinky had covered her eyes with her forehooves and was curled into a small ball of awkward emotion on the floor. Her sides heaved as she took deep breaths and tried to make the embarrassing new world she now lived in go away. She wondered if there was a spell that erased memories.

Bon Bon now understood a little bit of how Lyra must feel. The corner of her eye twitched and she could feel her ear flickering. The corner of her mouth tugged as her cheek contracted from her eye twitches.

Thistle held Harper, the kelpieâs eyes now as wide. Her ears were folded back against her skull. âœBerry Punch was never more needed than she is right nowâ she picked a terrible time to visit the loch for a dip,â she groaned.

Lyra mechanically continued to pound Derpy on the back as her brain slipped off to its happy place. This was why she was a lesbian. No difficult penis questions had to be answered. She silently swore that her womb would remain a penis free environment.

âœWhy is everypony so quiet?â PiÃa asked timidly.

Chapter 138

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âœDinky?â

Dinky looked up from her book and rubbed her eyes. âœYes PiÃa?â she replied wearily. It had been a long day, they had eaten dinner, and now it was getting close to the time for sleepy foals to go to bed. Dinky was sleepy foal. But she wasnât going to bed anytime soon.

âœI have an idea Dinkadonk,â PiÃa announced in a low whisper.

âœSpill it, Pine Nut,â Dinky whispered back.

âœFleas,â PiÃa stated.

âœWhat?â Dinky asked in confusion.

âœFleas,â PiÃa whispered. âœYou can control flies, bees, butterflies, and one of those shiny beetles, you need to control fleas and send them after the wolves,â she explained.

âœFleas?â Dinky murmured.

âœFleas exist on ponies and wolves. Just find the fleas on the wolves. And then gather up every flea on the island and have them go after the wolves. It is called a plague Dinky, and you could cause one,â PiÃa said in a low but excited voice.

Dinky nodded, beginning to understand. âœTomorrow,â she whispered. âœTomorrow I will try it.â

âœHey, what are you girls whispering about?â Derpy asked.

âœNothing!â Dinky replied, her eyes wide with feigned innocence.

âœWeâre plotting,â PiÃa answered sweetly. She felt mildly annoyed with Dinky. Her sibling was terrible at subterfuge in any form.

âœOh?â Derpy asked.

âœJust foal stuff,â PiÃa said as she folded back her ears and widened her eyes as she tilted her head to the side. She knew how adorable worked and she gave it to Derpy in a concentrated dose. PiÃa waited, her mind carefully calculating the next dose should it be needed. PiÃa decided that if it came down to it, she could try the hug and distract gambit. Pegasi were suckers for physical distractions.

Derpy pursed her lips. Her instincts were telling her something was up, but PiÃa looked incredibly adorable. She decided to let the matter drop even though her motherly instincts were telling her that her foals were up to no good.

PiÃa heaved a sigh and let it out slowly. She had learned a lot this summer, and each day she became more and more aware of what she was capable of. She and Dinky shared a giggle, and both couldnât wait until tomorrow.

âœDinky is so much like me,â Bucky whispered to Bon Bon, who was stroking him softly.

âœDriven?â Bon Bon asked in reply, her voice low and melodic.

âœDinky possesses so much potential. She worked her self to the verge of exhaustion this evening and then kept going a little longer, refusing to give in until both Sparkler and Rising Star were ready to call it quits,â Bucky explained.

âœSheâs like us Bucky,â Lyra quipped. She squirmed against Bucky as Bon Bon stroked them both. âœSheâs like us and sheâll suffer like us,â she reiterated.

âœSadly, I know enough about unicorns to understand that statement and to know that it is true,â Bon Bon whispered.

Bucky wiggled, trying to turn himself in such a way that the brush went over the itchy spot on his neck as Lyra brushed him. âœShe is also like us in that she is strong,â he stated. He jumped slightly as he felt Lyra yank a hair out from his pelt. âœOw!â

âœHey, look at this,â Lyra said as she held up a tan hair in her magic. It was long, thicker, and shimmered faintly in the firelight. âœThis looks a lot like Sentinelâs hair. Bucky is going to be a shaggy pony,â she announced.

Sentinel looked up from his writing. âœWhat?â he asked, blinking his eyes a few times and recovering from distraction.

âœBucky is getting shaggy hairs like you Sentinel,â Bon Bon said.

âœMakes sense,â Sentinel said. He resumed his task, his pencil scratching away on paper.

âœI love the feeling of Sentinelâs pelt,â Bon Bon said as she looked lovingly at Bucky.

âœSentinel, what are you writing?â Bucky inquired with gentle curiousity.

Sentinel set down his pencil and stretched out his wing, extending his grasping digit and claw that protruded from his central knuckle. âœStuff,â Sentinel replied.

âœStuff?â Lyra asked.

âœYes. Stuff. I wrote down the questions PiÃa asked earlier today and how everypony reacted. Iâve been writing down notes about our family and I tuck them all away. I donât know what it is called, but it gives me a sense of history,â Sentinel explained.

âœA diary,â Bon Bon said. âœI keep one of those. Or did. I left it at home.â

âœBon Bon, donât be silly. Colts donât keep diaries, fillies do. Colts keep journals,â Lyra corrected. âœSentinel needs a journal. Iâll try to transmute one. Iâve never transmuted a whole book before, this will be a good test of my abilities,â she added.

âœEasy on the magic Lyra,â Bucky warned. âœYou need to keep your milk flowing, think of how magic robs us of calories.â

âœA little magic wonât hurt me,â Lyra said as she cast a nervous glance at Harper.

âœSpeaking of calorie expenditure, tomorrow is going to be exhausting,â Bucky muttered.

âœBig plans?â Bon Bon asked.

âœThe once-over for the gasbag and then I begin forging chains to secure it to the ship. My first big foray into metalworking,â Bucky explained.

âœAfter that, The Scorned Mare rises like a phoenix from the ashes,â Sentinel muttered. âœHey, thatâs worth writing down,â he grumbled to himself. He hunched back over his papers and the sounds of a pencil scratching away could be heard over the crackling of the fireplace.

âœHow does he know what a phoenix is?â Bucky asked in confusion.

âœPiÃa has been reading to him,â Bon Bon replied. She settled herself a bit more on top of Bucky and Lyra, her body settling into the crevasse that formed between their two bodies, her barrel resting on two croups.

âœPiÃaâ I donât know what to do about PiÃa,â Bucky whispered. âœWhat is the ethical thing to do about PiÃa…â he continued.

âœBucky?â Bon Bon asked.

âœPiÃa is a foal. An earth pony foal. With magic. Understanding her and potentially training her to use it is going to involve magical experimentation upon a foal,â Bucky grumbled.

âœI never thought of it that way,â Bon Bon said. âœBut it would do her good. Would it be so bad? So wrong? She has a right to live up to her potential.â

âœMaybe so Bon Bon, and even if it never hurts her, it is still magical experimentation upon a foalâ we seem to keep slipping down a moral slippery slope,â Lyra groused.

Bon Bon sighed, hating that Lyra was right. She lifted her hoof and looked at it, wondering if she too had magic of some sort, given her knack for cultivating unicorns and keeping them sane. She pressed her hoof down upon Buckyâs spine, rubbed, watched as Buckyâs ears drooped, and then she saw his head lolling off to one side, bumping into Lyraâs. There was a soft âconkâ sound.

âœOw, hey, watch it bonehead,â Lyra muttered.

âœSorryââ Bucky offered.

Bon Bon felt an exhilarating rush of power. Unicorns might control reality, but she could control unicorns. Thankfully, Bon Bon had no major ambitions or an eye for world domination. She just wanted a larger candy empire. She thought of her shop back in Ponyville and felt a twinge of regret. She hoped it would be there when she finally went home.

âœHey,â Bon Bon said. âœWould it be wrong to use golems to help me make candies?â she inquired.

âœUnicorns use golems to assist in all sorts of tasks. What do you think keeps the streets of Canterlot so clean and perfect?â Bucky answered.

âœCould you make me a few golems?â Bon Bon asked as she rubbed her hoof in a slow well pressured circle along Buckyâs spine.

âœMaybe,â Bucky replied as he melted. The feeling of the brush on his neck and Bon Bonâs touch upon his back was almost too much. âœI bet I could make golems. Iâd have to start small and experiment.â

âœI have always wanted to try that. But as a lone type three, it would be very difficult. Both of us together though,â Lyra said, her statement open ended and something of a suggestion.

âœSparkler would be a natural for golem creation,â Bucky stated.

Bon Bon smiled. She didnât want the world, just a good hoofhold over the candy business.

The iron ore was reddish green. Bucky had never actually seen raw iron before. He stood in the smithy, looking around, taking everything in. Later, he would do amazing things here. This smithy was used to make simple iron implements. Hinges. Barrel rungs. Crude armor. Nails. All of the various metal bits needed for day to day life. There was a small foundry for smelting, a few anvils, and the main blacksmith was a massive earth pony named Crush that had a pair of very expensive manipulation shoes.

Names were marvelously simple on the isles. Ripple. Bludgeon. Thrasher. Wrecker. Crush. Names that implied the actions that the ponies who held that name were good at. Crush certainly looked as though he was the embodiment of his name. Crush specialised in cold forging, pounding the metal until it became hot and pliable. One of his work hammers was half the size of Buckyâs body.

Crush was willing to help him, or so Bucky had been told by Wrecker. Crush couldnât tell Bucky anythingâ Crush had his throat torn open by wolves. The story about the event stated something to the effect that Crush was mighty pissed off about the whole thing, killed several wolves, stomped from his cabin to the castle, and then cauterised his own throat right here in the smithy.

And Bucky believed every word of it. He could see the scars. Crush looked like the sort that would just be angry about having his throat torn open. Crush had no way of complaining about what had happened, so Bucky assumed that the big earth pony probably worked out his frustrations and mute rage by smashing iron repeatedly until the iron gave up and did what Crush wanted.

Crush towered over Bucky, just like Keg Smasher did, and Bucky felt no small amount of resentment that he was so stunted and scrawny compared to other stallions.

Bucky loathed being so small.

After a morning of inspection, first checking out the smithy before it went into full production for the day, and then a whole morning of carefully inspecting the gasbag, Bucky was near exhaustion. He needed sleep. It would be lunch time soon.

Pegasi fisherponies worked to create the largest net they had ever created. Bucky had transmuted a tremendous amount of rope, the rope was going to make a massive net, and the massive net would be used along with a harness to secure the gasbag to the ship.

Lyra had worked a late shift, staying up past breakfast, transmuting a journal for Sentinel, and then adding more wards and defensive spells to The Scorned Mare before finally going to sleep. Bucky had worried about her milk production, but she had assured him that Berry produced a ready supply, something that had completely slipped Buckyâs mind.

Even as he and the pegasi worked, others laboured to create an obstacle course and other events for the upcoming Sisterhooves Social. A ditch was being dug to create a mud pit for tug oâ war.

He heard the flutter of wings and Derpy landed beside him.

âœHello handsome,â Derpy greeted.

Bucky knew better than to argue. He turned to look at the grey pegasus and watched as she preened her wings, smoothing them out after landing. She was still molting a bit and she tugged out a feather that needed to go.

âœBusy morning?â Derpy asked after she spat out a downy feather. âœYou seem distracted,â she observed.

âœYou are very distracting,â Bucky stated.

The pegasus mare blushed. âœI know,â Derpy said shyly. âœThe ponies seem so happy to be working. So many smiles,â she added before tucking her head back under her wing and preening a few more feathers.

âœI need to get some rest. Iâm afraid to go to sleep now. I donât want anymore dreams,â Bucky said to his mate.

âœDo you need somepony to shag you to sleep?â Derpy asked as she lifted her head out from under her wing.

âœI hate to say it, but I think I am probably too exhausted to do that,â Bucky answered.

âœWell, eat lunch and go to bed,â Derpy suggested.

âœI canât. This afternoon after lunch I need to smelt a massive amount of iron into ingots to create chains for the gasbag. Crush canât do it all alone. Well, he and his helpers might, but it would take weeks to make as much iron as I need,â Bucky replied.

Derpy growled. âœI bet your eye is all red and bloodshot under those goggles,â she muttered.

âœLook, after smelting, I plan to go to bed. Well, I might cuddle Harper for a bit first, but I know my limits, and Iâve reached them,â Bucky said reassuringly.

âœAny luck yet Dinky?â PiÃa inquired as she held her hoof down upon the page she was reading. The breeze was acting up today, and it wanted to turn the pages of her book for her, which was annoying.

Dinky did not reply. She was thinking of small irritating bugs that sucked blood. She was feeling increasingly frustrated and was doing her best to hold it in. She had been touching the mind of bugs for a while now, and something kept going wrong.

âœDinky?â PiÃa asked.

âœWhat?â Dinky replied.

âœYou seem off,â PiÃa said in a worried voice.

âœI can touch the mind of bugs all over the island and even that next island over now, but every time I try to reach out and touch the mind of a bug in those big mountains over there, my spell fizzles and I get a headache,â Dinky grumbled.

PiÃa considered the implications of this for a moment and her eyes went wide. âœWe need to find daddy at once!â she cried. She rose, wrestled her book into the simple canvas bag she had, prodded Dinky to her feet, and tried to contain her own growing fear.

âœRipple, wake up, wake up Ripple, we need to go!â PiÃa commanded as she shook the napping pegasus, who awoke with a snort and a fart.

Bucky eased himself into the bed. In just a few hours he had made more ingots than Crush could make in months. He had carefully folded in charcoal and fused the iron with carbon, melding everything together in a vast bubble of magic, using a process similar to that of how he brewed beer without brewing equipment. Crush wasnât even able to make steel on his own, his forge couldnât generate the sort of heat needed.

Soon, the steel ingots would be shaped into links for the chains needed.

Lyra was sleeping in the straw with Harper, and Bon Bon was snoozing with Sentinel. Bucky eased his way close to Bon Bon, hoping to not wake her. He rubbed his good eye and then his whole face, the goggles left his face feeling rather itchy and irritated. Perhaps some magically transmuted rubber cushions were in order.

He kicked out his hind legs into the odd and unnatural position that felt the most comfortable, feeling some relief as the tension back there eased off. So long as he moved slowly, his legs didnât bother him too badly. It was only when he moved about in a hurry. As he began to drift off to sleep, he thought about his long walk to the beach with PiÃa. His legs had barely bothered him at all that day. He made a mental note to slow down when he could and that other ponies were just going to have to adjust to his pace.

Just as sleep was starting to overtake him, the door slammed opened and the Gleesome Threesome exploded into the room. Bucky jerked back to wakefulness just in time to be tackled by a pegasus, the bone jarring impact immediately removing all thoughts of sleep from his mind. And this was a loving impact, Bucky knew enough about pegasi to know this. A combat slam would likely shatter his bones like glass and spread him like strawberry jam all over the bed.

âœDaddy, we need to talk to you!â PiÃa announced as the other sleepers in the room began to wake up. âœWeâre sorry to wake you but we need you awake!â she cried frantically.

âœPiÃa, what is it?â Bucky asked wearily.

âœI know where whatever is controlling the wolves is,â PiÃa announced.

âœWHAT?â Bucky questioned.

âœDinky keeps trying to reach out and control bugs. Today, she was working on fleas. She can control bugs everywhere on the island and even the next island over, but her spell gets broken and she gets a headache when she tries to connect to bugs in the mountains,â PiÃa explained breathlessly.

âœDamnit, the Hydra teeth,â Bucky grumbled. âœThe Isle of Wheatâs port town sits right in their shadow. You can see them just across the water. Why didnât I think of this? Magic loses potency at distances and the spell that created the undead had to come from somewhere close by.â

âœWeâre not all that far from them either,â Lyra said. âœWhich means whatever is hiding there is also able to influence around us,â she added. The soft green unicorn yawned and nudged Harper.

âœWhich means that night I got mauled by wolves I was wandering blindly right into the area where whatever is out there hiding has the most control. It probably knew I was here and was waiting for me, and knew just when to strike,â Bucky groaned.

âœYou mean weâve been right next door to it this whole time?â Bon Bon asked, struggling to wake up and take in the situation.

âœYes,â Bucky replied as he struggled to breathe. Rippleâs forelegs were around his neck and she was squeezing him enthusiastically as she rubbed her snoot against the back of his head and snorted into his mane. âœI wonder at which point whatever it is will realise that we are aware of it,â he muttered.

âœWe need to prepare somehow,â Lyra said. âœThis might be paranoid, but right now we need paranoid, but I think the undead assault was to draw us out and see what weâre made of. It has probably been studying us and probably knows more about us than we do about it, whatever it is,â she explained.

âœYou donât think it is a pony either?â Bucky asked.

âœNoââ Lyra replied hesitantly. âœCall it a paranoid hunch.â

Chapter 139

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All thoughts of sleep were now abandoned as Bucky stood in Keg Smasherâs room, looking over a large map that was spread over a wooden table. Lord Wrecker stood beside him, and Deadspin stood nearby.

âœYou said that unicorn that vanished from the castle was found in the Hydra Teeth. Drained and untouched by rot,â Bucky stated.

âœYes,â Wrecker replied.

âœThe Hydra Teeth are almost the near center of the Islesâ the centerâ the middle is where most of the danger is. The outlying islands get attacks and have wolves, but you say the attacks lack the ferocity and seeming coordination that they do here. And this is why,â Bucky explained. âœThe magic gets weaker the further you get from the center, which is here,â he said as he moved a marker using his magic over the mountains drawn on the map.

âœSo what do we do?â Keg Smasher asked weakly. âœWe take yon airship and bombard the mountains?â

âœNo no no!â PiÃa cried, unable to be a good filly any longer. âœYou canât!â

âœWhy not little one?â Wrecker asked.

PiÃa, aware that she might have blown it by speaking out even after promising that she would be good and she would be quiet, nervously composed her thoughts. âœWhatever it is… it still has its earth poniesâ its wolves… theyâre still harvesting… we need to wear it down and stop it from gathering food,â she explained as she continuously licked her lips and halted out of nervousness.

âœPiÃa, I am trusting your instincts just like I trust Berryâs instincts. Calm down. Take a deep breath. And explain a little better,â Bucky said soothingly.

âœThe wolves are still scaring ponies and feeding on fear. Whatever is out there is using the wolves to gather power. If you attack, whatever it is will be too strong. We need to starve it first, make it weak. We need to destroy the wolves and give it time to weaken. Iâve been reading about shadow batteriesâ remember? I showed you in the book daddyâ you said I was smart and you hugged me and said that I might be on to something,â PiÃa said in frantic tones.

Bucky nodded. âœPiÃa, calm down. Settle. You have everyponyâs attention and nopony is discounting what you are saying because you are a foal. At least, Iâm not,â he said in soothing tones.

Lord Wrecker eased his backside down to the floor and pulled PiÃa close to him with his remaining wing. His movements were slow, jerky, and looked pained. âœI trust earth ponies a great deal little one. Winter Wheat had a feeling that something was going to happen, and she prepared for it. Little Wheatberry is still here because of her motherâs foresight. I think it is safe to say that everypony in this room believes you,â he whispered gently.

PiÃa took a deep shuddering breath and leaned into Wreckerâs embrace, thankful for the pegasusâ gentle comfort. She had just interjected herself into a very adult situation, had come out unscathed, and the event was already being pulled apart and examined in her mind.

âœI could take a wing of pegasi and we could begin scouting,â Deadspin offered. âœDaylight hours of course. Look for bones. Some signs of a den.â

âœI donât know about that,â Bucky said hesitantly. âœMy wife Lyra is paranoid, and so am I. Whatever it is weâre facing, it knows that we know something obviously, because we are preparing. But if we start patrolling the Hydra Teeth, it could reveal what we know too early. It might use magic against you. Shoot down your patrol. It might get desperate, send out another massive wave of wolves, and then another undead army.â

âœLord Rising Star and Lady Sparkler can deal with the undead army if such a thing happens,â Deadspin said gruffly. âœNot sure what to do about the wolves though. While they are dealing with the undead, you could bring your own considerable magical powers to bear upon whatever is hiding out there. Isnât there some sort of army you could conjure?â

âœNo,â Bucky replied in a flat monotone. âœHad I time and resources, I might be able to make a few golems,â he added. As he spoke, he thought about the dream and the spell jar golems. Perfect soldiers made of glass and death. âœNever done anything like that though.â

âœWhat about necromancy?â Deadspin blurted out, which made Keg Smasher groan loudly. âœThat son of a bitch raised the dead against us! Our own dead! Our Honour Guard are experienced hard arses and they came home haunted! We should return the favour and turn the dead against their master!â

âœThere will be no unnecessary acts of necromancy upon my isles Deadspin,â Keg Smasher grumbled.

âœOf course sirâ I spoke out of place sir. Do forgive me sir and allow me a chance to return to your good graces sir,â Deadspin replied as his body shifted to attention.

Bucky was reminded of Sentinel as he watched Deadspin fall back into line.

âœIt is an emotional time Deadspin, and as a pegasus, I understand your anger,â Keg Smasher grunted. âœIâd feel better if we were fighting a pony though. I want its head on a spike and mounted on the gatehouse,â he muttered.

PiÃa whimpered and buried her face into Wreckerâs leg, suddenly reminded that she was still very much a foal. She felt feathers gently stroking her side as she cowered.

âœI am going to boost Dinkyâs power and even if we canât plague the Hydra Teeth, I am going to see what we can do about rooting out some of the dens they are bound to have around here someplace. The insect swarms should drive the wolves from their dens and into the daylight. Iâve been letting her experiment so she could learn, but it is time to take a more direct approach,â Bucky announced as he continued to study the map. âœAlso, I think it is time to let Lyra loose, but that might be reckless.â

âœLyra?â Keg Smasher asked.

âœShe is a powerful electromancer. I thought about goading her on a bit, getting her worked up and angry, and then let her conjure up a hell of a storm. It might cause some flooding thoughâ

âœBut it should also flood any dens that are found below ground,â Wrecker said, finishing Buckyâs sentence. âœThat is risky. Might destroy a lot of crops.â

âœSparkler can summon gems at will now. If need be, I will have her conjure up a kingâs ransom and we will simply buy whatever food is needed to continue to survive,â Bucky replied. âœI am too exhausted to tell if it is a good idea though. I will admit, it is reckless. Lyra isnât even aware of the power she holds. She scares me a bit.â

âœShe scares you?â Keg Smasher asked incredulously.

âœImagine a hurricane so large that it stretches from one horizon to another and then some, and hailstones the size of watermelons,â Bucky explained.

âœOh feck,â Keg Smasher gasped.

âœElectromancy must be respected,â Bucky stated. âœI have no doubts that Lyra is my equal when it comes to casual rampant devastation.â

âœSoâ when the airship flies, and we begin hunting the wolves, I suppose it will be you on the ground drawing them out. We will blow them to smithereens with the magical ordinance youâve been creating, thin out their numbers, bide our time a bit, allow our foe to weaken, find our foe, destroy them, and then try to perform some kind of final purge,â Wrecker summarised, bringing everypony back to task.

âœThat sounds like a solid plan,â Keg Smasher said in agreement. âœDeadspin, because you have worked with Knight Captain Buckminster previously, I am placing you in charge of the wing of pegasi that will be used to pull and defend the airship. You said that you trusted his leadershipââ

âœI do sir,â Deadspin answered solemnly.

âœAnd Buck Sergeant Sparkler is to be your second in command upon the deck. I am leaving it to you to prepare her for this position. Sheâs a powerful defensive unit unto herself. I want you to get her fit to lead,â Keg Smasher ordered.

âœSir, yes sir,â Deadspin said as he drew himself to attention.

âœYou are to get Lord Rising Star prepared for battle as well. Help him get his head screwed on straight,â Keg Smasher commanded.

âœYes sir,â Deadspin answered.

âœAnd finally, you are to give some combat training to young Ripple. Let her bust your chops a bit. Let her knock you down a few times. Give her some confidence to work with,â Keg Smasher suggested.

âœOf course sir. I can do that sir. Not a problem sir, being beaten down by a filly sir,â Deadspin replied.

âœLook Deadspin, I am only going to say this once. If you want any hope of a future in command, you will do as I ask. I took a savage beating at the hooves of Buckminsterâs matriarch. She knocked out my teeth and broke my nose. She laid me flatâ I was stallion enough to let her pummel me and I deserved it tooâ that filly Ripple might surprise you," Keg Smasher grumbled.

âœYes sir, I will do as you ask sir,â Deadspin said as his ears splayed out sideways.

âœAttitudes about mares need to change around here,â Keg Smasher growled.

âœActually sir, I have a petition from a group of mares that want to join the guard. Theyâve been training themselves,â Wrecker reported.

âœOh really?â Keg Smasher replied as his eyes narrowed and his brows furrowed.

âœThe Scorned Mare inspired them all. All of them are widows. They gave me quite a display. They call themselves the Ball Buster Brigade,â Wrecker explained. He heard a giggle from down at his hooves and gave PiÃa a little tickle with his wing.

âœI want them all brought to me at once when we are done here,â Keg Smasher demanded.

âœSir?â Wrecker replied.

âœI want them here. Right away. I wish to speak to them. I intend to place the Ball Busting Bitch Brigade on decks. Buckminsterâs foals are going to be aboard that ship. I want ferocity damnit!â Keg Smasher snapped.

There was a gasp from PiÃa and her eyes went wide. She covered her mouth with her hoof.

âœAnd what do you think of that Deadspin?â Keg Smasher grunted.

âœSirâ Iâ I think it is a delightful idea sir,â Deadspin said in a wavering voice.

âœDamn right it is a delightful idea,â Keg Smasher snarled.

âœI think we should place Buck Sergeant Sparkler in charge of them,â Deadspin said, and this time, his tone seemed warm and genuine.

Keg Smasher noticed the change in demeanour from Deadspin and his lip curled back into a snarling smile. âœYouâre still responsible for getting Sparkler and Ripple combat ready,â he growled.

Bucky could feel his bones ache with weariness as he eased himself into bed. He had been awake for far too long. As he settled into bed, he felt two powerful forelegs wrap around him and pull him close. Bon Bonâs touch was welcome and he could feel her warm body against his back as he lay on his side. His mind began shutting down, he was too tired to keep thinking and focusing on all of the details. He felt a half awake Bon Bon kissing him just behind his ear and he felt little tingles course through his body. He could feel the warmth of her belly and the touch of her teats against his back.

He was vaguely aware that at some point, this would have sent him over the edge at an earlier point in his life. What was it that Derpy had said to him? A touch was just a touch? Something like that. He felt warm and secure with Bon Bonâs hind leg resting upon his cutie mark.

He drifted away into what he hoped would be a dreamless slumber, his final thought was of PiÃa and how much she had grown in such a short time.

Chapter 140

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Bucky awoke to the sounds of giggling and low voices. He felt muddled and confused. At first, he thought the others were going to bed, but then his odd magical sense kicked in and he realised it was almost dawn. He had the odd urge to fall back to sleep and slumber until sunset.

He couldnât believe that he had slept so long. He had missed dinner and slept through the night. His head was resting on Thistleâs back and he could feel her breathing beneath him, her body rising and falling.

There was a wet sensation upon Buckyâs withers, and he realised that Berry was using him as a pillow. The mare had been drooling. Again. He yawned and lifted his head. A moment later he was ambushed on his blind side with a waxy kiss.

âœYou finally got some sleep,â Derpy said after she pulled away, breaking the kiss.

âœNo bad dreams,â Bucky muttered before he yawned again.

âœWell thatâs good,â Derpy said amiably. âœBig day today,â she whispered.

âœWhat do you have planned?â Bucky inquired as he snoot-bumped his mate.

âœGoing to watch my foals get some combat training,â Derpy began. She took a deep breath, obviously somewhat unsettled by that. âœAnd then Iâm going to spend some time with Winter Wheat and Wheatberry and weâll probably talk about mare stuff. After that, my day is open, so I thought Iâd spend some time with Thistle and both of us will do our best to spoil Harper,â she continued.

âœI needâ I need a break,â Dinky interjected.

âœDinky?â Bucky asked of the foal tucked under her motherâs wing.

âœThe past few daysâ Iâm worn out. I canât think right. And PiÃa is upset. So if it is okay, today, I think weâre just going to be foals today. Maybe weâll watch Ripple learn how to fight,â Dinky replied.

âœSounds like a good plan Dinky,â Bucky said approvingly. âœPiÃa, are you alright?â

âœIâm okay,â PiÃa answered in a muffled voice, still cuddled up against Dinky. âœYesterdayâ all those wordsâ everything saidâ really bad things are going to happenââ she said haltingly.

âœYes PiÃa, some bad things must happen if we are to have good things,â Bucky replied as he pulled his forehoof free from beneath himself. Reaching around Thistle, he ran the edge of his fuzzy fetlock over a very delicate place.

âœOooooOOOoooch!â Thistle squeaked as she awoke. She immediately began to squirm upon waking. âœUh oh, big pregnant pony needs to peeâ move move move!â she begged as she wiggled about the bed, causing Berry to grunt.

She rose up on wobbling legs, fell over on Berry, who grunted again and smacked her lips, and then finally slid free from the bed, shambled across the room, and made her way to the bucket while Lyra and Bon Bon chuckled from the couch.

âœYouâre a bad pony,â Derpy said flatly to her mate beside her.

âœWhy do you touch each other back there like that?â PiÃa asked in low curious voice.

âœTrust,â Berry muttered.

âœTrust?â PiÃa inquired.

âœYes, trust. We trust each other to not hurt one another. Those are our most vulnerable places and the places where we could hurt one another the most. We trust each other to touch and to be touched in such a way that makes us feel good, and does not hurt us,â Berry explained.

âœOh,â PiÃa replied.

âœBy catching one another by surprise, those little gooses we give one another shows that even during our most relaxed moments, we have nothing to fear. So it allows us to relax even more. We let down our guard completely, knowing that we only want what is best for one another,â Berry said informatively.

âœOhâ I seeâ maybe growing up and falling in love wonât be so bad,â PiÃa said wistfully. âœDinky, we need to catch us a colt we can trust.â

Sparkler stood nervously with Rising Star, all too aware that her mother was watching her. Ripple stood a short distance away, preening her wings, which were glossy and beautiful now that she was eating well, and there was a group of soldiers gathered around the dirt patch where training was to take place. She looked up at her mother, who was sitting comfortably on top of a thatched roof, Dinky and PiÃa sitting on either side of her.

There was also a group of hard looking mares who sat in a clustered group together, exchanging glances with the soldiers.

âœI am here to try and whip all of you into shape. I have been asked to see if I can get you mares combat ready. Before we begin, there is something I want to say,â Deadspin announced.

Everypony in the crowd turned their heads to look at Deadspin and the pegasus began to strut back and forth, his legs stiff and his ears splayed out diagonally.

âœI disagree with this. I think mares are far too valuable to risk losing in combat. Now before any of you get your feathers ruffled, I also donât believe in hitting mares or treating them badlyâ I beat one of my own underlings into a bloody pulp for treating his wives like livestock. So this is going to be really awkward for me âcause I donât want to hit any of you. Youâve all had hard enough lives,â Deadspin said in a clear clarion voice.

An earth pony mare moved forward out of her group. âœYou think weâre soft or something?â she asked in a hard flinty voice.

âœNot soft, but you are smaller and therefore weaker. You were meant to be protected. We need foals to rebuild these isles, and I think this is a step backwards. Placing you in combat means potentially losing you,â Deadspin replied.

âœYou think Iâm soft,â the mare growled. âœLet me tell you whatâ I lost my husband to wolves and then two foals to disease. I birthed those foals. I donât think youâd survive foal birth you pompous featherbrainâ but I like the idea that you are for the gentle treatment of maresâ my dead husband was like that and he got laughed at quite a bit, so you must be pretty damn brave to be that way around your fellow soldiers,â she bellowed.

Deadspin looked around him and heard sniggering. His cheeks turned red and his ears fell back against his skull.

âœSee, Iâve been thinking, I might be a resource, but you are too. Males are scarce. Now, you have some ideas that I donât agree with, but I think I can fix those,â the earth pony said in a loud voice.

âœFix?â Deadspin inquired cluelessly.

âœLetâs see who is stronger and who is weaker you twit,â the mare challenged.

âœWhat?â Deadspin asked nervously.

âœHow about I beat you down into the dirt and if I do that, you marry me and give me foals. You beat me down into the dirt and you get to go on thinking that mares are weak and not fit to be your equals,â she offered.

âœOh no maâam, I am a soldier. I do not even have a home, I live in the barracks. Iâm not ready to start a family yet. I want a command position and Iâd like to earn myself a title before settling down,â Deadspin said in polite but clipped tones.

The earth pony mare advanced, her nostrils flaring. âœCoward,â she hissed.

âœMaâam, it is simple practical common senseâ we stallions are bigger, you mares are smallerâ it is so more of you can be fit into a homestead or a cottage, this is just common sense,â Deadspin said as he rose into the air, his wings flapping as he hovered.

There were angry grunts and gasps from the group of assembled mares.

âœLook, I donât want to hurt youâ this was such a bad ideaâ canât we just move past this and do what needs to be done?â Deadspin begged.

âœYouâd better get down here pretty birdyâ or I will have one of my sisters in battle clip your wings,â the earth pony mare threatened. As she spoke, several pegasus mares unfurled their wings and readied themselves.

âœI canât marry youâ and I donât want to fight youâ I donât even know your name!â Deadspin retorted as he landed and folded his wings.

âœMy name is Sour Mash and your name is now mud!â the earth pony said as she lunged forward.

She collided with Deadspin and sent him flying. He tucked, rolled, recovered, and unsteadily rose to his hooves. He shook his head and tried to clear the stars from his vision.

âœUgh, she hits like a runaway wagon,â Deadspin muttered as he tried to get some distance between himself and the snorting mare.

âœYouâre a bit soft, Iâm having second thoughts already!â Sour Mash shouted.

Deadspin growled and his ears perked forwards. âœIâm not soft because I donât want to hurt maresâ just means Iâm gentle,â he said in his own defense.

âœI bet you get called soft a lot,â Sour Mash retorted.

âœThatâs enough! If you want to be a soldier you will fall into line right now!â Deadspin snapped.

Sour Mash launched herself again, and this time Deadspin sidestepped her as she soared through the air at him. One of Sour Mashâs hooves flew out and clipped the pegasus stallion on the chin, which sent him staggering. The blow was a glancing one, but Sour Mash was a natural born kicker.

She landed, skidded to a halt, and then whipped herself around. She was grinning a hard grin that revealed she was missing a top front tooth.

Deadspin could hear the laughter of his own troops and it burned him. Hot rage rose up inside of him. Hating himself for what he was about to do, it was time to put the mare into her place. He charged, reminding himself that the insubordinate mare had brought this on herself.

The pair collided with a thud and Deadspin wasnât sure what happened next. He could feel his body pummeled with hooves, and then he was grappled into submission. The mare had him in an embrace, and she was standing on her hind legs. Somehow, she had managed to capture Deadspin in a bear hug, and both of her impossibly strong front legs were now crushing his barrel. He felt a rib pop and give way, followed by another.

The broken ribs hurt a great deal, but what came next hurt even more.

The mare flipped over backwards, still holding Deadspin, driving him headfirst into the dirt. The mare recovered first and was up on her hooves in a moment. She began to circle Deadspin as he struggled to stand up.

The other mares began cheering, hooting and calling out to Sour Mash, encouraging her to finish off the weakened stallion.

âœSorry about the ribs,â Sour Mash said breathlessly. âœBut I couldâve broke all of them.â

âœI donât want to hurt you, Iâll be flogged!â Deadspin protested.

Sour Mash kicked outwards and Deadspin darted out of the way. He kicked back with his hind legs, and Sour Mash jerked her head back to avoid the blow. As she did this, Deadspin swept out with his front legs and kicked all four legs out from beneath Sour Mash. She fell over and hit the ground hard, which made her grunt.

âœIâm gonna make you teach me that moveâ and our foals!â Sour Mash shouted as she rolled over and rose to her hooves. She stood panting.

Deadspin steadied himself and tried not to pant. His ribs ached. He felt conflicted. He didnât have long to think because Sour Mash lunged at him. He jumped out of the way, and as he lept, Sour Mashâs two hind hooves connected with his front left shoulder, just in front of his wing socket. The force of the blow sent him spinning through the air and then tumbling into the dirt.

He went still and just laid there. It was time for cunningâ

Sour Mash approached cautiously, her head held high. She waited for Deadspin to move. His eyes were closed, and she worried that she might have actually hurt the pegasus. She came a little closer and prodded him with a hoof.

There was no response.

She ears folded back against her skull and she lowered her head. âœPretty birdy?â she asked in a worried voice.

Still no response.

âœWell damn, I thought pretty birdy was made of sterner stu-oooooof!â Sour Mash grunted as two forelegs wrapped tightly around her neck. She felt her body whipped around, and then two hooves connected with her gut. It knocked the wind out of her, flipped her through the air, and she landed hard on her back a few feet away.

Deadspin took to his hooves and advanced, intending to end this. There were hoots and cheers from his own troops. Deadspin flung himself downward upon the prone mare, intending to wrestle her into submission.

âœOh, you want to get right to the foal making,â Sour Mash grunted as she grappled with Deadspin. She punched outwards with a forehoof, and it connected solidly with Deadspinâs eye. She laughed crazily as his head snapped back. âœDonât worry, I wonât punch you in the balls, I might need those,â she said kindly as she slammed a knee into Deadspinâs broken ribs.

The pair rolled around in the dirt, kicking, punching, both of them trying to dominate the other. Deadspin had given up on all pretext of being a gentlepony and he landed several solid blows upon the earth pony mare. Deadspinâs eye was swelling shut, and Sour Mash had a split lip.

âœI beat my daddy near to death when he broke one of my mamaâs wings to make her behave,â Sour Mash grunted as she pounded on Deadspin. âœAt least he put up a good fightâ you fight like old ponies shag!â

âœOh you bitch!â Deadspin snarled as he headbutted the obnoxious mare. He heard a pained grunt and felt a rush of satisfaction.

âœThat was quite a love tap!â Sour Mash shouted as she grabbed Deadspinâs head between her forehooves. She slammed her own head into Deadspinâs, once, then twice, and then three times. Deadspin went limp and she dropped his head into the bloodied dirt.

Sour Mash crawled onto Deadspinâs back, straddled him, grabbed his hind legs in her forelegs, and still straddling his withers, began to bend him in half. She folded him over, bending his hips and his spine to an almost unnatural angle, lifting his hind legs to her barrel.

âœYou! Your ladyship! I need you to marry us!â Sour Mash shouted.

Sparkler was completely baffled. âœI canât do that,â Sparkler said in a halting voice.

âœYer a noble, you can do it,â Sour Mash replied.

âœBut marriage should be about love!â Sparkler shouted.

âœWhat does love have to do with anything?â Sour Mash retorted. âœLove can come later once we settle our differences!â

âœI canât do this!â Sparkler shouted, leaning on Rising Star and hoping for reassurance. âœAnd I canât let you force him into marriageââ

âœHey horsefeathers, you think Iâm weak now?â Sour Mash asked as she tightened her hold. âœI could snap your spine right now or pop your legs from their sockets. Think I belong on a homestead?â she demanded.

Deadspin pounded the ground with his hoof but refused to beg for mercy.

âœEvery year males get fewer and fewer and more and more mares have to share a single stallion in a herd. Give us what we wantâ a chance to defend our homes, to stand as equals, and I want you to submit to me!â Sour Mash shouted.

âœNever!â Deadspin groaned.

Sour Mash wrenched his hind legs up higher and there was a loud pop from his hips. Deadspin cried out, making a foalish whimpering sound of pain.

âœRight now, I could end you. You ainât so strong! How about I go out and do the fighting, and you stay home and do the foal raising!â Sour Mash grunted.

âœA mareâs place is in the homestead!â Deadspin snarled. âœThey must be kept safe! They should be cherished and loved! They should be treasured and kept from the jaws of slavering beasts!â

âœOh thatâs it!â Sour Mash snarled. She yanked upwards on Deadspinâs legs and leaned back, adding more compression on his spine. There was an ominous crackle.

There was total silence all around them. All of the mares and stallions gathered dared not make a sound.

Deadspin saw black stars in his vision and he pounded on the ground with both forehooves. He tried to roll over and couldnât, and the mare kept bending him slowly. She was strong.

âœLast chance!â Sour Mash warned.

âœI submit! Youâre stronger than I amâ Youâre the strongest pony Iâve ever fought! I give I give I give! Iâll give you whatever you wantâ Iâll give you foals and hope they are little fillies that grow up to be just like you!â Deadspin begged, his voice an agonised whine.

Sour Mash relaxed her grip and let Deadspinâs legs fall down to the dirt. She patted him gently upon his croup. She turned herself around, while she still straddled him, and then picked up his head between her forehooves. She kissed him softly upon the top of his head and then dropped his head back into the dirt.

âœI do believe I have won my trial by combat,â Sour Mash said as she looked around her, her gaze meeting each stallion standing and staring at her. âœIf anypony treats me as anything other than their equal, Iâll kill ya,â she warned.

âœWHAT IN TARTARUS IS GOING ON HERE?â

Everyponyâs head turned and saw Keg Smasher, who stood unsteadily on three legs.

âœI just beat this oaf into submission and now he has to marry me,â Sour Mash said fearlessly to Keg Smasher.

âœIs this true?â Keg Smasher asked Deadspin.

The defeated stallion nodded but said nothing. He spat out some blood and gingerly touched his swelling face with a bloodied hoof.

âœYou look bad lad, this mare tore you apart,â Keg Smasher observed. âœDo you want her flogged for the beating she has given you?â

Deadspin shook his head no and spat out more blood.

Sour Mash frozeâ now terrified of what might happen next. She had seen one flogging not long ago, and it had been horrible.

âœI dunno lad, we have laws now, harsh as they might be, we canât allow this kind of violence between one another,â Keg Smasher bellowed in a loud voice. âœI think an example needs to be madeâ we canât have stallions beating on mares and we canât have mares beating on stallions,â he added.

âœYou touch one hair in her mane and Iâll kill youââ Deadspin growled. âœI will end you!â he threatened.

Sour Mash sucked in her breath and held it, looking at Keg Smasher and then down at Deadspin, whom she was still sitting on. She felt her heart race a bit from the stallionâs words.

âœHave a change of heart Deadspin?â Keg Smasher asked.

âœI haveâ I have found my equal sir,â Deadspin wheezed. âœMaybe my betterââ

Sour Mash exhaled sharply and then let out a few pained and panicked wheezes. She had just found a good stallion, and getting flogged didnât fit in with her plans.

âœYou there, lass, what is your name?â Keg Smasher demanded.

âœSour Mashâ sir?â Sour Mash said hesitantly, not sure how to address her Laird now that she was a soldier. She was terrified of what Keg Smasher might order.

âœYou just took apart one of my most promising up and comers. Do you want that worthless lout as a husband?â Keg Smasher asked.

âœHe has potential,â Sour Mash replied. âœSir,â she added, still in fear of her Lairdâs wrath.

âœDamnable earth poniesââ Keg Smasher muttered. âœTheyâll be the death of us all!â he shouted as he surveyed the crowd all around him, trying to gauge their mood. âœAnd earth pony mares are the worst of all! Upsetting the social order, breaking the rules, starting a damn war after almost a thousand years of peace!â he bellowed, looking at Derpy as he did so. âœThose insufferable earth pony mares are going to run roughshod all over us,â he grumped. âœAll of you are as stubborn as stumps! YOU! Sour Mash, you now are now the buck sergeant of your brigade and it is your job now to get all of those lumps combat ready. And clean up your damn husband! Heâs a mess!â

âœWeâre married?â Sour Mash asked.

âœMy word is law!â Keg Smasher bellowed.

Sour Mash sat, still straddling Deadspin, and she blinked a few times in surprise.

âœAnd Deadspinââ Keg Smasher growled.

âœYes sir?â Deadspin whimpered as he wiped his bloodied lips.

âœDo you think a captainâs wages would be helpful to start a family?â Keg Smasher inquired.

âœThat would be very generous sir,â Deadspin replied. âœBut I do not deserve it. I was wrong, and I have been humbled sir,â he added.

âœI was hoping to hear you say that Captain Deadspin. And I hope everypony else heard him! Mares deserve to suffer just as much as we do. If they want to choose this life, let them! But no special consideration will be offered just because they are mares. They will tow the line or they will be drummed out!â Keg Smasher decreed.

âœMy Laird!â a pegasus mare cried out.

âœYes lass?â Keg Smasher replied.

The pegasus mare pointed at another pegasus guard. âœHeâs handsome! If I pound him into the dirt, may I have him?â she asked.

The pegasus in question looked panicked and didnât wait for a reply. He took wing and deserted the field, flying away in a hurry.

Keg Smasher heaved a sigh. The changes were coming faster than he knew how to deal with. He looked up at the departing pegasus and then at the pegasus mare with the crazy smile.

âœI want my trial by combat!â she demanded.

âœOh bloody balls,â Keg Smasher muttered.

Bucky examined the chain he had created. The steel was strong. The high carbon content should prevent rust. It would still need to be greased. Crush seemed pleased with the work as well, and the big stallion nodded mutely in approval.

He had forged each link from a solid oval of steel, and then he had teleported them to connect to one another, leaving behind no weak point. He had learned a great deal about the shaping of metal from working with the chain links. He had also made a few steel objects. A few bowls, a drinking mug, a couple of plates, and an experimental set of war shoes with leg guards. He planned to enchant them later as an experiment, something that would magnify kinetic energy during a kick, delivering several tons of force on impact, while protecting the kicker from the impact.

If they were successful, he would add an improved version to his armor.

He smiled at his work and felt satisfied. He had more to do, but it was time for lunch.

Chapter 141

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âœI swear Buckminster, theyâre like foals. I donât know if I am their leader or their father.â

Bucky studied the battered pegasus sitting at the table across from him. Lunch was over and most of the ponies had cleared out. A few had lingered, and were talking to one another, just like he and Keg Smasher were doing.

âœToday I saw one of my best and brightest get taken apart by a mare. I mean, she beat Deadspin bloody right in front of his own troops. On one hoof, I want mares treated better. But on the other hoof, not at the expense of the stallionsâ I married them, which is what they seemed to want. And then I laid down the law that there would be no further trials by combat, and that Sour Mash had secured a mareâs right to serveâ but there is going to be so many new regulations to create and enforce now. I had to tell my troops that they had to see the pony serving beside them as their brother or their sister. I donât know how to deal with the change,â Keg Smasher said, letting everything out.

âœThere are going to be bumps in the road along the way. Mistakes are going to be made. I guess that sometimes, harsh examples must be made,â Bucky admitted. âœBut I donât like the idea of ponies being hurt,â he added.

âœI know Buckminster, I knowâ and I thought about that the entire time I was out there. I thought I was going to have to flog herâ and maybe that is what I should have done, for equalityâs sake. She was a mare that had committed assault. I donât know if I did the right or wrong thingâ nothing is simple anymore!â Keg Smasher grumped.

âœThink you might have had trouble flogging a mare?â Bucky asked gently in a low voice.

âœOf course you twit! I want to foster a feeling that mares are to be loved, cherished, and protected, not beaten, subdued, and traded. But now the shoe is on the other foot damnit,â Keg Smasher grumbled in reply. âœAnd Iâm a bloody hypocrite!â The big stallion smacked his forehoof into the table in frustration.

âœHow did the troops take all of this?â Bucky asked.

âœWhen everything was said and done, they followed my lead and accepted. They understood that there was to be no further trials by combat. And there was a sense of camaraderie, I could sense that. Something might be salvaged from this fustercluck. Those shite-bucket headed morons might fight like cornered bears if they feel that their sisters are being threatened,â Keg Smasher growled. âœI fought a cave bear onceâ a right grumpy wee beastie.â

âœSo, while the event was terrible, and we can both agree on that, do you think the end result will be worthwhile? Do the ends justify the means?â Bucky asked.

âœDamnit, I donât know ladâ I havenât drank enough today to be a philosopher. What do I do if one of them is fat with foal? Does she serve? Do I drum her out? I see a tough future looming before me!â Keg Smasher shouted in frustration. âœMy foals are making me crazy!â

âœI kinda like it when my foals are making me crazy,â Bucky confessed.

âœYou would,â Keg Smasher sneered.

âœFoals making you crazy are better than dead foals,â Bucky quipped.

âœAye, Thatâs true,â Keg Smasher replied morosely. âœEarth ponies. Harrumph!â he shouted as he changed the troubling subject.

âœThe most troublesome of all of your foals?â Bucky asked.

âœYou married two of them! You should know better than to ask that question,â Keg Smasher retorted.

âœOh, I dunno, Berry Punch is kinda sweet when she isnât starting a war or starting trouble. Sheâs had her moments. When Iâve hit some of the lowest points of my life, sheâs been there to pick me up and carry meâ and donât even get me started on Bon Bon. Sheâsâ something,â Bucky replied as he lifted his cup and drank a bit of wine he had left over.

âœI feel sorry for Deadspinâ Sour Mash is going keep him in line and take no guff. Our earth ponies hold us accountable, donât they Buckminster?â Keg Smasher asked.

Bucky nodded but said nothing, thinking about how afraid he was of Bon Bonâs disappointment or Berry Punch disapproving of something he had done. For Bucky, it was a profound thought, and he suffered a twinge of regret knowing that Sombra never knew the pleasures of being married to an earth pony. Things might have gone very differently had Sombra had an earth pony wife or two.

âœViolence is all my foals know. It is the only language they understand. We are barbarians,â Keg Smasher grumbled. âœAnd for the longest time, they used this as one of the many excuses to justify taking our foals. How do I make it end Buckminster?â Keg Smasher said in a soft pained voice.

âœBegin the slow process of change and stick to it,â Bucky replied. âœAllow little slip ups like this one on occasion, bring down your hoof on other occasions where it is needed, and try to learn from any mistakes when you canâ hard to say for sure,â Bucky answered.

âœSo much is at stake. So many little lives that are going to be born about a year from now that need this to be a better place. We owe it to them,â Keg Smasher said in melancholy tones.

âœThe best that you can hope for is that mares like Sour Mash have some foals that learn from both of their parentsâ they get Deadspinâs sense of chivalry and her sense of empowerment, at least I am guessing she feels empowered. It isnât perfect, but it is a start,â Bucky answered.

âœSour Mash refused to even leave the field when it was all said and done. She immediately set about teaching Sparkler and Ripple how to fightâ and fight dirty, or so I hear, if the report I got about an hour ago is to be believed,â Keg Smasher groused.

âœOh bother,â Bucky grumbled.

âœAnd you will be proud to know that Rising Star apparently has a mean left hook,â Keg Smasher reported. âœWrecker was impressed, said that Rising Star is fit to serve and to wear armor.â

âœI know this is an odd question, but what sort of ponies did Wrecker marry?â Bucky asked inquisitively.

âœA majority of them are earth ponies,â Keg Smasher sighed. âœAnd Wrecker taught them all how to fight when he was still capable of such a thing. Heâs survived more assassination attempts than I have. His wives are loyal and brutal. Theyâre fanatical in their defense. Theyâre all over this castle. You see them everywhere. One might be bringing your food or another might be scrubbing the floors, which are odd jobs for a lordâs wife, but they are hidden in plain sight all over and if something were to happen that would put Wreckerâs life or my life or your life at risk, trouble would immediately come at the instigator from all sides,â Keg Smasher replied. âœThey act like the meekest most spineless mares you ever did see, all eager to please and soft friendly words.â

âœSo beware of the meek well mannered earth ponies,â Bucky summarised.

Keg Smasher nodded and flexed his remaining wing, giving a pained expression as he did so. He exchanged a knowing glance with Bucky, and there were no words that needed to be said between them.

As the pair sat in silence, a group of guards came bustling through the door, all of them looking very serious. One broke away from the group and approached Keg Smasher and Bucky, bowing low and saluting both of them.

âœSir, situation to report sir,â the guard announced as he stood at attention.

âœDo tell,â Keg Smasher said as he leaned on the table.

âœThere has been a shipwreck sir. The survivors have been gathered and are going to be transported here, to the castle. They were trying to flee mainland Equestria sir. They hit the rocks along the Narrows, in the Inlet of Teeth when they tried to sail between isles,â the guard reported.

âœOh shite,â Keg Smasher exhaled.

âœFlee Equestria?â Bucky asked in alarm.

âœThere are a fair number of earth ponies, some pegasi, a few unicorns, and there are several griffons sirâ the soldiers want to know what is to be done with the griffons sir,â the guard stated.

âœThey are to be brought here unharmed of course!â Keg Smasher snapped.

âœBut sirâ there are griffons that come to our isles on occasion andâ hunt sir,â the guard said in a low angry voice.

âœAnd these griffons are from mainland Equestria most likely, do you think theyâd be hunting there with Celestia and Luna looking over their ponies you big dumb brain dead dolt?â Keg Smasher shouted bellicosely.

The guard stared straight ahead stupidly and blinked a few times. âœI donât know sir,â the guard replied.

âœYou donât know!â Keg Smasher sneered. âœGET OUT OF MY FACE!â he bellowed.

The guard scurried away in a hurry and Keg Smasher was left stewing in his own rage, breathing heavily and thumping his hoof down upon the table.

âœMy foals are dumb as rocks,â Keg Smasher growled.

âœThat one might have rode the short wagon to school,â Bucky grumbled.

âœWhat?â Keg Smasher asked in confusion.

âœOh, never mind,â Bucky muttered. âœWe have more foals to look after. The mainlanders are going to need a place to stay. I suppose you plan to keep them here in the castle somewhere?â

âœShite, I donât know. I guess Iâll have to stuff them in somewhere to keep them safe. And then I donât know what to do afterwards. Things must be pretty bad in Equestria if ponies are fleeing,â Keg Smasher said, saying what Bucky was busy thinking. âœI hate to ask you, but I might need you to lean on them just a little bit. Youâre a nobleâ the right sort of nobleâ and you might have some authority over them that I might not have.â

âœNo,â Bucky replied flatly.

âœNo?â Keg Smasher asked, raising an eyebrow.

âœI refuse to acknowledge myself as a son of Avarice any longer. I might be a distant son of Platinum, but I want nothing to do with my old house other than burning it all down to the ground. I will not lord myself over them and use my names and titles to keep them in line. I just wonât,â Bucky argued.

Keg Smasher sighed. âœI suppose it was wrong of me to ask. Forgive me,â Keg Smasher stated. âœI did something stupid once and almost lost you as a friend. Iâll never make that mistake twice,â he added.

Bucky felt a strange rush of emotion creep through him. âœI forgive you,â Bucky grumbled, finding it difficult to speak.

âœWe could use more unicorns,â Keg Smasher said in a hopeful sounding voice. He lifted his head and smiled. The guards had cleared the room and the two were left mostly alone, there were only a few other ponies in the hall.

âœI rather like being Knight Captain,â Bucky admitted.

âœReally? I mean, you have much better titles lad,â Keg Smasher said.

âœBut I earned this one. I wasnât born with it,â Bucky replied.

âœWell, you were born an armiger, that makes you something of a knight,â Keg Smasher said in return.

âœWell, maybe, but with the title âcaptainâ I feel like I have done something meaningful with myself,â Bucky confessed.

âœYou really are pleased about it,â Keg Smasher said solemnly.

âœIt acknowledges some meaning for my suffering,â Bucky admitted in a low whisper. âœI am ashamed to admit it, but titles do matter. I hated my titles and my peerage. But I have been beside myself since getting the new title. Rank. Whatever it is,â he explained.

âœYer an odd pony,â Keg Smasher grumbled at his friend.

âœIt holds promiseâ one day I might be Knight Commanderâ or even Knight Brigadier,â Bucky said in an uncharacteristically cheerful voice. âœI can finally move upwardsâ rather than just be some snobby noble stuck with what I was born with.â

âœIn my last communications with Celestia, before she went silent, I pledged to give up my titles and peerage,â Keg Smasher announced.

âœWhat?!â Bucky exclaimed.

âœShe has offered to make me Governor over the isles once we integrate. For life,â Keg Smasher responded.

âœShe went silent?â Bucky asked.

âœIâve tried to send her a message a few times. No response. I even sent a lone brave pegasus messenger who was ballsy enough to cross the sea. No reply,â Keg Smasher replied.

âœThis is worrisome,â Bucky said in a strangled voice.

âœYouâre telling me. The big dame is pretty good about replying right away,â Keg Smasher said as he shifted his body to a more comfortable position.

âœWhen we take off for Equestria, I hope it doesnât turn into a rescue mission,â Bucky said gravely.

Chapter 142

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As Bucky exited the doors into the courtyard, he was mobbed by a herd of bloodied muddied mares who surrounded him on all sides, most of them grinning crazily. Some of them had eyes swollen shut. A few had cauliflower ears. Some were limping.

âœYour Lordship!â one called.

âœWe beg an audience with you!â another shouted.

âœJust a mere moment of your time!â one promised.

Bucky halted and looked around him, and he could not help but notice the looks of adoration coming from the mares. Some of them were fillies, but he suspected that he would be in world of hurt if he gave voice to that fact.

âœI have a moment,â Bucky announced.

âœWe need a patron!â one of the mares exclaimed. She was a pegasus and one of her eyes was swollen shut.

âœA patron?â Bucky asked.

âœLord Wrecker said our brigade needs a patron. He said we should come to you!â an earth pony mare responded.

âœI donât understand, what does a patron do?â Bucky inquired.

âœA patron looks after their brigade. Makes sure they are outfitted and fed. A patron sometimes drinks with their brigade. Weâre gonna protect your foals, so can you sponsor us as a patron?â a mare answered.

Buckyâs remaining eye narrowed as he suddenly realised the potential in the situation. Thoughts began to rapidly fill his mind as he thought about all of the ways he could use this for a means of social change.

âœWeâre already planning on a bannerâ your hops plant mark!â a mare announced.

âœWhere is Sour Mash?â Bucky demanded.

âœI am right here sir,â Sour Mash responded as she moved forward.

âœI will consider being your patron. But I will expect a few things from you,â Bucky said in a loud clear voice that carried through the courtyard.

âœYou want some of us as wives? Weâve already discussed that, we have volunteers!â Sour Mash said cheerfully. âœTheir faces are still kinda messed up, but theyâll heal. Theyâre bruised but pretty! Weâre not very submissive though.â

Bucky choked on his first attempt to reply and his words got caught in throat. He wheezed and coughed, and as he did so, Sour Mash gave him a friendly clubbing with her hoof to try and help him breathe. He staggered from the force of her enthusiastic concern for his well being.

âœNo more wives,â Bucky wheezed, certain that his ribs were now forever bent.

Several mares cried out and many looked disappointed.

âœWe wanted unicorn foals,â one protested.

âœRaise âem to fight!â another shouted.

âœI will be your patron, but there are some conditions before I agree completely,â Bucky announced as he lifted his head as high as he could. Several of the mares were actually taller than he was and he felt mildly annoyed with his short stature.

âœWell, let us know what we need to do, we expect to earn it!â Sour Mash bellowed.

âœFirst off, I want all of you to spend some time talking to my wife, Berry Punch. I want you to learn from her and listen closely to what she has to say. Second, no more violence against males. If there is violence visited upon you, behave defensively and protect yourselves. Subdue, but do no harm. Thirdâ and perhaps the most importantâ I want you to go out and gather more mares. I will give you one week. If you can triple your numbers, I will be your patron,â Bucky promised.

âœThatâs it? Buggery and spitfire, We can do that!â Sour Mash shouted.

âœThatâs it?â one mare questioned in disbelief.

âœThatâs it,â Bucky repeated in reply.

âœUsually patronage involves going out and hunting down some horrible wee beastie, like slaying a hydra or killing some monsterâ Wrecker thought that maybe youâd have us hunt down wolves,â one mare said in a halting voice.

âœI feel kinda let downâ you ainât going soft on us because weâre mares are you?â one asked in a somewhat angry voice.

âœNo!â Bucky shouted. âœI have no idea what I am doingâ I-â

âœHow dare you ask that? Youâve seen how he is with his wives and his foals!â Sour Mash bellowed, cutting Bucky off as he floundered.

âœIâm sorry I-â

âœOh shut up!â Sour Mash commanded the apologetic mare.

âœMaâam, yes maâam,â the mare responded.

âœA couple of us have gone wolf hunting. Weâve even killed a few already. We lost a few of us though,â a mare announced.

âœWe remember our fallen!â a mare shouted.

âœHunt me down more willing and able bodied mares!â Bucky bellowed, trying to recover the situation. âœAnd one more thingâ every single one of you is going to learn how to read and write,â he commanded.

âœWhat?â Sour Mash asked.

âœWell, I wonât be here forever, and I will want some means to communicate with you once I am gone,â Bucky explained.

âœOhâ uhâ we can learn to read and write, canât we girls?â Sour Mash asked her brigade.

There was a murmur of confusion from the crowd. None of them expected this. Ears perked forward, wings fluttered, and tails swished.

âœIn the future, I will be making you responsible for educating foals, teaching them to read and write. You are going to guard the future of these isles!â Bucky shouted.

âœThat doesnât sound so bad,â Sour Mash said. âœI want smart foals.â

âœDo this and I will be your patron,â Bucky promised.

âœYou have a deal,â Sour Mash said, extending her hoof.

Bucky raised his own and bumped it against Sour Mashâs. As he did so, there was a cheer.

Bucky felt a strong sense of satisfaction in knowing that he had just secured something of a better future for the isles and made Keg Smasherâs life just a little easier.

âœCrush, I need supplies. I am about to be a patron for a new brigade. I want them outfitted in armor and supplied well. What is it going to cost me? How do I go about doing this? How do I secure your services and see that they are looked after?â Bucky asked of the big mute earth pony, so lost in thought that he forgot that Crush couldnât answer.

Crush pointed at the pile of steel ingots.

âœMore steel? I can do that. I need the practice anyway. Iâll make you a stockpile of steel. To sweeten the deal, Iâll even enchant you a hammer to help you forge it,â Bucky offered.

Crush raised his eyebrow and looked down at Bucky. He then looked at his helpers, the smallest of which was a foal that couldnât be more than two summers old. The big earth pony looked thoughtful.

âœAre you worried about the earth pony way? I understand that, I do, but your forge doesnât get hot enough to work the steel properly. But I can make you a hammer and maybe even an anvil that will help,â Bucky offered.

Crush looked down at Bucky once again, studying the unicorn carefully. Slowly, he nodded and then looked to see the reactions of his helpers and apprentices.

The other ponies in the forge all nodded and a few even looked excited.

âœWell then, now that we have that out of the way, letâs get back to work,â Bucky announced. The stallion felt immensely pleased with himself and the mischief he was making.

Bucky looked over the refugees assembled in the courtyard. He had been summoned from the smithy by a guard, and now he saw before him the frightened and battered survivors from the shipwreck.

Keg Smasher was sitting quietly upon a cushion, his eyes glassy with pain, the day had been far too long for him in his condition. The big pegasus was silent and letting Bucky deal with the influx of new ponies.

He cleared his throat nervously, licked his lips, and then tried to deal with his rising sense of panic as he addressed the crowd. âœBefore anything is said, I would like to know what is happening in Equestria and why you were fleeing the mainland,â Bucky said in his commanding sonorous voice to the crowd.

There was a murmur from the crowd as they all talked in low voices to one another, and after several minutes of talking, a mare with her mane drew up into a bun walked forward.

âœMy name is Gardenia, and I can tell you what I know,â she offered.

âœI would be most appreciative,â Bucky said.

âœI know who you areâ I mean, we all know who you areâ youâve been all over the papers, you and your wife, Berry Punch. Youâre heroes,â Gardenia said in reverent tones as she shyly approached Bucky. âœYou do look a little different nowââ she added, her words trailing off as she spoke.

âœPlease madam, spare me the flattery. I am unaccustomed to it and it makes me uncomfortable,â Bucky said pleasantly.

âœOf course, Iâm sorryâ anyway, youâve been in the papers. Berry Punchâs kick was the kick felt around the world. Her act of war started it all. And she did it for love of you, which is so romantic. After you left, the government collapsed shortly after. There was rioting. The earth ponies revolted completely in many places, demanding better treatment and equality, calling Berry Punch their hero. Every day there were more and more stories in the paper about government corruption and scandal. High ranking members of House Avarice went into seclusionâ into hiding. The courts were all shut down, the banks all closed. Many of the earth ponies refused to farm or grow food, demanding that House Avarice be brought to some kind of justice. Vanhoover followed Ponyvilleâs lead and broke away, declaring independence. The earth ponies and the pegasi that lived there formed their own government and things started to get scary for unicorns when the secret police were formed and started hunting down unicorns with ties to House Avarice or that were suspected of âœunicorn superiourityâ and many unicorns just disappeared. Iâm from Vanhoover,â the mare reported.

âœThat sounds very disturbing,â Bucky acknowledged. âœPlease continue,â he asked.

âœThey started finding bodies of unicornsâ they were all dried out looked like mummies from the museum. They had no cutie marks, but nopony knew why. It was awfulâ I canât believe the secret police would do that. I donât understand how they could do that. Somepony committed arson and set the government grain silos on fire in the Unicorn Range. There were already food shortages. Some of the unicorns in Canterlot demanded that Princess Celestia use her magic to bring the earth ponies back under control and force them to grow food. Princess Celestia refused. These werenât unicorns from House Avarice, but there are other noble houses that are just as bad. They formed a confederacy and declared war on Princess Celestia,â Gardenia explained.

âœOh my, that sounds bad,â Bucky groaned.

âœAnd at some time during all of this, some horrible monster escaped from Tartarus. They call him Tirek, and heâs been rampaging around Equestria sowing chaos and havoc. There are all kinds of stories and rumours about him, but I donât know what is true. And that is when we left,â Gardenia said as she gestured to the ponies behind her. âœI started in Vanhoover, crossed the country with a few friends, made my way to Manehatten, met the others, and we all got together and stole a boat. A ship. None of us knew how to sail. We wanted to go to Tradewinds, the big city on the edge of the Sea of Grass and start over. There was a storm and we had no idea what we were doing, so we were really off course, and now we are here,â she continued.

âœThank you for telling me all of this. I am sure that it has been a very trying day,â Bucky said graciously.

âœSo what is to be done with us? All of us? I want the griffons treated wellâ some of the pegasi were a bit rude to them,â Gardenia asked. âœThe griffons had wings and they saved many of usâ they could have flown away and saved themselves,â she added.

âœI apologise and I will have the guard spoken to. There is much that you need to know before the sun sets. It is not safe to leave the castle once it is dark. There are monsters here, let how I look be a testament to my words. Especially for the unicorns. You must not leave the castle after dark, no matter what. You will be devoured. More will be explained shortly, but I am sure you are all very tired and in need of sustenance and rest. You will be looked after, but do not be surprised if you are put to work. Maâam, if I might ask, what is your profession?â Bucky asked of the earth pony mare.

âœI am a schoolmarm,â Gardenia replied.

Chapter 143

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As the late afternoon neared evening, Bucky called it quits for the day, finally worn out after his long day of labour. The day had been tiring and now he was worried. He sat on the sofa, reclining on his side, his barrel propped up on the arm of the sofa, and in his forelegs he held something precious to him.

âœHi Harperâ are you happy to see me?â Bucky asked in a low voice.

The foal gurgled and blew spit bubbles in reply, which made Bucky forget the troubles of the day and the fatigue he felt in his bones. Harper lay with her head resting on his neck, and he could feel her breathing. Life wasnât so bad.

âœLyra is conditioning her to pee upon command,â Sentinel reported as he sat on the floor before Bucky.

âœWhat?â Bucky asked. At some point, he might have been shocked or sent into panic by such a statement. Now, it took something serious to shock him.

âœWhen Harper pees, Lyra whistles. Lyra intends to condition Harper to the sound of whistling, emptying her bladder upon command, for reasons I am not sure I fully understand,â Sentinel explained.

âœSome kind of potty training,â Bucky muttered in befuddlement. In that moment, his love for Lyra grew just a little bit more. There was something about mad hedge wizards.

âœI plan to write about it in my journal,â Sentinel stated.

Bucky smiled and settled into the sofa, which wasnât as comfortable as he would have liked, but it was better than the bare floor. Harper squirmed in his embrace and he felt small hooves on his hip. He lifted his head, saw PiÃa crawling up on him and then she flopped down on his ribs, sliding backwards towards the back of the sofa. A moment later, Dinky crawled up and sprawled out over PiÃa.

âœThere is going to be a lot of new ponies at dinner,â PiÃa quipped.

âœThereâs a lot of survivors,â Dinky commented.

âœToo bad they lost a few,â PiÃa said sadly. âœI wonder what it is like to drown.â

âœPiÃa, how about no morbid thoughts just before dinner,â Bucky suggested.

âœOkay,â PiÃa answered.

âœRipple beat the stuffing out of a much bigger mare today,â Dinky said as she squirmed and tried to get settled.

âœOh?â Bucky inquired with a monosyllabic grunt.

âœThe bigger mare tried to pin Ripple during combat training and Ripple freaked out. Sheâs fast. Her hooves moved so fast that they were a blur. And when it was all over and Ripple beat the big mare down, the big mare was proud of her,â PiÃa explained.

âœI didnât freak out,â Ripple protested from across the room.

âœWhat do you call it then?â Dinky shouted back.

âœI dunno, I just panicked a bit when she tried to hold me down,â Ripple said in a strained voice. âœIt is okay, weâre friends nowâ the black eye and the bruises will heal.â

âœAnd now, Ripple is going to get special boxer training from a big pegasus and he is going to have her punch a dummy made out of wood and rope because sheâs dangerous,â Dinky told Bucky in excited tones.

âœRipple, is this true?â Bucky asked.

Ripple rose from her sisterâs side, slipped through the room and sat down beside Sentinel. âœIt is true. He doesnât teach just anypony how to box. He says I have talent. He is going to teach me hooficuffs. Several of the other mares are also getting lessons. He said we hit too hard to safely spar with the others,â she said.

âœYou stick with your lessons. If you make me proud, I will forge you a pair of war shoes made for kicking,â Bucky promised.

âœI will do all that I can to make sure that you are proud of me,â Ripple said. The filly sat up straight and her ears perked forward. She beamed, looking exceptionally happy. She gave Sentinel a soft nudge and then, unable to contain herself, lunged forward and kissed Bucky on the cheek.

âœYou know Ripple, I do believe he is already proud of you,â Sentinel whispered to the pegasus he called his sister.

âœI know,â Ripple said in reply.

Bucky looked over the list of survivors and rubbed the scarred side of his face. A couple of school teachers, a few farmers, a crown certified alchemist, some weather specialists, a mailpony, and one of the griffons had listed his profession as an artist. The school teachers and the alchemist would be quite useful. The isles needed weather pegasi. Nature was wild here. He wasnât sure what to do with the mailpony or the painter. The other griffons worked with the weather service. He wondered if the farmers had any other skills.

Several ponies had no professions listed, just the word âœunicornâ scribbled into the list. This pleased Bucky a great deal. Buck of all trades types were always welcomed.

âœNo lab work tonight Bucky?â Bon Bon inquired in a soft voice.

âœToo tired,â Bucky replied. âœAnd the others are worn out.â

âœIâm terrified of what is coming, but I am excited because everything is drawing near completion. The Scorned Mare is nearly finished. There are hundreds of spell jars downstairs. We know the location of our enemy,â Bon Bon said to Bucky in a silky whisper. âœAnd youâ you have held together so well. Youâve been the sort of pony Iâve always knew you could be. You and Lyra both.â

âœThank you Bonnie,â Bucky whispered in a strained voice.

âœAw nuts Bonnie, now I canât see, my eyes are all wateryâ stupid hormones,â Lyra griped. âœI am so emotional right now,â she whined.

âœSentinel, I am going to need you to change your sleeping habits a bit,â Bucky said.

âœSir?â Sentinel replied.

âœI need you up during the day if possible. I am going to be very busy, and I canât be everywhere. I am going to need for you to be the very grown up and responsible pony that I know that you are and I need for you to look after the refugees. I want them to come to you with their requests and needs, and then you can come to me. And I am trusting you to filter through what is important. Serious needs are to be looked after, trivial concerns are to be ignored, and I only have the time and the resources to look after what really matters,â Bucky explained. âœKeep a pencil and some paper handy. Put those writing skills to good use.â

âœI can do that sir,â Sentinel said. âœSir, can we talk for a moment?â

âœWhat is on your mind Sentinel?â Bucky inquired.

âœPrincess Lunaâ I keep thinking about her. Iâd like to meet her. I want to see her. I pray to her sometimesâ do you think that is stupid? Do you think she can hear me when I look out the window and talk to the moon?â Sentinel asked.

Bucky heard a faint gasp from Bon Bon and he felt a catch in his own throat, which he tried several times to clear. âœI donât know Sentinelâ I know she visits ponies in dreams. She saved meâ she gave me knowledge of how to craft myself a new horn. Iâd feel very foolish trying to answer if she could hear you or not, and I would never want to lie to you,â Bucky replied.

âœWell, sheâs already answered one prayer then,â Sentinel said with a heaving sigh.

âœShe has?â Bon Bon inquired.

âœI begged for her to keep father alive,â Sentinel admitted to Bon Bon in a soft whisper.

There was a strangled hitching sound from Lyra followed by silence.

âœI want to be able to go out into the night and bask in the moonlight. But those damnable wolves keep me indoors and I hate them,â Sentinel said. âœI want to walk in the dark and secret places of the wood and prance through the moonlight dappled darkness that exists between the trees. I want to fly over a loch and touch the moon reflected in the water,â he added wistfully.

âœSentinel, one day, this will be over and we will go to a place where you can do those things,â Bucky whispered.

âœI hope so,â Sentinel said as he lept up onto the couch beside Bucky and sat down.

âœI need to get some shut eyeâ if you can, come to bed at some point so you can be up tomorrow. I need you Sentinel,â Bucky said as he stroked the colt with a hoof.

âœI will serve,â Sentinel replied.

In the hours just after dawn, pegasi and a few griffons laboured to gather clouds and compress them into cloud banks. They had to fly out over the isles and gather the wild clouds, return them to central location, and then squeeze them into place. Others stayed and minded the clouds to keep them from drifting away.

A grinning earth pony mare and a somewhat battered looking pegasus stood together in the central courtyard, watching the morning drills after their first night together as a married couple. She was gentle and attentive, and carefully nosed the pegasi on occasion. Both of them seemed happy as they watched their respective squads train.

A young pegasus filly was getting her hooves filed down flat on a grinding wheel and she was going to get her first set of slugging shoes. The pegasus filly was nervous and skittish. She looked forward to proving herself and wanted to make her father proud.

A young unicorn colt and a young unicorn filly grappled together, trusting one another during their sparring to not hurt the other too much. Blows were expected though, as it was the only way they would learn. Plus, wrestling had its own rewards. They trusted one another with their honest mistakes, knowing that bumps and bruises would fade in time.

A grey pegasus sat upon the wall and watched as the pegasus filly she called her daughter was being prepared for war. She was fiercely proud of the filly. When ponies saluted her, she saluted back. While her salutes might have been somewhat clumsy, they were genuine and every pony in the courtyard had the utmost respect for the grey mare that sat watching them.

Deep within the kitchens, a plum coloured earth pony mare worked hard to teach the kitchen staff how to make light fluffy pie crusts and how to make simple pies. There was going to be a pleasant surprise come lunch, and the kitchen staff took to their new assignment with joy.

Moving about different groups, a small lunar pegasus foal yawned occasionally as he spoke with different ponies and coordinated messages between various groups, including taking messages to Keg Smasher directly. He wore brass goggles that had smoked glass lenses that blocked out the painful daylight and allowed him to see.

Inside of a smithy, a gnarled unicorn wearing smoked glass goggles and a giant earth pony worked together, perfecting the art of steel. Chains were being forged. On the walls were diagrams and drawings done in charcoal upon the stone of various types of armor pieces and panels. Working as a team, they were the perfect example of what an earth pony and a unicorn working with one another could do together. It became obvious to any observer that the pair had an immense respect for one another, both of them were master craftsponies and they had the respect for one another that only came to those who were at the top of their trades. There was nothing to prove here, but there was a lot to get done.

A lone kelpie swam the lake, hunting for fish and thinking about her marriage, which was coming soon. She was already a herd member, she knew this, but the ceremony, however simple, meant something to her, and she looked forward to what came after. There was no fear now. She was the trophy for triumph, and she would be wed upon the deck of The Scorned Mare once it was airborne. It would be a meaningful moment in so many ways.

And far away under the mountains, a dreadful something waited in the dark. It had found a way past the wards that had been thwarting its efforts and now it moved against its enemy, reaching out to touch a fragile sleeping mind that had been heavily scarred by darkness and was now quite unbalanced by hormones. It would undo its enemyâs strength by weakening what made his enemy strong. It planned to kill three birds with one stone as it prepared the spell that would invade the fragile unicornâs mind.

Chapter 144

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Bon Bon awoke groggily to screaming and then confusion took her. She felt sick, nauseous, and it took everything she had to not vomit in the bed. Her vision blurred for a moment, then came into focus, blurred again, and when she could finally see again, she saw Lyra.

Lyra was in the throes of dark magic, her eyes were tainted from the darkness and black flames burned around her horn. She was holding her head in her hooves and screaming. Bon Bon struggled to get to sit up and help her mate, she couldnât bear to see Lyra like this and Lyraâs suffering was of far more concern than her own.

Bon Bon felt panic as Harper began to shriek and wail, and then Bon Bon realised, she was under attack from dark magic. Something deep in her earth pony bones reacted poorly to the magic in the air. Not knowing what else to do, she grabbed Lyra, clamping both of her own hooves to the sides of Lyraâs head.

Lyra was foaming at the mouth and was screaming incoherently, but at Bon Bonâs touch, something changed. Recognition flared back into her eyes. She looked at Bon Bon for a moment, and then a fierce expression came over her face.

Lyra, feeling something trying to forcibly enter her mind, felt her memories flooding with vague thoughts of a time when something had forcibly entered her body. Brief snatches of past hurts flashed though her mind. Sounds. Smells. Wet squelching sounds. Cries. Moans. Whimpers. The soft sadistic symphony of sounds that harmonised with rape. The scent of bloodâ her blood. And a terrible stabbing pain began to thrum through her hips, the worst pain centered just between her legs. For a moment, she teetered upon the very verge of falling over the edge and slipping into total insanity, she didnât want to remember those things. The faint clink and rattle of iron chains and the terrible pinch of the heavy iron collar around her neck.

And then when Bon Bon touched her, Lyra thought of other things. Of Harper suckling at her teats. Of Sentinelâs absolute adoration and admiration of her. She thought of all of the time she spent answering PiÃaâs many questions. Of all the magical lessons she had given Dinky. Then she thought of Bucky and somehow Buckyâs mental image drove away the horror in her mind. Bucky loved her and would never hurt her.

She felt a powerful spike of motherly instinct. Summoning her own considerable will driven magic, and now determined to fight for her foals, she brought her mind to bear upon the intruder, the mental invader that sought to take away everything she held dear.

Lyra Heartstrings was gifted as a spellbreaker, and she sent a spike of raw magical agony back to the source, plucking the magic connection as though it was a string. It was a terrible thing to connect to the mind of a creature and then misjudge the strength of your foe. And Lyraâs new strength was terrible. She had inadvertently tapped into the very sort of wellspring of strength that Bucky drew from.

The unicorn was not done in her assaults. She felt the force intruding in her mind retreating, she knew that she had hurt it, but while the connection still existed, Lyra, now in perfect control, sent everything she had back through the connection, and she could feel whatever was on the other side writhing in mental anguish. Lyra had her own dark magic and the will to use it. Black agony flooded from her mind and ran like a river into her fleeing intruder. Lyra had her own pain, her own anguish, her own unspeakable agonies and she broadcast every repressed memory she could feel lurking just beneath her subconscious back into the mind of her attempted mental rapist.

Lyra felt herself become the violator and it felt good.

The connection was severed and Lyra screamed because her bottled up wrath had no outletâ she wasnât done. She wasnât finished. She hadnât had a chance to share all of her pain just yet. Pain gave dark magic power, and Lyra was full of pain.

The distraught unicorn looked up into the eyes of the earth pony that she loved, the earth pony whose touch took that pain away, and collapsed into Bon Bonâs embrace. She clung to the earth pony with everything she had, pressing her face into Bon Bonâs silken pelt.

âœI need Bucky,â Lyra sobbed to her mate.

âœOkay Lyraâ give me a minuteâ I need to know that you are okay and then I will go and try to get him,â Bon Bon replied as she clutched Lyra to her barrel. She stroked Lyra. Harper was crying, shrieking now, and making gurgling sounds.

Lyra snatched up the foal in her magic and lifted Harper to her, and the two mares tucked the tiny foal between them as they clung to one another. âœI donât want to remember, Bonnie,â Lyra whined, her voice cracking from pain. âœI want to be happy with what I have now and I donât want to remember,â she gibbered as Bon Bon rocked her back and forth.

Bon Bon gently extricated herself from Lyra. She still felt sick and nauseous and she had trouble walking. Her vision blurred and she saw double. Her sudden movement was too much and she vomited upon the floor. She staggered and tried to not fall into her own puddle of sick. She somehow made her way to the door. She could hear Harperâs ragged cries behind her, and realised the foal must be feeling sick as well.

Bon Bon pulled the door open and made her way into the hall, where she started shouting for a guard, her voice echoing off of the stone walls and reverberating down the hallway. She cried out for several minutes before finally hearing a weak reply, and then cried out that Lyra was sick and Bucky was needed.

The guard replied with a weak shout and then Bon Bon returned to Lyra, to hold the unicorn and try to bring some measure of comfort to the foal.

The pair waited, holding on to one another, both of them weeping, and each of them trying to comfort Harper, who seemed inconsolable. Bon Bon was not sure how much time had passed, but she suspected that everypony was still trying to recover from the effects of the dark magic.

While Bon Bon gently rocked Lyra back and forth, Lyra somehow managed to summon her magical lyre and the soft sounds of comfort filled the room. Harperâs squalling eased; the foal still cried but now they were subsiding.

There was a crackle of blue-green energy and then Bucky suddenly exploded into the room, covering everything with a layer of snow and frost. He crossed the room quickly, mounted the bed, and quickly took both mares into his embrace.

âœYouâre not sick at all,â Bon Bon whimpered as she snuffled.

âœBucky is too full of darkness,â Lyra explained weakly, her voice a halting screechy sound. âœBucky is darknessââ she added in an almost inaudible whisper.

âœI didnât get sick like the others,â Bucky replied as he pulled them both close. âœIs Harper okay?â he inquired.

âœSheâs okay I think,â Bon Bon whispered in a raspy voice.

Lyra settled into Buckyâs embrace, feeling safe and secure between him and Bon Bon. The horrors in Lyraâs mind began to subside. Lyra came to a terrible conclusion; Bucky was far more terrible than anything that lurked in the dark and she had his love. For a brief moment, she pitied whatever lurked under the mountain, but the feeling died and all she could feel was loathing. âœHold me Bucky,â Lyra begged.

âœLyra Heartstrings, I have you,â Bucky soothed, whispering into the mareâs ear. He could feel Lyra shivering, and couldnât tell the cause. It could be the fear or the layer of frost and snow in the room. It was an intimate embrace, he practically wore Lyra like a second skin, and had he been aware of the horror that lurked deep within the hidden and long forgotten recesses in Lyraâs mind, he would have marveled at her trust of him. But Bucky knew very little of what Lyra had endured.

Bon Bon felt a rush of relief inspite of all of the horror; something had changed within Lyra, some barrier had been broken down, and Bon Bon was grateful that Lyra had finally let somepony else in. She felt that Lyraâs trust of Bucky was certainly a sign that Lyra was healing and getting better. She did not know or understand any of Lyraâs reasonings, all she saw was the end result. Had Bon Bon knew the truth as to why Lyra felt safe, she might have felt disturbed or at least alarmed.

The door opened and as it did so, Buckyâs horn flared a blue-green light. Derpy came through the door, she was struggling to walk but managing. On her back was Dinky, who did not look well. Behind her was Ripple, who was carrying PiÃa. Ripple looked as though she was going to fall over at any minute. Rising Star stumbled through the door with Loch Skimmer on his back and he stepped out of the way of the door as Sparkler staggered through the door as though she was drunk.

The herd of ponies shambled through the room, avoided the vomit puddle, and collapsed on the bed, forming a protective pile around the smallest of them all.

âœI donât know where Berry, Sentinel, or Thistle are, and I am worried,â Derpy gasped. âœI am so scared,â she whimpered.

âœBerry will be fine,â Bon Bon said in a wavering but reassuring voice. âœSheâs made of iron.â

âœThistle and Sentinel,â Derpy groaned. âœIâm going after them,â she announced. She made her way back up to her hooves, flared out her wings to keep her balance, and then shuffled off towards the door. âœRipple, watch my littlest ones. I am leaving them in your care,â Derpy groaned as she made her way to the door.

As Derpy neared the door, Berry Punch came into the door frame with Sentinel on her back. She didnât look well. She had clearly been sick.

âœI feel like Iâve been on a bender,â Berry growled. âœHold on Sentinel, lemme get you to the bed,â she added as she sidestepped Derpy and struggled to not trip over her own hooves.

âœIâll be back with Thistle,â Derpy said resolutely as she slipped through the door.

As Berry approached the bed, Sentinel blew hot chunks all over the floor and down Berryâs side. Berry paid no attention, clearly not bothered by the colt puking his guts out all over her. âœChange of plans,â Berry announced. âœWeâll just lay on the floor,â she stated as she moved away from the steaming puke puddle. She tumbled to the floor and then pulled Sentinel into her embrace, trying to comfort the visibly ill foal.

âœDinky, PiÃa, do either of you feel like you are going to be sick?â Bucky inquired.

âœIâve already tossed my cookies,â Dinky groaned.

PiÃa nodded and curled up into a huddled mass of misery, pressing herself against Ripple, who didnât look any better.

âœI donât understand what is going on,â Loch said.

âœDark magic,â Bucky said. âœStrong dark magic,â he added.

âœLyraâs lyre sounds so soothing,â Ripple moaned.

âœLoch, whistle for us,â Bucky requested.

âœI canât,â Loch protested.

âœLoch, we need you to whistle for us,â Rising Star begged.

âœWhistle a happy tune,â Lyra commanded. âœIt will help.â

Loch pursed her lips and tried to whistle, making only flatulent spitting sounds. She struggled for a bit, spitting and sputtering, until Rising Star kissed her with as much force and intensity as he could muster. And then, Loch found her song. The first warbling notes came forth and she struggled to find the music within her.

Her song did very little without the voices of nature to amplify it, but it did make her feel better. Loch could feel her own spirits lifting as she tried to push the darkness from her mind. She closed her eyes and tried to form a tune that harmonised with Lyraâs melody. She felt Sparkler embracing her and she could feel the music welling up within her. Loch found her strength and the darkness fled.

Surrounded by her herdmates, Lyra Heartstrings felt a sense of belonging. She nuzzled Bucky and Bon Bon, and then squeezed Harper a little closer to her heart. She had always had trouble connecting to other ponies, always felt distant. Now, something had changed. These were her ponies. Her herd. These were her foals, this was her husband, and these were her fellow-wives, and she knew that she was a part of them just as much as they were a part of her. Lyra in that moment understood Bucky perhaps better than any other pony in her herd. She knew exactly where he drew his immense strength from, his resolution, and his iron will.

Lyra resolved to be the sort of unicorn that her herd deserved. No more holding herself back. No more going half way. No more withholding herself mentally from their affections. It was time to destroy the barriers and let go. Lyra understood that just like Bucky, it was time for her to heal, and she resolved to make some changes.

Chapter 145

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The herd quietly recovered together, each pony clinging to somepony else. With each passing moment, they felt their strength recovering. A guard stopped by to check on them, and then he departed, not looking well himself. Bucky conjured water and they began to clean one another up as Bucky removed the mess from the floor.

Quite some time later the door opened and Derpy entered the room. She grunted with every step and Thistle was sprawled out limply on her back. In her mouth was a basket full of fish. Derpy made her way to the bed and then carefully eased Thistle off of her back and down onto the bed with the others. She set down the basket and shook herself, flaring out her wings and stretching them a bit.

âœSheâs worried about her foal,â Derpy said nervously, and it was clear from looking at the pegasus mareâs face that she was now worried about her own.

âœThe sickness is just a reaction to the dark magic,â Bucky said reassuringly as Bon Bon pulled Thistle close and began to rub the kelpie with her hooves. Thistle responded almost immediately, and as Bucky watched, seemed to perk up from Bon Bonâs touch. Buckyâs observations were all going into a vast mental file. The touch of earth ponies seemed to help ease off the effects of dark magic assaults among the many things the touch of an earth pony seemed capable of doing.

The strategic part of Buckyâs mind saw Bon Bon and Berry Punch as powerful assets.

The rest of Bucky loved them dearly and treasured earth ponies for their solid and dependable natures. Bon Bon and Berry were almost fully recovered while the others were still struggling to fend off nausea and trying to push the feeling of horror from their minds.

Using his magic, Bucky pulled Thistle into his embrace with Lyra, and the two mares clung to one another as he held them both. Bon Bon rubbed Thistleâs belly, which seemed to sooth Thistleâs fears.

âœDinkyâ I hate to ask youâ but I need you. Weâre not going to take this lying down. As soon as you feel as though you have recovered, you and I are going to communeâ and very bad things are going to happen…â Bucky said haltingly.

âœYouâre going to need me,â Lyra groaned. âœI think I can use some of my detection magicâ I can maybe detect shadowâ if we can find nearby densâ I know what you are planning to do. I have a perfect sense of direction once I want to find something,â she added in between heaving gasps. Her stomach was cramping and her teats were hurting. She felt too full of milk.

âœAn exchange of pleasantries seems appropriate,â Sentinel heaved as he pulled PiÃa closer to him. PiÃa was miserable and welcomed Sentinelâs embrace. He could feel her as she buried her face into his thick shaggy pelt.

âœCan we push past its defenses and into the Hydra Teeth?â Bucky asked.

âœMaybe. I hurt it Buckyâ it has been weakened now, whatever it is. I could feel it in my mind Buckyâ it was maleâ I thinkâ at one point but no longer. It has changed. Moved on. It felt so very wrong as it touched me,â Lyra replied.

âœDo you know where it is?â Bucky inquired in a low voice.

âœI think I do, and even if I donât, I could trace the spell back to its origins. It was careless Buckyâ it thought it could take me and make me kill Harper and Bon Bonâ hurt those I loveâ hurt you,â Lyra responded as she brushed her face up against Thistle.

Dinky, finally mustering up enough gumption to reply, sat up. Her eyes were red and bloodshot, and she looked like she hadnât slept in weeks. She wobbled as she sat up. She reached out with one hoof and placed it upon Sentinel to steady herself. âœWhatever it takes,â she moaned as she rubbed her head with her other hoof.

âœWhy isnât Bucky sick?â Thistle asked.

âœDark magic takes a contest of wills,â Lyra said weakly. âœDark magic is all about imposing your will upon another. Which is why it is useful against things like demons and other fell creatures. Certain very powerful entities can resist harmony magic, or are even immune to it, like very powerful demons. But hit them with dark magic and overcome their will to resist, and you can hurt them. You have to have a stronger will than they have,â she explained as she held Thistle.

âœI also suspect that Bucky is a bit darker than whatever is hiding in the mountains,â Berry said, stating exactly what was on her mind. Her comment was met with silence, and nopony responded. âœI dunno about the rest of you, but I appreciate Buckyâs darker parts. As an earth pony, I respect a pony willing to get his hooves dirty,â she said, breaking the silence she created. âœAnd things are going to get filthy,â Berry muttered as an afterthought spoken out loud.

âœI am well aware of Buckyâs darkness,â Derpy said in a low voice. âœI know what sort of magic he used to keep Dinky and PiÃa safe that day in Ponyville. But Iâd like to focus on Buckyâs happiness, he deserves it,â the pegasus added.

âœAs much as I donât want any part of this, if Bucky is going to strike back, then I am going to be a part of it. We started this together and I will see this through to its end,â Sparkler said as she lifted her head away from the bed. âœI donât have much to contribute other than the presence of my mind,â she offered.

âœIâm in this as wellââ Rising Star announced.

âœGet yourselves together then. Weâll need to eat something first. And then we are going to do terrible things,â Bucky said in a cold voice as he held both Lyra and Thistle. He kissed them both, and then reached down to stroke Thistleâs belly.

Five unicorns gathered in the grass and settled down together. They were all quiet and solemn. A short distance away, a group of other ponies had gathered to watch over them, including a very nervous and upset Keg Smasher. Thrasher, Keg Smasherâs loyal assistant was beside him, while Wrecker glanced around nervously, not liking the direction things had gone. A group of mostly earth pony mares sat around Wrecker, each of them looking quite sour.

Some of the unicorns from the mainland were watching, all of them quite frantic, none of them had ever experienced anything like this, they had already heard rumours about what Bucky was capable of, and of the things he had done. The tales of the undead walking the earth had unnerved them.

A very large griffon sat nearby, carefully sharpening his beak with a stone and filing the tips of his claws into points. He was every bit as massive as Keg Smasher and he was terrifying to look at. Beside him sat a tiny pegasus filly that he occasionally stroked affectionately, consoling the still upset foal. Several of the more frightened shipwreck survivors sat close to the griffon, looking befuddled and confused. They had endured so much tragedy already and this only made things worse.

Sour Mash and Deadspin stood guard together, watching over their brigades. Keg Smasher had given the order to expect anything, and there were terrified whispers that an army of the undead would descend upon them at any moment, so the guard was out in force. The two brigades intermingled and the stallions and mares watched over one another protectively, forming tight ranks together. Standing shoulder to shoulder, the mares held the line with the stallions, the first regiment of its kind for centuries, as even in mainland Equestria the guard were all male. They were clustered tightly around the rest of Buckyâs family, a fortress of flesh and fury.

Bucky looked at his group of unicorns and his expression grew grim. âœWe are about to do bad things for the right reasons. I donât know if I have prepared you enough for this. I hope that I have, but I am worried. Weâre about to do the sorts of things that there might be more consequences for when we go homeâ and after giving it a lot of thought, I am not sure that I can ask you to do this. So I am telling you now, if you want to back out, do so. Lyra and I are committed to this course of action. She and I have a means to return fire so to speak, and Dinky, I am not sure I want you to endure thisâ or either of you for that matter,â Bucky said to his group.

âœDonât you dare send me away!â Dinky snarled. âœHe made PiÃa sickâ I want blood!â

Bucky closed his remaining eye and lowered his head, saddened to see such a change come over Dinky. âœI figured that is how youâd feel.â

âœIf I donât have a future at home, I have a future here,â Rising Star said. âœSo I fear nothing. I have my wives and I donât need anything else.â

Sparkler leaned over and kissed Rising Star affectionately before speaking her mind. She cleared her throat and then she looked at Bucky. âœHeâs right. We can always choose exile. I could spend the rest of my life here if I have to. Iâd like to go home, but really, home is wherever my herd gathers,â she said in a raspy emotional voice.

Lyra looked over at Bon Bon, who was difficult to see because she was surrounded by the guard. She tried to see Berry Punch, who she knew was looking after Harper. She really wanted to see Harper, but the little foal was not visible. She gulped, finding it hard to swallow, and tried to crush down her rising feeling of panic. Now was not the time for panic, she needed to do her part for her herd. Every pony had a part, some function in the herd, and she understood that her role was very much the same as Buckyâs, to defend them from the threats they had no means to fight.

âœA unicorn to light my way, a pegasus to watch over me, and an earth pony to shoulder my heavy burdens,â Bucky said mostly to himself in a low whisper. He knew that Sentinel prayed to Luna by speaking to her moon, other ponies prayed to the sun, Bucky himself had never been much for prayer, but now found himself in an odd position where he felt the need to say something. He thought about looking up at the sun to say something for a moment, but halted when he realised how much it would burn his eye. He had forgotten his goggles in the chaos. No, he no longer belonged in the sun, and he wasnât sure how Celestia was going to deal with him after everything he had done. Exile was certainly an option, if he was lucky.

In the end, Bucky could only think of one pony he could talk to that would understand. âœSombra,â he muttered to himself. âœI hope I am worthy as your heir. I hope my enemies piss themselves when they hear my name,â he grumbled. Bucky pondered on the ridiculousness of it all. Nopony would ever be scared of a name like Bucky he thought to himself. A brief mad sounding maniacal laugh spilled from Buckyâs lips, which turned into a frightful cackle as Bucky reflected upon the insanity of the situation.

âœBuckyâ youâre scaring me,â Lyra warned. âœYou know what they say about cackling and our kindââ

Sparkler shivered suddenly without understanding why.

âœLetâs do this,â Bucky said as he lifted his head. âœNo turning back now, let it be known that when it came down to moral purity or fighting to win, I chose to go to Tartarus,â he growled.

The crowd watched, most of them not understanding what was going on. Bucky hovered in place, now high above the ground, and four unicorns moved in orbit around him. They were all connected by shimmering ribbons of raw magic. Buckyâs horn burned with black fire, as did Lyraâs, while the other three were ignited with harmonious auras.

Many in the crowd grew skittish, instinctually fearful of dark magic. They huddled together and sought comfort with one another.

Derpy watched, her heart in her throat, she had seen powerful magical displays before, like when they had built the tower, but this felt wrong somehow. She clung to Berry Punch and Thistle, and she could feel Bon Bon hugging her from behind. Derpy leaned back into Bon Bonâs embrace.

And then, the pegasus mare felt her heart break. As she watched, Dinkyâs magical aura changed, going from her usual purple colour to a frightening black glow as black flames wreathed her horn. She cried out a wordless cry, a mournful sound that only a mother could make, and she felt Bon Bonâs grip tighten upon her. She clenched her eyes shut, unable to look any longer. She did not see Dinky open her eyes, which were now glowing a baleful shade of crimson and the whites filled with a pestilent shade of noxious green. She did not see that Dinkyâs face was filled with ecstatic gleeful hatred. Thankfully, Derpy was spared this terrible sight.

The air crackled with raw energy and motes of raw magic floated around the coven of unicorns. The grass beneath them withered and died as they drew magic up from out of the earth.

Several ponies cried out in panic as the skies above them filled with a buzzing thrumming swarm of something. These were not bees, nor were they any sort of bug anypony might recognise. These were foul abominations, unnatural things, what had been conjured was corrupted and warped by powerful dark magic. What had been summoned could only be described as creeping death by those unlucky enough to have witnessed the birth of this Tartarus-spawned swarm.

The swarm grew larger and larger, becoming a seething black mass that buzzed over the coven of unicorns. The buzzing became a deafening roar and the swarm divided. Several masses flew off in all directions, with one mass heading right for the Hydra Teeth. Other smaller swarms headed off in other directions, each of them moving on an unerring course towards the hiding places of the hated wolves.

Dinky understood now what Sentinel meant when he said he could see in all directions while he was in shadow form. She was the swarm now. She was the collective, the hive mind, she was everything all at once. With Buckyâs will surging through her mind, Dinky became one with creeping death as it zoomed out in different directions. She could see everything all around her. She could see in all directions. Her swarm knew where to go, given direction by Lyraâs magical influence.

When part of the swarm hit the Hydra Teeth, Dinky felt resistance in her mind. Her vision from that section of the swarm dimmed, but did not die. Not this time. The nightmare insects flew into crags and canyons, followed trails of bones and rot, until they finally came to a dark crevasse.

The other swarms were finding the secret hiding places of the wolves. A den under the roots of some giant tree. Caves. An old abandoned stone cottage down in the cellar. The swarm struck, seeking flesh.

As her swarm entered the dark crack in the mountains, Dinkyâs vision broke, but her swarm endured. Even if she could not see them any more, she knew that they would do their job, going into the very heart of the darkness upon these isles.

In the other places, the swarm fell upon the sleeping wolves and began to gnaw upon flesh. The wolves awoke and began to thrash about, clawing and biting at themselves, trying to make the terrible nightmarish insects stop devouring them. Dinky could see and feel it all, and she reveled in her power. The wolves fled their dens, running out into the sunlight, and Dinky saw them burst into flames. Hundreds of wolves were dying and Dinky could see them all as they struggled. Her swarm began to wink out, each one of the nightmare insects was capable of only a few bites or stings before vanishing, going back into the aether, returning from wherever they had been conjured from. Dinky understood that the nightmarish insects came from another place, a place where the wicked were punished.

Tartarus. The word loomed in Dinkyâs thoughts.

It was the last thing Dinky thought about before her mind went blank and she slipped off into comfortable warm darkness.

Chapter 146

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Derpy settled over her foals and family, spreading her wings and trying to touch all of them at once. Lyra was sleeping, as was Bon Bon. Dinky and PiÃa were cuddled together, both asleep, and Sentinel was in the straw with Harper. Rising Star and Sparkler held one another as they slumbered. On the sofa, a short distance away, Loch Skimmer was fidgeting nervously and kept eyeing the bed as she clung to Thistle. Ripple was beside Derpy, doing her best to mimic the larger pegasus.

Once again, the pegasus mare felt broody. She wanted all of her family in one place, and some were missing. Berry Punch had returned to the kitchens, determined to get more work done, and Bucky had gone off after eating most of the fish from the basket. Derpy supposed that Bucky must be building up some kind of magical endurance. He was pushing himself for longer and longer. He had said that there was simply too much to get done now that the pleasantries had been exchanged.

âœThis feels kinda nice,â Ripple admitted as she settled her body over Bon Bon and Lyra, sliding into place into the narrow gap that existed between the two bodies below her. âœI like this. It feelsâ satisfying,â she added.

âœYes it does,â Derpy said softly. She leaned over and kissed the filly just below her ear in appreciation, and then snoot-bumped her when Ripple turned to look at her.

âœRight now I feel like I could fight bearsâ I donât feel scared anymore,â Ripple said as she continued to settle over those she loved. She fluffed out her wings to make herself look larger than she really was and her ears perked forwards aggressively, the small filly trying to copy the larger pegasus mareâs body posture. âœI could totally take a bear,â the filly growled.

âœIf we ever encounter a bear, Iâll go for the groin, you go for the eyes,â Derpy instructed, feeling pleased that she had a little pegasus that wanted to learn her ways. She struggled to push all of the terrible thoughts from her mind and focus on what was important. Her family.

âœWhy does this feel so soothing?â Ripple inquired.

The older pegasus mare shrugged. âœI dunno.â

âœI kinda want to fluff myself out and then go and lay on Harper,â Ripple whispered.

âœSo do I,â Derpy admitted. âœBut she is safe with Sentinel. Heâs a pegasus too, and I think heâll turn out like us,â she added as she adjusted a hind leg to a slightly more comfortable position.

âœMy mothers never did anything like this,â Ripple said in a low voice.

âœNo?â Derpy replied in form of a question.

âœThey piled us together and then one stood watch usually a short distance away. I have really hazy memories of being piled into the grass and watching the grownups fishing,â Ripple answered.

âœNot all pegasi are like us. Some are watchers, some are brooders. Watchers make good guards. You need both in a herd,â Derpy explained.

There was a soft rap on the door and both brooding pegasi turned their heads sharply. It was perhaps one of the most terrifying responses ever in nature, an almost perfectly smooth mechanical movement that was known to unnerve things like dragons and large apex predators.

It was Loch that eased herself from the couch and hobbled on three legs to get the door. She opened it slowly, and there was a low stereo growl from the two pegasi on the bed.

In the doorway was a guard, a giant griffon, and on the griffonâs back was a tiny pegasus filly. Loch smiled at the filly and then stared upwards at the griffon.

âœMatriarch, please forgive my intrusion,â the guard said in a stiff voice. âœBut your services are needed,â he explained.

âœMy name is Lugusâ and I am told that there is no safer place for foals than in this room. I am in need of a guardian. This filly, I do not know her name, I plucked her from her motherâs grasp after the shipwreck. I had quite a few foals already and could not save both her and her mother. I promised the mother to look after the filly before she slipped beneath the waves. I need a place to leave her for a while while I go and hunt the wolves,â Lugus said, introducing himself and explaining his needs. âœI have to know that she is safeâ it is a matter of honour. I gave my word. I do hope you understand, but I cannot leave her care and safety to just anyone.â

âœLord Bitters displayed several den locations on a map. Weâre going to root out survivors and strike while there is daylight. We plan to pour bog oil down into the dens and then set them on fire,â the guard mentioned.

âœAnd I am going along because I am honour bound to be gracious and helpful to those that offer me hospitality,â the giant griffon added.

âœWe can look after the foal,â Loch said as she cast a glance at Derpy.

âœShe talks a little bit. I think she is about a half a year old. I am not sure,â Lugus said in a worried voice. âœI have to feed her by claw. She hasnât figured out how to feed herself just yet. She keeps asking for her motherââ

âœAw, poor thing,â Loch Skimmer gushed.

âœOnce I am done turning wolves into fertiliser, I will return for her and be indebted to you for your graciousness,â Lugus stated.

âœWe will watch over her,â Derpy said in a warm inviting voice. âœYou may bring her in.â

Lugus entered the room slowly, well aware that even though he was invited, there was not one, but two brooding pegasi upon the bed and several of the most powerful unicorns he had ever seen in his existence. Sudden movements would be suicidal and foolish, and he was a griffon that wanted to live for a very long time.

He approached the bed with his head held low and kept his claws from clicking on the floor. When he stood near the bed, he shimmied, slipping the foal from his back, and he let her slide down his wing. She landed on the bed and bounced.

The smaller of the two pegasi moved with blinding speed, snatching up the foal in her forelegs and pulling her close. The larger of the pair looked disappointed, and Lugus swallowed his chuckle.

âœI thank you,â Lugus said graciously as he backed away from the bed and approached the door tail first. He carefully made his way out the door and then waved goodbye to the foal.

âœStay safe,â Loch Skimmer said. âœPlease come back in one piece,â she begged.

âœI will do my best maâam,â Lugus promised.

Loch Skimmer waved politely as the pair departed and then shut the door. âœI donât understand why so many ponies hate griffons,â she muttered.

The last of the chains needed was now finished. The net was done. The chains would need to be secured to the ship and to the net, afterwards, the gasbag would need to be filled. The Scorned Mare would be airborne in just a few more days.

Bucky felt a gentle prodding by Crush and he smiled up at the big earth pony. Crush pointed at the wall where new diagrams had been drawn. Bucky, went to the wall, looked at the diagrams, and began to nod. The new design was different, and Bucky felt it was improved. His tail would be tucked into a long faux tail that extended from the body.

âœThe helmet designâ I am not sure about it, but I get the sentiment,â Bucky said in apprehension. The new helmet design was lupine. There was something vaguely wolf-like about its shape and features.

Crush shrugged and then nodded at one of his assistants, and the assistant cringed.

âœIf we go with an animal motif, I say we go with dragon,â Bucky suggested.

Crush stared at his cringing assistant with narrowed eyes and raised one eyebrow, which caused the assistant to whimper.

âœYou suggested dragon didnât you?â Bucky asked.

Crush nodded.

âœI would have loved to see you pantomiming a dragon,â Bucky said with a wicked grin. âœMake the tail a bit longer and a bit more dragon like. I can use it as a weapon by whipping my body around.â

Crushâs eyes went wide and he nodded, looking very thoughtful as he did so. The big earth pony went to the wall, picked up the charcoal stick in his mouth, and carefully scribbled claws onto the design.

âœI like thoseâ I like those a lotââ Bucky breathed. âœSo, serpentine body, dragon-like helm, claws, and a somewhat long tail that I can use as a weapon. Good thing I am skinny as I am, I can pull this look off. Iâll look like an earth dragon or a big scary looking lizard. Claws are good, but no spikes or blades on the armor. Iâll need to stand near my fellow ponies without injuring them,â the unicorn instructed.

Crush pointed at Buckyâs horn and looked very concerned. His ears splayed out sideways on his head.

âœYes, the armor will be powered by magic. I assure you, I will be able to walk around in it. It will be very light once I am done enchanting it,â Bucky said reassuringly. âœMagical actuators and motivators will do all of the effort for me. All I will have to do is think about walking like I usually do and the armor will move under its own influence. So even if I am injured somehow inside of this, my armor will carry me back to safety,â he explained yet again, trying to comfort the overly protective and concerned earth pony.

Crush moved forward and gently patted the little unicorn.

âœI swear, youâre just as bad as some of my wives, worrying about if I will be safe,â Bucky grumbled. âœEarth ponies,â he grunted.

The big earth pony scowled and lifted his head high. He glowered down at Bucky, and extending his hoof, reached out and touched the withered side of Buckyâs face, followed by a gesture encompassing Buckyâs body. The mute pony made a faint annoyed grunt. Crush then touched his own throat, tilting his head back to expose every line of scarring.

âœYes I know how dangerous they areâ I will not allow the same mistake to happen twice,â Bucky promised. âœAnd saying that I might be injured was only in theory. I donât see how anything will be able to hurt me,â he continued.

Crush sat down on the floor and swept Bucky up in a bone bruising embrace, smashing the smaller unicorn to his barrel as though Bucky was a foal. By size comparison, Bucky was a foal. Bucky squirmed and protested, all too aware of the looks he was getting from Crushâs assistants.

Bucky secured the last of the chains to the long anchor bolts on The Scorned Mare, teleporting the links into the round steel eyelets. He began to secure the large steel rings to the net that would secure the chains to the netting that held the gasbag in place. Once he was finished, he teleported the chain links and formed a connection with the steel rings. The connections now secure, all that was left was to slip the gasbag into place once it was full and the ship would rise.

He was tired, rapidly approaching the point of total fatigue, and felt as though he hadnât eaten in days. His stomach growled painfully and he ignored it as best as he could. The events of the day troubled him greatly, and part of his mind wondered if he had done the right thing. Did the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few? He had intentionally channeled dark magic through Dinky and corrupted her talent into something terrible and perverse. He had channeled himself through Dinkyâs talent and had made her function as though she was a type four.

This is why I created the alicorn amulet Sombraâs memories seemed to say to him as certain thoughts flooded into his mind. Certain talents become extremely useful when pushed to the next level. Bucky paused and mentally reflected upon the idea of what he could do with such an artifact. He shuddered and forced the unwanted thoughts from his mind, and tried not to think about how he could in fact create such an artifact himself now. With a shadow battery, an ethereal bridge, and an artifact of focusing, he would be unstoppable. He wouldnât need to commune with the others to get things done. He could go out alone, and bear this terrible burden all by his lonesome, saving others from the torment of doing what must be done.

Bucky scowled, not liking his thoughts.

Chapter 147

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It wouldnât be too much longer before dinner, and Bucky was in the dining hall drinking with several other ponies that he considered his friends. It was an odd situation for Bucky, realising that he had friends that he deeply cared about and felt concern for, ponies that were not his family members, and the odd thoughts about the situation lingered in the back of his mind. He thought of Thunderlane and wondered if he and Thunderlane were friends. Thunderlane had abducted him before the wedding. Thunderlane had walked with him as Bucky accepted his fate and the pegasus had moved him along. Bucky realised that he missed Thunderlane. While Bucky had developed a fine appreciation for earth ponies, he realised that he treasured the loyalty of the pegasi that he knew.

Keg Smasher was a motivated drinker, the big pegasus spared not a drop trying to kill his own pain. Things had changed between Keg Smasher and Bucky. Over the course of the past few days, the two seemed to have become as close as brothers, which felt odd for Bucky, because Bucky had no siblings and he had no idea what being brothers meant.

Wrecker had joined them at the table, drinking slowly and saying very little. Bucky had no doubt that Wrecker was doing what he had always done in these situations. Take notes. Alcohol loosened lips.

Deadspin and Sour Mash leaned on one another as they drank. Both of them looked fatigued but happy. Deadspin had his wing protectively around Sour Mash and the earth ponyâs eyes darted back and forth as she drank, surveying the dining hall.

âœI still cannae believe that you threatened to kill me,â Keg Smasher grumbled to Deadspin. âœThreatening your Laird. Saying youâd end meâ you should be drawn and quartered.â

Deadspin looked down guiltily into his own drink and his body posture became rather meek and submissive as he leaned even closer to Sour Mash. âœA thousand pardons sirâ but you did just threaten Sour-â

âœYou flea ridden featherbrained oaf, of course I threatened her! I wanted to see how youâd react! And how sheâd react! Yer not the yellowest bit oâ corn in the turd Deadspin! I worry about you sometimes,â Keg Smasher snarled.

Bucky nearly spewed out his beer that he was drinking when Keg Smasher made his comment. He struggled to swallow slowly, taking down little amounts of what was his in mouth, unable to take it all down at once lest he choke.

Berry Punch emerged through the doors and then joined the group, sitting down beside Bucky. She eyed Buckyâs beer but did not steal it, instead, she stared forlornly at the mug and looked sad as she rubbed her stomach.

âœSour Mash and I are cousins,â Berry announced, still stroking her stomach.

Sour Mash nodded and lifted a mug, her hoof jammed through the loop on the side.

âœWhat?â Bucky asked.

âœWe both come from a pony named Rye Mash, the infamous sky pirate and notorious shotgun rapist,â Berry replied.

This time, Bucky did choke, and Berry had to clap him on the back to get him breathing again. Berry pounded several times until Bucky finally drew in a heaving strangled gasp.

âœRye Mash had a thing about teleporting a shotgun full of nails behind his enemies and letting them have it,â Berry Punch said proudly.

Keg Smasher looked a bit queasy from hearing Berry Punchâs words and he lifted his mug slowly in his remaining wing. âœThatâs awful,â he grumbled before taking a drink.

âœShotgun rapist,â Wrecker muttered. He winced and shuddered.

âœBerry Punch and I had a chance to talk for a bit, it is good to meet family members and get to know them,â Sour Mash said as she pulled Deadspin a little closer to her.

âœBut I never did find out how you managed to learn how to fightââ Berry said open endedly as she gave a pointed look at Sour Mash.

âœFunny storyâ my best friend Bunny and I, sheâs also an earth pony, we were talking about losing our husbands and how rotten life was. We were feeling sorry for ourselves and complaining that we had no futures. So I said to Bunny that the only future we have is the one we make for ourselves, and Bunny argued that the only future we have is the one our future husbands offer usâ and then we sort of fell into one of those awkward silences that friends can have,â Sour Mash said as she waved her mug around for emphasis.

Deadspin scowled a bit âœI hope I am not that sort of husband,â he muttered.

âœAw, yer sweet,â Sour Mash replied as she nudged Deadspin. âœSo anyways, we were sitting in this terrible silence and finally I says to Bunny, âœI want you to buck me as hard as you can,â and she just sort of looks at me funny, so I slap her around a bit, goading her on, and finally I told her that she was called Bunny because all she was good for was squirting out foals, and so she clobbers me right in the mouth and knocks out my tooth. We had ourselves a scuffle. Turns out, the scuffle both made us feel better, and we spent several days nursing each other back to health. We really messed each other up. But we realised we could fight, and we learned that we were really good friends,â she explained.

âœFriendship is hooficuffs,â Bucky said as he took a drink of beer.

âœDamn straight it is,â Sour Mash replied. âœSo we went out and we started making more friends. We took broken battered mares and we punched and pounded on them like the blacksmith does iron until all that was left was hard gristle and a womb. Our ranks grew. And we had our little secret club with one another. We made a few rules. We decided we were going to make our own future and take what we wanted from life and that nopony was going to stop us.â

âœLad, you done messed up,â Keg Smasher grumbled to Deadspin.

âœI like my maresâ feisty and combative. It makes certain activitiesâ more enjoyable,â Lord Wrecker interjected. âœSour Mash seems like a rare prize.â

âœAw, thanks your lordship,â Sour Mash said as she blushed.

âœI have to askâ but did you jump my sweet little Ripple into your club?â Bucky inquired.

âœWe triedâ yer sweet little Ripple took apart one of our biggest bruisers, but yeah, sheâs one of us,â Sour Mash replied. She eyed Bucky carefully and then took a long drink.

âœOh stars, Derpy is gonnaâ I dunno if she is going to be proud and start strutting or if she is going to be out for your blood,â Berry said in a worried voice.

âœIf any of you ladies want a real scuffle, ask Buckminsterâs matriarch to give you a punch to the face,â Keg Smasher grunted. âœNever in my life have I been hit so hard. And Iâve been clobbered by bears and once picked a fight with a manticore.â

âœIâm going to make historyâ I am going to take alehouse brawlers and give them actual military training. And then Iâll have my troops learn alehouse brawling. And I am going to have tough little foals,â Deadspin muttered mostly to himself. He turned his head and focused the eye that was not swollen shut on Sour Mash, giving her a longing lusty look. âœMmm, makinâ foals,â he moaned.

âœLater, I am gonna make you submit to me again,â Sour Mash promised, giving Deadspin a kiss on the cheek.

âœLook at you bothâ you just beat the stuffing out of each other and now you are in love,â Bucky said as he pulled Berry Punch close to him.

âœI think thereâs some love in the ranks too,â Deadspin reported.

âœOh and Lord Bitters, I do believe we can bring in four times our number. Iâve put out a call,â Sour Mash said to Bucky. âœSo youâd better get ready to be our patron.â

âœIâm looking forward to it,â Bucky said.

Lyra buried her face into Buckyâs neck and continued to cry as she clutched him. She could feel Bon Bon pressed up against her back, and Bon Bon had her strong forelegs around both Lyra and Bucky.

It was late, approaching midnight, and the others were now asleep.

As Lyra continued to let out her grief, Bucky thought about the events of the day. Mostly, he just felt numb inside. Earlier, before she had gone to bed, Bucky had held Dinky, who had tearfully confessed that she never wanted to use dark magic ever again and had complained that her mind felt dirty now. Dinky had been a twitching neurotic mess, complaining that she could feel bugs under her skin crawling around and it had been Derpy that had actually given the filly a jigger of whiskey to calm her down and make her settle. Dinkyâs constant twitching had been unbearable to watch.

There were no other sedatives upon the isles.

The fight had started now in earnest, and there had been casualties. Bucky wondered how far he would have to go to win this. He thought of his earlier musings about going at it alone and cursed his foolishness. He began to wonder about acceptable losses and then the dreadful thought came into his mind. Was Dinky an acceptable loss? Bucky didnât know. As Lyra continued to soak his pelt with tears, Bucky quietly seethed with inner fury.

This was another night of lost efforts, with everypony too tuckered out to make more spell jars. His carefully made plans were falling behind. Bucky could feel his control over the situation slipping. He gently lifted Lyra in his embrace, pulling her head up closer to his. He gently kissed her on both cheeks and then pulled her head down to his shoulder. He could taste the salt on his lips. A moment later, he felt Bon Bon kiss him from his blind side on the corner of his mouth, where he still had some sensation left.

âœIt feels nice to be held by a male and not have to worry about his expectations,â Lyra said in a shuddering strained voice. âœSomething about how you smell is comforting,â she admitted.

âœI would never hurt you Lyra,â Bucky promised.

âœI know that now,â Lyra replied in a halting whisper. âœI like how you smellââ

Bon Bon stroked Lyraâs mane softly as she smiled sadly. âœSilly Lyra,â she murmured.

âœYou smell like smoke and fireâ and maybe a bit of beer. There is a sweaty smell. It is a very masculine smell and part of me says I should be terrified by it, but right now, I just feel safe,â Lyra explained as her tears flowed but her sobs subsided.

âœThese wretched isles donât have much in the way of perfume or scented soaps. The soap we had in the trunk is already almost gone. I suppose we all smell a bit moreâ earthy,â Bon Bon whispered into Lyraâs ear.

âœWe smell like poniesâ not softly scented lies,â Lyra replied to Bon Bon.

âœI bet the isles smell a bit more like piss after what we did today,â Bucky stated bluntly. âœI mean, between the ponies watching us and the wolves getting that wake up call, I bet there was a lot of failed bladders.â

âœBucky, you are terribleâ and I think I love you because of it,â Lyra responded.

âœI give up,â Bon Bon grumbled in exasperation.

âœHuh?â Bucky grunted.

âœYou and Lyra bothâ your jokesâ with everything going on,â Bon Bon whispered. âœBoth of you are awful. You deserve each other.â The earth pony squirmed and her face contorted in annoyance. âœI donât even want to think what your foals are going to be like, it just disturbs me to think about it,â she groused.

âœIâd like to have a little colt I think. And I hope heâll be like Bucky,â Lyra said as she snuggled closer.

âœThat might be nice,â Bon Bon said.

Bucky thought about the dark things he had been doing lately, and he wasnât sure he agreed with Lyra. He said nothing though, and continued to hold the unicorn close to him. Tears were still falling, but her uncontrollable sobs seemed to be gone.

âœWeâve all been pushed to our very limits,â Bon Bon said in a low pained voice. âœI donât know what to make of it. I used to know what was right and wrong. There was a very clear line drawn and I knew which side of that line I stood on. Now? I am not even sure if there is a line and if there was, I donât know which side I would be on. Iâve sat back and done nothing as Iâve allowed terrible things to go on around me, because I reached a point where I actually believed they were necessary. Today, I watched a foal use dark magic and I didnât know how to feel. Nothing makes sense anymore,â the earth pony lamented. âœI am sorry for letting all of this out all of a suddenâ I couldnât hold it in anymore.â

Bucky took a deep breath and let it out slowly. As much as it might be needed, tonight there would be very little sleep for him.

Chapter 148

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Bucky sat upon the deck of The Scorned Mare and surveyed everything beneath him. The ship was tethered to a tower of the castle, and Bucky would have had quite a view from this height had he been able to see anything in the bright light. In the mid-morning sun, the first ever Sisterhooves Social was taking place. The ponies below him were happy. Joyous. Even in these troubling times. Bucky found that he could not join them. Every squeal, every excited shriek, every loud exclamation from a happy foal nearly sent him into a panic, made his muscles tense, and made his horn ignite reflexively. He sat in solitude, feeling very alone. He remembered a time when solitude did not bother him.

This was the price he was going to have to pay for keeping his ponies safe.

He lay down upon the smooth wood and looked down, understanding all too well Sombraâs pain, stuck on the outside looking in. He wanted to be with them, but he didnât feel they were safe with him nearby.

Later today, he would take Thistle as his wife. He felt guilty. He hadnât been giving Thistle the time that she deserved with him. He hoped to make it up to her this evening. He thought about how nervous he had been when he had married Derpy and Berry. How afraid he had been. He had no fear of claiming Thistle as his, just a sense of sadness that he hadnât given her the romantic courtship that she deserved. The past few days, he hadnât really given anypony the time they all deserved. He had been working non stop getting the The Scorned Mare airborne and trying to catch up on much needed spell jars. He hadnât been sleeping well. And when he had slept, his dreams had been troubling.

The dream of being an alicorn was a nightmare for Bucky, but he supposed that many ponies dreamed of becoming one. In his most recent dream, he had watched helplessly as his alicorn self had ruthlessly killed Cadance, destroying the last bit of love and hope in the world, condemning the world to darkness and death. All hope had died with Cadance.

Bucky pushed the troubling recollection from his mind and tried to think of other things. As he lay there with his head hanging over the edge and cringing to himself, he heard the flutter of wings from behind him. He really wasnât in the mood for company at the moment and he wasnât sure what to do about his visitor. He had come up here to be alone and gather his thoughts.

Or perhaps to wallow in his own guilt and misery.

He heard the unusual and distinctive three legged tromping of Loch Skimmer and sighed. He heard the filly come up beside him on his blind side, then she laid down beside him, scooting herself up against his side, and then she covered him with her wing.

âœYou slipped away. Everypony thought you might need your space. But I had to check on you,â Loch Skimmer said in a soft soothing voice.

âœIâm fine,â Bucky replied.

âœYer a liar,â Loch Skimmer retorted, her annoyance causing her accent to become rather thick. Not knowing what else to do, Loch Skimmer leaned over and kissed Bucky on his withered cheek softly. âœAnything in that jug?â she inquired.

âœYeah, but I havenât been in it yet,â Bucky answered.

The pegasus filly smacked her lips and eyed the jug. âœYou shouldnât drink alone,â Loch Skimmer said in a playful voice. âœSo why are you up here?â

âœI had to get away from the sounds Loch. The squealing. The shrieking. Squeaks. It makes all my muscles tense and I panic Loch. Iâ I donât know what is wrong with me and I have trouble being around those sounds now. I canât be happy with them today,â Bucky answered with total honesty.

The pegasus filly looked crestfallen and she leaned her head over, pressing her ear up against Buckyâs neck. âœIâm sorryâ that sounds awful,â Loch said apologetically.

âœAnd this guilt is eating me aliveâ Dinky can still feel bugs crawling under her skin. She wanted to do it, I wanted to hurt my enemy, and I think I made a terrible lapse in judgment using Dinkyâs talent in the way I did,â Bucky confessed.

âœDinky is doing a little better,â Loch Skimmer said in a comforting tone. âœThey listened to youâ even though Derpy really wants to hold Dinky, Berry has been with Dinky and stroking her, and Dinky is doing a little better. You were right, there is something about the touch of earth ponies.â

âœI still feel like I screwed up,â Bucky stated.

âœWe are in the middle of some great conflict that I can barely understand. And everypony is doing their part. Everypony is suffering in some way. Dinky gave all she had to give, and Iâve talked to her. She doesnât regret doing what sheâs done, even though she never wants to do it again. Dinky got the revenge she wanted for whatever it was hurting her family. And now that sheâs had a taste of revenge, sheâs decided that it isnât something she likes. So maybe some good will come out of this later, when sheâs older. Dinkyâs a good foal,â Loch Skimmer said to Bucky, trying to make him feel better.

âœThanks Loch, that actually eases my mind a bitââ Bucky responded in a pained voice.

âœEven Rising Star is different now,â Loch admitted. âœHeâs changed from when I first met him. Iâve slowly become aware of it and Iâve watched the change take place.â

âœHow so? How is he different now?â Bucky asked.

âœHeâs possessiveâ Iâve seen him. When other males look at me, Sparky, or Ripple, he gets the same look in his eye that he does when he wants to burn something,â Loch replied.

âœThatâs awfulââ Bucky whispered. âœIâm sorry.â

âœWhy be sorry? I like it. It makes me feel safe. I trust you. I trust Rising. I trust no other males. And I feel better knowing that me and Ripple are watched over by a possessive pyromancer that will do anything to keep us feeling safe and happy,â Loch Skimmer said in a smooth soothing voice. âœAnd you. I feel bad for saying what I said and leaving you out. Youâve done so much for my me and my sister.â

Bucky peered down at the ponies below him and wished that he knew what to say to Loch Skimmer after she had bared her soul to him. He thought of how possessive dragons were, how protective they could be of their treasured hoard, but the only thing that came out was a soft grunt, which wasnât helpful or meaningful at all.

âœLooks like ponies have finished the race where they have their front legs tied together,â Loch commented.

âœThe seven legged race? Who won? I was looking, but I wasnât paying attention,â Bucky said in reply.

âœYou also forgot those black glass goggles of yours, so you probably couldnât see,â Loch teased. âœI am not sure who won, I didnât see,â she added.

âœYou should be down there with them,â Bucky said as he squinted down below him, trying to make out what was going on.

âœI like getting a few moments alone with you,â Loch said. âœA girl wants to spend time with her father.â

Bucky choked. He felt his throat close suddenly and he struggled to draw in air. The restriction ended just as suddenly as it had started and he sucked in a painful burning lungful of air, wheezing loudly as he tried to breathe.

âœBucky, take a deep breath,â Loch said in concern. âœCome on, letâs crack that jug open and we'll both have a drink together.â

âœDinks, love, you donât look well. Do you want to be away from the crowd?â Derpy asked her suffering foal.

âœIâm okayâ I can feel the bugsâ but I want to be here for PiÃaâ still feel the bugs,â Dinky replied in a low halting voice.

Berry cuddled Dinky a little closer and rubbed her hoof along Dinkyâs spine. âœYou did a good thing Dinky, you helped a lot of ponies. This is the sort of burden that your father has tried to prepare you for. You killed so many wolves. The soldiers are having trouble counting all of the bodies. Youâve saved so many lives with what you have done and think about how few howls have been heard lately, how warm last night was. Youâve made so many lives so much better,â Berry said comfortingly.

âœI donât regret what Iâve doneâ but I never want to use dark magic ever againâ just like daddy never wants to hurt another pony ever againâ bugsâ so many bugs,â Dinky murmured as she continued to squirm. She scraped her forehooves over her ribs and tried to squash the things she could feel creeping just under her flesh.

âœIt makes me happy to hear you say that,â Derpy said to her foal as she leaned down and kissed Dinky on the ear.

âœPiÃa and Ripple came in second in the seven legged race,â Thistle reported.

âœThink they will do well in the pie eating contest?â Derpy asked.

âœWell, youâve seen how PiÃa eats. Too bad Dinky couldnât have joined in. We could have had Dinky and Sparkler use some magic and work up a unicorn appetite, and they would have won without trying,â Berry said as she continued to stroke Dinky.

âœThatâs cheating!â Thistle blurted out.

âœThistle, sweet innocent Thistleâ how are you feeling about tonight Thistle?â Berry inquired with a wry grin.

âœOhâ Iâ wellâ Iââ Thistle stammered as she began to blush.

âœSomepony is nervous,â Derpy said with the faintest smile upon her lips.

âœWell of course I am nervousâ I donât want to disappoint himâ or youââ Thistle replied to Derpy.

âœOh, you wonât need to worry about that. Iâm sure heâll be far more worried about disappointing you. Buckyâs a giver,â Berry interjected.

âœHeâs sweet,â Derpy said as she closed her eyes and thought about Bucky.

âœSorry I stumbled,â PiÃa said to Ripple.

âœHey, I did too, so no worries,â Ripple responded to her smaller sibling.

âœWe only came in second,â PiÃa grumbled.

âœSo what? Weâre having funâ and look at all of the other ponies around us. Theyâve never experienced anything like this before. Look how happy they are,â Ripple said, trying to cheer PiÃa up.

âœAll I can think about is how miserable Dinky isâ I canât focus on anything else,â PiÃa admitted. She rubbed her eyes ferociously as she tried to hold back tears.

âœDo you want to stop?â Ripple said as she gently stroked PiÃaâs cheek.

âœNoâ too many ponies worked too hard to make this happen. Quitting now after everything everypony has done would be wrong,â PiÃa muttered.

âœWe can stop if you want to PiÃa,â Ripple offered.

âœNo!â PiÃa protested.

âœIt really doesnât matter if we win PiÃa,â Ripple said as she pulled the filly close using her wing. She gave the earth pony foal a hug, hoping to cheer PiÃa up. âœIâm just glad that today, I got to be the big sister for once.â

âœI think Iâm feeling a little bit better,â Bucky muttered. He made a sour face. He wasnât so sure that he liked bogberry wine, but he had kept drinking it anyway hoping that the taste might grow on him.

Or that heâd be too plastered to care.

âœGah! Tho thour!â Loch gasped as she stuck her tongue out through puckered lips.

Bucky bravely took another long pull from the jug and felt his face contort. He could feel the tingles in the hinge of his jaw and tightness just below his ears. He smacked his lips loudly. âœWho is the jackass that decided to make wine from bogberries?â Bucky demanded.

âœNo more for me!â Loch said as she cringed away from Bucky and his jug.

âœI wanna know who gave me thisâ theyâre making me work hard to get drunkâ I bet it was Berryâ -hurgh-Oh thatâs foul,â Bucky said with a shudder.

âœI am gonna go find Rising Star and give him a sour kissâ Bucky, please, do try to come down,â Loch Skimmer begged.

âœOnce I deaden my reactions I might,â Bucky replied.

Loch Skimmer took one last loving glance at the unicorn before tossing herself over the side and taking wing, smacking her lips and regretting every sour swallow as she departed.

Bucky exploded into existence and covered everypony around him in a layer of frost and snow. He heard several gasps, a few shudders, and a couple of thankful sighs. He shook the crusts of frost from his own pelt and peered around. He was surrounded by mares. He lifted his jug and took a long swallow. Bogberry wine was wretched.

âœHey!â

Bucky turned and looked at the pony addressing him and saw Sour Mash. She was grinning broadly.

âœLook at our new recruits. Weâre running them through this Sisterhooves Social thing going on,â Sour Mash announced.

Bucky nearly swallowed his own lips from the sourness of his wine and from what he was seeing. He sputtered for a few moments before recovering his ability to speak. âœFoals?!â he asked in alarm.

âœWell, we figured that as a brigade weâd take in these here orphans and raise them to know our ways. You wanted us to teach foals to read and write, so weâd thought weâd go one step further and teach these fillies our ways of war and whoopassery. And donât you worry, none of us gave those fillies those shiners and fat lips youâre seeing, they gave those to each other,â Sour Mash explained cheerfully.

Bucky decided that he hadnât drank nearly enough yet for the troubling new world he lived in to make sense just yet. He guzzled back some of the bogberry wine and noticed to his horror that it was starting to taste good. He peered at Sour Mash, looked out at the fillies, looked over his brigade, and then he shrugged in defeat. The foals seemed happy.

âœSo our brigade has grown. And will keep growing. Weâre gonna do what the males do and take in orphans to be raised for service,â Sour Mash said as she continued to smile a broad smile.

Bucky thought of Sentinel and the coltâs militaristic ways. Sentinel wasnât so bad. The isles produced a different breed of pony. He looked over the foals and discovered after a moment of reflection that he approved of this course of action.

After even more reflection, Bucky determined that Loch had the right idea, and Bucky set off to find some mares to give some very sour kisses to, toting his jug behind him.

Chapter 149

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Reflecting upon the rising of The Scorned Mare, a slightly inebriated Bucky felt a flood of emotions. The gasbag had been partially filled and then maneuvered carefully into place by an army of pegasi. Then, more cloudstuff had been continually added. The first lurch of the ship as she gained buoyancy had roused a loud fierce cheer from the spectators. Keg Smasher had stood nearby and bellowed angrily at any pegasus he had felt wasnât moving fast enough or working hard enough. When The Scorned Mare had gained naught but an inch of clearance, another shout came from the crowd, which had quickly turned into a warlike chant, an angry bellicose cacophony of equine sounds.

A foot off the ground and the crowd had gone a little crazy. Some ponies had begun to celebrate in the only way they knew how. It was at this point that the rampant sexual frenzy had kicked in, the need to celebrate victory triggering the need to make more foals to share in this brave new future. Derpy had covered Dinky and PiÃaâs eyes with her wings, but had stayed to watch the long awaited moment of triumph. Lyra, awake for the event, had set off a massive display of magical fireworks, which only further incited the gathered crowd.

There had been all kinds of explosions going off during that glorious moment.

Now, the ship was tethered to a tower, floating in place. It had no engines, no means of propulsion, and would have to be pulled by pegasi. It was a floating fortress. A home. A symbol of hope. It was the first of many.

Already, another hulk had been retrieved from the coast and several unicorns that had survived the shipwreck were making plans to get it airborne. The wreck lay berthed in the same spot as The Scorned Mare had sat, carefully set in place upon the same boulders that had held The Scorned Mare up.

It was fitting somehow that the shipwreck survivors were restoring an old wreck.

Bucky took another long drink of bogberry wine and decided that he had been completely wrong. This stuff was fantastic. The shrieks and shouts werenât so bad now. He could still feel his ears perking, and maybe even a little twinge of panic now and then, but the alcohol had taken the edge off. His lips still soaked with wine, he looked around himself for an unsuspecting victim.

Thistle.

Berry was still holding Dinky, Derpy was holding Berry, and Thistle was away from the the herd, which excited something deep within him. Sheâs easy pickings something in his mind told him. Something dark and predatory surfaced and Bucky pounced. He caught Thistle in an embrace and then tumbled down to the ground, pulling her down on top of him. Wrapping one foreleg behind her head, Bucky went in for the kill, plunging his muzzle into hers, giving her a sopping bogberry wine kiss. He could feel her tense and cringe, the sour taste coursing through her body as the kiss became quite intimate, but Bucky was determined to not let go. Thistle was stronger than he was as he discovered, so he had to subdue her the only way he knew how.

The kiss intensified.

Thistle whimpered in his grasp now, but her struggling was slowing down, and Bucky felt his prey becoming subdued. Her legs buckled completely and Bucky could feel the full heavy feeling of her weight bearing down upon him. His other forehoof trailed down her spine, starting at her withers and working its way down to her croup. His tongue softly grazed needle-like teeth. There were soft ridges on the roof of her mouth. She was different, she wasnât like the vegetation eating equines that Bucky also loved. Thistle was now no longer resisting but actively trying to give as good as she was getting, and Bucky could feel her giggling into his mouth.

Finally, before his arousal became uncontrollable, Bucky pulled away and gasped for air. Thistle rolled away, landing on her back, sprawled out in the grass, and she fanned herself with her hoof. There were several new flowers that had grown in her mane of living greenery, and one opened slightly in the aftermath of the searing kiss.

âœThat was hawt!â Loch Skimmer hooted. The pegasus filly, deciding that Bucky had the right idea, tackled Rising Star and went to work on the colt, deciding to see how far she could go before becoming entirely too flustered.

Derpy sighed. First Bucky, then Loch Skimmer, and now, all around her, ponies were making out. She hoped that it would not be a repeat of the day before, where the making out had turned into something else entirely. She licked her lips and then lunged at Bucky, feeling her own odd instincts. Something about Buckyâs predatory assault upon Thistle had triggered a strong protective need in Derpy and she moved to subdue the predator, her strong pegasus instincts taking over.

Berry cringed, realising that poor Bucky never stood a chance. She carefully covered Dinkyâs eyes with her fetlock and then kissed Dinky on the ear.

The never ending evolutionary war between the flesh eaters and the grass eaters continued in the grass, and it appeared that the common prey animal was winning against the apex predator. Berry watched it with keen interest, noting how the pegasus seemed to know each of the unicornâs weaknesses, and took the unicorn apart piece by piece. It was far more interesting than watching ponies eating pies. Of course, later tonight, Berry hoped to watch ponies nibbling on other ponies.

Derpy sat atop the subdued predator and preened her wings, celebrating her victory. Her kind had survived dragons, wyverns, griffons, giant birds of prey, and all manner of things that found pony flesh delicious. A scrawny unicorn wasnât much of an accomplishment. Flexing her body around to reach her wings caused her to fart, a loud trumpeting blast, and she could feel Bucky shuddering with somewhat drunken laughter beneath her. She lifted her head and whinnied in triumph, having not only subdued her foe, but also humiliated him. She nickered contentedly and continued to preen her wings, smiling at Thistle after she plucked out a feather that needed to go.

âœMy family is weird,â Dinky muttered as she pushed Berryâs leg away from her eyes. She pulled Berryâs foreleg down and hugged it to her barrel, thankful for Berryâs continual comfort.

âœDinky, this is the best part of being a member of Clan Pickled. You are going to grow up around earth ponies, pegasi, other unicorns, even a kelpie, and you are going to understand so many things that other ponies will have no clue about,â Berry whispered into the foalâs ear.

âœI remember how daddy was. Now he doesnât act like he used to,â Dinky replied as she watched her mother continue to proudly preen over her fatherâs subdued body. âœRemember how uptight he was about cleaning mamaâs face at dinner time?â

Berry squeezed Dinky in a loving reply. âœI remember. Now, he just leans over and does what needs to be done without thinking about it. It has become second nature to him,â Berry said to the foal in her embrace. She turned Dinkyâs head away and pointed upwards. âœLook Dinky, there are birds perching on the railing of The Scorned Mare,â she said as she heard a wet sounding raspberry being blown, followed by a heated giggle coming from Derpy.

âœMy jellybean!â

Berry sighed. Some ponies. Bucky had started the day off in a snit, had disappeared when Berry had begun to notice troubling symptoms of mental trauma, he had self medicated, and now, Bucky was having a good time. She had hoped that the bogberry wine would have slowed him down a bit, but Bucky was pleasantly soused and actually seemed to be enjoying the incredibly sour stuff. It was even more sour than muscadine wine. She recalled a painful memoryâ finding black licorice in Buckyâs old apartment. She rolled her eyes at her own stupidity. Of course Bucky would come to enjoy bogberry wine. Bucky loved self torture and all of the flavours of self loathing.

Ripple let loose with a resonating gurgling belch that would put Sparker to shame. She rubbed her belly and flared out her wings. They felt too tight when folded against her sides. Using her hoof, she pulled another pie towards her. Ripple liked pies. These were simple pies, or so Ripple had been told, they didnât even have a pie tin, whatever a pie tin was, but Ripple believed that these might just be the greatest thing ever invented. She took down another one in three bites and then slid more pies towards towards herself and PiÃa.

âœBlech! Sour!â PiÃa cried. âœI hate cranberries!â

âœCranberries? We call âem bogberries,â Ripple replied before shoving a pie into her mouth.

âœGlah!â PiÃa shouted, sticking out her tongue and letting it flap around. âœThour!â

The pies had progressively become more sour as the challenge had progressed, and very few contestants were left now. Most had quit from being too full to continue, others had halted because of the sourness, and Ripple was in for the long haul. She was determined to win. Plus, she discovered that she loved sour things.

âœFinal round! Unsweetened bogberry pies! Last filly standing wins!â a voice announced.

Ripple giggled in sadistic glee at the groans and sputtering all around her as she crammed a pie into her mouth. She puckered but still somehow managed to smile a wicked smile. She was probably going to explode at some point, but what a way to go. She looked down at her distended belly as she chewed and discovered that she rather liked her little round pot belly. She was fleshing out and becoming sleek. She had budding teats now, and her sister no longer teased her about having two bug bites. Her ribs no longer jutted out. She crammed in another pie and chewed noisily, smacking her lips and slurping up any stray crumbs that tried to escape.

At some point, Ripple realised she could no longer hear the sounds of pies being gobbled around her. She looked around and saw everypony was staring at her, and a stream of partially chewed bogberries dribbled from the corner of her mouth as she turned her head from side to side.

âœI think we have a winner,â a mare announced.

âœI won?â Ripple mumbled with her mouth full. She swallowed slowly and then licked her muzzle clean.

âœYouâve won,â the mare replied.

âœGreat, more pie please!â Ripple responded.

âœThistle? You okay? You seem distracted,â Sparkler inquired as she poked the kelpie gently with her hoof.

âœIâm fine. Just thinking about tonight,â Thistle replied in a subdued voice.

âœBig night for you,â Sparkler whispered. âœScared? I know I kinda was.â

âœThis isnât my first time,â Thistle said uncomfortably.

âœI know Thistle, I didnât mean that, sorryââ Sparkler replied, her words trailing off when she didnât know what else to say.

âœI wish it was my first timeâ I wish I had waited. Iâve found the love of my life and I feel bad for some reason and I canât say why,â Thistle confessed in a low whisper to Sparkler.

Sparkler pulled the kelpie in for a hug and squeezed her gently.

âœI feel so foolishâ it was something I could only give away once and I threw it away carelessly because I was so stupidly focused on getting a foal. I wish I had stopped to think about how precious the act itself was. But I didnât. I didnât know you were supposed to enjoy it. I feel so stupid,â Thistle admitted as her eyes misted over.

âœAw, Thistle, donât talk like that,â Sparkler begged as she pulled Thistle even closer. She could feel the kelpieâs barrel hitching as Thistle began to cry softly.

âœSparky, whatâs wrong?â Derpy inquired.

âœSheâs having a rough moment,â Sparkler replied to her mother.

âœThistle?â Derpy said to the sobbing kelpie filly.

There was no reply. Thistle clung to Sparkler and continued to let out quiet sobs of pent up shame and grief.

âœSparky, what did she say? Why is she upset?â Derpy questioned.

âœIâ donât know if I should repeat it,â Sparkler responded. âœI think if she wants to tell you she will,â the purple-pink filly added.

Derpy went to the two fillies, sat down, and then pulled them both in close. She leaned on them and wrapped her wings around them as well. âœYouâre supposed to be happy,â Derpy said soothingly.

âœI wish Berry was here, Thistle could talk to her,â Sparkler said in a low voice.

âœBerry took Dinky to bed. Dinky needed a nap,â Derpy said.

âœThink sheâll be up for the wedding?â Sparkler asked.

âœI hope so. Dinky was really looking forward to it,â Derpy replied.

âœI am glad that Lyra and Bon Bon are joining me for my wedding,â Thistle sniffled.

âœYes Thistle, we decided that this was a good time to bring them in and we didnât want to wait until we got home. Not with everything that is about to happen,â Derpy said soothingly to Thistle. âœSo, why are you crying?â

âœBecause I wasted something precious,â Thistle whispered.

âœWell, talk to me about it,â Derpy coaxed.

âœFifth place,â Bucky said. âœNot bad,â he stated as he poked Ripple in her tummy.

âœNO!â Ripple begged. She clutched her belly and rolled over onto her side. The effort made the skinny but fat pegasus fart loudly.

âœShe ate too much pie,â PiÃa announced.

âœI can see that,â Bucky said as he settled his haunches down to the ground.

âœFifth place. Iâm never gonna win anything ever,â PiÃa lamented.

âœAw, cheer up PiÃa, youâre an earth pony with magic. Thatâs gotta count for something,â Bucky said as he wobbled slightly. His nostrils crinkled. âœWhat is it with pegasus farts?â

âœTheyâre sensitive to atmospheric pressure changes,â PiÃa quipped.

âœEarth ponies?â Bucky inquired.

âœBecause it feels good?â PiÃa offered. âœThere isnât a lot written about earth ponies in the books Iâve been reading.â

âœWell, that needs to change,â Bucky said defiantly. âœWhen I get home and life settles down, if life settles down, I am going to lay siege to the Royal Academy of Magic and Science, batter down their door, and I will very gently scare the horseapples out of them and make them understand that earth ponies are wonderful creatures!â he growled in an only slightly slurred voice.

âœCan I watch?â PiÃa asked.

âœSure. Afterwards, weâll have a tea party,â Bucky answered.

âœYay!â PiÃa cried cheerfully. âœRipple is gonna âsplode,â she added in concern.

âœRipple, how many pies did you eat?â Bucky asked.

âœOoh ooh ooh one of the mares said that Ripple ate forty two pies,â PiÃa answered excitedly. âœIt is being kept as a record to see if anypony can beat it next year. Ripple is famous!â

âœHow many pounds of pie is that?â Bucky questioned as he shook his head. âœNo open flames around Ripple tonight. And Rippy, Iâd keep your arse pointed away from the fireplace,â he warned.

The pegasus filly giggle-snorted and then groaned when the giggles shook her belly. She pressed down on her side and farted again.

âœYargh, youâre just as bad as Derpy,â Bucky grumbled.

âœOne time, my big sister took part in a refried beans and flat bread eating contest,â PiÃa blurted out. âœAnd then she came home and farted in her twin sisterâs ear and Berry Shine went deaf in that ear and it lasted for days.â

âœPiÃa, love, I think youâve had too much sugar,â Bucky commented.

âœAnd I think you're a bit drunk, wanna make something of it?â PiÃa replied, sounding entirely too much like Berry Punch.

Bucky threw back his head and roared with laughter.

Sour Mash exchanged a pleased smile with Deadspin as she looked over her filly cadets. There had been no major victories, but the fillies had done well and the events had given them a chance to bond with their older sisters in arms. One day, they would grow into a fearsome army, but for now, they were worn out fillies who were mostly napping in the grass.

âœYouâve given me so many foals already,â Deadspin said affectionately.

âœOh, weâre still looking for more. Weâve taken in orphans and even a number of fillies given to us by parents who couldnât deal with another mouth to feed,â Sour Mash said grumpily. She felt a rush of satisfaction when she heard a low growl from Deadspin. âœI plan to change that sorta thinking,â Sour Mash insisted.

âœThe long talk that Berry Punch and Loch Skimmer gave the little fillies, I must confess, I found myself touched by it,â Deadspin admitted. âœCan you forgive me for being a half a horse?â

âœNo, I canât forgive you for being a horseâs arse, not right away,â Sour Mash replied. âœBut I might someday if you keep nosing around in my root cellar. Can you forgive me for thrashing you?â

âœMaybe, if youâll consider adding Bunny to our herd,â Deadspin said sheepishly.

âœI was gonna talk to you about that actually," Sour Mash replied.

Keg Smasher nervously licked his lips and then looked at the grey pegasus mare that was squinting at him with a worrisome look upon her face. She was hovering and had her forelegs crossed over her barrel, which was never a good sign.

âœIâve never been one for long fancy marriages. Iâve bragged that Iâve done two hundred in a day. So bear with me âcause Iâve never done anything quite like this before,â Keg Smasher announced. He punctuated his words with a nervous nickering and looked out over the crowd. He saw the grey mareâs scowl ease of a tiny bit and he relaxed some. She was still hovering with her forelegs crossed over her barrel, a posture that would make most adolescent dragons relax their sphincters violently after their bowels had turned to water.

The crowd seemed joyous. The first ever Sisterhooves Social had been a smash success. The Scorned Mare was tethered overhead. A second airship was awaiting construction already. The guard had integrated, and while there was some ponies upset over the event, the overwhelming opinion seemed to be positive. A new mood, a new way of thinking was taking over Keg Smasherâs ponies.

He looked out into the crowd and saw Thistle. She was wearing a crown of white wildflowers woven together upon her brow. He watched her eyelids as they fluttered nervously, like butterflies caught in a purposeful spring breeze. She was fat with foal, she was beautiful, radiant, and he hoped that she was happy. He shifted his weight, his cracked hind hoof throbbing painfully.

His gaze fell on Lyra and Bon Bon next. He didnât know them as well as he knew Thistle, and had only recently learned that they were mares only interested in other mares. His respect for Bucky had grown a fair bit upon discovering this knowledge. They looked nervous but beautiful as well. Lyra wore a crown of soft pink wildflowers and Bon Bonâs crown was little delicate periwinkle flowers.

And then, there was Bucky. Who looked a bit drunk. Bucky, who had recently shown the disturbing signs of being a little kill crazy, something Keg Smasher himself suffered from, along with Lord Wrecker and so many others. Poor Bucky, who was going to spend the rest of his life paying for the good deeds he had done with naught but torture as a reward. It made Keg Smasher feel a little sad, but these things happened. He hoped that Thistle would help soothe Buckyâs rough moments.

Keg Smasher pondered springing the words upon them and risking Derpyâs wrath, Surely she wouldnât thump him for a second time, not in the condition he was in. The sounds of the crowd were already getting to him too, and his pain wasnât helping.

A pony shouting âœwooo!â caused Keg Smasher to grimace and bare his teeth for a moment.

Those untouched by fevered frenzy of battle had no understanding of how their sudden outbursts pained those who had been been touched by the madness of brutal combat. Keg Smasher struggled not to hate the revelers, they deserved their joy, but he was going to need to find a calm quiet place as soon as possible. The shout had caused a bit of alarm for others too, Keg Smasher had noticed. Bucky, as somewhat drunken as he was, had leapt a bit at the sound and his jagged bladed horn had flared with a blue-green light. Wreckerâs face had twitched and convulsed painfully. Keg had even seen the aftermath on Rising Star, the coltâs ears splaying out and one cheek tugging painfully as he struggled to contain himself, a brief moment of rage visible for those aware of the price of protecting others.

Keg Smasher hated how observant he was as a pegasus.

âœThistle, do you love this stallion and do you submit to him of your free will?â Keg Smasher asked of the kelpie. âœAnd you two, Lyra Heartstrings and you, Bon Bon, do you submit to him as well and bow your heads to your new matriarch?â

Thistle nodded and made a wordless squeak.

âœYes,â Lyra replied as she nodded.

âœNow and forever,â Bon Bon answered as she turned to look at Derpy and Bucky.

âœAnd you Buckminsterâ do you acknowledge your role as their protector? Would you wage war for their benefit? Would you bear injury upon your own flesh to keep them safe from any and all harm?â Keg Smasher questioned.

Bucky visibly sobered a bit and looked solemn. He looked at Thistle, then at Bon Bon and Lyra, and then he looked at Berry Punch and finally, Derpy. He closed his remaining eye and nodded. âœI wouldâ my words feel so meaningless right now, but I hope my actions will speak for themselves,â he answered.

âœAnd what of you Derpy? Will you accept these mares into your herd? Will you claim them as your own? Do you trust them with your foals and with your stallion?â Keg Smasher inquired of the hovering pegasus mare.

âœYes,â Derpy replied with a nod. She moved a little closer to Thistle, who appeared to be having some difficulty.

Keg Smasher did not know what else to say.

âœI hope you lot have learned something!â Wrecker bellowed. âœI hope all of you aspire to this sort of love and dedication. Our ways must change, let this be an example!â

There was a dull roar from the crowd, and even though Keg Smasher cringed from the sound, he felt hopeful that change was coming. As a father, he was proud of his foals. They were learning, and hopefully he wouldnât have to thump their heads too much.

âœThen as Laird I bind you lot together. Knight Captain Buckminster, I am trusting you with the love and care of something rare and treasured by me, the kelpie known as Thistle. Give her what she wants,â Keg Smasher announced. âœI suppose you lot should be doing whatever comes next. Kiss one another and all that,â he added.

Bucky didnât need to told twice. He reached out and grabbed Thistle and he eagerly kissed her, repeating his performance from earlier.

Satisfied only after leaving Thistle a breathless quivering heap on the ground, he stood up and grinned proudly, only to find himself being kissed from each side by Bon Bon and Lyra, who kissed him on each cheek.

âœI made a cake!â Berry announced. âœA whiskey cake slathered in butter cream frosting. It should be wheeled out shortly. Hey, I wanna kiss somepony,â she quipped.

The brazen mare fell upon Thistle and went to work, making out with the kelpie right there in the grass, not caring who saw. There were some gasps from the crowd.

Derpy exchanged a few kisses with Lyra and Bon Bon, gentle pecks of affection, until Bon Bon pulled the grey mare in for something bit more substantial to show her affection. Like with Bucky, the kiss had boundaries, but it was clear that both mares enjoyed it a great deal.

Lyra, already feeling pressure from the crowd, was looking for a means of escape, no longer wanting to be the center of attention. She kissed Bucky warmly, gave him an apologetic look, and then she was gone, winked away in the blink of an eye.

A loud cheer went up as a small wagon was pulled up to the group, and in the wagon was an enormous cake. Berry had made a thick heavy cake filled with berries and other fruit chunks, spices, and then she had pickled the whole thing by drenching it with whiskey repeatedly. As a last and final touch, she had slathered it down with a simple sunny yellow frosting made from whipped creamy butter and mead. The cake gave off heady fumes and made the ponies around it feel lightheaded.

It was time to celebrate for just a little bit longer while there was still daylight.

Chapter 150 (Warning! Perverted ponies playing!)

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The deck of The Scorned Mare was brightly lit by magical glass globes of light and sunstones were embedded everywhere, the different coloured gemstones looking like Hearthâs Warming Eve lights as they twinkled in the approaching dusk.

âœIâm a little scaredâ not of what is about to happen, but of the wolves,â Thistle said as she stood on the wooden deck.

âœMost of the wolves on this island died,â Bucky announced. âœThereâs a few left, but not many. Lyra shadow warded the cabin. They canât shadow-wink inside. The worst they can do is come up here on the deck and scratch at the door, but the lights will burn them a bit. They will not be able to teleport away if they do come up here. Worst comes to worst, I kill them from inside the cabin if we have visitors.â

âœIt is good we are testing this,â Berry stated. âœI mean, I trust your magic, but still, peace of mind,â she continued.

âœSo beautiful, I love the lights. Makes me think of winterâ of Hearthâs Warmingâ I so want to give you a nice holiday,â Derpy said to Bucky.

âœYou know, Iâve done the measuring, the cabin space just for our family is larger than Derpyâs house, but not by much. Thatâs not counting the crew quarters. We could live hereâ if things in Equestria donât pan out when we go home,â Berry said in a sad voice. âœWe could have a nice holiday here.â

âœGoing to be strange sleeping in a bed with no foals,â Derpy said.

âœGoing to be even weirder not having Lyraâs lyre. I hope that Bucky is right. We could have a long night if things get chilly or fearful,â Berry stated.

âœI could teleport us inside, but it would be unpleasant,â Bucky said. âœIt would make all of you sick, but weâd be with the others. There are methods of escape.â

âœI would be happy with this as my home,â Thistle said as she sat down, easing her rounded pregnant body down to the deck gingerly. âœThe beds are nice, it is cozy, there are all kinds of little nooks and places to curl up comfortably and read a book or watch the foals play. Bucky and Berry both put so much thought into making the cabin nice.â

âœThe stairs are barely one pony wide,â Derpy said.

âœWell, he had to save space,â Berry replied with a chuckle.

âœBut Thistle has to squeeze her way down the stairs,â Derpy answered. âœAnd she is going to get bigger. Weâre all going to get bigger.â

âœWeâll have to manage,â Berry stated.

âœI havenât watched a sunset in a while,â Derpy said. âœI hope it is safe to stand out here just a little while longer,â she added wistfully.

Bucky shifted his weight, moving from one haunch to another. He was missing flesh from both and he could feel his bones pressing into the wood painfully. The sun would set soon. He could feel it. His vision was growing sharper. His sense of smell seemed to be stronger as well. He could smell all kinds of things on the breeze.

âœEver notice that Twilight Sparkle has five friends and the six of them are a group with shared destinies?â Berry Punch said in a berry serious tone of voice.

âœI have,â Bucky replied.

âœWell, there are five of us and you Bucky,â Berry said. âœYou and Lyra sort of knew each other in school. Derpy and I have known each other for so long. Lyra and Bon Bon came together by sheer chance. And then you, you bumped into Derpy. Somehow, we all ended up here, and now, there is Thistle. There is your whole screwed up destiny thing going on. But weâve all come together and such wonderful and terrible things have happened. We share a tighter bond for all of our suffering and endurance.â

âœFeels funny not having Bon Bon and Lyra here for this,â Derpy said.

âœWell, somepony has to watch the foals, and little Harper needs to feed,â Berry replied.

âœOne day soon, we will all be in a position where we will have moments like this one all together, we wonât need a night watch or a day watch, and we can try to figure out how to be a somewhat normal family,â Bucky stated.

Berry Punch snorted, an equine sound of derision. âœWho wants to be normal? Weâre a herd, weâre already well outside of normal for most ponies. Weâre a unified tribe, we have unicorns, pegasi, and earth ponies, which is outside the realm of normal for most ponies.â

âœAnd Thistle,â Derpy added.

âœAnd one kelpie, with more on the way hopefully,â Berry said.

âœI want me some kelpie foals,â Bucky announced. âœAnd I am ready to screw Thistle senseless to get them.â

âœOooh!â gasped Thistle. She took a deep breath and squeaked.

âœThistle, you know that was meant as teasing, right?â Bucky inquired in a gentle voice.

âœYes, but I think I kinda want to be screwed senseless,â Thistle confessed in reply.

âœOhâ I am glad to hear you say that,â Berry Punch whispered into Thistleâs ear. âœYouâ I am going to make you my plaything,â she breathed seductively.

The kelpieâs breathing quickened and she heard Bucky chuckle. Her cheeks blazed with inner fire. She felt her heart beating, thudding away in her barrel. She also felt emboldened. âœWeâll see about that Berry Punchâ Iâll sweet talk Bucky into helping me and weâll make you our plaything,â she threatened in a timid voice.

âœOh hey! Sheâs learning!â Berry crowed.

âœFrom you,â Derpy grumbled. âœShe was so sweet,â she said regretfully.

âœWe could work together and make Bucky our plaything,â Berry suggested.

âœIâ I like that idea,â Thistle replied. She licked her lips fretfully. âœWe could screw him senseless,â she said nervously.

âœIf you sound nervous it isnât scary,â Berry said helpfully. âœWeâll work on it together,â she offered warmly to Thistle.

âœI plan to love Thistle gently,â Derpy announced. âœAll this talk about screwing a pony senseless,â she muttered and then snorted.

âœThere are three of us now, I bet we could take the pegasus,â Berry said as she licked her teeth.

âœBerry, donât make me wrangle you in front of Thistle and spoil her night,â Derpy warned. âœSaucy earth ponies need to know their place.â

âœAw nutsâ and this is why you donât mess with the alpha,â Berry grumbled.

âœThe sun has just hit the horizon,â Bucky announced, ignoring the playfully squabbling mares. âœWe should get indoors.â Buckyâs insistent suggestion silenced the playful banter and the four ponies all exchanged a glance with one another.

Bucky gently laid Thistle down in the bed and then backed away. He had carried her though the door in his magic, as he had once carried Berry and Derpy to the bed one night so long ago that it now felt like a lifetime.

Thistle looked at Bucky longingly as he backed away, giggling nervously, and she waved her hoof at him. âœI hope you enjoy the show,â she whispered nervously.

âœYou know Thistle, I donât have to watch if you are nervous. This is a very intimate act and it is okay to be shy,â Bucky gently replied.

âœBut I want you to watchâ Iâve had daydreams about this for a while now,â Thistle said.

âœSo what is the plan?â Berry asked.

âœWe gently introduce her to our ways,â Derpy replied.

âœBut go easy on meâ Iâ I donât think I am ready for more than one pony at a time,â Thistle whispered timidly.

âœIt is only a good time if everypony is having fun,â Berry stated. âœAs much as I want a go at Thistle to make her squeal, I think Iâll stick to watching for tonight. It has been a long day for all of us, sheâs pregnant, and we have the rest of our lives to spend shagging one another silly.â

Derpy eased herself into the bed beside Thistle and began to kiss the kelpie along her neck. Thistle responded by going limp and closing her eyes. Thistle giggled and her tail of living greenery flicked against the blanket.

Bucky backed himself into a small cushioned cubby in the wall and settled in. The room was dimly lit, and Bucky ignited the compressed peat bale sitting in the small cast iron stove that was in the rear of the room.

Berry shoved her way into the cubby with Bucky and squeezed herself in beside him. The cubby was intended for a single occupant, but the pair made it work. Berry ground her plot up against Buckyâs balls, flexed her cheeks to spread them, and then gave his scrotum a playful gentle pinch as she squeezed her cheeks together. She then farted, causing Buckyâs balls to vibrate pleasantly. âœThatâs my vibrating plot trick,â she whispered.

The pair watched as things begin to heat up between the pegasus and the kelpie. The couple lay belly to belly, with Derpy pulling Thistle closer to her body. She used a wing to stroke Thistle, dragging the tips of her feathers over Thistleâs ribs, which made Thistle giggle and squirm.

âœThistle, I am going to kiss youâ all overâ and down there,â Derpy whispered heatedly in Thistleâs ear. She slid a hind leg between Thistleâs hind legs and rubbed, feeling a faint hint of moisture. Derpy felt Thistle tense and the kelpieâs moans inflamed her desire.

âœMmmmm okay,â Thistle moaned in reply. She threw her head back as she felt lips moving down her neck in slow kisses and nibbles. The feeling of Derpyâs soft silken pelt against her own body made her feel hot and she felt her teats growing hard.

Derpy worked her way down slowly, and then lingered at Thistleâs navel, the peak of her belly. She gently stroked the large rounded stomach of the kelpie, and whispered wordlessly to the foal inside as she kissed in slow circles around Thistleâs navel. She pushed Thistle over on to her back and pulled her legs apart.

âœOh Bucky lookâ sheâs winking,â Berry whispered excitedly as she ground her own winking flesh up against Bucky. She felt something prodding her backside and turned her head toward Bucky. âœYou know, if you work out your frustrations now, youâll last longer for Thistle,â she suggested.

Bucky grabbed Berry by her hips and pulled her closer. âœYou havenât been properly warmed up, are you sure?â he asked.

âœDerpy and I can finish anything that you start,â Berry replied as she eagerly watched Thistle in the squirming throes of pleasure. She heard a loud wet sounding swishy noise as Thistleâs legs were spread even further apart, followed by a titter of embarrassment.

Bucky licked his lips. Thistle was a delightful lurid shade of pink. He watched her whole body tense as Derpy ran her tongue over a stiff protruding teat. He shifted his body along Berry. She was laying on her side, he crawled atop of her, and then he carefully pushed one of Berryâs hind legs up to Berryâs barrel, leaving her spread and ready to be stuffed.

âœOooh, kinky, this is a new position,â Berry purred. She watched as Derpy continued to tug and nibble on Thistleâs teats, pinching them gently between her lips, tugging on them, and stretching them out a bit with gentle pulls, letting them slowly slip free from her lips with a wet sounding pop. Berry shifted her hips and writhed beneath Bucky. She felt him shift and settle his weight and then she felt him pressing up against her already damp flesh. He was quick now, knowing full well what he was doing, Berry felt him part her, sink in slightly, and then freeze in place. She hissed, then moaned, it still stung. Buckyâs girth was considerable and she could feel her skin stretched tight around him. She clenched her plot cheeks and gave him a loving squeeze, and she could feel him easing his way inside of her.

Behind her, Derpy could hear a hiss, a moan, and then the wet slick sounds of clinging mareflesh being parted. She gave a final stretching tug on a now rock hard teat, then a final parting lick, and then she scooted her body further down. Thistle had a different scent wafting from her marehood. Derpy knew what her own smell was like, and what Berry smelled like, and Thistle was very different. Derpy wondered if it was Thistleâs diet.

Derpy gave one experimental lick and felt Thistle jump. She smacked her lips. Thistle was really salty and tasted a bit like Buckyâs kisses did after he had been eating fish. It was an odd flavour, and Derpy wasnât sure what she thought about it. She gave another lick, starting low, and running her tongue along the entire length of Thistleâs parted cleft.

âœMmm mmmm mmmmm mmm,â moaned Thistle as she wiggled her hips and kicked her legs. Thistle could feel Derpyâs tongue teasing over the folds of her flesh. She closed her eyes and tried to relax. She could feel cool air mingling with Derpyâs hot breath upon her moist flesh, and it made her whole body tingle. She could hear Berryâs soft moans and Buckyâs well timed grunts. Thistle briefly recalled the pain of her first time, and then pushed it out of her mind. This was so much better and she didnât want to waste time thinking about the past.

Derpy gave a careful lip nibble to Thistleâs winking button. It was tiny and bright pink, and it had a part running down the middle of it that made it look somewhat heart shaped. She felt the kelpie go stiff as a board and a soft cry of need escaped Thistleâs lips.

Berry lifted her head and bit down on her bottom lip as she felt Bucky spear her and go balls deep for the first time. He had been making little gentle thrusts so far, going in only half way to work her up into a frenzy, and now she could feel his balls pressed up against her plot cheek as he remained buried deep inside of her holding himself in place. She felt Buckyâs warm fetlock sliding down between her legs, and then she felt pressure on her little berry. He was mashing her between his fetlock and his cock. She felt him ease out and then thrust back in, squeezing her clit as he did so. She squirmed and Bucky pushed her hind leg up closer against her barrel, making it easier for him to reach between her legs and plunge even deeper.

Derpy could hear Berry mewling with each squelch. Unable to resist, Derpy penetrated Thistle with her tongue, going deep inside of Thistleâs searingly hot folds. Thistle gushed a bit in response and then made pleading cries.

âœI feel too hotââ Thistle gasped.

âœYou need release,â Derpy whispered from between Thistleâs legs, her breath blowing over Thistleâs flesh. She rose and stepped over Thistle, and then lowered herself down, pressing her own mareflesh over Thistleâs, straddling her scissor legged. She ground her filly bits against Thistleâs and grunted as she watched Thistle squirm beneath her. She braced her front hooves on each side of Thistleâs barrel and bore down on the kelpieâs slick folds and Derpy could feel flaps of her own flesh slipping in and out of Thistleâs slick silken snatch.

Bucky watched as Derpy and Thistle ground against one another and his thrusting grew frantic. Berry was bleating now as he rammed himself in deep. Taking her while she was on her side was a good idea, he could shift his weight down upon her cutie mark, push her leg against her barrel, and make Berry feel extremely tight around his thrusting cock. He squeezed her nubbin between his fetlock and his cock, and he could feel his ring banging against the flesh behind her clitoris, which created pressure from all sides. Berry had came quickly and Bucky took mental notes to perfect his technique.

Thistle could hear Berry bleating and something about the sound excited her. She could hear Buckyâs grunting. She could hear Derpyâs heaving breathing as the pegasus continued to grind against her. Something was happening, and Thistle had no idea what it was. Her muscles twitched, spasmed, and tightened. She could feel her pucker clenching as she felt dribbles of moisture trickling down around it. She could feel the folds of her filly bits catching and tugging on Derpyâs sopping folds as they continued to rub together. Each breath felt like fire entering her lungs. She felt her little hypersensitive nubbin slip into Derpyâs searing hot slit and something broke as she felt Derpy clench around her and suck her even further in. There was an almost crushing amount of pressure, and it felt as though Derpyâs marehood was suckling on the little hard knob of flesh, trying to draw it even further in as though the hot snatch hungered and sought to devour Thistleâs fleshy button for a snack.

Thistle threw back her head and shrieked as her whole body convulsed.

Thistleâs shriek sent Bucky over the edge and he blew his load, jamming himself in as deep as possible into Berry, making her let out a bleating yell as he rammed his plow into the little stone in her garden furrow. Bucky knew that Berry got off on the sensation of hot seed being spilled inside of her, and he grabbed her around her middle to ram home a few more times as his final efforts, hoping to work out a few more squirts. Her tongue was hanging out of her mouth and her eyes were rolled back into her head as Bucky continued to screw her silly, his frantic actions triggering another orgasm for himself.

Derpy, who had not yet orgasmed, could hear the sounds of ponies cumming all around her as she continued to grind away on Thistle, knowing that it wouldnât be much longer. Thistle had covered her face with her forehooves to hide the silly faces that she was making. Derpy could hear Berryâs bleating and the heaving breathless gasps that Bucky made after he blew his load. She knew that there was a creamy mess to be found inside of Berry. The thought proved to be too much and Derpy fell over the edge. She cried out, panting and groaning, and crushed her cooch against Thistleâs in one final frenzied effort. Her wings flapped and fluttered, threatening to go stiff from overheating. She had a second less intense climax a moment later, and then she collapsed gently atop Thistle, careful to not put too much weight on Thistleâs belly. She slid off and lay beside Thistle, pulling the kelpie close.

âœI love your cute little silly faces, donât hide them,â Derpy whispered.

Bucky collapsed on top of Berry Punch and just laid there, enjoying her closeness, his partially erect cock still stuffed inside of her. He wrapped his forelegs around her neck and drew her in for a kiss. A few moments of lip-nibblies, he felt Berry pull away from him.

âœI like the new positionâ we need to do this again,â Berry whispered. âœNow cuddle me for a bit before you go and take Thistle,â she added in a pleading voice, rubbing her cheek up against Buckyâs muzzle.

âœYou came,â Derpy whispered to Thistle. It was not a question. Derpy held the quivering kelpie in a fond embrace and her foreleg wandered over Thistleâs big round belly. She trailed her fetlock over Thistleâs still clenching filly bits and felt the kelpie shudder at her touch.

âœAgainââ Thistle gasped as she panted, squeezing her hind legs together and feeling her belly muscles tighten up.

âœOh my you are going to be fun to play with,â Derpy whispered. âœDo you feel good and slippery? Itâll help with what comes next.â

Thistle thought for a moment about what came next, and for a brief moment, her first experiences troubled her mind. She made the troubling thoughts go away and she snuggled closer to the pegasus beside her. âœI had no idea that mares could do that with our parts,â Thistle admitted.

âœBerry told me about it,â Derpy replied as she stroked Thistle. âœI like doing itâ feeling another mare being slurped up inside of me.â

The kelpie lost her composure and began to giggle. âœSlurp!â she tittered.

âœBerry Punch might be a big pervert, but she knows her stuff. You would be wise to spend time talking to her and listening to her about her perverted mystical arts,â Derpy whispered as she trailed her fetlock along the curve of Thistleâs neck and took delight in making Thistle continue to squirm. âœAnd tell her to be serious so she will behave and not scare you.â

âœThat kinda tickles,â Thistle said breathily. She looked over at Berry and Bucky, who were canoodling with one another still. âœBerry looks so happy,â she stated as she looked at the pair.

âœBucky is the love of Berryâs life. And mine. And now yours. Do you think you can share?â Derpy asked in a low serious voice.

The kelpie nodded slowly, never taking her gaze off of the cuddling couple tucked into the cubby. âœI get a lot more than Bucky, I have you and Berry too.â

Derpy nibbled at the edge of Thistleâs ear as she slipped her fetlock over Thistleâs still rock hard teats and she felt a powerful spike of arousal as Thistle stiffened in her embrace for a moment. She gave serious thought to taking Thistle again, longing to feel Thistleâs warm flesh pressed against her own once more.

And then, the troubling thought came. Derpy realised that Thistle was Sparklerâs age, and it slowly sank into her mind what they had done together. The grey pegasus mare felt conflicted and confused. She thought of what Bucky was about to doâ she felt her eyes misting over as her emotions began to overwhelm her. She took comfort in telling herself that this is what Thistle wanted and Derpy quietly resolved that she wouldnât spoil the moment. Thistle wasnât about to be taken advantage of and then left high and dry, this was a loving dedicated relationship, even if it pushed the boundaries of what society back at home considered acceptable.

Even though part of her wanted to push Thistle away, another part of her wanted to take her again and make her feel good to make up for past hurts as the need for both sex and nurturing filled her mind.

Bucky could already feel himself becoming aroused again. He had slipped free from Berryâs moist folds and he slid himself along her slick entrance, which made the earth pony mare mare moan and wiggle beneath him. He rose, pulling himself away from Berry, and then quietly slipped free from the cubby.

Berry, seeing Bucky departing, reached out and grabbed him by his hind legs, pulling him back. She extended her head and neck from the cubby, slipping between his hind legs beneath him, she extended her tongue and gave Buckyâs cock a long, slow, lazy lick which made the stallion freeze in place. She licked again, savouring her own taste, and she could feel Bucky going stiff with each caress of her tongue. She opened her mouth wide and struggled to get the flared end of Buckyâs cock into her mouth. He was short enough that she could probably take it all in without deep throating him too much, but his girth caused her lips to stretch out as she struggled to take the tip in.

Derpy and Thistle both watched as Berry sucked on Buckyâs cock, and they clung to one another as they watched the brazen display of affection. Derpy licked her lips, glanced at Thistle, and then back at Berry. âœI didnât think it would fit into her mouth,â Derpy whispered to Thistle.

âœItâs bigââ Thistle gasped.

âœBerry says he is hung like a barrel,â Derpy said with a fillyish giggle.

âœItâs fat,â Thistle repeated. âœThe last one was long and skinny.â

âœSome mares want a scratching, others want a stretching. I like a good stretching,â Derpy whispered.

âœThatâs going inside of me?â Thistle gasped in alarm.

Derpy stroked Thistle soothingly and ran her fetlock along Thistleâs breastbone. âœYou can always waitâ you donât have to do anything,â Derpy murmured. âœNow do you understand why I was so concerned?â

Thistle nodded as she watched Berry struggling to take in more cock. Berryâs cheeks were puffed out and she had only the tip in her mouth, and her lower jaw didnât look like it could open any further. âœIt is like a ponyâs leg,â Thistle mumbled.

âœAnd it feels really good when it stretches my pucker,â Derpy whispered.

âœWhat?!â Thistle hissed in an alarmed whisper. âœYouâve had him go there?!â

âœHe was gentle and we were carefulâ it feels so good. I could play with your pucker and you could get an idea of how good it feels,â Derpy offered in reply.

Thistleâs eyes went wide. She wasnât even aware that something could go in there. Or that a stallion would want to go in there. She looked at Derpy, who was staring at Berry and her efforts to get as much of Bucky into her mouth as she could.

Berry finally tapped out. Her lower jaw ached. She pulled her head away from Buckyâs now fully erect cock and wiggled back into the cubby to rest her head and neck upon the cushion. She panted, out of breath, and licked her lips. She looked up and gave a final parting pat to Buckyâs balls and then slapped him gently on his hops plant cutie mark to send him on his way.

Derpy pulled away from Thistle after planting one final parting kiss on Thistleâs lips. âœJust try to relax. And if you get scared or want to stop, say something. Donât be afraid. One of us will scratch his itch and we can always try again later,â she said, trying to comfort the wide eyed kelpie. She slipped off the bed, approached Bucky, kissed Bucky passionately, and then stepped aside. She took a final glance at Thistle and then made her way to the cubby to squeeze in with Berry.

Thistle tensed as Bucky slipped into the bed with her. As he cuddled up beside her, she could feel something prodding her hip. She melted when she felt his foreleg wrap around her and then felt his lips on her neck, working upwards towards her ear. âœI think Iâm ready,â she whispered. She felt a gentle tug on her ear as Bucky took it between his lips and pulled. Electric tingles coursed through her body and she could feel little shivers traveling up and down her spine. âœSo how are you going to take me?â she asked.

âœI am not sure yet,â Bucky breathed into Thistleâs ear. âœI donât want to hurt you or my foal and I want you to be comfortableâ I know how your back hurts.â After speaking, Bucky could feel Thistle relaxing against him.

Berry snuggled against Derpy and kissed her mate softly. âœYou know, I just kinda want to watch those twoâ Iâm feeling sappy witnessing this tender moment,â she confessed.

âœYou sound like Rainbow Dash,â Derpy replied as she situated herself belly to belly Berry Punch. She could feel Berryâs teats against her own and she realised that Berry was leaking a bit. âœAre you full of milk?â

âœYeah, and it kinda hurts,â Berry answered.

âœYou know, Bucky would help you with that if you let him,â Derpy whispered.

âœHave him milk me again? I hate to admit it, but I really like it when he does that,â Berry answered.

âœNo, I mean have him suckle at your teats. It might be nice for him. It could be a very special intimate moment between you two, if you donât ruin it by being a crass horseapple head,â Derpy suggested. âœYou should try it with him sometime.â

Berry did not reply and fell silent. She thought of an earlier conversation where they had wondered if Bucky had been teat fed. Berry tried to understand the scope of the act. In her mind, it might just be a moment even more intimate than sex, and something about that idea both scared her and titillated her a great deal in equal parts.

âœHe could rest his head upon your thigh and just have a quiet moment of bonding with youâ you could stroke his head or something. Give him something his bitch of a mother failed to provide,â Derpy whispered with a faint raspy growl in her voice.

âœWow, I think you hate her just as much as I do,â Berry whispered as she watched Thistle enthusiastically making out with Bucky.

âœI donât know how I feel and I donât wanna talk about it,â Derpy grumbled as she gave Berry a crushing hug to relieve her frustrations. She could see Thistleâs winking fillyhood. It was no longer pink, but red, and her lips were swollen with desire and need.

âœThistle, are you comfortable on your side?â Bucky asked in a heated whisper. He was almost completely overcome by need and he found it difficult to speak or concentrate.

âœYes,â Thistle gasped in reply. Her own need was painful. She needed something to happen, even if she wasnât sure what it was that she needed.

âœI am gonna roll you over onto your side, and then I am gonna spoon against your back. I am going to take you from behind and I promise to be careful and slow. I donât want to put my weight down on our foal and I donât know what I am doing because Iâve never rutted anypony fat with a foal before,â Bucky explained.

âœJust no going in my pucker!â Thistle begged.

âœWhat?â Bucky asked.

âœDerpy told me she likes it right up her plot hole,â Thistle replied.

âœYes, she does. And I only slipped it into Berryâs plothole once and that was an accident. I didnât know what I was doing,â Bucky answered. He realised he might have made a mistake when Thistle tensed.

âœJust so long as you plow into my filly bits carefully,â Thistle whispered nervously.

âœWant me to spend some time nibbling on you?â Bucky offered.

âœNo, I just want to know how this is going to beâ I think Iâm good to go,â Thistle responded in a panting reply. She began to twist and roll over onto her side and then scooted her plot up against Bucky.

Bucky found Thistleâs body to be quite arousing in this position. She was smaller than him, and Bucky finally discovered what it felt like to be a larger stallion with a smaller mare. Or in Thistleâs case, a filly. With Derpy and Berry, they were roughly the same size as him, even though he was only slightly larger.

But Thistle was small. Something about her drove Bucky wild and triggered his protective instincts. Her barrel was slender under his foreleg, and her form was delicate. The only thing large about her was her belly, which was a big as a giant pumpkin and she was only about halfway through her pregnancy now. He nuzzled her ear with his snoot and let out an excited whinny. His foreleg traveled along her side, over her sleek ribs, and his fetlock rested on the widest part of the belly. He pushed his hips forward as he pulled her to him and pushed her downwards towards his cock, which was throbbing with need. He felt a damp warmth and gently pushed her downwards onto himself as he carefully thrust upwards.

Thistle parted with a small cry and Bucky held himself in place, going no further. She wiggled in his grasp and worked her way free, which made Bucky slip out of her.

âœWe can stop any time Thistle,â Bucky whispered. He kissed Thistle just below her ear and rubbed her softly with his snoot.

âœI wonât lie, that hurt a bit,â Thistle said with a tearful sniffle.

âœI am so sorry loveââ Bucky said apologetically. He lifted his foreleg from her and began to squirm his way out of the bed.

âœWhat are you doing?â Thistle asked.

âœLeaving you be,â Bucky replied. âœThis was a mistake, perhaps Derpy was right.â

âœNo!â Thistle retorted. âœYou get back here and screw me gently!â

Bucky went still, not sure what to do. He remained in the bed beside Thistle. The kelpie began to wiggle up against him and then wiggled her hips into an inviting position.

âœYou finish what you started right now this instant mister!â Thistle demanded. âœJust goâ just go really slowââ she continued in a halting fearful voice.

Bucky wrapped his foreleg over Thistleâs barrel and pulled her close.

âœHeâs in trouble,â Berry said to Derpy as the two remained snuggled together belly to belly, laying on their sides, legs entwined in a tangle.

Derpy sighed, not sure what to do. She wanted to shout and make this stop. She wanted to break free from Berryâs embrace and then run over to comfort Thistle. She clung to Berry and felt a worrying sense of conflict.

âœDerpy, if you interfere, she wonât forgive you for a long time,â Berry whispered after she picked up on what Derpy was thinking. âœSheâs stubborn, and she is going to see this through. And Poor Bucky looks like a kicked foal right now.â

Derpy buried her face into Berryâs pelt and let out a faint sound of pain.

âœFoal birth is going to hurt her even more Derpy, youâd better learn to deal with this now,â Berry whispered.

Bucky rubbed his tip against Thistleâs folds, took a deep breath, steeled his nerves, and once again, he pushed his way into her. She was tight. He could feel her stretched tight all around him, and it felt like he had wormed his way into Derpyâs crushing pucker. She wiggled, writhed, and squirmed her hips, nearly causing him to slip out. He slid one foreleg, the one he was laying on, under her neck and pulled her head close to him, cradling it on his leg as he kissed her apologetically for hurting her again. He waited patiently, even though part of him wanted to bury himself deep inside of her repeatedly, over and over again, until he achieved release.

Berry watched as Bucky held himself in place and she felt proud of him. She could see him sunk in only an inch or two into Thistleâs glistening folds. She could see that Thistle was stretched tight around the shimmering wet looking skin of Buckyâs mottled pink and brown cock. Thistle appeared to be stretched nearly to the point of breaking, and Berry felt some concern. Given enough time, things should loosen up a bit. Berry could see that Bucky was sweating, straining, fighting back his obvious need. Berry knew that most stallions would have gave up all pretext of being gentle and would have plowed onwards, not caring about the damage that they might do or the agony they might cause, and that many stallions were actually aroused by a mare or fillyâs cries of pain. Berry had experienced a couple of rough tumbles in the hay. Bucky looked afraid and a little disgusted, perhaps with himself, Berry supposed. Thistle had a look of pain upon her face and her muzzle appeared to be scrunched up in intense concentration.

Derpy could no longer bear to watch. She was feeling entirely too motherly and her emotions drove her to distraction. She hid her face in Berryâs pelt.

Thistle braced herself and then pushed herself down a bit on Bucky, causing him to slide in deeper. She sucked in a deep breath and held it for as moment, and then let it out in panting gasps. As painful was it was, it wasnât as painful as the first time she had been taken, and there was no violence this time. She could feel herself stretching a bit, but her skin still felt as though it had been stretched thin around her fleshy opening. She could feel Bucky trembling and she knew just enough about rutting to know that he was struggling to hold back. She could feel his hips twitching with an instinctual need.

âœThank you,â Thistle squeaked.

âœFor what,â Bucky gasped.

âœFor everything,â Thistle replied with a breathless moan. She pushed herself down a little more and took more of Bucky in. Reaching down her with foreleg, she stroked her nubbin with her fetlock, trying to make herself relax.

When Bucky heard Thistle moan and felt her shudder from her own touch, he nearly broke. The urge was painful. He ached with his repressed need. Thistle was so delightfully tight around him. He reached around her belly and stroked her teats, which caused her to make hitching shuddering gasps that only further inflamed his desire. He pulled out a tiny bit and then pushed in a tiny bit, feeling himself slipping in and out of her tight silken folds. She felt as hot as the steel foundry against the flesh that he had penetrated her with. The rest of him could feel cool air blowing over his sopping skin. He wanted to be warm, to be buried deep within her, but that would betray her trust of him. He wasnât even ring deep within her yet.

Bucky drew a deep shuddering breath and squeezed Thistle gently. Her small body filled him with all kinds of protective urges that conflicted with his need to rut her silly. He felt confused. Her soft cries of pain both filled him with desire and the need to comfort her. He didnât know what to do.

Thistle wiggled her hips, sliding herself around on Buckyâs flared tip, causing it to wiggle around inside of her. There was pleasure buried in the pain, and the pain was easing slightly. She came to a profound understanding of Buckyâs love for her. This must be just as painful for him, and that brought her comfort. She had an idea. She squirmed and let Bucky slip free from her folds, but she did not release him. She caught him between her thighs, squeezed, and then rocked her hips backwards. She felt him shudder behind her and heard him groan. She smiled. She could feel his cock slitting along her filly bump as it slid between her sopping slick thighs. She felt clever and proud for enduring and then finding a way. She could feel Bucky releasing his aggression as he thrust himself between her clenched thighs, and Thistle felt incredibly aroused by his grunting and heavy breathing in her ear. Each frenzied thrust slid along her winking nubbin and filled her body with crazy pleasurable sensations. She arched her back against Bucky to encourage him to let go. She could take everything he had to give this way.

âœInterfemoral intercourse,â Berry whispered to Derpy. âœSheâs a smart filly.â

Derpy opened her eyes. âœWhat?â she asked.

âœThistle has Bucky trapped between her thighs and she isnât letting go. And from the looks of it, they are both enjoying it a great deal. I think sheâs gonna cum from the faces sheâs making,â Berry said as she watched the rutting going on in the bed with great interest.

Derpy allowed herself to look over at the rutting couple. Thistle no longer appeared to be in pain, and Bucky was screwing her three ways to Sunday. She could see Buckyâs cock sliding in and out between Thistleâs thighs and she could only guess at what it must be rubbing up against. She watched as Thistle squeezed her legs together even tighter, actually crossing them and hooking one hock over the other. The wet slurping sounds of sloppy shagging could be heard as Thistle clearly began to enjoy herself.

Bucky thrust himself in and out from between Thistleâs silken thighs. He could feel the hot wetness of her slick slit rubbing along the top of his cock, and he could feel a little hard hot knob of flesh rubbing up against his ring with every pass. He held nothing back and gave it to Thistle hard and dirty, somehow knowing that going at it roughly was the only way to give Thistle enough stimulation to go off.

And he intended to make the filly cum to show her how much he loved her. She was clenching her hind legs together and it produced the most wonderful feeling of friction against his stabbing thrusting cock as he slipped in and out of her silken embrace. Her ear flickered against his snoot and suddenly, he could not hold her close enough. He squeezed her as much as he dared as he continued to give her the most enthusiastic boning he could muster. He kissed her frantically just behind her ear.

Thistle felt her body tense and she cried out. She could feel each thrust teasing her feminine folds and the hot feeling of Buckyâs plunging flesh lingering over her own little pebble hard knob of happiness. She felt too hot, and she felt wet down there. She could not contain herself and she continued to cry out as her body twitched and spasmed.

Bucky smiled when he felt Thistle climax and kept going. He was pent up, but he had a ways to go. His frenzied thrusting continued unabated as he attempted to screw Thistle senseless.

âœSee, everything is fine mama bird, love found a way,â Berry said as she watched Thistle make silly faces. The kelpieâs eyes had crossed and her tongue was lolling out as her nostrils flared. She kissed Derpy warmly on the lips and went back to watching the show.

âœWe have a really good husband,â Derpy whispered softly after the kiss she had with Berry and she squeezed the earth pony close to her. âœAnd look at her faceâ I wish I had a camera.â

The two mares cuddled together as they watched Thistle having the time of her young life.

Finally, Bucky could take no more. He wasnât quite sure what to do, release was imminent. âœWhat do I do?â he grunted. âœThis is gonna make a mess!â

âœEase it inside of meâ gently,â Thistle said. âœJust the tip. I want to feel it,â she begged as she opened her legs.

Bucky didnât need to be told twice. He parted her once again, and found that it was a little easier this time, and upon entering her steamy recesses, he lost control of himself. With a jerking series of convulsions, he sent his seed spattering into Thistle as the kelpie let out a few gasping cries. He tried not to thrust inwards any deeper as he blew out several spurts of cum into Thistleâs overly tight snatch.

âœThat didnât hurt too much,â Thistle panted as she felt Bucky pull out of her. She squeaked as Bucky roughly pulled her close, crushing her to his body and she could feel his lips traveling down her neck, causing cold chilly tingles which made her flesh turn to goosebumps. She could feel the tips of his fangs pressing into flesh faintly as he continued to kiss her and work her over. She slid her slitted mound over his now softening cock, relishing the feeling of it against her. She heard a savage growl from behind her as she felt herself being turned over. In a moment, she was belly to belly with Bucky, and he was still crushing her close, he was snarling, and his muzzle connected with hers.

The couple exchanged a smolderingly hot kiss before pulling apart breathlessly.

Thistle saw the drowsy look in Buckyâs eye and felt relieved. He hadnât been sleeping well lately and she wanted him to sleep. âœSleep,â she whispered. âœIâm a very happy filly,â she cooed. She heard hoofsteps and then felt another body climb into the bed, and then another. Thistle felt Derpy settle in behind her, and she watched as Berry Punch eased herself down beside Bucky.

âœWas it everything you hoped for?â Derpy asked in a low whisper.

âœI didnât know what to expect,â Thistle answered honestly.

âœYou make the most adorable faces when you have the shudders,â Berry teased. âœI canât wait to have my fun with you.â The earth pony yawned and then rubbed Bucky, whose breathing had slowed.

The earth ponyâs yawn was contagious and Thistle yawned as well. She could feel Derpyâs warm body pressed against her back and she was sandwiched between the pegasus and the unicorn she loved.

âœNo foals in the bedâ as alpha I claim the morning shag,â Derpy said cheerfully.

âœYou didnât get to have Bucky love you,â Thistle said with a sudden realisation.

âœNo, but thatâs okay. As a herd, it is all about give and take. There are four of us now. We can each satisfy one another. And come morning, I just might have another go at you as well you little minxâ how would you feel about giving Bucky a nice show with Berry and I?â Derpy replied.

âœIâm not sure,â Thistle said in an uncertain voice.

âœWeâll move along at your pace,â Berry said reassuringly.

âœThank you,â Thistle replied and then she yawned again.

âœHeâs out,â Berry announced. âœSounds like a good deep sleep too, not the twitchy whimpering and kicking sleep heâs been having. I swear, he goes to sleep now and immediately begins to have bad dreams or something.â

âœMaybe we need to wear him out nightly,â Derpy said in a serious voice.

âœGood form of stress relief,â Berry responded.

âœHe does so much for othersâ we owe it to him to keep him happy,â Thistle stated.

Derpy nodded and squeezed the kelpie one last time as she yawned.

âœI feel sticky,â Thistle announced.

âœThistle, have I got a story to tell you about our first night togetherââ Berry said.

Chapter 151

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Bucky stood on the edge of the deck of The Scorned Mare, looked around for anypony that might be below in the early morning hour, lifted his hind leg, and pissed off the side of the ship. Where once this had been an act of fear, embarrassment, neurosis, and shame, he now took an entirely too casual attitude about the whole thing.

Watching the stallion she so loved relieving himself, Berry Punch laughed. âœWe need to upgrade to modern indoor plumbing as soon as possible,â she commented.

âœI donât think I could pee off the side, it doesnât look safe,â Thistle said. âœOh how I wish somepony had thought of a bucket!â

âœMeh,â Berry Punch muttered. She walked to the edge of the ship, stood up on her hind legs, pinched a part of her anatomy in a certain way, and then while standing, pissed over the side. âœI can write my name in the snow,â she bragged as she sent a stream of urine out in an arc.

âœOhâ oooh myâ mmm mmm mmmph! There is just something about earth ponies,â Bucky gasped as he watched Berry with unabashed lust upon his face, still pissing over the side.

âœBucky will hold you in his magic Thistle, and then you can just hang your backside over the edge,â Derpy said as she patted Thistle.

âœWhat about you?â Thistle asked.

âœMe? Iâm a pegasus. I plan to make it rain,â Derpy said with a smile.

Bucky stood in the foundry looking at the designs on the wall. Rising Star stood beside him, looking a bit roughed up but overall none the worse for wear. Rising Star rubbed at lump on the side of his head, a gift from Sparkler.

âœWeâre really going to do this,â Rising Star said in a voice filled with awe.

âœYes,â Bucky replied.

Crush nodded.

âœFirst, we need a couple of test pieces. Simple steel sheets, semi-finished, slightly enchanted, and treated with the… uh, liquid from yonder orb,â Bucky stated.

âœAnd Bucky, tell me, how do you plan to do battle in this suit of armor?â Rising Star inquired.

âœWhat do you mean?â Bucky answered.

âœWell, combat training,â Rising Star replied.

âœI have Sombraâs memoriesâ and I planned to figure it out as I went,â Bucky said in a flat monotone.

Rising Star rubbed his face with his hoof and looked disturbed. âœLook, I just spent a couple of days of having my plot kicked all over the place and with each lump added to my skull, I understand just how little I know of fighting.â

âœThe armor will be powered. Itâll make me strong. Plus, Iâll have my magic, how hard could it be?â Bucky said with a disdainful sniff.

âœHow hard was it the first night you went out on patrol?â Rising Star questioned in reply as respectfully as possible.

Bucky scowled. âœIt isnât the same thing at all. Iâll be protected.â

âœMama Berry was worried that youâd pull something boneheaded like this,â Rising Star groaned. He turned his head and did his best to give Bucky a withering glare, trying to mimic what Berry had shown as an example.

Crush prodded Bucky gently, which nearly toppled Bucky over and then patted Rising Star affectionately. He smiled and pointed at Rising Star enthusiastically.

âœOh sure, take his side,â Bucky grumbled as he recovered.

âœI need some assistanceâ oh, Knight Captain Buckminster.â

The trio all turned to look at whomever it was that had spoken. There was a very large griffon standing in the doorway, and Crushâs assistants all scattered, suddenly finding business elsewhere.

âœHi Lugus, where is your little pegasus filly?â Rising Star asked.

âœShe is safe with your matriarch, who I fear may be spoiling her,â Lugus replied. âœThere is this pegasus affection ritual involving the hiding and the showing of the face. I do not understand it,â he grumbled.

âœSo what brings you here?â Rising Star inquired. âœCrush canât talk,â he explained.

âœI am in need of a weapon. There are vermin on these Isles. I do not like vermin. Vermin that kill the young, prey upon the old and weak, and are barely even worthy foes. I want to hunt them. I understand that there is steel to be found here. I would like a hook-axe if such a thing could be made,â Lugus asked.

Crush nodded.

âœI have nothing to offer in payment but my own body. I will join you if you will have me,â Lugus offered to Bucky.

âœWhatâs a hook-axe?â Rising Star asked.

âœA griffon weapon. Axe blade on one side, a long hook on the other, a shaft about as long as a griffon body. A strong griffon can use the hook to snag foes up from off of the ground. And the axe is self explanatory,â Lugus replied.

âœSo, are you a warrior?â Rising Star inquired politely.

âœIn my home country, I was a knight. I was disgraced. I fled,â Lugus answered with brutal honesty.

âœHow were you disgraced?â Rising Star asked rather sheepishly.

âœI refused my king. He wanted me to kill his son,â Lugus replied in a cold dead voice.

âœI donât think that disgraces you,â Rising Star said in a soft voice. âœSay, you have combat trainingâ did you wear heavy armor?â

Lugus nodded.

âœBucky here needs trainingâ weâre about to make a suit of heavy plate. I need for you to beat my dad into shape,â Rising Star stated with a cunning grin.

The griffon raised his claw and scratched his head. âœI can do that,â he answered. âœBut how is he even going to move in heavy plate?â

âœMagical motivators and actuators,â Bucky said in halfhearted explanation as he glared at Rising Star. Buckyâs glower was far worse that Berryâs withering stare.

âœSee that he is whipped into shape and I will even talk him into enchanting your weapon,â Rising Star said shrewdly as he cringed away from Bucky.

Lugusâ feathered crest rose and he drummed his claws upon the stone floor as he stood there. âœGive me a week and he might stand up to a stiff breeze,â Lugus replied in an amused sounding voice.

âœBut you are helping us work the forge,â Bucky interjected.

âœI can do that,â Lugus offered. âœBut your matriarch must provide care for my ward.â

âœDone,â Bucky stated.

âœYeah,â Rising Star added.

Crush flapped his lips, which made a flatulent sound, and then gently prodded Bucky once again, which almost tipped the little stallion over.

âœThe wind wouldnât knock me over,â Bucky said sulkily as he regained his hoofing. He glared upward at Crush and something in his neck cricked. âœOwâ not fairâ some ponies hogged all of the tall when they were born,â he grumbled as he reached up to rub his neck.

âœI have no idea how he understands Crush,â Rising Star said to Lugus.

âœI took lessons from Berry. Crush speaks a smattering of pegasus and earth pony nonverbal communicators. Heâs actually really easy to understand if you pay attention,â Bucky said as he levitated a charcoal stick to Lugus. âœNow draw me a hook-axe so I know exactly what I need to do here,â he instructed.

Dinky sighed as she settled her body in the water. She didnât feel the bugs anymore, but she did feel itchy all over. Her mind felt unsettled and she poked the water with her forehoof so she could watch the ripples as they spread. She turned and looked at her mother on shore. Her mama looked so very happy, and that made Dinky feel a little better. The little pegasus filly her mother was playing peekaboo with was giggling.

Thistle was swimming out in deeper water and Dinky watched her for a while. Thistle looked happy and Dinky understood why. She had heard Lyra and Bon Bon talking with her in low voices this morning about being a mare within the herd. Turning her head, she looked over at Loch Skimmer, who was beginning to whistle to Harper, sweet little Harper who was being held by Berry Punch who lay on her back.

She wished Ripple was here, but Ripple was off learning how to box.

âœPiÃa, do you think what I did makes me a bad pony?â Dinky asked her best friend and confidant.

âœNo,â PiÃa replied without a secondâs hesitation. âœDo you think daddy is a bad pony for taking Thistle as his wife even though Thistle is Sparklerâs age?â

âœWell, noââ Dinky said after several moments of thought.

âœWhy?â PiÃa asked.

âœBecause I understand why he did it,â Dinky responded.

âœWell, a lot of ponies probably wonât understand, but we do,â PiÃa stated. âœAnd daddy is a good pony. We know this to be true.â

Dinky nodded. âœThank you PiÃa,â she whispered. âœI donât know what I would do without you. You take all of the complicated things in my head and make them simple.â

PiÃa shrugged and watched as Thistle swam around in the water. âœMama Thistle looks happy,â she said as she gently stroked Dinky.

âœYeah she does,â Dinky agreed.

âœIâm probably never going to be that happy. I know too much. Iâve become aware of too many things. I dunno how to put some of them into words yet, and that troubles me, it is like being just big enough to peer over the counter at Sugarcube Corner and see a treat you want, but not yet tall enough to reach it,â PiÃa said in a flat despondent voice.

âœI know what you mean PiÃa,â Dinky replied. âœI know what I want in lifeâ I still want power. I want to understand thingsâ but not at the cost of having bugs crawling under my skin or having nightmares about wolves burningâ I wanted them to hurt, but I canât bear to actually see them in pain in my dreams PiÃa, and I donât know how to talk to the adults about it,â she explained.

âœWeâve both become aware,â PiÃa agreed sadly. âœWe canât go back to how we were.â

âœNo,â Dinky answered as she began to sniffle slightly. âœI donât want to cry anymoreâ nuts and gum. I donât even understand what I am aware of.â

âœFeck,â PiÃa swore. She felt a heady rush of heat flood over her cheeks.

âœPiÃa!â Dinky gasped, looking in wide eyed horror at her sibling.

âœThat felt really good,â PiÃa confessed.

âœMy mama will wash your mouth out with soap if she can find some,â Dinky warned.

âœArse,â PiÃa muttered, savouring the word in her mouth. She had said it before, but never quite so forcefully or with so much meaning.

Dinkyâs face turned a bright maroon. âœStop PiÃa, they will hear you!â Dinky begged.

âœShite,â PiÃa announced.

âœNo PiÃa, not the big âsâ wordââ Dinky cried as she looked around. She stared at her mother, then at Berry, and finally out at Thistle.

âœBuggery,â PiÃa grumbled, which caused Dinky to cover her ears with her front hooves. âœYou know Dinky, if I can figure out how to say these things without suddenly feeling ashamed or embarrassed, then I will no longer be a fecking foal,â she explained.

âœPiÃa!â Dinky squealed.

PiÃa shrugged. âœThey are only words. The only meaning or power they have is what we give them.â

âœIf you really believe that, then I quintuple dog blind dare you to walk up to Berry Punch or my mother and say those words,â Dinky challenged.

âœOkay,â PiÃa agreed as she rose to her hooves and waded out of the water.

âœLord Bitters, you have some ponies needing to speak to you,â the guard reported.

Bucky scowled, hating the sound of those words. He wondered why Sentinel had not prevented this. He looked around the forge. He was covered in soot and sweat. âœI guess I will step outside to see them,â he growled.

Bucky stomped outside and saw three ponies. Correction. Two ponies and one zebra. He couldnât remember a zebra being on the list of shipwreck survivors. He stared at the zebra, and she shimmered and warped. Bucky had the most troubling sensation that his gaze belonged elsewhere and his brain suggested that he was looking at an earth pony.

He looked around and the guard was gone. He peered at the three ponies and his horn ignited. âœWhat is the meaning of this? If you donât stop using that aversion spell, I am going to get snippy,â Bucky growled.

âœThere is no need for that,â the unicorn replied.

âœOther ponies might be upset if they saw a zebra,â the earth pony explained.

âœAnd donât you dare talk to us about âœsnippyâ Buckminster Bitters, son of Buckminster Bitters and Primrose Propers, distant son of Platinum, Founder of Equestria, and blood heir of Sombra, the Lord of Winter,â the zebra warned.

âœYes, âœsnippyâ is a delicate subject for us,â the unicorn said with an equine derisive snort.

âœWhat do you want?â Bucky demanded. He felt a rising panic deep within him and there was a troubling understanding coming up into his memories that these were not ponies at all.

âœSombraâs memories are surfacing,â the earth pony muttered.

âœWeâve been discovered,â the zebra announced.

âœBut does he know our names?â the unicorn questioned.

âœThat would be needlessly cruel if he did, hopefully Sombra isnât the horseâs ass in death that he was in life,â the zebra said as she scratched her barrel with a hoof stained a greenish brown.

âœI liked Sombraâ he shared his seed with me,â the earth pony said.

âœWhat is going on here?â Bucky demanded.

âœWe came with an offer of unicorn cleverness,â the unicorn said with a wink.

âœJust get to the point,â Bucky commanded.

âœWe wish to make a deal,â the earth pony offered.

âœWe want you to make us a promise,â the zebra said.

âœJust one simple promise and we will give you something you will value in return, but we cannot tell you directly what it is, only that you will know the nature of your reward once you have it,â the unicorn explained.

âœI am listening,â Bucky growled.

âœWe want your solemn oath that you will never become the alicorn of war,â the three ponies all said in unison.

âœHow do you know about that?â Bucky snarled.

âœNever mind how we know!â the unicorn bellowed.

Bucky felt cold fear course through his body and his legs buckled. He nearly fell and he felt the fuzzy fizzy tingle of magic holding up his body. âœI donât want that future,â he admitted in a fearful foalish voice. âœI just want to be a fatherâ have lots of hot drunken nookie.â

âœThat is wise beyond your years Buckminster!â the zebra praised.

âœIt will not be an arduous promise then, just say the words,â the earth pony coaxed.

âœYes, just say the words, spit on your hoof, and then touch hooves with usâ as an extra added bonus, we will make you an offer you canât refuse,â the unicorn promised in sweet motherly tones as she tried to comfort Bucky, who looked quite afraid.

âœYou canât tell me the nature of my reward, only that I will know it once it happens, but you can make me an offer?â Bucky asked in a confused voice as he wobbled on his hooves.

âœWe cannot tell you the exact nature of your reward for making the oath, that would be breaking certain rules. But we can tell you about our little extra incentive. We just want you to say such simple little words, and you donât want to do it anyway, what is there to lose?â the zebra said in gentle warm tones that made Bucky feel sleepy.

âœWell, what is the incentive?â Bucky questioned.

âœMake the oath and we can tell you that. Plus, we give you the reward that you so richly deserve,â the earth pony promised.

Bucky licked his lips nervously and he peered at the three equines that were not really equines. He had a nagging suspicion that if he thought about it hard enough, he would know their names.

But knowing their names was folly.

Bucky spat on his hoof and extended it. âœI give you my solemn oath that I will never become the alicorn of war,â Bucky vowed.

The three mares each touched his hoof in turn, and Bucky felt an odd warmth in his body. His aches and pains soothed a bit. He felt the presence of deep magic and primal magic all around him. He felt a sense of peace enter his mind.

âœAs for the nature of our deal, you will never lose a mare in foal birth and your mares will never fail to carry a foal to term,â the earth pony promised.

âœThatâsâ thatâs comforting,â Bucky said.

âœWe also take comfort in your oath,â the three mares said in unison.

âœAnd we must be going, we have other deals to make and other fates to break,â the zebra muttered. She leaned in close to Bucky and kissed him softly just below his eye. âœBrandywine, Barley Bitters, Ditzy Doo, Dizzy Dooâ remember these names,â she whispered.

Bucky blinked in the bright daylight. He didnât remember coming outside. He stood just outside of the blacksmithy looking around and wondering why he was outside rather than inside working. He supposed that he had been deep in thought and had simply stepped outside for some cool fresh air.

He turned towards the door. Standing around wasnât getting work done and there was so much to do in such little time.

Chapter 152

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Sparkler flopped over in the grass, both breathless and exhausted. Sour Mash had been working her over repeatedly and every bone in her body ached. Sparkler had never been very athletic, and she couldnât understand how the earth pony kicking her plot could continue so tirelessly. She was immensely grateful for the chance to rest.

As she lay on her side gulping in huge lungfuls of air, she watched Ripple. Ripple was soaked with sweat, glistening, her mane clinging to her neck and her tail clinging to her hind legs. She felt a small spark of attraction for Ripple. The pegasus filly was on her hind legs, well balanced, beating the stuffing out of punching dummy, the third punching dummy of the day because the previous two shattered from her blows, much to the shock and amazement of many of the soldiers who watched her.

Sparkler was glad that Rising Star was in the forgeâ this many males watching Ripple would have pushed him dangerously close to being angry. Her colt had developed a possessive streak recently, and Sparkler loved him for it, even if made her worry somewhat.

✅and this is for beating my motherââ THWACK! ✅and this is for beating my sisterââ THUMP! ✅and this is for beating me just because I got underhoof when I was scaredââ CRUNCH!

Sparkler winced as she clutched at her heaving sides. There went another punching dummy. The post had shattered near the base and the dummy fell over. She watched Ripple drop down on all fours and flex her wings out. She was covered in sweat, but Sparkler somehow knew that her cheeks were wet with tears.

✅AND THIS IS BECAUSE I FECKING HATE YOU! I HAVE A REAL FATHER NOW!â

As Sparkler watched, Ripple bucked out her hind legs and connected solidly with the fallen dummy. It exploded into splinters and lengths of rope. She could not help but notice that Rippleâs buck had connected with the groin area on dummy. Still struggling to draw breath, Sparkler rolled up on to her hooves and went to Rippleâs side.

Approaching cautiously, she sat down beside Ripple and gingerly placed a foreleg over Rippleâs withers. Sparkler pulled her close, and Ripple sat down and leaned into Sparklerâs embrace. Sparkler felt Rippleâs face pressed into her neck and then she felt the small filly break down into uncontained sobs. Sparkler squeezed and planted a kiss on the top of Rippleâs head, just between her ears and wrapped her other leg around Rippleâs neck, pulling her close.

Sparkler felt two more legs wrapping around both her and Ripple, and she felt Ripple panic. Sparkler realised it was Sour Mash that was hugging both of them. âœDonât worry Ripple, itâs just Sour Mash, sheâs family, sheâd never hurt you,â Sparkler whispered soothingly, not wanting to see Sour Mash turned into a broken punching dummy.

Ripple relaxed after Sparklerâs words and Sparkler was grateful for Sour Mashâs strong embrace. The two fillies and the mare clung to one another, saying nothing, quietly bonding. One had hooves as hard as stone, one could become stone, and the last was as resolute as a stone.

Crush eyed the thin piece of steel. It was curved. It was black. And it was not the least bit shiny. It seemed to absorb the light. He raised an eyebrow and then stared at Bucky as he blew out a flatulent raspberry of disbelief with his lips.

âœLook, just smack it as hard as you can with your hammer, trust me,â Bucky insisted.

Crush raised his hammer, his big hammer, the one that was half the size of Buckyâs body. He raised it high and brought it crashing down upon the steel. There was a screech of metal and the steel crumpled under his blow. Crush snorted in disgust.

âœWait for itââ Bucky breathed.

As Crush watched, the crumpled steel slowly returned to its original shape. After a few moments, it showed no sign of damage and Crush grunted. His ears perked forward and he looked at Bucky, who looked entirely too smug. He snorted an indignant snort and looked away. Unicorns were such snobs sometimes. Heaving a sigh of irritation, he smashed the steel plate once again so he could watch it slowly recover its original shape.

âœIt is miraculous,â Lugus whispered. âœFor a suit of fine heavy plated mailâ to self repairâ unthinkably valuable.â

âœThat was only the test plate. The actual armor will be much thicker, magically reinforced, magically hardened, and then made feather light through heavy enchantment. I will also augment the plate for kinetic dispersal,â Bucky stated.

âœWhat is that?â Lugus inquired.

âœThe energy of the blow will be redirected elsewhere. In this case, a solid blow against the plate will be returned to whatever strikes it, meaning that if you struck it with a sword, the redirected energy would shatter the sword and probably break your claws as well as the bones in your forelegs,â Bucky explained.

âœAnd this is why your kind rule the world,â Lugus said.

Bucky shrugged. âœI donât want to rule anything. I just want to get drunk and screw.â

âœIf only life was so simple for all of us,â Lugus replied.

âœI like getting drunk and screwing,â Rising Star announced in what he hoped was his most adult voice. When he said the word âœscrewingâ his voice cracked and it came out as a shrill squeak, which put the colt into a sulky mood, knowing that he had just blown his chance to fit in with the much older adults.

Lugus turned and studied Rising Star, studying him carefully. âœYou need to be more confident. It is not done by words, but by deed. Be polite, be discreet, have a plan to kill everything you meet,â the griffon said in a helpful instructive manner. He turned and looked at Bucky. âœLike this one. He plans.â

âœBe polite, be discreet, have a plan to kill everything you meet,â Rising Star repeated to himself. âœI like that. Everything burns if I think about it hard enough, so I have that covered.â

âœSo, any name for your pegasus filly?â Bucky asked, changing the subject as he began to shape liquid steel as though it was clay using his magic.

âœI do not know of any names yet. How are ponies named? There is so much about your culture that I just do not understand. Like your matriarch and her game of hiding and revealing her face. I do not see the purpose of such an act,â Lugus replied.

âœFoals think that peekaboo is the greatest thing ever. Harper will play peekaboo right up to the point of passing out and falling asleep if you keep going,â Bucky explained.

âœBut this peekabooâ what does it accomplish?â Lugus asked.

âœItâs fun,â Bucky answered.

âœI do not understand,â Lugus stated in a flat voice. âœFun is learning how to sharpen things. Fun is learning how to throw knives and darts. Fun is swordplay, or spearplay, or axeplay. Fun is bloody combat and learning about what you are capable of. This peekabooâ it strikes me as a waste of time.â

âœFoals like it,â Bucky said with a smile as he worked the steel he was manipulating into a smooth curved shape.

âœIs it vital to the healthy development of a foal?â Lugus asked.

âœYes,â Rising Star replied.

âœHow so?â Lugus inquired.

Rising Star hemmed and hawed, standing in place and looking thoughtful, and began to feel nervous when he saw Lugus tapping one claw upon the floor. âœWell, a foal has to have fun, or they turn out like how Bucky over there used to beâ which isnât good at all.â

Bucky nodded as he continued to shape the steel into a dome like structure.

âœI do not know how Buckminster was, so I have no means to make judgment,â Lugus stated in a low voice. âœI find myself missing her when I am away. She is very dear to me already. I find myself very protective of her and her tiny soft little body. She is little more than a morsel or a snack but she is worth so much more.â The griffon paused for a moment when he saw the three ponies looking at him in horror. âœOh no no no, I would never do such a thingâ it was a mistake of words. I would never harm her I assure youâ I have never polluted my honour by eating pony flesh, nor would I,â he said assuringly.

âœMistakes happen,â Bucky said gently. âœWhen different cultures bump into one another funny things happen. It is better to try and understand than to be angry.â

âœI think I love her,â Lugus admitted. âœIs that possible already?â

âœWhy wouldnât it be?â Bucky asked as he continued to work.

âœWe large griffons rarely raise our own young. We are far too busy. We place them into rookeriesâ nurseries, and then leave the rearing of our cubs to the servant class, the smaller physically weaker griffons unfit for a life of glory and honour. We are taught to avoid emotional attachment to anything,â Lugus explained.

âœThatâs awful,â Bucky said in a pained voice.

âœI have been affectionate with herâ I have tried to do what I have seen the servants doing. I stroke her, touch her, and even cuddle her. She cries sometimes no matter what I do and I donât know how to fix that,â Lugus said in a worried voice.

âœShe misses her mama most likely,â Rising Star said. âœI miss mine.â

âœI vowed to look after her, but I worry if I will be a fit guardian,â Lugus admitted.

âœI worry if I am going to be a fit father,â Bucky groused. âœThe things Iâve done,â he muttered as he stared at the glass orb that swirled with rainbows and darkness.

There was a loud series of clangs as Crush began to hammer away on a set of door hinges under construction and Bucky fell silent, not sure what else to say.

Life just wasnât fair PiÃa reflected. Derpyâs startled squawk still rang in her ears and the stinging wing slaps over her muzzle had left her feeling sore. Neither Derpy nor Berry had accepted PiÃaâs announcement that she was no longer a fecking foal and now, she was in time out, sitting in the corner and staring at the wall with nothing to do.

She could hear the angry breathing of her big sister behind her on the sofa.

She balanced on her haunches and tapped her front hooves together, wishing that this was over. Her big sister had given her such a look. Berry said those words all the time and PiÃa could not understand why it was okay for Berry to say them but she could not.

âœStop tapping your hooves,â Berry commanded in a low voice so the sleepers in the room would not awaken.

Perhaps it was a bad idea to tell my sister to go feck herself PiÃa decided. That may have been a slight mistake. Asserting her newfound adulthood had gone terribly wrong and now she was getting an undeserved foalish punishment that she absolutely hated. Nothing was worse than being bored. She clacked her teeth together for the lack of anything better to do.

âœStop clicking your teeth together. And donât you dare sigh either,â Berry demanded in a voice filled with warning.

PiÃa sighed away.

âœFine, sit there a little longer,â Berry announced.

PiÃa sighed again. Hoping her sister wasnât looking, she turned her head around and stuck out her tongue. Thankfully, Berry wasnât looking and PiÃa reveled in private smug satisfaction.

âœI heard that,â Berry said. âœKeep it up. I donât know what has gotten into you, but I have half a mind to wear you out like Bucky did Dinky. Maybe a few hours of pulling a wagon will allow you to think. Itâs the earth pony way.â

âœYou have half a mind to begin with,â PiÃa grumbled. She gloated in smug satisfaction once again when there was no reply. The room was filled with silence, and PiÃa celebrated her moment of victory over her sister. The silence became oppressive and PiÃa began to feel uncomfortable.

And then, she heard it. The unmistakable sounds of her big sister, the pony she considered her mother, sobbing. PiÃa slumped in shame. She had gone too far. She felt tears coming to her own eyes. âœIâm sorryâ I was stupidâ can I please come out of the corner and give you a hug? Iâm sooooo sorry!â PiÃa whined.

All PiÃa heard in reply was sobbing, soft quiet sobbing. She thought about leaving the corner and she fretted, stuck in the horrible corner while her sister, her mother was crying. âœIâm such a gobshite,â PiÃa whimpered.

âœYou stay in the corner,â Berry said in a shuddering voice and then went back to sobbing.

PiÃa hunched over and covered her own face. Unable to hold back any longer, the foal began to sob herself. She cried until a long dribble of snot dangled from her nose and then she cried some more.

And over on the sofa, unseen by PiÃa, Berry Punch smiled to herself as she continued to make sobbing sounds.

Chapter 153

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The days were passing by in a blur now, and Bucky had lost track of just how much time had slipped by. He was sleeping very little. The wolves were slowly returning to the isle and their howls could be heard nightly now, but not in force. The bitterly cold nights were gone, and much of the lingering sense of fear had not returned.

The purge that Dinky had committed had been horrifyingly effective. Other isles were now reporting no howls at all now that the wolves had returned to the Isle of Groats, most likely having returned to guard their master.

Hope seemed infectious.

âœIt feels nice to have a day to do nothing together,â Loch Skimmer announced as she rolled over onto her back and rubbed her croup on the grassy earth. She snorted a few times, worked loose a fart, and she flicked her tail a few times just because it felt good.

âœMama bird made Bucky take a break, and I am fine with that,â Rising Star said as he flopped down beside Loch Skimmer. âœWorking in the forge though is awesome. I am learning a skill. I can keep steel in a liquid form with like no real effort at all, I donât even have to think about it anymore, and Iâve heightened my control to amazing levels.â

Ripple flipped a cartwheel in the grass and then somersaulted backwards, landing on her hooves. Her wings remained folded the entire time. After giving a grin, she took off walking on her forelegs with her hindlegs held high in the air.

âœSheâs turning into an acrobat,â Sparkler remarked casually before also flopping down in the grass with her mates. âœRipple can stand on her front hooves and box with her hind hooves. Sheâs amazing.â

âœAll of my wives are amazing,â Rising Star bragged.

âœYou know Rising Star, when we go home, you are going to be the only colt your age that is married,â Sparkler quipped as she watched Rippleâs lithe flexible body bouncing about like a spring.

âœIâve thought about that,â Rising Star replied. âœEvery day I wonder what my mother and father are going to think.â

âœThatâs ânuff of that, too serious,â Loch said as she chewed on a mouthful of sweet clover.

âœSheâs rightâ Iâm gonna go chase Ripple,â Sparkler announced as she rolled up on to her hooves and gave herself a shake.

âœGood luck,â Loch snarked. âœRipple is faster than a pease porridge fart through a pegasus with its tail on fire.â

âœOh, I intend to catch her, maybe do a little innocent snoot-bumping,â Sparkler said, announcing her intentions.

âœOh I wanna watch this,â Rising Star remarked.

Derpy settled herself over Harper and Peekaboo, both foals under one wing. She let out a happy little soft nicker and fluffed out her feathers. Using her snoot, she scooted Harper towards her and smooshed her gently against Peekaboo. âœI canât believe Lugus named you Peekaboo,â she murmured to herself. Sentinel settled himself in beside her in the straw, taking a bit of a break. She watched as he yawned and she felt bad for Sentinel being awake during the day. With the foals sandwiched between them, Derpy felt that the foals were secure. She settled and gave Sentinel a loving nuzzle.

Her gaze went to Bucky and Berry on the bed. His head was between her hind legs, resting on one of her thighs, and Berry, who was laying on her side, was stroking his head softly with one folded fetlock. Under almost any circumstance, this would have seemed sexual, but in this instance the act was serene. Derpy could sense by his breathing that Bucky was asleep.

âœSentinel, I know that you think this family is a little weird sometimes, but do you understand at all what is going on?â Derpy said in a soft whisper.

âœI understand that father carries an extraordinary burden upon his shoulders. I also understand that what he and Berry did together comforts him, even if looking at it does make me feel a little strange,â Sentinel replied. âœI would never begrudge him for seeking comfort. Not after what I saw in the dream.â

âœStill think about that huh?â Derpy asked as her eyes lingered on Berry Punch and Buckyâs blurry forms. She squinted one eye closed and the pair came into focus.

âœHow can I not?â Sentinel answered in a choked voice. âœAll of you were dead. I was dead. And he was alone. It broke him. And now he sleeps like a foal at mama Berryâs teats. At least heâs not crying and kicking in his sleep.â

âœDoes that trouble you?â Derpy asked.

âœOf course it does,â Sentinel replied in a flat voice. âœWatching him kick and cry makes me actually hurt inside.â

âœNo, I meant that he is sleeping at her teatsâ Iâm just worried that this will seem weird somehow,â Derpy said for clarification.

âœOh,â Sentinel remarked. âœIâd rather he do this than drink himself into a stupour.â

âœI think I agree with you,â Derpy whispered. âœDo you write about me in your journal?â she asked, changing the subject to something not quite so weird.

âœYes,â Sentinel said sheepishly.

âœWhat do you write about?â Derpy inquired.

âœIt is kind of private,â Sentinel said slowly in a low voice.

âœYou donât have to tell me,â Derpy said. She leaned over and gave the young colt a kiss.

âœMy last entry was about how I am learning everything I need to know about being a pegasus from you,â Sentinel admitted.

âœDâaw,â Derpy gasped. She could feel her eyes beginning to water.

âœYou might have feathery wings and I might have leathery wings, but we are still pegasi and youâre the sort of pegasus I want to be like,â Sentinel explained in a low trembling voice.

âœYou say such sweet things and you mean them,â Derpy answered in a quavering voice.

Sentinel did not reply. He leaned his head over instead and rested it upon Derpyâs neck. He heard Bucky snort faintly and he watched as Bucky stretched out his hind legs. There was a faint soft snore coming from the sleeping stallion.

âœHeâs snoring!â Berry said in a hissing whisper. âœItâs tickling my teats!â

The endless grey expanse loomed all around him and Bucky felt a serene calm settle into his mind. He knew this place. And he knew the two figures approaching him. He was actually glad to see them now, and he discovered that he looked forward to these visits.

âœMy son,â Sombra greeted.

âœBucky,â Platinum said warmly.

âœHi,â Bucky replied, not sure what to say. It felt strange trying to talk to them in a familial way, and all he had to go on for experience was his own parents. But Bucky didnât want to go by those standards.

âœThe hour of your proving draws nearer and nearer I think,â Sombra stated as he pulled Bucky into a hug.

Not waiting for Sombra to finish, Platinum pushed her way into the embrace and wrapped her own forelegs around Buckyâs neck. She squeezed delicately at first, and then slipped into something a bit more base and equine.

âœWeâre proud of you. We watch everything you do now. The master of this realm, who has always used visions of failure to torture us now shows us your life in detail,â Platinum said as she pushed Bucky down to the soft grey expanse. After she made him settle, she rested her head upon his withers and then watched as Sombra sat down beside her.

âœCertain things trouble us,â Sombra admitted.

âœYes they do,â Platinum agreed as she snuggled closer to Bucky. âœLike the imp.â

âœBah, it was an imp,â Sombra retorted. âœWhat is one imp? What troubles me is that you are keeping it from your wives. Be open with them. Be honest. You listen to Bon Bon you scoundrel, or I will tan your hide somehow. You arenât so big that I canât,â Sombra growled.

Bucky felt an odd sensation of absolute panic. Is this what it feels like to have your parents disappointed with you he thought to himself. He tried to reorganise his thoughts. He had lived his whole life with his parents disappointed with him and everything he did. But this was different. This mattered in some meaningful way. âœI am sorry sir, I will try to do better,â Bucky promised in a fearful foalish voice, and he couldnât help but notice that he sounded like Sentinel.

âœSombra, stop it, youâre scaring him. A gentle coaxing is all he needs, you donât need to act like a brute pegasus,â Platinum scolded.

âœHe doesnât even act like a unicorn anymore,â Sombra retorted.

âœI donât?â Bucky asked.

Both Platinum and Sombra fell silent, and Bucky could feel Platinumâs head rising from his withers. He could feel her soft breathing on the back of his neck, and it was comforting. He felt like a foal again, much like he had felt with Berry just before going to sleep.

âœIt is hard to say how you actâ dear. We do find your behaviour a bitâ troubling. There are times when you act like an earth pony. Or a pegasus. You behave like a brute now. Unicorns are supposed to be about gentle cunning,â Platinum said. A loud snort made her turn her head and she glared fiercely at Sombra. âœSombra, for all of his brutality on the battlefield, was still a unicorn. Refined. Graceful. He killed beautifully and artistically. He had this brilliant move where he sucked all of his enemies into one spot, froze them solid, and then shattered them with a delicate telekinetic tap. It was lovely to watch. He killed by the thousands but did so in a refined and genteel manner. Buckyâ you behave likeâ likeâ like a filthy savage!â she said with a shudder.

âœOh come on, it isnât so bad,â Sombra said.

âœHeâs making a suit of armor with claws! Claws! Do you know what you do with claws? Itâs messy!â Platinum squealed, working herself into a tizzy.

âœWhat is that modern parlance they use now? Yesâ stop being a drama duchess,â Sombra said gently as he stroked his wife.

âœI am a princess!â Platinum wailed.

Sombra rolled his eyes and carefully patted the unicorn mare in the throes of pique.

âœI married earth ponies, a kelpie, and a pegasus,â Bucky said in his own defense. âœAnd a unicorn tooâ I love them allâ all you married were unicornsâ things might have turned out differently for you had you opened your heart to others,â he insisted.

âœI doubt that. I donât knowâ perhaps,â Sombra conceded.

Platinum shuddered. âœMarrying outside of your tribeâ I understand you live in modern times dear, but like should go with like. You donât mix lemon juice and milk without consequences.â

âœHey, I love all of my wives as ponies!â Bucky retorted, raising his voice enough to cause Platinum and Sombra both to draw back. âœTribe has nothing to do with it! You said that Sentinel was worthy as your heir, did you mean that or not?â he demanded.

âœWe did,â Sombra replied, taken aback slightly. âœBut thatâs different.â

âœA pony is a pony is a pony!â Bucky growled. âœI see no difference! We are one tribe!â

âœPerhaps he is right dear,â Platinum said in a soft voice filled with shame to her husband.

âœIt seems that even in death, there is much to learn,â Sombra admitted.

âœTheyâre all mares. They all have hearts and needs. All of them are ponies, and all of them will have my foals. And those foals will be little earth ponies, little pegasi, little unicorns, and even little kelpies with your royal blood. I have four foals coming that I will treasure as my foals and there are no tribes! Just MY TRIBE!â Bucky said, his words getting louder and louder until he finally bellowed. âœAnd if I hear so much as a single snort of derision from either of you, I will hunt myself down a griffoness, woo her, screw her, and keep screwing her until she squirts out little hippogriffs with your blood!â

Princess Platinum let out a gasp and fell over limp with a muffled thump.

âœSheâs fainted,â Sombra said in shock. âœShe hasnât done that in about seven hundred years. The last time she fainted was when she discovered that one of her grandfoals had taken over the shadow government and the nightmare cult.â

Sombra prodded Platinum, trying to rouse her. He looked worried.

âœIâm sorryâ I guess I got carried away,â Bucky apologised. âœI didnât know the dead could faint.â

âœShe still has her unicorn sensibilities, which you seem to have lost,â Sombra said in neutral tones.

âœIâve lost nothing important!â Bucky growled. âœBut I have gained a great deal.â

âœPerhaps you have my son,â Sombra admitted in a halting voice. âœThe Founders wanted their tribes to live together, but they still recognised each other as a different tribe. Perhaps it is better this wayâ your wayâ to look at your herd as your tribe. Maybe those distinctions were a mistake, and we should have seen ourselves all as ponies all along.â

Bucky pulled himself up into a sitting position and looked down upon Platinum. âœI feel bad,â he muttered.

âœYou shouldnât,â Sombra said reassuringly. âœYou defended your tribeâ from us,â he finished, his words filled with a lingering pain. âœYou truly are my heir. I am proud to know that my bloodline had finally produced one such as as you. One worthy son after a long line of vile unspeakable monsters.â

âœI donât feel worthy,â Bucky confessed. âœEspecially after what I did to Dinky. I feel lower than dirt.â

âœDinky has a powerful talent. The sort of talent that historians will write entire volumes about. As terrible as it might have been, using her gift to assist you in your war efforts was a good move. Sometimes, the pressing needs of the many must be balanced upon the shoulders of a few. She is young and she is resilient. She will recover in time and be made stronger for her experience,â Sombra explained. âœAnd wiser,â he added in a comforting voice.

âœI still feel bad,â Bucky said.

âœA prince should feel terrible when any of his subjects sufferâ an important lesson that I myself forgot,â Sombra remarked.

Bucky lifted his head and looked at Sombra, his glance drooping into a slack jawed stare. âœWhat?â he finally gasped in an almost silent breathy utterance.

âœYou heard me,â Sombra said in a commanding voice. âœJust what do you think it means to be my heir?â

âœNO!â Bucky retorted. âœI donât want that. I donât want to be the alicorn of war, I donât want to be the prince of anything, no no no!â

Sombra drew a deep breath, held it, and let it out in a patient sigh. Then, he looked at Bucky, fixing his commanding stare upon his flesh and blood. âœYou were meant to be the alicorn of war. My bloodline was promised to restore the alicorns back into the world. Already my brotherâs bloodline has proven worthy of this prophecy and you must take your place by Twilight Sparkleâs side. You were born to this. This is your fate.â

âœIsâ is this why you havenât gone through the gate? So if I ascend, do you think you will go through? Is this what it takes for you to be free?â Bucky questioned in a pained voice.

Sombra nodded. âœI think we might, hard to say for certainâ I have been punished for so longâ and now, I get to watch your triumphs. I can only assume that my punishment will end with our mutual rewardâ your ascension and my freedom. I will have endured to see the restoration of the alicorns through my bloodline as promised so long ago.â

âœI canât,â Bucky whined. âœYou donât understand. I canât!â

Sombra slumped, looking defeated and saddened.

âœI donât mind destroying the wolves. I donât mind protecting the ponies and restoring your legacy to something good and worthyâ but I cannot become the alicorn of war. I donât want anything to do with war,â Bucky argued.

âœThen Platinum and I will endure here. Perhaps in another thousand years there will be another,â Sombra said as he stared down at his own hooves. âœI am still proud of you for proving to be worthy as my heir and for attempting to restore my legacy. You have endured so much so far. I have no doubts that you will crush your enemies and go home a hero to Celestia, who will welcome you as one of her own, a noble that has truly proven worthy. And I do hope that you will be given a chance to continue our visits,â he continued in gracious tones.

Platinum began to stir and she raised one hoof to her cheek. She took a deep breath and made a wordless murmur.

Sombra stared down at her and gently touched her side. âœYou must do what you believe is right,â he said to Bucky. âœEven if it means that we continue to suffer. We have one another, and we will endure.â

Chapter 154

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Bucky awoke with a feverish notion, an idea tickling his brain. His snoot was pressed in between Berryâs teats and he could smell the sweet smell of fresh milk. Berryâs hind leg was draped over his neck. He could hear low soft voices, ponies whispering to one another so they wouldnât wake the day sleepers.

Pulling his head from between Berryâs legs caused her to let out a startled gasp and Bucky sat up. He yawned, his mouth feeling sticky, and then used his magic to pull some paper and a pencil over to himself.

âœBucky?â

Bucky did not reply to the dulcet sounds of Derpyâs voice. He began to scribble down the thoughts in his head, his magic making an invisible hard surface for him to write on. It was one of the first of many difficult spells he had truly mastered, and he had done it at an impossibly young age. His accomplishment had been rewarded by getting to have an ice cream sundae with Princess Celestia and a quiet chat about the nature of talent.

Berry Punch sat up beside her husband, worried because he hadnât been asleep all that long, and Bucky needed sleep. She watched as Bucky scribbled, scrawled, and scratched words onto the paper he held in the blue-green glow of his magic.

After several minutes of scratching away on the paper, Bucky carefully placed the paper on the table along with his pencil. He grabbed Berry Punch around the neck, hauled her in close, kissed her warmly, and then threw himself down upon the bed.

In moments, he was asleep again.

âœWhat was that all about?â Derpy asked.

Berry shrugged. She smacked her lips. Bucky had milk breath and he smelled a bit like a newborn foal. The kiss had been somewhat confusing.

Sentinel rose from Derpyâs side in the straw, went to the table, and then guiltily picked up the paper, pinching it between his grasping digit and the central knuckle on his wing. He looked around the room, looking at both Berry and Derpy, looking for some kind of reassurance.

He calmed a bit when Berry gave him a faint nod and he began to read his fatherâs rather carelessly written script, which wasnât like his father at all.

âœWell, read it,â Berry suggested in an impatient whisper.

Sentinel took a deep breath, held the paper a little closer to get a good look at it, and then cleared his throat a few times. âœI am an equine. Specifically, I am a pony. I was a citizen of Equestria, a loyal subject of the Royal Pony Sisters, but now I am no longer certain I am either of these things. I have things to answer for and my future is uncertain. I am a member of Clan Pickled. Of this, I have no doubt. I am welcomed and loved by my clanmates. I am the new Founder. I am the Father of my tribe. I lead a tribe of ponies. We will identify as ponies. We are all ponies. Ponies with horns or wings or even fins, but we are ponies first and foremost. We are more than a herd. We are what we should have been since the beginning. We are one tribe and we make no distinctions,â Sentinel read. He stopped for a moment, pausing. He looked up at Derpy. âœThere is a horseshoe at the bottom of it with a snowflake in the middle. Somehow, he drew the most amazing looking snowflake in such a short amount of time,â the colt said in awe. âœBelow the symbol he drew, he scribbled âœthe winter brought us together and I am the Lord of Winterâ in teeny tiny letters.â

âœSo he wakes up after falling asleep while suckling on my teats to jot down a moment of crazy brilliance, kiss me, and then lay back down and go to sleep,â Berry said.

âœSo what is he going to do exactly?â Derpy asked in a low voice. âœBring back some horrible blizzardy winter that buries everything in snow and forces ponies to come together again to survive?â

âœPerhaps,â Berry replied.

âœMy family is weird,â Sentinel muttered. âœMy sister has a terrible potty-mouth. My other sister keeps mumbling about the balance of power. My big sister is now reveling in her newfound slaphappy brutishness. My littlest sister looks like sheâs been struck by mama Lyraâs lightning. And now, my father might be planning some sort of frozen doom. I need to write all of this down. I need to copy fatherâs ravings into my journal.â The colt went off to retrieve his journal and snatched up the pencil on the table as he did so.

âœI guess milk does do a body good,â Derpy quipped.

âœIâm not worried about Bucky freezing the world over,â Berry announced. âœWe have ways to keep warm.â

âœMy thick pelt might be useful,â Sentinel murmured, mostly to himself as he flipped his journal open.

âœBuckyâs pelt is getting longer and shaggier. Heâs got that wonderful patch of really long shaggy hair on his chest that feels so good when my I run my frogs over it,â Derpy said as she looked down at the two sleeping foals under her wing.

Berry stroked Bucky gently. He was laying beside her, sprawled out on his belly now, his hind legs kicked out behind him in the strange manner that Bucky tended to stretch out. He still had bald patches on his hide, terrible scarring, but hair was growing back into some of the gnarled and disfigured places. Vast expanses of his hind legs were still bare and the flesh was as withered and shriveled as a raisin. She stroked his tail, smoothing it out, and she suspected that the reason why he kept it so long and full now was that it helped to cover his hind legs when he stood. She felt a pang of sadness for his self consciousness. Berry genuinely didnât care what he looked like and she was not repulsed by his appearance. She leaned down and sniffed, taking in his scent, and then she smiled at Sentinel, who was watching her intently.

âœAre his balls comfortable?â Derpy asked in concern. She lowered her voice. âœWhen heâs sweaty they cling to the bare skin on his legs and I know he chafes,â she explained as she cast a sheepish glance at Sentinel.

There was a scratching sound as Sentinel scribbled something in his journal.

Berry pushed aside Buckyâs tail and gently prodded and poked around, which made Bucky snort in his sleep. Nothing was sticking or clinging and Bucky wasnât sweaty. She quietly smoothed his tail back into place and glanced at Derpy, who seemed relieved.

âœSorry Sentinel,â Derpy said in a low voice. âœWhen you get married and love somepony you will understand.â

âœWhy be sorry? I have balls. Two of them. I know what it means to have them hurt. I can only hope that I have a wife that cares about them,â Sentinel replied as he scratched away.

Derpy squirmed. That wasnât the sort of reply that she had expected.

Rising Star quietly meditated with Dinky sitting beside him. It was a quiet moment of focus, something he needed to do more and more, and the quiet moment of reflection allowed him to settle his thoughts. He could hear Dinky beside him, trying to mimic his breathing, the long slow deep breaths he took as he tried to slow down his mind.

A fair distance away, Sparkler was working on her aim while shooting at a boulder. She was getting quite good at the electric zap spell she had learned back in Ponyville, and while she was no electromancer like Lyra, her static discharges were becoming fearsome, if she said so herself.

PiÃa and Ripple were sitting in the shallow water watching Thistle, who was fishing. Thistle grumbled occasionally, saying that Bucky needed to learn how to fish, but everypony sort of understood just how busy poor Bucky really was, including Thistle.

Loch Skimmer was sitting with Sour Mash and the two of them were having what was quite possibly the most perverse conversation that either of them would ever enjoy in their lives. Techniques, likes, desires, Sour Mash spared no detail, explaining to Loch Skimmer that penises were like dragons, they had to be slayed when encountered, their precious treasure taken and hoarded away. Loch Skimmer listened with rapt attention, learning even more about earth pony sexual arts.

Concentrating on his new sense of focus, Rising Star levitated a ball of water up over his head, trying to make sure that no water trickled out. He still had leaks, little streams of water that escaped from the tiny gaps in his magical field. Bucky could levitate water with no leaks, and Rising Star wanted the same level of control. Levitating a ball of liquid steel and having some of the contents dribble out would be terrible.

Dinky attempted to do the same, and she too had quite a number of leaks. In no time at all, her pelt was damp from the water dribbling down from the sphere of magic over her head. The trickling water felt good in the summer sun and sent faint tickles through her body, which made it that much harder to concentrate. Her concentration broke and a large mass of water splashed down upon her head. She heard a laugh, followed by a startled cry and a wet sounding splash. She opened her eyes and saw a soaked Rising Star laughing at her.

Dinky found the whole thing surprisingly funny and began to laugh along. Today just wasnât a day to be angry about anything.

My fatherâs words have affected me greatly. He wrote them out only a little while ago, but I have already been thinking upon their meaning. There is truth in his half awake ravings. I have never understood my place, but I think I do now. I am a pony with leathery wings. I am called a lunar pegasus by type, but my tribe is my fatherâs tribe. And in this tribe, we are ponies. Some of us fly, some of us walk, all of us have some kind of magic, some of us are grass eaters, a few of us are flesh eaters. Some are adult, some are young.

I have all of these thoughts that I do not know how to fully express. My father has ideas. These ideas are going to change his foals, myself as well. I get the feeling we are going to grow up learning my fatherâs new ideas, and he is going to keep getting more ideas. And it will be up to us to tell other ponies about these ideas.

My father, whatever his fate might be, has done one thing worth noting already. He has brought us all together and we do not squabble. We are as he said, one tribe. Iâve been learning history from Lyra and Bon Bon. Lyra told me how the unicorns used the pegasi to bully the earth ponies into growing food. Bon Bon and Lyra both told me that many unicorns still have this belief, that the other tribes should be beneath them. I have learned about horrible words like âœmud ponyâ and even writing them down or thinking about those words makes me feel sick.

Should those words ever be uttered around me, I will feed somepony their own teeth. I will not be little forever.

I must look angry because my mother Berry Punch is looking at me funny. I love her so much, and I wish I could tell her how I feel, but the words never come easy. Writing is so much easier because I have a chance to think about what I want to say. I think about what my mother Derpy told meâ there are well spoken pegasi and even book writers. I think I might like to be a writer of books.

I think when I am bigger and stronger, I will make it my lifeâs work to defend all those who are smaller than I am, and those who do not have wings. Father speaks often of how the Princesses have failed the earth ponies and that somepony needs to step in and do something to help them. In far off Equestria, they are rioting now because they have been treated so poorly for so long.

The words of my mother Bon Bon still bother me. She told me how she was taken from her home as a foal, snatched away and stolen from her family, how she was taken away on a ship filled with other foals, and brought to a city called Fillydelphia. She told me how they shaved her bald all over, shaving off her mane, her tail, and her pelt, and how she was sprayed with something to kill lice and bugs, how they got it in her eyes, how it burned her eyes and her skin, and how she was blind for a month afterwards. She was kept in a freezing cold orphanage with no pelt as winter approached.

Father is not the only one with a painful burden now upon his shoulders.

Squire Sentinel, son of Buckminster Bitters.

Chapter 155

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Bucky looked out at his wives and let out a little uncomfortable sigh. He had an unpleasant task ahead of him and it was better to simply get it over with. He swallowed a few times. He didnât feel the least bit sorry about the imp, but Sombra was right. Keeping this sort of action from his wives was devious, and they deserved better. Before even saying anything, he vowed to make it up to them somehow.

âœI have something I need to confess,â Bucky announced.

His wives already knew something was up when he had gathered them. The littlest foals were standing outside of the door with Ripple, no doubt trying to listen. Bucky scratched his withered scarred cheek and it made a scritching sound under his hoof.

âœThat orb of mine, the one that makes other ponies feel weird looking at it and causes you to sort of feel confused and frightened, it is an artifact I created. I did pretty much one of the worst things a pony could do to finish the orb that is filled with darkness and rainbows. To complete my armor, I needed demonâs blood, so I conjured an imp, killed it, and harvested its heart. It lies beating inside of the orb,â Bucky said in slow measured words.

There was a flash of green and several stinging slaps rained down on Buckyâs good cheek. They stung quite a bit and Bucky turned his head to see what was going on. Lyra stood next him, looking furious.

âœYouâ you feculent little toad, how could you summon a demon without me?â Lyra demanded to know.

âœI should have known youâd be sore about that,â Bucky said as he rubbed his cheek. The blows had not been overly hurtful, they were more like pegasus slaps, done out of a sense of correctional affection.

âœWas this truly necessary?â Bon Bon inquired in a more level headed tone as she gave Lyra a scolding glance.

âœYes,â Bucky answered honestly. âœI donât know what I am facing. I needed an edge. It will give my armor much needed magical resistance, the ability to self repair, increased resistance to dark magic, which I suspect I will be seeing a lot of, and even quite a bit of resistance to harmonious magic, which I might also encounter. It should also help with the spell effects from the spell jars, blocking out most of the damage that I might take otherwise,â Bucky explained. He gave an apologetic pleading look to Lyra.

âœAnd this impâ it is a demon from Tartarus?â Bon Bon questioned.

âœYes. A small demon. Not overly powerful. I was very, very careful about my selection and I didnât go after anything I figured I couldnât handle. I didnât want it escaping and rampaging through the castle,â Bucky answered.

âœWhat would Princess Celestia do to unicorns that did something like this?â Bon Bon asked in a flat monotone.

âœSheâd probably have them mindwiped completely and stuffed into an asylum of some sorts,â Lyra replied.

Bon Bon raised her eyebrow and looked at her mate.

âœNo Bonnie, I am not overreacting or being dramatic. Not this time. Necromancy and demon conjuring are the two big unforgivable sins,â Lyra said as she gave a piercing stare to Bucky.

âœSo Bucky got his hooves a little dirty because he is playing to win, so what,â Berry Punch remarked. âœI donât see what the big deal is. This is just like kicking somepony in the potato sack. Sure, it is dirty, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do to win a fight,â she added in a heated voice, slipping a foreleg around Bucky in a protective gesture. âœI ainât got no qualms about kicking a pony in the groin.â

âœWe know,â Derpy replied. âœI am still madly in love with you for kicking Buckyâs mother.â

âœI really donât understand what is going onâ Bucky, that birthright of hisâ doesnât that protect him?â Thistle inquired, trying to understand what was going on.

âœIf he kills another pony for justified reasons, sure. And that birthright is stupid, it is part of the reason why there are still problems between unicorns and earth ponies. But this isnât exactly pony killing. And we all know that Bucky isnât one for hurting ponies, which is why we are going to need to keep him safe from other ponies should something happen,â Berry replied.

âœWell maybe if this Princess Celestia didnât want Bucky summoning demons out of desperation maybe she should have came to this isle and done something herself,â Thistle grumped. She folded her forelegs over her barrel and rested them on the curve of her stomach as she leaned back into the sofa. She crossed her hind legs together and then let out an angry equine snort of disgust followed by a raspberry noise as she flapped her lips in exasperation.

âœThistle, I am feeling a whole lot of love for you right now,â Berry admitted.

âœWe are discussing the wrong thing,â Bon Bon announced.

âœWe are?â Derpy asked.

âœWe need to figure out some way of protecting what is ours when we go home and end this war. If Celestia is going to be furious she might take our herd members to punish them. I hate to say it, but we may need a plan of escape or somethingâ we canât just let the Princesses take Bucky for what he has done,â Bon Bon replied.

âœEscape?â Lyra questioned incredulously.

âœWell, something, we fightâ we stop them. We keep Bucky for ourselves and we flee somehow,â Bon Bon answered in a worried voice.

âœHow?â Lyra asked.

âœI dunnoâ we conjure up a big demon that Celestia canât ignore and then we skedaddle and just go… somewhere,â Bon Bon suggested. âœI know it sounds terrible, but between you and Bucky, I am certain that it is possible.â

âœI have to agree with Bonnie,â Derpy said, looking troubled. âœI donât like even thinking about it, but she canât have the father of our foals. Iâd rather slap her muzzle and declare war to keep him.â

âœYou would slap Celestia? Are we really contemplating war on alicorns?â Lyra announced in shock.

âœIt seems that way,â Bucky grumbled, his face contorting into a sour look. âœWe donât know what is going to happen. We have to hope for the best but prepare for the worst. When we go back to Canterlot, we stay on board the The Scorned Mare for all the good it will do us. I am positive that if it came down to it, Keg Smasher would order his pegasi to turn on Celestia. We have a minor advantage that Keg Smasherâs army are hardened, the Royal Guard are soft. We probably couldnât outrun Celestiaâs navy though, not under pegasus power.â

âœSo we fight a losing battle or we donât fight at all,â Derpy said in defeated tones. âœWhat about our foals? What if she tries to take them? What if she tries to take Sparkler and Rising Star because of what they have become? Or Dinky?â

âœThen I gather a large mass of hydrogen atoms and fuse them,â Bucky said grimly. âœI assure you, we would feel nothing. It would be over in milliseconds. Canterlot and the sickness it represents would be gone forever.â

âœThatâs horrible,â Bon Bon whispered.

âœIâd rather go that way,â Lyra admitted. âœBucky is right, we wouldnât feel anything. Our herd, our tribe, we stay together and thatâs final. I could fuse a few hydrogen atoms as well. And the mountain Canterlot is built on is full of cobalt. If we wanted to fight dirty Bucky and I could fuse cobalt atoms. It would render the area uninhabitable for thousands of years.â

âœI could try petrifying Celestia,â Sparkler said in a quavering nervous voice. Sparkler let out a shrill whinny of fear when every head in the room turned to look at her. âœSheâs immortal, right? But she can be hurt. I couldâ I could try to petrify her. And if it works, we can take her hostage. We then threaten to drop her statue from a great height. She would survive I suppose, but it would take her a long time to gain her full power again once they undid the petrification and put all the broken chunks back together, however it is that immortal alicorns fix themselves.â

âœI donât care about no imp. But I do care about Buckyâ Sparklerâs plan seems plausible,â Rising Star said. âœWe could hold Canterlot hostage if we had to. We might have to resort to dirty methods. Atomic fusion, petrification, burningâ sweet burning,â he added, his last words spoken more of a lustful moan than words.

âœI care about the imp. Well, not about the imp really. I kept this from all of youâ and for that, I was wrong. I thought Iâd carry this particular burden upon my shoulders aloneâ as for the current topic of our discussion, petrification seems like a viable option. It worked on Discord,â Bucky responded.

âœIf somepony comes after my herdmates Iâll turn Ripple loose on them,â Loch Skimmer said, her tone serious. âœRipple is a good filly. She listens to her big sister.â

âœSo the imp is a non issueâ it seems that going home might be harder than taking on the wolves. So why go home? Why not just send Keg Smasher to sign the treaty and politely refuse to go to Canterlot? We could stay here. Maybe talk Keg Smasher into keeping the isles independent. We have plenty of raw resources and more importantly, we have some unicorns now to help pull the isles into a more modern setting. We stay here and we make the isles the sort of home we want to live in,â Berry suggested.

âœI might be welcomed home with fanfare and trumpets, even with everything Iâve done. All might be forgiven as the future alicorn of war returns home,â Bucky grumbled. âœTwilight Sparkleâs friends obliterated Twilight by accident, turning her into a little ash pile on the library floor. They were all given royal pardons.â

âœDo we take that risk?â Bon Bon asked.

âœLife is all about risks Bonnie,â Lyra quipped.

âœI just hope that weâre making all of these plans for nothing,â Berry sighed.

âœI feel funny sitting out here in the hall,â Dinky fussed.

âœFather did something he feels bad about and he needs to confess to our mothers. I am sure he will talk to us about it at some point. For now, we must endure,â Sentinel said to his sibling.

âœWeâve been there for other important talks. They let us listen and talk when it involves us,â Ripple interjected.

âœYeah they do,â PiÃa agreed. âœThis isnât so bad.â

âœI suppose you are right. At least Ripple came out here with us. She was allowed to stay in there with the adults. Which means Ripple is a grown up,â Dinky groused.

âœSentinel is more grown up than I am,â Ripple stated.

âœMaybe,â Sentinel replied with a shrug.

âœDonât you maybe me you little squirt, I have feathers and the will to use them!â Ripple threatened as she extended a wing.

âœNoâ no tickles! Itâs demeaning!â Sentinel begged, his eyes wide and pleading.

âœAw, you know I canât tickle you when you make that face, thatâs not fair,â Ripple said dejectedly. âœCome here, lemme kiss you instead,â she offered.

Sentinel stepped forward cautiously and then relaxed when Ripple kissed him on the cheek. He smiled briefly and then sat down.

The straw was soft and sweet smelling. Bucky lay in the straw pile and Harper was between his front legs, her head laying on his right leg as she stared up at him in adoration. It became clear to any observer that Harper loved her daddy.

âœDaddy?â Bucky asked in a low whisper.

âœMama!â Harper replied.

âœNo, daddy,â Bucky corrected.

âœMama?â Harper said in a puzzled sounding murmur. She pointed upwards with her hoof, and she giggled when Bucky kissed it softly. âœMama!â

Bucky sighed and shook his head.

âœBucky, youâre just going to have to accept that you are âœmamaâ and deal with it,â Lyra insisted. âœEvery night it is the same thing. You say âœdaddyâ she says âœmamaâ and you are her âœmamaâ and that is just how it is. Is being called âœmamaâ so bad?â

âœNo, I suppose it isnât,â Bucky sighed.

âœMama,â Harper cooed.

âœThe only name sheâs picked up on is Sentinelâs,â Bon Bon said proudly.

âœSenty,â Harper repeated.

âœIâve been experimenting a bit Bucky,â Lyra announced.

âœOh?â Bucky answered.

âœBerry Punch and I have been comparing our milkâ it is different. I mean, really different. Weâve been studying it,â Lyra said as she scratched her belly.

âœAny findings?â Bucky asked, his interest now captured.

âœWell, a few actually,â Lyra began. âœOur milk is different colours. Mine has a faint blue colour and Berryâs is more yellow. Different textures. Mine is somewhat thinner, her milk is thicker and more creamy. What was interesting was the butter test,â she continued.

âœThe butter test?â Bucky inquired.

âœBerryâs milk makes butter. My milkâ it just doesnât. I donât think there is enough fat,â Lyra reported. âœWeâve discussed getting Bon Bon lactating. We want to see if earth pony milk seems to have the same calming effect as their touch seems to have. We might need for you to drink some milk, which uh, shouldnât be a problem for youâ I donât think that all earth ponies have this touch, but that is just a hunch. Bon Bonâs touch seems to have more of an effect on me than Berry Punchâs touch, but I do feel calmer and more leveled out when they touch me, just like you observed. I think youâre on to something. I canât believe that nopony has noticed this before.â

âœSo do you think we could calm neurotic unicorns with earth pony milk?â Bucky asked.

âœMaybe, but getting them to drink it, letâs face it, it would push most of them right over the edge. Since youâve been suckling on Berry, havenât you felt better? I mean, you sleep afterwards. Your mood seems a bit more stable. There are observable differences Bucky. I have to admit it, but Iâve thought about trying a few drinks myself when I get the jitters just to see what happens,â Lyra replied.

âœMama!â Harper cried, demanding Buckyâs attention.

Bucky snoot-bumped the foal and then nuzzled her. âœSo earth pony milk makes butter, has a different colour, and potentially carries the same effects as the mysterious power that earth ponies have in their touch,â he summarised as he rubbed his cheek on Harperâs belly, which made the foal burble and giggle.

âœYes,â Lyra said awkwardly.

âœBucky, if I do begin lactating, I donât mind spending a bit of quiet time with you. It isnât sex,â Bon Bon said with a fierce blush. âœIt is just bonding timeâ with my husbandâ instead of a foal.â

âœThis just feels funny to even talk about,â Lyra said as she squirmed.

âœWhich is probably why this has never been investigated or looked into. The social taboo is a powerful deterrent. Anypony trying to present any of this as science would get thrown right out of the academic institution they made their report to,â Bucky grumbled.

âœSo we need to fight past the squirm factor,â Bon Bon said in a wavering voice. âœThere are times when I wish I was Berry Punch. She doesnât seem to have a squirm factor.â

âœOr shame,â Lyra quipped.

âœOr fear,â Bucky added.

All three ponies turned to look at the earth pony sleeping in the bed.

âœSheâs my rock,â Bucky whispered.

âœSheâs amazing,â Bon Bon said with a nod.

âœThere is just something about earth ponies,â Lyra stated.

Chapter 156

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The helmet was massive and thick. It hit the table with a loud clang which reverberated through the smithy. Lugus peered down and tapped upon the thick glass visor and then ran a claw over the faux fangs along the muzzle extension.

âœThat helmet has to weigh a good twenty pounds,â Lugus muttered as he tapped on it once again. âœIt is so decorative. So beautifully crafted. You can get away with such detail because you can make this feather light.â

Bucky nodded. âœYes I can. And I plan to do so. When I am done, it should maybe weigh two to four pounds or so. Maybe less. The steel is very dense, very solid. There is only so much I can do. Wood is much easier to enchant for lightness.â

âœGood steel takes heat,â Lugus remarked.

Rising Star squirmed awkwardly at the griffonâs words.

âœYes it does. Rising Starâs efforts are invaluable. I canât make anything that hot with out a lot of effort, and it would deplete me quickly trying to maintain it. Rising Star can do it with hardly any effort at all. Look at him, heâs not even trying,â Bucky commented with a wry grin.

Crush nodded in approval of Buckyâs words and then lifted the helmet on his hoof. He looked at the horn hole, examined the glass visor, the faux dragon snout, and the decorative frills that would cover Buckyâs ears. He set the helmet back down and nodded once again.

âœThe back plates are impressive, the chest plate seems solid, and each day more pieces come together. And this has been infused with the blood from that orb?â Lugus inquired.

âœYes,â Bucky replied.

âœCan you make my hook-axe infused with that?â Lugus asked.

âœI could. After its creation, you would never need to sharpen it. Nor could you. The metal would heal,â Bucky answered. He levitated the helmet to his head and carefully tried it on. His horn went through the hole and the helmet glowed in a faint blue green haze as it powered up.

âœThe helm, like the rest of the armor, is magic reactive. Contact with my horn powers it. The armor will connect all of its pieces together in a powerful magical field, sort of like how two magnets will cling together,â Bucky announced. The helmet changed his voice. His usual sonorus and regal voice was now replaced with something horrifying, something demonic, something fear inducing, and even Lugus felt unnerved by the sound of Buckyâs voice. âœI see the fear spell is working. Mwahahahahahah!â he cackled, he then watched the results in an almost sadistic glee as every pony in the room trembled and the big griffon fluffed out his feathers in fear.

âœWas that wholly necessary?â Rising Star inquired in a fearful squeak. âœIâ Iâ I very nearly pissed myself!â

Crush nodded and then left the smithy, stepping out the door for what seemed the most obvious reasons, snorting as he left.

âœEntirely necessary,â Bucky replied in a demonic growl. âœI might have to fight more than wolves. This gives me an edge. If I project the Voice through his helmet, I could even the odds a bit if I am outnumbered,â he explained.

âœOh stars, the Royal Canterlot Voice would be awful!,â Rising Star whined as he cringed away from Bucky and his horrible helmet. âœPlease, take it off,â he begged.

Bucky lifted the helmet from his head and set it down upon the table. The faint blue-green glow faded as it powered down. âœStill needs a few more enchantments and then it will be finished.â

âœDo you think it would stop bullets?â Lugus asked.

âœWithout a doubt. Not many guns around after the global firearms ban ultimatum,â Bucky answered. âœWould stop cannonballs too. Kinetic dispersal is the ultimate trump card when it comes to armor creation. I am really glad I took the highest level of enchantment training in school.â

âœSo if Crush or I were to smash the helmet with that big hammer, what would happen exactly?â Lugus inquired.

âœThe hammer would shatter like glass and every bone in your upper body would probably explode into tiny fragments as the resulting shockwave flowed through you,â Bucky replied. His horn lit and a thin beam focused on the helm. A symbol was carefully drawn along the top ridge of the muzzle extension, a stream of smoke rising from the metal as the magical glyph was burned into place.

âœHow are you able to enchant it if it is magically resistant?â Rising asked.

âœAh good, a question with the opportunity to instruct with the answer. Magical attunement Rising Star,â Bucky said in reply.

âœMagical attunement?â Rising Star inquired.

âœYou will notice how the armor powered up when it touched my horn. It is attuned to me and me only. If you put the helmet on your head, it would hurt you quite a bit, youâd have a hornache for hours. It is attuned to my magical signature, this means that the spells I cast on it always work. It wonât resist me. As the creator of the armor, my magic is permanently infused into the metal, and because of that, it will always respond to me and me only. This is why so many unicorn relics are useless after their creator dies,â Bucky explained.

âœWhat about those war shoes you are making for Ripple?â Rising Star asked, looking at the four shoes sitting on a rack in the corner.

âœThose are different. Those arenât powered. Theyâre enchanted. But yes, I plan to attune them to Ripple. She will be the only pony who can wear them. And because of this, those shoes will always fit her, even as she grows. I plan to include a number of useful enchantments and enhancements. Sheâll never need to worry about breaking her legs while wearing them, provided she hits something hoof first,â Bucky replied as he continued to add glyphs to the helmet.

âœTo make such extravagant gifts for your foals,â Lugus said. âœAmong my kind, nothing is ever given, it is earned or taken by force. If you are not strong enough to keep something, you do not deserve to have it,â he added.

âœSo why did your king ask you to kill his son?â Bucky asked.

Lugus grunted and then squawked in surprise, his beak falling open in shock.

âœSorryâ delicate subject I guess,â Bucky apologised.

âœI was not expecting it,â Lugus stated as he regained his composure and smoothed out his ruffled feathers. âœHe found his son disgraceful. When I found out everything that happened, I of course refused to kill his son. I fled in disgrace as a coward.â

âœWhat happened?â Rising Star asked softly.

âœThere is the ancient practice we griffons have, and it disgusts me. I do not find it honourable. We call it The Hunt. A pony or a zebra is prepared for quite a long time, it is conditioned for speed, it is taught to hide. It is given hope by being constantly told that if it can survive The Hunt, it shall go free. The practice is supposed to be outlawed as outlined in the current treaty, but the nobles still continue the practice of owning slaves and holding Hunts. Anyway, nothing ever survives The Hunt. Afterwards, when the prey is caught, it's skinned carefully, with all attempts made to keep it alive during the skinning. It is a horrible practice, done entirely for bragging rights. After the skinning, if it is still alive, it is carefully skewered on a spit, and, if done with skill and care, kept alive through the impalement. Then, it is roasted alive until it dies, and the flesh is eaten. It is a barbaric practice of cruelty,â Lugus explained. He fell silent, clearly suffering from a burst of emotion.

âœThatâs horrible,â Rising Star gasped, his eyes wide in shock.

âœThe kingâs son refused to take part in the practice. He fled and crossed the river, finding sanctuary with the other king. I was ordered to cross the river and kill himâ as if I was some common assassin! The GALL!â Lugus said, his word ending with a roar. âœTo be able to swear fealty to a worthy king. A chief. A laird. To find a noble causeâ

âœSwear fealty to Bucky,â Rising Star suggested.

âœWhat?â Bucky and Lugus said in unison.

âœBucky has created a new tribe. We are a tribe. Bucky is the chief of our tribe. Weâre small, but weâre good sorts,â Rising Star explained.

âœRising Star, weâre a tribe of ponies,â Bucky said.

âœWho make no distinctions. We have horns, wings, and fins. Why should we discriminate against griffons? Why not add beaks to our list? Heâs raising Peekaboo, and Peekaboo spends all day in the room with Harper. Why canât we be a tribe of sapient creatures that make no distinctions?â Rising Star questioned.

âœYouâre absolutely right,â Bucky answered as he turned to look at Rising Star. Bucky blinked his remaining eye several times as his brain tried to register this new idea his beliefs and his ideals. âœWe should be a tribe of similar hearts and minds. Bodies shouldnât matter, only what we believe,â he said in a low emotion filled voice.

âœWell?â Rising Star said somewhat impatiently.

âœWould you join us Lugus? I donât mean joining my herd directly, but my tribeâ we could lead by example. Show that peace is possibleâ that we can coexist,â Bucky invited.

âœAnd it would be good for Peekaboo,â Rising Star quipped.

Lugus reached up and scratched his feathered crest with his claws as he studied Bucky. He made a confused sounding squawk and then began to look around the smithy. He sat down and his wings began to fidget as he tried to concentrate.

âœOur cause is noble and our way is just,â Rising Star stated.

âœIt would be an honour to have you among our number,â Bucky said to Lugus in a low regal voice. âœI am a deeply flawed individual, but I do have vision. I have ideas. And Rising Star is right. We need to live our message. If you want peace between our kind, we need to show that we can live together.â

âœI lived in Equestria and I was always treated as an outsider. I was never truly welcomed. Even after my story became known, ponies treated me with suspicion. There was a zebra in the town where I settled, and he was treated poorly as well. It always bothered me that I was never welcomed,â Lugus said in a pained voice.

âœWell, allow us to make it up to you,â Rising Star offered. âœLet us prove that not all ponies are xenophobic jerks. All we have is each other. Do you think they will be any kinder to Bucky with how he now looks? Sorry Bucky, but it is true and I know you know it.â

Bucky nodded, fully aware of the consequences of his appearance.

âœHe is marked with honour, his scars are his proof of survival after battleâ why would your kind reject him after the great service he has performed for them?â Lugus inquired.

âœBecause ponies are stupid,â Rising Star answered, stating the obvious.

The comment should have been funny, but there was no laughter. Three serious faces all regarded one another solemnly. Bucky reached up scratched the deformed side of his face. Lugus raised his talons and drummed his claws upon the table. And Rising Star realised that he had actually shown some real adult maturity and depth.

âœI would join you if you will have me,â Lugus said.

âœGreat!â Rising Star exclaimed. âœHey, Bucky, you know that snowflake that you drew? You should turn that into a pendant. Iâd wear one. Put it on a chain around my neck. It could be our tribal marking.â

Bucky nodded slowly. âœThat might be interesting,â he said to Rising Star. âœLugus, I will accept your service. I require no complicated oath, only that you place family and tribe first, and that you are a good father to your foal, which I know you will be.â

âœI swore to Peekabooâs dying mother that I would look after her foal. I would not break such an oath. I give you my word that I will uphold your ideals and your values, they do not seem in conflict with mine. I will defend you, all of our tribemates both now and in the future, and I will defend your family with my life if necessary. All I ask in return is that if I fall, that you look after Peekaboo. She is very dear to me,â Lugus said, speaking his vows and baring his soul.

âœI could do no less,â Bucky replied. âœYou have my word,â he said as he extended his hoof.

Lugus made a fist with his talons and bumped it against Buckyâs hoof.

âœRising Star, you have sworn witness to this event,â Bucky stated. âœDo not forget this day. In this smithy, we have forged a new alliance and have grown our tribe.â

Chapter 157

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The dreamer lies dreamingâ remembering a time long ago.

Celestia was such a large pony. Too large really. Impossibly large. Bigger ponies scared Bucky, with him being so small and slight. He was the smallest foal in his class, even smaller than most of the fillies. He was frequently mistaken for being in the wrong class for his age and skill.

Celestia, the giantess, was looking down at Bucky curiously, a pleasant amused look upon her face. âœDo you know why you are here?â she asked in a radiant warm voice filled with gentleness.

âœDo any of us know why we are here?â Bucky replied, his own question far more meaningful than a foal his age should ask.

The large white alicorn laughed softly, a musical laugh that caused her feathers to ruffle slightly. She reached out one wing and gently touched the side of Buckyâs face, cherishing the look of unabashed adoration coming from the tiny foal. âœDo you know why you are here with me and we are talking? Do you understand what you have done?â

Bucky shrugged noncommittally. âœI know I did something mischievous, and now I am starting to worry about my punishment,â he said in a small fearful foalish voice.

âœOh my sweet little Buckminster, you are not in trouble,â Celestia said reassuringly as she patted the foal on the head with her wing. âœYou should be in trouble, but I do believe that we will let that slide due to the nature of your accomplishment.â

The foal took a deep breath, puffed his cheeks, and let it out slowly.

âœYou have done something that even most adult ponies fail to accomplish. Even most of your teachers would have a hard time doing what you did. What you did today was most impressive,â Celestia praised. âœEven I had some trouble looking at you,â she confessed.

âœThis is about the aversion spell?â Bucky asked.

âœYes it is, you mischevious little scamp,â Celestia replied.

âœI just wanted to read undisturbed,â Bucky explained in a slightly frantic voice.

âœYes, you wanted to read your book about Star Swirlâs many enchantments. In alchemy class. When you should have been reading your alchemy book and taking notes,â Celestia stated.

Bucky slumped down in shame and his ears drooped down to the sides of his face. He found that due to his small stature, making himself look at pathetic as possible was a great way to get adults to feel sorry for him and go easy on him. He gave it his best effort. He even sucked in his stomach to make his ribs look more visible, making himself look almost skeletal. He became the embodiment of gaunt, scrawny, and miserable.

Celestia, observing his efforts, actually felt a twisting twinge of pain in her heart and she took a much needed deep breath. âœSomehow, youâve managed to master a difficult spell that allows you to hide right in plain sight, and makes it difficult for ponies to look at you. Your teacher said she couldnât even see you, and every time she looked over at your desk, she found herself looking at the clock instead. She could not even speak to you to scold you, and she had to summon other teachers to try and deal with you. That is a very powerful enchantment laced with illusion that you have managed to master,â Celestia said, her voice filled with faint pride and praise.

Bucky lifted his head and there was a faint mischievous smile upon his muzzle, an impish grin that caused his teachers no end of alarm when it became visible. It was the look of a natural born troublemaker.

âœStar Swirlâs talent was conjuration. He was also a gifted enchanter. He did extraordinary things with enchantment. But as good as he was, there was another. There was one pony who shared a friendly rivalry with Star Swirl, and this pony was a master of enchantment. He created the spell you used today. He too, was a troublesome prankster. Do you know who he was?â Celestia inquired.

Bucky struggled to recall the creator of the aversion spell. It had been on the tip of his tongue, but now it was gone. It was there in the book even, but Bucky couldnât recall seeing it. He struggled to concentrate, and found his thoughts turning to other things. Like the black licorice in his saddlebags. Or the fact that Celestia smelled like vanilla and something spicy-sweet, and there was a tiny glop of frosting just below her nostril. The way the sun shone through the windows and created a dazzling array of colours on the floor. He could think of everything but the name of the pony who had created the aversion spell. And then, he had a troubling thought.

âœPrincess Celestia, is there an aversion spell on his name so I cannot remember it?â Bucky innocently asked. The look of shock and surprise on Celestiaâs face told Bucky everything he needed to know. The giantess alicornâs mouth was actually hanging open. Bucky felt a wicked sense of pride blossoming in his barrel. It wasnât every day that a foal outsmarted his instructor, much less outfoxing an immortal alicorn.

âœLunaâs stars Buckminster, I think you and my most faithful student Twilight Sparkle are going to go on to do such great things. Come, we need to talk, let us go for a walk in the gardens,â Celestia invited. Her horn ignited and she went to work, shoring up the mental defenses that were already beginning to buckle inside of the overly inquisitive and stubborn mind of her student.

Lugus carefully affixed the sharpened steel tip to the wooden shaft, finishing off his javelin. He had several completed and sitting by his side on top of a sheet of canvas he planned to stitch into a quiver for his javelins. Near him was Peekaboo, who was prowling through the grass and chasing after bugs. The morning was cool still, and the grass was damp. He examined his work and found it pleasing. There were mindless deer in the hills nearby, and he had a taste for venison. Flying through the dense wooded forest was a sure way to break a wing, so Lugus had set about making a few javelins to assist him in his hunt.

He could throw a short spear with enough force that it would travel right through the body of one of his fellow griffons, so he figured using them to hunt deer would be practical.

He set down his javelin and then snatched up Peekaboo carefully in his talons. The foal began to giggle and he carefully smoothed out her wings with his other set of talons so her feathers would not get mussed. He kept her plumage immaculate, and it would reflect badly upon him if she went around looking unkept. He settled back on his haunches and cradled the foal in his forelegs.

In these moments, his brain always had the most disturbing thoughts, thinking of things to torment him like why must food be so adorable? and this softness of character you are experiencing is most troubling but he shoved those thoughts away. He had a peculiar feeling of affection for the tiny foal, and if something was to ever ruffle her feathers, he would do terrible things to them. He was more than capable of unspeakable cruelties upon those deserving of such torments.

âœYou and I have a family now. A tribe. A place where we belong. And you will be able to grow up with some of your fellow ponies,â Lugus said to the foal in his embrace, his beak clicking a few times as it moved. He did not have lips or soft tissues, and his words were entirely formed in the back of his throat through highly adapted vocal cords.

âœI see ponies kissing their young, smooshing their soft fleshy faces up against them in rituals of affection. I do not understand these practices, and I regret that I cannot kiss you in the manner you deserve,â Lugus said apologetically. âœWe griffons do not kiss of course. We have beaks. We have our own rituals of affection though, regurgitating food with one another and our young. I do not think you would enjoy that.â

Peekaboo looked up at the griffon and blew a raspberry, her orange tongue slipping out and flinging slobber everywhere.

âœAlas, the flatulent lip vibrations, we griffons cannot do that either. Why is it that you do that?â Lugus asked, knowing that there would be no answer but he did not care.

âœI have been watching you with herâ you are so gentle with her.â

Lugus bristled at the sound. He clutched Peekaboo close and looked at his visitor. He saw a chestnut brown pegasus mare. As he watched, she sat down and fluffed out her wings in an âœIâm not threatening mannerâ at him.

âœYou might even be larger than Keg Smasher and she is so tiny. Iâve been watching you for a couple of days now, every chance I get, especially when you have her with you,â the pegasus admitted.

âœWhy?â Lugus asked in a flat voice.

âœIâm curious,â the pegasus responded. She sat with her head cocked and staring at Lugus with one eye, and she reached up to brush her mane out of her vision. âœI am with Lord Buckminsterâs Ball Buster Brigade. My name is Yew Wood. And I might just be the most curious pegasus who has ever lived.â

âœThere is nothing wrong with curiousity,â Lugus stated. âœMy kind prize inquisitiveness and bravery.â

âœAll it has ever gotten me was in trouble,â Yew replied. She shifted her body and lifted her head, trying to get a better view of the foal in Lugusâ arms.

âœI lost my foal,â Yew said in a strained voice.

âœI am most sorry,â Lugus offered in return.

âœI lost everything. My husband, my foal, and my sister, all in one night,â Yew said as she pushed her mane out of her eye again. âœIt is really nice seeing you so kind and loving to that foal. My husband was not the affectionate sort. He wouldnât let me love on my foal, kept telling me to not get attached to it, it was probably going to die or get taken. I wish I hadnât listened.â

Lugus felt a stinging pain in the back of his throat as everything tightened. âœI too was told not to development an attachment to anything. That it would make me strong. If I had nothing I feared losing, then I would have nothing to fear,â Lugus replied in a strained voice.

The pegasus took a deep breath and she moved just a little closer.

âœThis entire time, you have sat with one side of your body turned away from me. Are you trying to hide something? Your posture is most peculiar,â Lugus observed.

âœSorryâ Iâ erââ Yew fell silent.

âœLook at me,â Lugus said. âœWhat are you hiding?â

Yew Woodâs wings flared out and for a moment, it seemed as though she might fly away. She then composed herself and folded her wings back to her side. âœLook, I am sorry, I let my curiousity get the better of me again, I should be going. Sour Mash is gonna kill me if I donât hold my own.â

Lugus gently placed Peekaboo in the grass. âœI know your kind. Would you like to spend a moment with her?â he asked.

The pegasus looked torn, her expression one of conflicted pain. She started to move forward and then halted, still focusing on Lugus with her right eye. âœThatâs dastardly, using her as bait,â Yew muttered.

âœYou are hiding something. I suspect I know what it is. Do not hide yourself,â Lugus commanded in a gentle voice.

Yew Wood shyly stepped forward, took a deep breath, let it out with a shuddering exhale, and then moved forward. As she did so, she turned her whole face towards Lugus.

The pegasusâ left eye was missing and a long jagged scar ran down her face, a thin red line that went from scalp to the corner of her mouth. The eye socket had been burned shut and left to heal.

âœI see,â Lugus said in a soft voice.

âœIâm a bit shy about it,â Yew said as she slowly approached the griffon and Peekaboo.

âœWhy?â Lugus asked.

âœBecause Iâm ugly,â Yew replied.

âœI do not think so,â Lugus retorted, his beak clicking several times.

âœMy husband said I was ugly,â Yew responded. âœHe was an earth pony. Theyâre honest.â

âœYour husband was an idiot and a liar,â Lugus growled.

Yew sat down suddenly and stared at the big griffon.

âœScars are beauty. They are tales of survival. Proof of endurance. You have lost an eye, but you have also gained a story. Scars are our written history upon our flesh,â Lugus explained.

Yew gaped and she looked perplexed as she tried to take in the griffonâs words.

âœThis is one of those moments that Buckminster spoke to me about where differences of perspectives becomes a challenge,â Lugus stated. âœHere, hold foal.â He made a gesture towards Peekaboo.

The pegasus cautiously crept forward until she reached Peekaboo, feeling entirely too close to the griffon for comfort, settled back upon her haunches, and then lifted the foal in her forelegs to cradle it. Her body relaxed considerably when she smelled the foal.

Lugus leaned back a bit, lifted a wing, and raised his front leg. He reached around with his other front leg and pointed at a gruesome scar just between his wing joint and his shoulder. âœThis right here, this was done by a wild boar that was about the same size as you. His tusk went through my ribs, shattering them, and into my lung. I was impaled, lodged upon the boarâs tusk, and I could not get free. He savaged me. I was caught. I was a fledgeling still. I had been out hunting deer when I came across the boar and we entered our deadly dance with one another. Skewered on his tusk, I reached around and cut his throat with my claws. Eventually, my father found me, near death and still bleeding out, still pinned on the tusk of my prey. Took me forever to heal from this, but it made me stronger. I became Lugus the Boar Killer. And this was the proof of my deed. I was still a fledgeling, but I had the respect of every adult in my clan,â he explained.

âœThatâs awful,â Yew murmured.

âœSo what happened to you?â Lugus inquired.

âœOne of the giant eagles that live around hereâ back when I still lived near the scrags along the coast, the rocky cliffs, back when my husband and my family was still alive. It came upon our little community looking for food. When everypony else was flying away or running away, I flew right at it. There were earth ponies that I knew would get snatched upâ I picked a fight. It cost me an eye but the eagle went away with a cracked beak and some broken bones,â Yew said as she cuddled Peekaboo.

âœYet a moment ago you were so timid,â Lugus said in a soft teasing tone.

âœWell, I can be brave!â Yew snapped, her timid demeanour now gone.

âœSo you are a mare that would pick a fight with an giant eagle simply because it is the right thing to do,â Lugus stated.

âœWell, I joined up with Sour Mash because it was the right thing to do. I was already full of piss and a need to prove myself. Now I can fight and fight to win,â Yew replied. âœThis foal is adorable.â

âœI am quite in love with her,â Lugus confessed. âœShe confuses me to no end. You ponies, you fascinate me, with your soft squishy expressive faces, your funny little lips, your apparent softness that is tempered by iron wills.â

âœYou have a beak. I guess it would be hard to make a face that shows how you feel,â Yew said.

âœMy crest expresses my mood,â Lugus said, reaching up and touching the feathers on top of his head as he did so. While Yew was distracted, he reached out swiftly with his other talons and gently snatched her by her muzzle. He turned the scarred side of her face towards him so he could get a better look, and Yew trembled in his grasp. Lugus could smell her fear as he examined her scar. âœYou are beautiful,â Lugus stated.

Yew ceased to tremble and she let out a confused whimper, she wanted to pull herself free from the griffonâs grasp but for some reason, she didnât dare. She could feel the fine points of the claws on the end of his talon fingers. Nothing pressed into her soft skin or hurt her in any way. The griffon was in her blind spot and she could not see him. She felt something lightly touching her scar and tracing along the length. She began to tremble again, not entirely sure of what was happening.

âœThat is quite a story,â Lugus said as he let go of the frightened pegasus. âœThat went down to the bone and even deeper in places, gouging into your skull.â

Yew nodded as she turned her head to get the griffon back into her field of vision.

âœI didnât hurt you did I? I would never be able to forgive myself if I did,â Lugus said to the frightened mare.

Yew shook her head no and squeezed the foal she was holding a little tighter.

Bucky took a large bite of fish, chewed, and tried to remember his dream, trying to remember that day in the royal gardens. He was distracted by a flick of Thistleâs tongue as she licked away a bit of fish flesh on his muzzle and then by the sounds of her tearing off a bite.

Enchantment, like dark magic, was all about the force of will. The enchanter has to believe in the enchantment lest it fail, and when two wills struggled together, the stronger was the victor. As a foal, he had nearly broken one of Celestiaâs enchantments upon his mind, having become aware of the aversion spell on Sombraâs name.

He leaned down and tore off another bite of fish.

Chewing somewhat before gulping, Bucky tried to make sense of this memory. He reflected upon his accomplishments and wondered how much of what he had done was from himself and how much was from Sombraâs memories. He certainly had the raw skill. He supposed that he wanted to know how much skill he actually had on his own and took a small measure of comfort that he had nearly broke Celestiaâs enchantments on his mind.

âœBastard son of a bastard!â

Bucky raised his head and peered out, having once again forgot his goggles. He could hear splashing in the lake, the unmistakable sounds of Sentinel thrashing about.

âœMmm mmlug flug gleerglug! Muthlerplufflur!â

Sentinel was talking with his mouth full again. Swearing with his mouth full.

âœOh my, heâs got a monster,â Thistle said. She licked her lips after she spoke and looked out over the water hungrily.

Bucky saw Sentinel as the colt came into focus, wrestling with a fish whose length was thrice Sentinelâs own. He had the fish hugged to his barrel and his teeth sank into the fishâs spine. Somehow, the colt was dragging the fish ashore.

âœCoshnosher!â Sentinel swore with his mouth still full.

âœSentinel! Your mouth! Do I need to stand you in the corner like Berry does PiÃa!â Thistle threatened. âœNo, donât answer that, you beat that fish into submission!â

Sentinel slugged the fish a few times with his hoof and as Bucky watched, the fish flopped up and around, catching Sentinelâs ear in its maw. He heard Sentinel scream in pain and the colt fell over in the water, punching and kicking, still not letting go of his prize. Bucky could smell pony blood in the air. All thoughts of enchantment and breakfast forgotten, he started to move towards the water.

He was stopped by Thistle planting her hoof into his chest.

âœNo,â Thistle stated. âœLet him fight. Do not rob him of his victory.â

There was another ragged scream from Sentinel and Bucky began to prance in place. As he watched, Sentinel got his own maw around the fishâs body, just behind the head, sinking his fangs into the gills. Sentinel wrenched his head back and tore the fishâs head from its body. He spat it out in the shallow water, blood trickling down the side of his face from his torn ear, his barrel heaving from his efforts.

The colt dutifully continued to drag the body ashore, and then dropped the carcass in the grass. He stood over his fallen prey, lifted his mouth open wide, and roared.

âœThat has to be at least one hundred pounds of trout,â Bucky whispered into Thistleâs ear.

âœI wouldnât know,â Thistle whispered back.

Sentinel stood bloodied over his prize for a moment longer, he then stepped aside, sat down, and wiped the blood from his face with one foreleg. Looking down in anger, he punched the dead fish once again, venting his bile upon the fallen enemy, and then he rubbed away more blood from his torn ear.

âœStupid ear biting fish!â Sentinel snarled as his head plunged downward, his fangs bared, ready to eat his breakfast.

âœI cannot put into words how proud I am of our foal,â Bucky said to Thistle.

âœNor I,â Thistle replied.

Chapter 158

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Sentinel grunted impatiently as Lyra yawned. Lyra had a length of thread and a rather large looking needle sitting on the table. His ear was still trickling blood and there was a large tear near the base that went halfway through his ear.

âœSentinel, this is gonna sting,â Lyra warned as she lifted up a small cup full of strong whiskey. Without further ado, she poured the hard liquor over Sentinelâs ear, which caused him to hiss loudly. âœI am so sorry baby!â Lyra whimpered. She began to gnaw on her front hoof from her emotional agony.

Sentinel gritted his teeth and said nothing, sitting there stonily.

âœYou know, this would be easier somehow if you were crying,â Lyra said after pulling her hoof from her mouth. âœAt least I could be punished for hurting youâ I would know how much you are suffering and it would hurt meâ with you being so silent I just donât know,â she confessed.

Sentinel sighed and felt awful for Lyra. He slumped. He felt two lips press up against his cheek and then he saw the needle being threaded in mid air, surrounded by a golden glow. He felt his pucker tighten and clench violently as he thought about what was about to be done.

Quite by mistake, a whimper escaped his lips and that seemed to send Lyra over the edge as she began to cry. The needle and long length of thread hovered hesitantly in the air.

âœI donât know if I can do this Bonnie,â Lyra whined.

âœLyra, you must,â Bon Bon said. She covered her mouth with her fetlock and yawned. âœYou are the only pony who can. Heâs been oozing blood for a while now. Leaving it be hasnât made it stop bleeding. It needs stitching. Or do you want somepony to finish removing his ear and then cauterise it?â

âœNO!â Lyra cried, her exclamation loud enough to make Harper wake up and start to cry.

âœI donât want my ear cut off and cauterised!â Sentinel begged, finally saying something and breaking his stony stoic silence. âœMama Lyra please just sew it together!â

Bon Bon went to Harper where she lay in the straw and tried to comfort the crying startled foal. She eased herself down into the straw, laying on her belly, and cradled Harper in her forelegs. She hummed to the foal and planted a little kiss on the foal, and Harper continued to wail, kicking her little stubby legs around in the air. Bon Bon winced when she heard Sentinelâs sharp intake of breath.

âœThereâs little ridges of cartilageâ oh this is awful!â Lyra moaned. She wrapped her forelegs around Sentinel, the colt who had seen so much abuse already. He still had a few bare patches on his withers from his burns and there were scars on his skin that would last a lifetime. She pulled the foal close and focused her magic, trying to make the stitches small, neat, and tight. She could feel the resistance against the needle as she had to force it through the cartilage of Sentinelâs ear. She could feel his body tighten and tense.

And then, much to her dismay, she could feel the shuddering of his barrel as her colt began to quietly cry while still trying to hold still.

Lyra hated these isles. They were a barbaric place. She hated what they were doing to Bucky and the rest of her herd. She hated what they were doing to her. She hated the attempt to seize her mind. And more than anything, she hated that she was jamming a large needle through a foalâs ear over and over while causing friction burns with rough thread as she pulled everything tight with no anesthetic.

âœI hate everything about these cursed isles!â Lyra sobbed.

Bon Bon nodded but said nothing, still trying to get Harper to settle. Harper could hear her mother crying and it only made her wails intensify. She pressed her snoot against Harperâs tummy and wished that Bucky was here. Bucky had a knack for quieting Harper, and much to Bon Bonâs relief, it didnât involve using a sleep spell.

âœI am not so sure I understand my sister sometimes,â Loch Skimmer said to Sparkler as she watched her sister balancing and standing on her right front hoof, her other three legs and her wings sprawled out in different directions to keep her balance. âœShe looks funny standing on one front hoof.â

âœWhat amazing balance though,â Sparkler said as she leaned on Loch. Her head hurt, and she had a bump the size of a goose egg just behind her ear. âœSour Mash clipped me because I got a bit cocky,â Sparkler grumbled.

âœWell then, donât get cocky you dunderhead,â Loch teased.

âœIf you didnât have a broken leg, Iâd be all over you right now,â Sparkler grumbled.

âœLike you was all over me the other day when you, me, and Rising Star rolled around in that patch of wildflowers?â Loch replied with a suggestive question.

Sparkler blushed and looked at Loch. âœYeah, maybe,â Sparkler said.

âœI still donât know how I feel about filly on filly contact,â Loch admitted.

âœI know,â Sparkler said as she watched Ripple switch over to her left front hoof and raise her right hoof from the ground.

âœI donât mind you touching me, but I feel awkward and out of sorts when I try to return the favour,â Loch Skimmer confessed.

âœWell, just let me touch you then. I like thatâ I like it a great deal and I donât expect anything in return. I can get it from Rising Star,â Sparkler said in return to Loch Skimmer.

âœBut I feel bad not returning the favour,â Loch protested.

âœLook, you make me feel good in other ways,â Sparkler said reassuringly.

Bucky looked upon the armor pieces spread out over the table. A few more enchantments were needed, but the armor was finished, completed, the last piece forged. It was now time to fine tune the finished work and sort out any problems that might arise.

It was time to test.

âœRising Star, do you think you will be able to lift me into the air with my armor on?â Bucky inquired.

âœI think so,â Rising Star replied.

âœGood,â Bucky replied.

Bucky ignited his horn and pulled on the helmet, powering it up. The blue-green glow intensified and began to spread over the other armor pieces. They slowly floated into place around his body, linking and locking together with loud clicks and clanks. There was no visible or exposed flesh.

Bucky took his first step. There was a loud metallic clunk as his steel covered hooves clopped onto the stone floor of the smithy. His first movements were jerky and he realised he was thinking too much and concentrating too hard. He tried to focus on walking naturally and made his way towards the door.

The armor was black and dull looking. There was no reflective surface anywhere. It was draconic in appearance, skeletal looking, and terrifying to look at. Light seemed to die upon its surface. It was also covered in eyes, small closed eyes, and when the eyes opened, it would reveal a hidden sunstone that would flood the surrounding area with ultraviolet light. The armor thrummed with power and made everything around it vibrate.

âœYou look like death,â Lugus remarked.

âœI know,â Bucky said in a demonic metallic growl.

âœThereâs that feeling of pissing myself!â Rising Star whimpered.

Crush the earth pony split once again. The big earth pony didnât like magic much to begin with and he took off to have a well deserved break at a nice water trough outside.

âœI feel so strong,â Bucky announced, his voice now a source of terror. He cleared the door and entered the courtyard. Ponies scattered upon seeing him, and within moments, most of the courtyard had been cleared. He stomped through the courtyard testing his new abilities. He moved so easily now. He could feel new strength. It took no effort to walk, the armor did all of the work for him. All he had to do was remain limp, suspended in a field of magic.

âœThe walk is a bit mechanical looking,â Rising Star observed as he followed along behind Bucky. âœAnd the tail swings a bit. It does seem be acting as a good counter balancer, just like Crushâs assistant said it would.â

âœRising Star. You are to lift me and throw me against the wall. Hard, but not too hard. We need to test how this takes impacts,â Bucky commanded.

âœNo! I canât throw you against the wall! How hard is too hard? All of your wives and my mothers will play hopscotch on my corpse if I hurt youââ Rising Star replied, shying away in terror of all kinds.

âœYou will do as I ask,â Bucky demanded, his voice now a terror that came from the depths of Tartarus.

Rising Star cringed. He didnât like this at all. His horn flashed to life and he lifted Bucky into the air. âœOh I hope that Derpy forgives me, I donât want to be kicked by a pegasus that I love and turned into a fine red mist,â he cried.

Not knowing what else to do, he hurled Bucky into the strong stone wall.

There was a loud metallic clang upon impact, and it sounded like a ringing bell. Bucky bounced from the wall and hit the ground hard. His armor plated form did not move and Rising Star struggled to hold in his urine.

After a few moments, Bucky began to stir.

âœI have detected a problem,â Bucky announced. âœI will need sound dampeners. I can still hear bells ringing in my ears. Oh the sound!â he said in a voice that sounded as though it was reading off the soiled laundry list for Tartarus. He slowly rose up off of the ground, the armor lifting him up to his hooves in a mechanical fashion. âœI didnât feel a thing!â

The voice was too much and Rising Star took off at a run, heading for a little patch of hedges intended just for the purpose he needed them for, a keening wail escaping his throat as he ran.

âœSome ponies,â Bucky growled mechanically, his voice sounding like something reverberating up out of some dark abyssal plane of death and destruction. He took off at a trot, which picked up a bit as he cleared the gatehouse, finally becoming a gallop, and then, Bucky ran. He took off with incredible leaps and bounds, soaring for a good twenty feet through the air before his hooves hit the ground again and propelled him through the air.

Lugus had to take wing to keep up, and even then, Bucky was still getting faster and faster. Lugus straightened out his body, tucked his legs up to his torso, and poured on all of the raw speed he was capable of. The landscape went by in a blur as he flew, and Buckyâs pace continued to pick up once Bucky mastered the new movements to keep himself going.

The armor gave Bucky incredible speed.

Lugus, a flying creature, was having trouble keeping up. Lugus cursed his large form and wished he was a smaller griffon, one of the speedy fliers used as messengers. He gulped in air and pushed himself to go even faster, trying to keep pace with the mechanical monster below that was sprinting at cheetah speeds.

In no time at all, Lugus saw a tower and windmill, and Bucky seemed to be slowing down. Finally, Bucky stopped near the tower. There was also a large stone hall with a pegasus statue up on top.

Lugus circled as Bucky rested.

âœI made this tower,â Bucky announced in the terrible mechanical voice he now had. âœAnd the hall too. Over an hour from the castle at walking speed. We just did it in a few minutes. I am not even breathing hard.â Bucky then turned tail and took off once again, bolting back towards the castle, realising that dozens of improvements needed to be made.

Chapter 159

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Derpy felt especially protective as she wandered through the meadow, leading a little parade behind her. Dinky and PiÃa walked together side by side, and little Wheatberry walked just behind them. On Derpy's back was Peekaboo. They walked near the next hulk being restored and ponies waved as they went by. Buildings were being built by what ponies were now calling the shipyard. The shipwreck survivors had manipulation shoes and the unicorns had magic. The new buildings were going up quickly, were well made and quite modern looking. She knew that Berry was around here somewhere, putting her skills as a carpenter to work.

Near the castle, ground was being broken on a new schoolhouse, a dedicated schoolhouse. Keg Smasher had promised a title to Gardenia if she stayed and became the Royal Education Supervisor for the isle. Now, Lady Gardenia had something she never had in Equestria. Respect along with willing eager students.

So much had changed Derpy realised. Hope was taking over. She looked over her shoulder to make sure her charges were following along and continued her march around the meadow.

âœI could never keep up with that sort of magical output for any real length of time,â Bucky said as he wobbled around inside of the smithy. He looked at the armor. âœIt needs more work than I thought. I need to do something about the voice. It is too menacing. It needs sound dampening. And I need a means to take in energy without taking my armor off, because it takes a lot of effort to do so. I am going to have to spend most of my time walking around in low power mode, which is going to be slow but will only have a minimal drain upon my mana reserves.â

âœStrap a keg on to your armor and then use your magic to conjure up a drink of high test whiskey when you start to feel your legs wobble. The close range wonât take much of a magical drain to get a drink. You should make a net gain with each gulp. We take the keg and place it right over the spot where the tail connects for balance.â Rising Star suggested.

Bucky fell silent, staring at his colt. After several moments of moving his mouth, some words finally fell out. âœThatâs brilliant Rising Starâ We could easily fit a five gallon keg back there. I could craft one from steel. No tubes or hoses. I was planning on using whiskey to keep me going anyway, but I thought Iâd have to return to the ship to get it. I will still need to refill, but this should keep me out in the field longer.â

Rising Star beamed. âœHanging around the forge has taught me how to be practical. Iâve learned so much here in so little time,â he said.

âœThere is still the matter of learning how to move in the armor and heavy combat,â Lugus stated.

âœThe run today taught me quite a bit. Running and walking are easy. My body doesnât feel like my body though in the armor. Everything is big and weird and nothing moves the way it should. Youâre right, I will need time to learn how to move inside of the armor,â Bucky admitted.

âœAs much as your wives might protest, we might do well to go out on a nighttime excursion. You, on the ground and I, in the air offering support. Then we can see if maybe we can engage a few of them while their numbers seem to be slowly building. You should listen to your wives though, they are wise,â Lugus said as he scratched his shoulder.

âœI kinda wish I could go outâ hey Bucky, donât stare at me like that, itâs creepy,â Rising Star said. âœYou used to stare at me like that when I would get a little too friendly with Sparkler.â

âœI am okay with you doing things with my daughter now. I am glad you are in a dedicated and loving relationship. But if you ever step a hoof outside this castle after sundown, the wolves will be the least of your worries, I assure you,â Bucky promised.

Rising Star gulped. âœI understand Buckyâ look, I just wished I could go out. I want to hurt the wolves too. I have my own issues,â he said with a slight stammer. âœI keep thinking about the Isle of Wheat and what happened. The pony I was a few moments too late to save. And when I see what happened in my minds eyeâ I want to burn things!â

âœRising Star, I understand. And while you might be somewhat protected in your flaming form, the wolves would still bite you even if it burned them. They tried biting Sparkler in her stone form. If even a few slipped through somehow and got to you, youâd either end up dead or looking like me,â Bucky gently replied.

âœLooking like Bucky isnât such a bad thingâ but you should listen young Rising Star,â Lugus interjected. âœBucky should listen more too. He is thick headed.â

Bucky shot Lugus a sour look and his scowl only intensified over time.

âœI talk to your wives when I leave my foal in their care. They make me promise things! Like to not let you overwork yourself. The grey mare could be a nanny to dragon young. She has a fierce presence,â Lugus said in his own defense. âœAnd the little dark grey daughter you haveâ the one with the blue mane, she learns the fierce arts of broodery from your matriarch.â

âœRipple,â Rising said with a smile. âœMy sweet precious Ripple. I love that filly,â he muttered with a dopey grin plastered across his muzzle. âœAnd Loch Skimmer, her sister. And Sparkler. Uh, I gotta go. I, er, uh, something tells me my wives need me… my boner sense is tingling,â he stammered. Rising Star took off at a gallop out of the smithy.

Crush snorted as he watching Rising Star leave, and then went back to hammering out some iron horseshoes on his anvil as he shook his head.

âœHm, I wonder if my wives need me,â Bucky mused. âœIâm feeling a bit empty after the magical expenditure I just had. I think I am going to go find food. And maybe spend some time talking with my wives.â

âœYou have clever wives. A clever wife is worth more than a thousand well sharpened swords,â Lugus stated. âœI am beginning to wonder if I should perhaps hunt myself a clever wife down to help me raise my ward. Peekaboo continues to mystify me.â

âœHave one of the griffonesses from the shipwreck in mind?â Bucky asked.

âœNoâ Peekaboo needs a pony mother. Tell me Bucky, tell me about your pony courtship rituals. Beyond offering to regurgitate a hot meal, I am completely lost,â Lugus replied. âœAmong my caste, we do not woo. We simply take. If a female does not wish to be taken, she must be willing to defend herself and insure her own safety.â

Sentinel continued about his task, even though he had been excused. While Lyra and Bon Bon slumbered, Sentinel moved among the refugees along with Thrasher, Keg Smasherâs personal assistant. He took requests, he answered questions to the best of his ability, and he worked as his masterâs squire as well as his fatherâs son.

He could not help but notice that most of the ponies were not friendly or receptive to him. Not all ponies were as quick to love him, like him, or even accept him as readily as his family had. Some even refused to speak to him, speaking to Thrasher instead.

A couple had even said the horrible wordsâ bat pony.

Which had not improved the quality of his day. While breakfast had been lovely and his victory satisfying, his ear was throbbing and he was in a lot of pain. His mother Lyra had been a gibbering mess when he had departed. He did his task with as much dignity as he could muster and remained quite civil, even to those who Thrasher said needed a good thrashing, because apparently, that is what Thrasher did. Thrasher was good at beating things into a bloody pulp.

Some of the rudest ponies Sentinel had met where his own fellow pegasi, which confused him. He couldnât understand why this was. His mother was a solar pegasus, and his father had been a lunar pegasus. They had loved one another, or so Sentinel hoped, he couldnât remember them very well. His mother had died and then his father had gone mad with grief, Sentinel could remember that, his father going insane and then rushing off into the night howling like a savage beast. His father had deserted his post.

As he walked, Sentinel shuddered. He had only the barest idea of what Bucky, his father now, was capable of, but Sentinel couldnât bear the thought of what Bucky might do if something was to kill one of his mothers. His fatherâs rage might be catastrophic.

âœYou look troubled Squire Sentinel,â Thrasher observed. âœEar bothering you?â he inquired.

âœNo Sir Thrasher. I am unsettled by a number of things. The rudeness of the pegasi. Some of the mainlanders. And I am worried about my father,â Sentinel replied.

âœYour master, His Grace, Lord Bitters. You are on duty Squire Sentinel. You would do well to remember that. As for the mainlanders and the pegasi, they are unmitigated unwashed arseholes. Well, some of them. I do not like them. Not at all. They might be useful, but they are rude. They have no concept of chivalry or graciousness. They are barbarians,â Thrasher stated.

âœIndeed,â Sentinel agreed.

âœLord Bitters, he understands chivalry. He understands sacrifice. He truly understands what it means to have your back broken by the yoke of power placed upon it. Which is why my father, my master His Grace, Laird Keg Smasher, chose Bucky to look after the isles if something happened. You are a very lucky pony Squire Sentinel, you must never forget that. As for these arseholes and their self importance? Service would break most of them. They lack our strength. It takes power and guts to bend your knee and serve,â Thrasher said in a regal voice.

âœSir Thrasher, might I ask a very personal question?â Sentinel inquired.

âœYou may, good squire,â Thrasher responded.

âœDid it bother you handing over authority to Lord Bitters rather than taking your fatherâs place as his son?â Sentinel asked, hoping that his question was not insulting.

âœNot at all. I strongly suspect that my father was testing me to see how I would react and if I would obey his wishes. To see if I would do what was needed for the greater good rather than my own desires or wishes. He was most proud of me,â Thrasher replied, a broad smile upon his face. âœIt was most satisfying to earn his pride, to know that I deserved it.â

âœIt does feel good to have that sort of pride,â Sentinel agreed.

Derpy carefully drew her lips over her feathers as Wheatberry watched and tried to imitate her actions. The yearling wasnât very good, but she was trying. Peekaboo was too little to even try and she was content to be snuggled by PiÃa and Dinky who fawned over her.

âœNo, stick out your lips Wheatberry, pretend you have a duck bill,â Derpy instructed cheerfully and then demonstrated once again.

The foal did her best and tried mimic the larger pegasusâ well practiced movements. She slobbered all over her wing, leaving it rather damp, and little trails of drool dribbled down from her chin.

âœMama, what does a little pegasus do if it is born to parents with no wings and no special pegasus slobber?â Dinky asked.

Derpy broke down and looked quite distressed for a moment. âœI would hope that a friendly pegasus would take it upon themselves to preen the foal on a regular basis. I hope the parents would understand the importance,â she replied.

âœYou know mama, you spend a lot more time preening your wings now than you used to. They stay so shiny and perfect,â Dinky observed.

âœI suppose I do,â Derpy admitted.

âœIs it because you found daddy?â Dinky asked.

âœYes,â Derpy replied to her foal in a rather bashful voice. âœI want to look good for him.â

âœAre you disappointed that I am not a pegasus?â Dinky inquired bluntly.

âœNo,â Derpy answered without a moment of hesitation. âœAre you disappointed I am not a unicorn?â

Chapter 160

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âœI know weâve been preparing, but I still canât believe weâre going to do this,â Berry Punch said as she watched a team of pegasi overhead hauling The Scorned Mare through the sky. They swarmed the sides and the rear while flapping their wings and slowly moved the ship through the air. They were getting good at quick moves and maneuvers, halting suddenly and shifting directions.

âœTheyâre still working on the harnesses the pegasi will wear for the long trip back to Canterlot,â Derpy said absentmindedly. âœWeâre going home soon Berryâ Iâm scared. We could be leaving for home in a week or two if all goes well.â

âœIâm scared too,â Berry admitted.

âœIâve always wanted to live on the mainland, but now I am scared to leave,â Thistle confessed. âœI have my family here. My herd. My tribe. I am really happy with what I have. All of this talk of trouble when you go home. What about me and our foal? I donât want Bucky in trouble, I need a husband and our foal needs a father,â the kelpie said in distressed tones.

âœIâm worried about whatever is controlling the wolves being a stronger foe than Bucky anticipated. Bucky, as strong as he is, has limits. There is only so much he can do,â Berry said.

âœDaddy doesnât fully know his own limits,â PiÃa stated in a small voice, butting in to the adult conversation.

Derpy, Berry, and Thistle exchanged a three way glance, a knowing look that spoke volumes without saying a single word, the sort of look only those very close to one another could possibly give to each other and know exactly what is being said in silence.

Dinky sat in the grass saying nothing, using a small brush on Peekabooâs mane. Dinky understood the price of power and the balance of power now, perhaps better than most adults who would never truly know what it feels like to take the first steps towards omnipresence. Dinky had been everywhere on the isle all at once, it had stretched out her mind and left it a little thin. She understood her fatherâs pain, perhaps more than most of her mothers did, with the exception of Lyra.

Things had changed between Dinky and Lyra. There was now a quiet sense of understanding now.

âœThink we will see him?â PiÃa asked.

âœMaybe. Heâs been strutting around in that armor more and more, giving ponies something to look at. The ponies deserve to see their champion,â Berry Punch replied.

âœI wish that Ripple wasnât so busy,â Dinky said, finally saying something.

âœRipple is busy developing her natural talents,â Derpy replied.

âœNatural talents for violence,â Dinky said despondently.

âœSome ponies are fated to keep other ponies safe. Ripple has a powerful gift. More is expected of her because of her skill. Sheâs like you Dinky. There is no end, no limit to what she can do now that she has us behind her, supporting her and helping her to live up to her potential,â Berry explained.

âœSheâs happier now,â PiÃa stated. âœI mean, since sheâs starting beating on stuff and getting her anger out, sheâs actually been a lot happierâ cheerful like our big sister Loch is cheerful.â

âœSee, thatâs a good thing,â Derpy said. âœYou canât bottle up that kind of anger. It poisons you.â

âœMy anger poisoned me. I can remember feeling the bugs sometimes. Under my skin. And I keep having dreams,â Dinky said in a dull voice. âœI was so angry. It was so easy to slip into darkness. Daddy hardly had to nudge me. I wanted to go into darkness. It was like standing at the top of the slide and wanting to go down. I was so angry. Angry about everything. Thankfully, daddy has been teaching me better things to do with my anger when he has a few spare moments,â the unicorn foal stated.

âœAnger can be a powerful motivator for change,â Berry agreed.

âœI am going to use my anger to change the world, even if the world doesnât want to be changed,â Dinky announced.

âœWell, the voice is fixed I think. I might still sound a little funny and a bit metallic, but the scary piss yourself in fright voice should only come out now when I use the Voice inside of the helmet. It seems like it was all or nothing. I was so hoping to have two levels of intimidation to use,â Bucky said to his working companions.

Crush snorted and gave a nod of approval as he pointed at the helmet.

âœYeah, I know you didnât like the old voice, it was a bad idea, it was impractical,â Bucky admitted. âœNow stop saying âœI told you soâ because there are horseshoes to make and much to do.â

The big earth pony made a flapping sound with his lips before going back to work.

âœThe hook-axe is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen,â Lugus stated as he looked upon the massive weapon that lie upon a rack. It was still in the state of construction. Dull black metal just like Buckyâs armor. It was a fearsome weapon of intimidation.

âœDonât touch just yet, it would be bad if you did,â Bucky warned.

âœI know,â Lugus said, still staring at the axe.

âœI still need to work on Rippleâs shoes,â Bucky sighed.

âœYou need a break. Youâve been at this non stop for the past several days and up all night filling spell jars,â Rising Star stated.

âœWell, it needs to be done. Youâre worn out after a day in the forge, Sparkler is worn out after a day of getting the horseapples kicked out of her by Sour Mash, Dinky is still having trouble concentrating for any length of time, and Lyra canât cast spells without turning her teat milk into water,â Bucky grumbled.

âœYou are nothing but bones. You are getting thinner,â Lugus said in worry.

âœYeah, no comments about how Iâm not fit for a meal or something,â Bucky mumbled.

âœA meal implies something to eat. You are bones,â Lugus spat.

Bucky glared up at the much larger griffon, his lip curling back into a snarl.

âœI am becoming increasingly fascinated by your facial expressions. I like this one,â Lugus stated as he reached out and touched Buckyâs face, poking at the corner of the stallionâs lip curling scowl. âœThis expression suggests anger with a hint of annoyance. Perhaps ire.â

Bucky nodded slowly.

Lugus pinched Buckyâs cheek. âœSuch soft squishy faces. I like them all a great deal.â

Bucky growled in annoyance and pulled himself free of Lugusâ grasp. He reached up and rubbed his cheek. âœThat is so annoying when you do that,â he grumbled.

âœBut your face and all it can do. It is like living clay,â Lugus said in his own defense.

âœI swear Lugus, if anything else did that to meâ I would turn them into a small rodentâ and maybe let Sentinel eat them,â Bucky groused.

âœFire roasted rat is delicious,â Lugus stated.

Every pony in the smithy turned to look at the griffon in disgust and Lugusâ crest raised. His feathers fluffed out and the big griffon tried to smooth them down with his talons. He clacked his beak together and ignored the stares. Bucky was giving him an odd questioning look.

âœBucky, you know nothing. You should try fire roasted rat. Sentinel would probably enjoy it a great deal,â Lugus said dismissively.

âœSentinel loves hunting rodents but I think he likes them raw,â Bucky said in a low voice. âœHeâs offered to share a rat with me.â

There was a gurgling gagging sound from Rising Star and the colt swallowed loudly, trying to gulp down his need to feel sick.

âœToday I plan to hunt later. I have finished my kit. If I bring down a deer, would you, Thistle, and Sentinel like to try some?â Lugus inquired invitingly.

Bucky raised his eyebrow, and could feel the numbed spot just under his ear offering a bit of resistance, the paralysed spot from where he had banged his head into the wall long ago in what seemed like another life. âœSure, why not. I will trust the meat you offer,â he said.

âœYour wifeâ the kelpie, Thistleâ she has taught you honour for your food,â Lugus stated. It was not a question.

âœYes. Almost every day when she catches fish for me, they usually come with some kind of lecture she has thought up and I am forced to endure as I eat the fish that she has caught,â Bucky replied.

âœShe is a good mate. She will give you strong young with honourable ideals,â Lugus said. âœI want to go fishing. I need to construct a bow and fishing arrows.â

Bucky nodded and went back to work, his horn igniting as he began to burn in yet another glyph onto his armor. There was too much to do to keep standing around in idle chatter.

Ripple focused her mind and her balance, easily standing now on her front right hoof. Her wings were tucked into her sides, both of her hind legs were held together and formed a straight line from her body, and her left front leg was tucked against her barrel. She was as straight as pole as she stood on one hoof.

âœYou must be like your namesake, you must flow like water,â Knocker instructed. âœAnd you must not think in limits. When you strike, when you lash out, you must not think of moving your hoof from one place to another in a line or a curve. Simply focus on your hoof existing in one spot and then existing in another. Do not tarry in the spaces in between where your hoof is and where you want to strike, this is the path of the slow strikers. Will your hoof to be where you want it. Do not move it, will it to another location,â the old stallion said hypnotically.

Ripple did not respond. She ignored the sweat trickling down her sides. She ignored the burning pain in the muscles of her right front leg. She blocked out the stabbing cramp in her front right shoulder.

âœFocus on your danger sense. We pegasi can fly through the storm. We do not fear the lightning. If you think about avoiding the danger, the danger will find you. We are creatures of instinct. We know of the lightning before it happens. We are creatures of precognition my student,â Knocker explained.

Ripple felt something in her mind screaming out and she exploded into action. With a flurry of movement, she cartwheeled away, flipped through the air, and landed on her left front hoof a short distance away. She turned her head. Where she had been standing was Knockerâs raised hoof. He would have bruised her ribs again if she had failed and possibly gave her a few lumps to meditate on.

âœYou are my best student. Who would have thought it would have been a filly?â Knocker said with a lopsided smile. âœI would have never thought a filly capable. But here you are, and here I am,â he said.

Ripple felt something in her mind screaming again and she sprang away. A second later, there was a flurry of blows that seemed to be coming at her from all possible directions. She flowed away from them, blocking some of them that got too close, her hooves moving in a blur. She was impossibly fast, moving with super-equine speed. She did not focus on lashing out as she had seen one of her fellow students attempt to do with Knocker, she focused entirely upon defense.

She didnât want a skull fracture like the last now failed student.

Ripple was rocked back on her hind hooves while her front legs moved to block the incoming assaults. Her wings were out for balance. Her mind told her the real assault was coming, this was merely a warm up. She flipped away, somersaulting backwards, springing from her hindhooves to her forehooves then to her hindhooves to her forehooves over and over until she stood in a braced position on her hindhooves with her forelegs crossed before her in a defiant gesture and her teacher stood a short distance away.

âœYou are a marvelous creature,â Knocker whispered. âœYou were made for death. You are slender supple destruction with delicate beautiful wings.â

Ripple blushed but kept up her guard. Master Knocker was not above using flattery as a weapon. She had seen that when he had beaten another student into a bloody pile of pain.

The old pegasus dropped down on all fours, flexed his wings, folded them, and then went into a relaxed posture. âœBe at ease Ripple. I have no further desire to test you. I do want you to continue your meditations. Think of those you love, how you can defend them, and what will become of them should you fail. Our time grows short. You must go into battle. Do not shame me! You are my prized pupil and I wish that we had a lifetime where I might teach you all I know. I have given you what you need and the tools to keep learning on your own should you wish to do so. I have others that I need to beat wisdom into, please excuse me.â

âœThank you,â Ripple said as she dropped down on all fours.

Knocker moved slowly towards Ripple, his head low and his posture radiating harmlessness. He stood near the filly, looking into her eyes. âœI mean what I said. You have a great gift. I was a foolish old stallion thinking that only males could have such a gift. With you, I was also a student and we have learned together. Seek out further training. Always test yourself. Hone your skills. Some pegasi fly above the storm, for safety away from the lightning, other pegasi fly through the storm and do not fear it. I am a better teacher for having you as my student, and you have been my best student. Your raw potential is endless Ripple. Seek the center of the storm, therein lies wisdom,â Knocker instructed. He leaned in and carefully kissed the filly upon her cheek, knowing full well the danger of doing so, but choosing to do it anyway.

Ripple felt the soft kiss and felt confused, Bucky was the only other male pony that kissed her like that. Her gaze dropped down to the ground and she backed away, unsure of what she felt. âœThank you sir, I will spend the rest of my life trying to be worthy of the gifts you have given me,â she said, trying to think of how Sentinel might reply to this situation.

âœBe true to the way of the Storm Seekers,â Knocker instructed. âœAnd protect your tribe.â

Chapter 161

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Once again, the dreamer lies dreamingâ recalling lessons past.

The small glass orb on the table before him infuriated Bucky. He didnât know what was wrong, but the cursed glass orb was resisting his attempts to enchant it. He had no instructor to speak to, no teacher to ask for help, this was his exam and he was secured away in a small room with no windows. Just a simple plain room with a small table and a cushion for him to sit on.

And the hated glass orb that he could not seem to enchant.

The corner of his eye twitching painfully, Bucky glared at his now hated enemy. He was going to fail this exam. All he had to do was cast a simple light spell on the globe. He had cast all kinds of simple enchantments already, including plenty of light spells on glass globes as practice.

This one seemed to resist him, which was maddening.

Feeling a clever burst of imagination, Bucky squirmed on his cushion and cast detect magic upon the orb. He felt the tingle of strong magic coursing through him. His birthright. The only thing his parents ever gave him that was truly his to keep that they couldnât hold over his head or take away.

The orb showed no signs of enchantment or other signs of a magical signature.

âœOh come on!â Bucky grumped. With no further use for the orb since it couldnât be enchanted, Bucky hurled the hated glass object into the stone wall with considerable force, not caring in the slightest that he would be in all sorts of trouble for breaking it.

The orb hit the wall and bounced, coming back to strike Bucky in the head.

Without knowing it, this moment was the defining moment of young Buckyâs life, the moment where he would perfect his technique for dealing with everything that would puzzle him in life. It would become the way he dealt with his problems, learned from the world around him, this was the moment that made him Buckminster Bitters, that shaped him into the unicorn that could out stubborn an earth pony. The defining characteristic that would exemplify his life and his method of complex understanding and his entire philosophy was remarkably simpleâ

Blunt force trauma.

âœCONK!â â âœBONK!â

âœOh horsefeathers! I hate you!â Bucky screamed at his new sworn enemy as he struggled to lift himself up off of the cold stone floor where he had fallen and then bonked his head on the stone floor. He lifted the orb in his magic, ready to hurl it into the wall again, when he had an important thought as he rubbed one of the two large lumps growing rapidly off of his skull, the beginning of the many injuries he would sustain in a life of grievous bodily harm.

The orb did not break.

If the orb was ordinary glass, it would have broke. The realisation dawned through Buckyâs mind, filling him with competing emotions of rage and elation. The orb was enchanted. Even if he couldnât detect it. âœAH HAH!â Bucky crowed. âœI have you now, you hated inanimate object of lies and betrayal!â

Bucky glared down at the orb as he placed it upon the table. He couldnât place a light spell on it and he knew why now. Grinning maliciously, he rubbed his forehooves together and let out a small cackle, while not his first cackle, it was still a developing cackle, and would have been seen as a serious warning sign had his teachers witnessed it.

Igniting his horn, Bucky went to work, summoning up all of his willpower, hoping he could dispel the enchantment upon the orb. He had a marvelous idea. He could feel the orb resisting him, something pushing back, creating pressure in the base of his horn. Gritting his teeth and clearing his mind, Bucky continued to will the enchantment away.

And then, with enough force to make his ears pop painfully, the pressure in the base of his horn burst, giving him a terrible headache and hornache, but he knew that the enchantment was gone. Another brief cackle escaped his lips as he leered over the orb, plotting and planning. It was just a glass orb now. He could enchant it with a light spell, but that seemed meaningless after his effort. His stomach growled painfully. His constant magic usage was leaving him thinner and scrawnier than he usually was.

Holding the ball up close to where he could see it, he carefully conjured a tiny bit of stone from the wall, shaping the tiny amount of matter with his magic, which was exhausting. He made a tiny little castle with a few towers, one long tall tower, and he teleported it inside of the globe. He affixed it into place with a simple cantrip intended to make things stick and stay upon a surface, and he began to swoon with fatigue.

Summoning up the last of reserves, he cast a tiny snowstorm inside of the glass globe. As he watched, tiny snowflakes swirled around inside of the sphere, a raging blizzard upon the castle trapped in glass. Satisfied with his work, he lowered it to the table and placed it on the rounded indentation intended to hold the orb and lowered his head to the table, hoping his headache would go away sooner rather than later.

âœHi Harperâ are you daddyâs little filly?â Bucky asked. He was laying on his back, holding Harper in the air, held between his fetlocks. He bounced her up and down gently, allowing her to âflyâ overhead, which was something she seemed to enjoy.

âœMama!â Harper responded and then burbled as her father gently bounced her around.

Without warning, the burble changed to a gurgle and Harper vomited up the contents of her stomach directly upon her fatherâs face below her. She heaved once, hiccupped, heaved again, belched, and then heaved for a third time, all upon the unicorn beneath her that was too stunned to respond.

âœOh dear,â Bucky gasped after several moments of stunned silence. âœDid Harper have an upset tummy-wummy?â he inquired in a silly voice, vomited milk running down the sides of his face.

âœMama?â Harper said in an uncertain voice.

âœOh myâ Buckyââ Lyra said from behind a fetlock covering her mouth. She began to snigger.

âœLyra, âsânot funny,â Bon Bon scolded as she tried to choke back her own chortles.

âœSnot is funny sometimes,â Lyra retorted as she collapsed with the giggles.

âœI was trying not to laugh, I didnât say snot,â Bon Bon argued as she began to titter.

Harper, not yet done, hurled again, this time emptying her stomach of several clumps of curdled soured partially digested milk which rained down upon her father below her.

âœOh Harperâ what has daddy done to you to make you hate him? Do you feel neglected?â Bucky inquired.

âœSheâs been getting little magical surges, they upset her tummy as she tries to convert food to mana I think,â Lyra explained.

Bucky gently placed the foal down in the straw and sat up. He wiped the steaming vomit from his face and realised that he needed a good washing. He conjured up some water into the clean bucket, rose to his hooves, crossed the room, and went to work as Lyra came over and tended to the foal.

âœYou were dreaming again earlier, you seemed happy about it this time,â Bon Bon remarked.

âœI was dreaming about an exam I took in school,â Bucky replied as he scrubbed his face.

âœOnly you and Lyra would enjoy dreaming about taking exams in school and be happy about it,â Bon Bon quipped.

âœI sort of passed an impossible test. I was supposed to enchant a glass globe that couldnât be enchanted. It was a test to see how I handled failure. The globe appeared to be completely unremarkable, with no sign of magical enchantment,â Bucky explained. âœAdvanced enchantment applications caused a lot of students to have nervous breakdowns. I figured out that the orb was enchanted. I broke the powerful enchantment placed upon it, made a little castle inside of it, and then conjured up a tiny little blizzard to turn it into a snow globe. My teacher, Apricot Summers couldnât believe Iâd done it. She summoned Princess Celestia. Celestia took the orb away, I have no idea what happened to it. Nopony had a way to grade me for what I had done, the whole purpose was to fail the test and then be evaluated on how you dealt with failure,â he said.

âœI had to take a similar test in advanced abjuration. It was how to handle failure. Twilight Sparkle did what you did. She broke the test and then lectured the teacher about how lousy the defensive protections were that held the spell matrixes in place and that the magical wards should be protected with additional magical wards to protect the wards, and then more wards to protect those wards, and then everything covered up in feedback loops to confound any attempts of interference. I really hated her,â Lyra muttered.

âœHow did you handle your failure?â Bucky asked as he dried his face using magic.

âœOh, I had a total meltdown as was expected. I had to spend almost a week in the recovery wing. From what I was told, I rocked back and forth in a chair muttering about sapient oranges and their plans to infiltrate unicorn society,â Lyra replied.

âœI had a week similar to that. I was taking exams. I was a little stressed. And my green beans were touching my mashed potatoes one day during lunch. I liked my food to be well separated. I lost it. I accidentally made it rain green beans after a surge. I spent a bit over a week in the recovery wing,â Bucky said, fondly reminiscing about his time in school.

âœThat was you?â Lyra asked. âœThey had to get the best spellbreakers in the school to clean up that mess. It didnât stop raining green beans for three days and there was butter everywhere.â

âœYou two scare me sometimes,â Bon Bon said hesitantly.

âœDinky is rapidly approaching the age and the education where she could make some really interesting things happen if she surges,â Lyra said with a self satisfied sigh.

âœWhen harmony magic sours, it turns into chaos magicâ good times, good times,â Bucky said.

âœI swear, both of you are incorrigible,â Bon Bon muttered.

âœI have to go,â Bucky announced. âœI will be in the lab filling spell jars and making more spell jars.â

Derpy studied the big griffon as she sat on her haunches holding the tiny pegasus foal named Peekaboo. Lugus was looking back at her expectantly, awaiting some kind of reply. Derpy sensed that he was nervous and the fluttering of his wings confirmed her suspicions.

âœYou want me to do what?â Derpy asked, still not believing exactly what she had just heard a moment ago.

âœI want for you to tell me how to woo a pegasus,â Lugus said in a soft somewhat humiliated voice.

âœUmâ why?â Derpy inquired.

âœBecause,â Lugus stated.

âœBecause is not a reason. Doesnât work when Sparkler or Dinky use it on me, wonât work for you either,â Derpy said in reply.

âœI have found a pegasus that I feel would be a suitable nestmate for me and I want the best warrior mother available for Peekaboo,â Lugus explained.

âœWhy me? Why not one of the many other pegasi males around here?â Derpy questioned.

âœThis is humiliating. I do not wish to be made into a laughingstock. I thought you would understand,â Lugus answered in total honesty.

Derpy nodded. âœI do understand that,â she said in return. She looked over her shoulder at Dinky and PiÃa, who were giggling. âœSorry about them, they canât help themselves.â

âœFoals will be foals?â Lugus said hesitantly.

âœYeah, foals,â Derpy repeated.

âœSo will you help me?â Lugus inquired.

âœYeah I guessâ you do so much to help Bucky,â Derpy agreed.

âœGood!â Lugus cheered.

âœSo who is the pegasus you are after?â Derpy asked.

âœYew,â Lugus responded.

Derpy growled. It was a frightful sound, and the stiffening of her legs was immediate. Her wings flared out slightly as her ears folded back against her skull. Her head lowered, protecting her throat. One front hoof began to paw the earth.

Lugus let out a loud squawk of alarm and backed away. âœOh no, not you, Yew. Yew Wood. She is named after the tree,â Lugus cried in panic.

Derpy snorted and threw her head back. She whipped her mane around in frustration and flicked her tail. âœFor a moment, I thought I was going to have to remind you that I am a happily married mare and I was going to give you quite a lesson in pegasus talk,â Derpy said in a low growling voice.

âœCan you still help me?â Lugus asked.

âœYes,â Derpy replied. âœI might have a colt someday. And Bucky isnât a pegasus. I might have to tell my colt how to attract a pretty pegasus filly. I guess youâll make for good practice. This is weird though,â

Lugus nodded eagerly.

âœFirst off, wings should be glossy and shiny,â Derpy said. âœAnd neat. Give her something to look at. Make sure you work that wingspan too.â

Lugus spread his wings a bit. âœMy wings are immaculate,â he acknowledged.

âœExpand your barrelâ do griffons have a barrel? Make your ribs look bigâ bigger the better. Strut around with stiff legs, but not too stiff. You donât want to challenge her to a fight, well, unless you are into that sort of thing but you had better not hurt her or there will be fur and feathers flying,â Derpy instructed.

âœSeems reasonable so far,â Lugus answered.

âœWait, this is stupid,â Derpy said, suddenly looking very unsure of herself.

âœThis is?â Lugus responded.

"Yes,â Derpy answered. âœThis is. What do I know of pegasus courtship? Iâve been shut out by my own kind,â she said as she looked incredibly angry for a moment.

âœOh and now the storm cloud mare is angry with me again it seems,â Lugus stated.

âœOkay Lugus, this is what you do,â Derpy instructed as she set Peekaboo down in the grass and watched as the foal toddled off towards Dinky and PiÃa. She marched up to Lugus stiff legged and commanding. âœYou give her a really sweet look right in the eye, just like this. And then, when you have her attention, you reach out very slowly and gently, so you donât spook her, and then you touch the side of her cheek, like this,â she said as she demonstrated. She reached up and gently touched the side of Lugusâs head, away from his beak. âœAnd now the next part is important. To make sure your intention is very very clear, you lean in very very close, and you tell her, âœcatch me if you can,â just before you take off running. And then, you run. You run fast. And if she is falling behind too much, you slow down. If she is right behind you, give a bit of speed. Make her chase you. Flying is okay, sheâs a pegasus, right?â

âœI see,â Lugus said, rubbing beneath his beak with his talons.

âœI caught myself a pretty good unicorn this way,â Derpy said proudly. She could hear the giggling of her foals behind her. âœYou can skip all of the stupid dances and plumage displays and just go right for what matters. Good luck Lugus.â

âœI think I shall go find her now, before the work of the day begins in earnest,â Lugus replied. The big griffon spread his wings and then he was gone.

Chapter 162

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Bon Bon looked at the sleeping form on the bed and felt a pang in her heart. Bucky was sleeping, something he desperately needed, and so did Bon Bon. After breakfast and some time spent with family, Bucky had gone to the bed rather than the smithy. The earth pony mare watched as his body jerked and twitched in his sleep. He did not look peacefully at rest this time. She eased her body down on to the bed and scooted close to Bucky, placing a hoof upon him. She felt his body relax slightly under her touch. She looked at Lyra, who was yawning, and with a nod of her head, encouraged Lyra to come to bed. Harper was sleeping soundly in the straw.

Bon Bon smiled as Lyra came to bed, and she pulled the other unicorn that she loved into a kiss, which quickly turned into something heated and needy. Lyra melted under her touch, and Bon Bon ran her hoof down Lyraâs belly, stroking her milk swollen teats and making little circles on her navel. The pair settled in next to Bucky, both of them kissing him softly, and then laid their heads down together, glad to finally go to sleep after a long night.

The cold snow swirled around Bucky and he realised he was not in his own body. He could feel himself consumed by grief, a grief so terrible that he could scarcely stand to feel it. He could not feel the cold, only pain, agonising emotional pain. Looking through another bodyâs eyes, he saw a pony bundled up in many layers of clothing, wearing a tall pointed hat covered in bells. A white beard was visible, poking out from a scarf wrapped over a muzzle.

âœI worry about you brother,â the white unicorn said.

Bucky realised it was Star Swirlâ which would put him in Sombraâs body.

âœI know you grieve, but this is madness,â Star Swirl said in a worried voice.

âœYou hateful old hermit, what do you know of love, loss, or grief?â Sombra said.

Bucky could feel the pain in the words spoken, and he could feel a terrible sense of loss.

âœThere is exactly one pony that I have some shred of concern for,â Star Swirl argued. âœAnd he is going mad. This tomb you have created at the top of the world to freeze and preserve her body, to keep it from rotâ it is a wonder you havenât frozen to death!â

âœI no longer feel the cold,â Sombra said in a dead flat voice.

âœI suppose you do not,â Star Swirl said.

âœSombra, please, talk to me. We are brothers, surely we can still talk,â Star Swirl begged.

âœWhat is there to say? My own brother thinks I have gone mad,â Sombra growled.

âœYou keep coming here! To the top of the world! To this tomb where you placed her body! This is a place that would kill most ponies. All there is up here is ice and death! You made this endless storm of ice up here to keep her body preserved and safe! This violates the natural order!â Star Swirl said in a frantic voice.

âœThe top of the world was already covered in ice,â Sombra retorted.

âœYou made it worse!â Star Swirl accused. âœThis is a frozen version of Tartarus!â

âœWHAT DO YOU KNOW OF LOVE?â Sombra screamed. âœLEAVE ME BE! I CAME HERE TO BE WITH HER! I WANT TO CRAWL INTO THIS TOMB AND LAY DOWN BESIDE HER, NEVER TO MOVE AGAIN!â

âœBrother, please, be reasonable. Come back with me. Let somepony comfort you. Feel warmth again. Sit by a fire, give in to strong drink like you once did,â Star Swirl pleaded.

âœThere is no comfort. There is only death. Once I am done here, I intend to take my legion and push our foes into the ocean along the eastern front,â Sombra replied in a flat monotone.

âœThe sisters worry about you my brother. Luna weeps for you and what you have become. She smashed down the door to my tower and gave me a royal command to bring you back to her so that she might talk some sense into you. No other pony could survive making this trip.â Star Swirl stated.

The wind picked up and became a bansheeâs wail. Star Swirl shivered under all of his layers of clothing and he leaned into the wind. Bucky, seeing through Sombraâs eyes, could see the tomb. It was a tall spire of rock, beautifully shaped, and covered in writing that Bucky could not make out through the near white out conditions.

âœMy brother, I wish I knew how to reach youââ

Lugus squirmed, unsure of himself. He was afraid. He was a creature who was normally not afraid of anything, and because of this, he was not accustomed to coping with fear. He had killed a wyvern, hunted dangerous game, and had even done a nearly impossible task, flying over the ocean from one continent to another, flying to Equestria from Griffonholm. Even during that long voyage which many said was impossible, he had not felt fear. He did not fear death.

He was terrified of Yew Wood.

He was currently sitting atop a tower, staring down on to the training field, watching her as she trained in combat. He had no idea of how to approach her. His fascination with ponykind was taking over his life since he had found Peekaboo.

Living in Equestria had taught him much, and he his odd equine fixation had only grown as he watched them and observed them up close. He had even began to entertain notions of a sexual encounter with one, if one proved willing. To this end, he had endured a painful surgery removing his penile barbs, something many of the good griffons did when they came to Equestria, not wanting to hurt their mates, their griffonesses. It had been something of a fantasy, something he thought about but never thought he would act upon. He had even thought about securing the services of a willing prostitute, but that in the end, he had decided that such an act was beneath him.

Yew Wood was so small and delicate. He could probably completely wrap his talons around her body and touch his claw tips together. She was maybe a third of his size. And she completely terrified him.

âœPerhaps this is a foolish venture,â he muttered to himself. âœLike stays with like.â

He thought about their last encounter. How she had trembled at his touch. The smell of her fear. The way she had looked at him after he had touched her and told her that she was beautiful. She had approached him and she had clearly been terrified of him.

Lugus realised he was a coward and he clacked his beak together several times. She had been scared out of her mind to approach him but she had. He was scared to approach herâ and he wasnât sure if he could.

Bucky awoke, his dream entirely too fresh within his mind. He gently eased himself free of Bon Bon and Lyra, trying to not disturb them, and he slipped from the bed quietly. Harper was asleep in the straw, snuffling lowly in her slumber, and Bucky felt a strong pang of love for her. Once this was over and they were on their long voyage home, he intended to spoil her into rottenness since he would have nothing better to do on the ship.

After taking care of a bit of personal business, he departed from the room and made his way through the castle, thinking of all of the ways that love could go wrong. He thought of Sombra and his grief. Bucky felt a lump in his throat. He could see a lot of himself in Sombra. He suffered a very dark thought and wondered who might die first among his wives, and then he wondered if the rest would be enough to pull him away from the darkness. He hoped so. It would not be fair to them to slip so far into grief and despair, leaving them grieving for over the loss of a fellow-wife and their husband.

Rising Star brought the hammer down in slow measured strikes. He just wasnât as skilled as Bucky was, shaping steel like clay, but he could keep it hot and pliable, and he was learning how to strike the steel just so from watching Crush work with iron. The arrowhead he was making actually looked like an arrowhead. The slow steady tapping of the hammer and the methodical approach to the work soothed his mind and made all of his many frustrations fade into the background.

Rising Star decided that there was no shame in combining magic with brute force, using both magic and blacksmithing tools to get the job done. He felt a sense of pride from Crush admiring his work.

More importantly, he knew he was learning a fine sense of control, which was something he lacked. Just how much force was necessary to place into each strike. His magic was all about brute force, and he knew that he needed to reign it in. On the deck of The Scorned Mare he was not going to be able to unleash a firestorm lest he set the whole ship on fire. Small controlled bursts. He didnât want to burn his fellow ponies.

He carefully shaped the hollow concavity on the end of the arrow head that would be affixed to the shaft and thought about the new griffon archers that would be joining the guard. It was going to further change things around here, both griffons in the guard and archers. The pegasi and earth ponies would finally have a reliable means of range, and airborne archers were an undeniable asset.

He felt a twinge of frustration when he thought about the fact that Bucky would have flicked a gobbet of raw molten steel into an arrowhead in seconds, and he had been here banging away for a good ten minutes shaping the metal with tools. He drove the frustrating thought from his mind. Instead, he thought of how Crush might feel, watching unicorn effortlessly pound dense steel into submission and not requiring a body full of bulging muscles to do so.

The thought quickly humbled him and Rising Star felt guilty about even having thought about Bucky and his abilities.

Rising Star continued his work when he heard Bucky entering the forge, glad that he had pounded a bit of wisdom into himself as he had laboured.

Lugus steeled himself as he approached Yew Wood. She was currently on break, he knew this from his observations. She was still glistening with sweat from earlier and her muscles moved fluidly under her taut pelt. She was a beautiful creature, lithe and supple as the wood she was named after.

He froze when she looked at him. She was staring at him curiously with her remaining eye affixed upon him. Her posture suggested puzzlement, but he couldnât be certain. Her wings were flared out slightly from her sides, allowing the breeze to flow above and below her wings, as well as along her ribs, allowing her to cool down.

Lugus did the same thing when he became too hot. Letting the cool breeze under his wings was one of the many simple pleasures he enjoyed in life.

âœYouâve turned into a statue,â Yew stated.

Lugus realised he had been standing still and in place for a fair bit of time just staring at the pegasus. He forced his legs to move, shifting his body, and then sitting down. He couldnât help but feel that this was a mistake as he loomed over the much smaller pegasus. Other ponies were starting to look at him. His tongue felt dry and clung to the inside of his beak.

âœLook, I know why you are here,â Yew said in a soft voice.

Lugus went to say something, but all that came out was a squawk. His vocal cords were too tense to make the complex sounds for speech.

âœKnight Captain Buckminsterâs matriarch Derpy came and told Sour Mash to tell me to be expecting you,â Yew said in a hushed calm voice. âœTheyâre watching you even now. My sisters in battle know why you are here.â

Lugus squawked again and felt like an idiot. He was a grown griffon but he was squawking like a fledgeling, which was shameful.

âœDerpy came to warn us what to expect. After giving you her advice, she began to worry about how it might look to have a griffon chasing a pony, and she didnât want the guard being sent out to destroy you for hunting me. She didnât want any misunderstandings that might get both of us hurt. She is a remarkable mare and I am proud to serve her husband,â Yew explained.

Lugus nodded in understanding and felt a warm rush of gratitude. He owed the motherly mare his thanks and so much more. He wondered how he could make up his debt to her.

âœNowâ there is the matter at hoof. I do believe I am supposed to chase you while my sisters observe protocol and harass you while you flee,â Yew stated.

Lugus felt his muscles tense. Was this about to really happen?

âœI donât know what will become of us, but I am curious and more than a bit flattered that you say I am beautiful, and that goes a long way in my mind,â Yew said, looking Lugus directly in the eye. âœAnd the fact that you must have humbled yourself trying to get advice on how to approach me, that touches me.â

Lugus made another squawk and his crest rose. This was immensely frustrating, being robbed of speech and being turned into a dumb beast.

âœNow Lugus, this is the part where you run and we chase youâ Sour Mash says it will be good exercise!â

Chapter 163

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Lugus the griffon found himself in the odd situation of fleeing from food. His brain screamed at him that this was wrong. He didnât need to retreat from anything quite so harmless as what was behind him. With no real effort at all he could turn around and lay waste to everything in pursuit of him.

Another part of his mind exhilarated in the chase, and told him to ignore the other parts of his brain, because it was stupid. Yew was much faster than he was, but she had no depth perception with just one eye. Several mares were flying in formation with her, keeping her safe and on target. Others flew around him, mocking him good naturedly.

There were also several stallions who were in on the razzing, letting him know exactly what would happen if he harmed their sister in battle, which may or may not have been good natured threats. Lugus didnât mind, he would have done the same in their position. If anything, he appreciated their vigilance, threatening a super predator his size took guts.

Lugus soared over the ground as there appeared to be some rules to this game that he did not understand. There were earth ponies chasing him as well. Flying away from them seemed rude somehow. This was a social ritual, something clearly invented by herd animals. Griffons did nothing like thisâ well, there was chasing, but that was hunting, and it had very different outcomes.

âœGet him girls!â

Sour Mash didnât even seem to be breathing hard Lugus realised. He marveled at the earth ponyâs endurance. He was beginning to appreciate the different types of ponies he encountered, both here and during his time in Equestria.

âœHeâs got stamina, thatâs important!â a mare shouted as she rolled crazily through the air, streaking past Lugus and the others and then performing a loop to fall back in beside Lugus mid air.

âœI donât have anything nasty to say to you and I am sorryâ you said Yew was beautiful and that was sweet,â another mare said as she flew past.

Lugus felt puzzled. In Equestria, most of the ponies had nothing to do with him. He was feared more than anything, or ignored if he was lucky. Here, some of the ponies seemed genuinely friendly, but there were those who had experienced bad encounters with griffons in the past and held bad memories. He bore them no ill will.

Quite without warning, Lugus reversed his wing strokes and landed, coming down solidly, his bulk landing on the earth with an audible thump, his claws digging into the earth. He turned, his crest rising, as the pegasi circled around him overhead. âœMy turn,â he said in a low growl.

Squealing wildly, the pegasi took off in a tightly clustered flock.

âœNo sign of Lugus, where is he?â Bucky inquired outloud.

âœNo clue,â Rising Star replied as he carefully tapped away with a large hammer.

Bucky rubbed his head with his folded fetlock. âœHeâs allowed some time to himself. You know what, so are you Rising. Just because I am here doesnât mean you have to be. Once you finish whatever it is you are crafting, go take a break,â Bucky instructed.

âœBut work needs to be done,â Rising Star argued.

âœYes, but you donât need to slave away all day. You are young. Go do something nice,â Bucky returned as he rubbed his head.

âœYou know Bucky, a smithy is the last place you should be if you have a headache. You havenât been sleeping enough. You look pretty worn down Bucky,â Rising Star said in a voice full of concern.

âœIâm fine,â Bucky muttered.

Rising Star looked over at Crush and gave a faint nod.

Bucky suddenly found himself being shoved out of the smithy by the big earth pony, and in the doorway, a large hoof was planted squarely into his backside, giving him a big push outside. He nearly went sprawling into the courtyard.

âœOh come on!â Bucky shouted.

âœDonât worry Crush, as a noble, I give whatever formal pass you need to not get in trouble for tossing Bucky out the door,â Rising Star said with a wry smile. âœI donât know all of the right words, but I have your back.â

âœRising Starââ Bucky grumbled.

âœIf you canât sleep, at least go do something restful. You look awful Bucky,â Rising Star pleaded.

From the doorway, Crush nodded and made a grunting sound.

Rising Star heard Bucky snarl wordlessly and then the gnarled unicorn exploded, leaving behind a layer of frost over everything and snowflakes swirling through the air.

âœIs he back in the forge?â Rising Star asked.

Crush turned around and checked the smithy, and then turned back to Rising Star, shaking his head âœnoâ as he did so. The big earth pony looked relieved.

âœDonât let him back in for todayâ wait, is the orb in there?â Rising Star asked.

Crush shook his head again and Rising Star took a deep breath of relief.

âœWell, thatâs good then. I am going to mess around for a bit, maybe watch Ripple do her thing for a while, and then Iâll be back to hammer out some more arrowheads because I find it is really relaxing,â Rising Star stated.

As Bucky walked, he sulked. His mind was full of all kinds of thoughts that were to jumbled up to deal with. He was a bit peeved about being tossed out and told to go and rest. He cleared the gatehouse and emerged into the meadow just outside the castle, and the small town spread about the walls.

The air was filled with laughter and pegasi, which were flying in a tight knit formation. Behind them was something large. Bucky wasnât sure what it was, and he peered, trying to see in the bright daylight. It clearly wasnât threatening, but he couldn't make out what it was.

And then, he realised it was Lugus. Bucky watched as the flock of pegasi whooshed past and then the giant griffon whizzed by. The giggling gaggle of pegasi mares and the lone griffon were being chased by a sizeable herd of earth ponies, led by Sour Mash.

The earth ponies came to a skidding halt, quickly formed ranks, and then stood at attention when they saw Bucky. Sour Mash raised her hoof to her eye in a salute.

âœKnight Captain Bitters,â Sour Mash said with a smile.

âœBuck Sergeant Sour Mash,â Bucky said in reply. He slowly raised his foreleg up into a salute in return, and then sat down in the grass. âœWhat is going on here?â

âœA chase sir. The griffon is chasing after a mare named Yew Wood,â Sour Mash reported.

âœOh my,â Bucky sighed.

âœYour matriarch Derpy told us to indulge in this activity,â Sour Mash explained.

âœI see,â Bucky said.

âœWanted to make sure there were no misunderstandings that might get somepony or a griffon hurt,â Sour Mash continued.

âœShe really is everyponyâs mother,â Bucky said.

âœWell, Iâd be proud to call her my mama,â Sour Mash stated. âœIf you will forgive me for being so blunt sir.â

âœSir?â a mare asked.

âœYes?â Bucky answered.

âœMy name is Bunny. If she is everyponyâs mother, what does that make you?â Bunny inquired in a soft sweet voice.

Bucky jerked his head back in surprise and looked at Bunny, causing a murmur to travel through the crowd. âœI am just a pony. I am here to defend you and try and do what is right for you,â he answered slowly, hoping that his reply was fitting.

âœSounds like something a father would say,â a mare interjected.

âœMmm hmm,â another mare agreed.

Bucky didnât like where this was going. Father, prince, alicorn, all of these not so subtle hints and nudges about some great responsibility. Feeling bad for doing it, he teleported himself away to another location, unable to face any further reminders of some greater destiny, leaving behind frost and snowflakes in a wide area around his point of departure.

Lugus smoothed out his feathers in his beak and watched as Yew Wood did the same a short distance away. He was aware that she was looking back at him. The flock of pegasi had departed, all except for one mare who sat a fair distance away, watching. Lugus supposed it was probably military protocol to not leave a fellow soldier alone.

He thought briefly about Peekaboo, but knew that she was safe and secure.

Lugus felt his breath quicken as Yew approached him, she drew closer timidly, until she was quite close. Her head low and her posture radiating submission, her ears back and her own wings drooping, she cautiously extended her head and gently drew his wingtip into her lips, where she began to shyly tend to one of the central primary feathers.

Lugus had always wondered how pegasi preened their feathers with those soft smooshy lips of theirs. He was intrigued. And somewhat aroused. He could feel little tingles coursing through his wing and up and down his spine from the unexpected touch. Aware of the fact that he had only recently honed his beak to a razorâs edge, he carefully took a feather of hers into his beak, wrapped his tongue around it, and pulled it straight and clean, starting out at the downy barbs, sliding over the afterfeathers, and then sliding along the siffer barbs that extended from the rachis. Her feathers were flawless, immaculate, perfect. There was no debris to remove from the barbs.

The mutual preening continued and Lugus began to see that they werenât so different.

It wasnât long before they were sitting close enough to be touching, and Lugus realised that they were alone, the lone watcher now gone.

âœWhat is griffon courtship like?â Yew asked as she lifted her head. Her lips were waxy and glistened with moisture from her efforts.

âœAmong my caste, we do things by contract with the bigger more powerful females. Breeding gives them wealth, power, and bodyguards. A male griffon wanting young purchases a contract from a willing female, and she sells him a few years of her life. The details are discussed and terms are agreed upon. Once everything is settled, they breed. Depending on the terms, she may or may not provide care for the cub. If she has twins, the father may have to pay a ransom for the second cub. Very wealthy males might pay for a lifetime contract,â Lugus replied.

âœThat seems differentââ Yew responded.

âœNot all griffons are this way, just the ones I come from. There are griffons who believe in more traditional marriage, but they are seen as weak and spineless,â Lugus said in a low voice.

âœWhat do you believe?â Yew inquired.

âœI am no longer sure what I believe in anymore. I used to know. And then everything in my life felt wrong. I do not know what to feel or what to do think anymore,â Lugus admitted.

âœI am willing to discuss a contract with you,â Yew offered.

âœBut we are just getting to know each other,â Lugus replied.

âœThe day I married my first husband was also the first time I had met him,â Yew patiently answered. âœI was traded for a plow and a few sacks of dried peas.â

âœSurely you were worth much more than that,â Lugus said in an indignant reply.

âœWhat would you give for me?â Yew asked in a very blunt fashion.

âœI am a pauper,â Lugus replied. âœBut I do not deny that you are desirable. I would go to war for you, claim plunder-â

âœSsh, thatâs enough of that,â Yew interrupted. âœI have but a few demands if we were to create a contract. I want a loving husband this time. One who is affectionate and kind. One who is an active and involved father. Like how you are with Peekaboo. And I want for you to show me the same type of affection that you give Peekaboo. In exchange, I am willing to give you foals. Cubs. Whatever they will be. I understand that they will be crossbreeds. I can accept that.â

âœThis is very sudden and forward,â Lugus stated.

âœLife is short and ends suddenly,â Yew said in reply. âœHow about we spend the next few days just doing what we are doing now and see what happens? I want some kind of future to hope for. Soon, very soon, there is going to be a battle and I need something to fight for. I need a reason to see my way through all of this fear. So before that battle starts, hopefully we can come to an understanding.â

Lugus, feeling bold, pulled the pegasus close to him and closed his wing around her, as he had watched some of the pegasi around him do. âœI am glad that I have came to these isles. I have met some of the most important beings in my life here,â he said as he felt the small mare lean up against him.

Chapter 164

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The late afternoon sun shone down and there was an unmistakable sense of elation in the air. It was like the first day of spring after a particularly harsh and brutal winter, just knowing that the worst was over. After a bit of lunch and a short nap, Bucky had donned his armor after having to plead with Crush to get into the smithy to retrieve it.

The lower power mode allowed him to move with very little mana expenditure at all, but he was slow. He walked with practical mechanical efficiency. He had done much to silence the armor both inside and out, the sound dampening spells were now working. Walking over stone no longer produced metallic thumps.

Regular walking worked well, but any variation took serious effort. Walking on three legs required lot of concentration. The armor wanted to use the fourth leg. It was almost like wearing a golem around him that was semi-autonomous. The black glass visor blocked out sunlight and ultraviolet rays, protecting him and his faint shadow nature. He felt stronger in the suit, like he felt when it was night time. With a bit of enchanting, he planned to use the glass in the visor as a means of focus for his eyelight, turning the beam into a high powered well focused spotlight by shining it through the visor. That would take photon manipulation though, and that was tough work.

âœOkay Buckyâ that boulder up ahead. Dig your hind legs in. Use those claws for traction. Launch your self at it, turn your head away, and strike it with your front shoulder. Use your armorâs mass and momentum as a weapon,â Lugus instructed as he circled overhead. The large griffon seemed to be in a good mood. âœAnd once you hit the boulder, the very moment you land and your hooves hit the ground, whirl around and strike it with your rear hips or your tail. This is the follow through. A staggered opponent can be knocked over this way,â the griffon explained as he made elaborate gestures with his talons.

âœGot it,â Bucky replied in a hollow mechanical voice.

Bucky picked up speed, crouched low, dug in his hind hooves and claws, and then launched himself in a clumsy leap attack. He soared forwards, his forelegs tucked under his body, and he turned his head at the last moment. He struck the boulder with terrific force, enough to shatter several small pieces loose, and when he landed, he turned about suddenly, causing his tail to slam into the boulder, which worked loose a few more pieces of stone.

âœThat was not awful,â Lugus stated in a flat unimpressed voice.

âœIt felt clumsy. My body is so much larger now. And things donât move the way they should. Walking and running seem to be fine, my armor is practically self aware when it comes to that, but this took a complex series of moves,â Bucky replied.

âœI know nothing of what you speak. This self powered armor baffles me. I would rather have a suit of steel plate that I power,â Lugus said as he circled a dozen feet overhead.

Bucky backed off from the boulder, moving quite some distance away from it, turned around, pawed the earth, braced himself, and then launched himself once again. He soared majestically, flying in an arc, but this time, he did not turn away his head or slam into the big stone with his shoulder. Whipping himself around mid air, he slammed the rock with his tail as he went zipping past and then landed on the ground with a thud.

Bucky could not help but notice that Lugus looked impressed.

âœThat was an improvement. You should try that again. And keep doing it,â Lugus suggested.

âœI wonder if I can do that griffon move where I latch my front claws into something and use my hind claws to tear its guts out,â Bucky said, expressing his curiousity.

âœAll big cats do that, it really is not so much a griffon thing. It is an instinct,â Lugus stated.

âœSentinel does it when he is attacking a big fish. Heâll hug his forelegs around his prey and then kick the stuffing out of it with his hind hooves,â Bucky said as he moved away from the boulder.

âœI like Sentinel. He understands honour, or at least tries to do so. He will grow up to become a great pony. Perhaps he will be a knight like us,â Lugus stated. âœThis time, as you run past, donât leap, stand on your front legs, swivel around, and tail smash.â

âœComing to terms with being a knight and running away from your duties?â Bucky asked as he bent and flexed his legs.

âœTrying to. I did not fail my king, my king failed me. I have been thinking lately about my knighthood and what it means to me. I do not know what I am sometimes,â Lugus admitted.

âœI was born to my position and I had always believed it worthless. Then my eyes opened a bit and I saw it from another perspective, and then I saw it as unicorn injustice. And then, I came here to this place, and I gained wisdom. Or I think I did. I still have moments of doubt, but I do see the hope that it has brought to the ponies here. A born knight come to rescue them from darkness,â Bucky said in his mechanical voice.

âœWe have those born to knighthood in my homeland. Most do not deserve it. Very wealthy sons of the high nobility and kings. Most are drunkards and rapists. And they use their authority to kill those who dare speak of them as drunkards or rapists,â Lugus replied.

âœMmm, I like drinking, but I am too much of a wooer and a screwer to be a rapist,â Bucky grunted as he charged. He surged forwards, his legs pumping like pistons, and as he neared the stone, he braced his front legs into the ground, pivoted on them, swung his tail mightilyâ

And missed completely.

âœWell nuts,â Bucky growled as he recovered, getting all four hooves back down upon the ground. âœAs for rapists,â he muttered. âœWe have laws back in Equestria that prohibit some unicorns from being tried as rapistsâ well in special circumstances. There are still laws on the books that allow highborn unicorn nobles the right of primae noctis with earth ponies and pegasi, and under very special circumstance, other unicorns,â he finished.

âœWe call it droit de ravage and I find it abhorrent,â Lugus said, snapping his beak together when he was done speaking to emphasise his point. âœOne of the many reasons why I did not look back as I fled.â

Bucky was circling the rock now, walking with a stiff mechanical gait, swinging his tail from side to side and trying to get a feel for how his body moved. âœBe the knight you were meant to be with me Lugus, I cannot change the world alone,â Bucky asked.

âœYou are my chief, I will do as you ask,â Lugus replied.

Bucky wound himself up and let go, smashing his tail into the stone and busting a large chunk free. He struck again, reversed his tail slap and broke off more stone. âœWhen I go home, I intend to make certain things right. I guess some of my work is done for me, from what Iâve heard about the collapse, but when I get done it is my plan to completely destroy the Canterlot way of life,â Bucky growled from within his helmet. âœI didnât just make this armor for battling shadow wolves and their master, I made this armor to do battle with other unicorns if it comes down to it. Still working out the finer points of how to bring down thousands of unicorns without harming them.â

âœThis is why I will follow you into Tartarus if necessary. Not only do you plan to bring down thousands of unicorns, but you intend to do it without harming them. Simply taking on thousands of unicorns in battle was not challenge enough for Bucky Bitters,â Lugus said in an amused voice.

âœWith the way my life is turning out, a trip into Tartarus might become a reality,â Bucky stated in an angry bitter voice. He turned his backside towards the stone and bucked out with his hind legs, delivering an explosive impact to the boulder. It cracked in half and seemed to offer up a stony silent admission of defeat. âœWe need another stone.â

Keg Smasher watched as the griffons worked to make bows. There were wood shavings everywhere. A call had gone out for every available pegasus feather that could be offered to make fletchings for arrows.

He felt that integrating the griffons into the guard had been a good move. Already, there were mares in the guard, and that more than anything else was creating change upon the isles. And now, griffons. Keg Smasher felt a silent sense of pride. Equestria, for all of its greatness, had only males in its guard and Celestia had stated that she would never allow griffons into the ranks.

The isles were actually somewhat more socially progressive than mainland Equestria, and that made Keg Smasher feel pretty good about himself.

Airborne archers would be a great tactical advantage and would keep his ponies safe.

He heard the fluttering of wings and saw a grey blur in the corner of his vision. He turned to see a smiling grey pegasus. âœWhere are your foals?â Keg Smasher asked good naturedly.

âœWith Berry Punch and Thistle. Dinky is practicing magic and getting ready for the big fight,â Derpy replied as she settled in next to Keg Smasher. âœHow are you? How is your cracked hoof?â

âœI am still recovering, I canât lie. Still having trouble walking on my hoof, but I only have three legs now. Donât have much of a choice,â Keg Smasher answered. âœAny day now, there is going to be a call to fight and take back the night.â

âœI know,â Derpy said. âœBucky wants us to try and move to a more nocturnal pattern of sleep within the next few days.â

âœIâve called off active full body contact training to give my troops time to heal up and be well rested. There was quite a cheer when I did that,â Keg Smasher stated.

âœI could imagine,â Derpy said in reply.

âœYour daughter Sparkler, I am told she has turned into quite a scrapper. Sour Mash and the others have not gone easy on her. I suspect that when she takes on her stone form, she is going to be a formidable defensive juggernaut. Iâd like to see her in battle, but I will not be there,â Keg Smasher said sadly.

âœIt actually brings me comfort as a mother to know that my daughter is trained to take care of herself and she has the defensive abilities that she does,â Derpy said as she reached out and stroked Keg Smasher with a wingtip to comfort him.

âœEvery motherâs dream is having her daughter safe, free from danger, violence, and rape,â Keg Smasher said bluntly.

âœYeah,â Derpy replied in a soft strained voice.

âœEh, sorry lass, I find my words growing blunter and blunter as I grow old,â Keg Smasher apologised.

âœBut it is true,â Derpy said in return. âœEvery mother wants that. Or I would hope. There are bad mothers and I would very much like to kick them.â Derpy thought about one bad mother particular that she wouldnât mind kicking into a greasy spot on the ground.

âœDeadspin says that Sparkler is a brute. Sheâs a lot like us pegasi. We turn hard in battle when our blood boils and she can turn to stone. Sheâs just as solid as we are, all she needs is wings. She even acts like a pegasus Deadspin tells me. Make her mad and she goes stiff legged,â Keg Smasher said with a chuckle.

Derpy thought about how badly Sparkler wanted to be a pegasus at one point in her life and she smiled, realising in some small way, Sparkler had her wish granted. Sparkler was growing into a secure, mature, self confident young mare, and Derpy could feel herself filling with pride. Quite without realising it, her barrel puffed out, she threw out her chest, spread her wings slightly, held her head high, and looked very much like a proud pegasus parent.

âœI can see why Buckminster loves you. If you will forgive me for being so forward, you are beautiful when you allow yourself moments like these,â Keg Smasher said to the puffed out pegasus beside him.

Derpy let out a small gasp but she did not deflate.

âœWe are pegasi. We were made to strut. It is in our nature. Once, when I still lived on the mainland, I saw a peacock. I watched it for quite some time. I decided that I wanted to be a peacock. I was still a young colt you seeâ so I became a peacock,â Keg Smasher said as he smiled.

âœWhat happened? I mean after you tried being a peacock?â Derpy asked.

âœI got noble ideas. My strutting made my head big. Other pegasi got sick of my strutting and tried to beat me down a bit, I was entirely too successful with the fillies. I discovered I was good at violence. I started getting big dreams. And then, I decided that it was time to really strut my stuff,â Keg Smasher answered. âœSo I came here, to this place, to find my ancestral roots. I found a nightmare. I gathered others loyal to me and we hid inside of kegs. We were delivered to a wedding feast that the current laird was having. I popped up out of my keg along with all of the others, and together, we slew every noble in the castle. I beat the laird to death in front of his own wives, and then I killed them too. I knew what they had done and the sort of mares they were. The laird was lucky they hadnât poisoned him like some of them had poisoned the previous laird, if rumours were to be believed,â he explained.

âœOhâ thatâs awful,â Derpy said as she scowled.

âœWe had to completely eliminate the noble families, all of them, and start over. Every last member,â Keg Smasher said regretfully. âœYou know, if you ever want to see any real social change in Equestria, some of you might have to gather together and do the same. I know Bucky wants to see the end of his own House. And heâd be right to kill every last one of those worms. I know he wonât do it, but heâd be right to do it if he did. Would be bloody ironic, House Avarice all slain by one of their own armigers. Wouldnât be able to do a damn thing about it either, I mean, it is his right by birth to kill ponies for their crimes. He could just sit back once the last body falls and invoke his right for retribution. The big dame Celestia and the little dame Luna wouldnât be able to do anything about it but give him a hateful look. If they prosecuted him regardless, theyâd look like bloody hypocrites for not prosecuting House Avarice during these long thousand years for the crimes theyâve committed.â

Derpy nodded, only partially understanding what was being said. âœPutting Bucky on trial for slaughtering his own house would make them look bad, when they should have put House Avarice on trial for all for the things they have done,â she said, rolling the thought around inside of her mind.

âœYes. If House Avarice can exercise its birthrights why canât Bucky? It would be seen as selective enforcement of the law. All of this is wasting our breath though. Bucky swore that heâd never bring harm to another pony,â Keg Smasher grumbled. âœAnd while I respect him for it, I canât help but feel that he is wasting a fine opportunity.â

âœI hate to say this, I mean, I really hate to say this, but I think I agree with you. Does that make me a terrible wife? I do kind of wish that Bucky would just kill them all. I know that he could. At the same time, I canât bear to think what so many acts of killing would do to himâ I feel awful for even saying it now,â Derpy said fretfully. âœHe doesnât sleep well anymore. He jumps out of his skin at the slightest sounds. I worry for him.â

âœFor the rest of your life, you are going to have a burden. No doubt, once all of this is over, Bucky is going to be hurt in the sorts of places where most ponies canât see. Heâs already something of a cripple. I get the feeling that this is going to finish him off and the inside is going to match the outside. And it is going to fall upon you, being the strong pegasus you are, to carry him for the rest of his life,â Keg Smasher said solemnly.

âœI can carry him. I will carry him if it comes down to that, and I will never complain, not after what he has done for me and everything he has given me and so many othersâ this is going to break him, isnât it?â Derpy replied.

âœI fear so lassâ I fear so.â

Chapter 165

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âœI call it Chieftainâs Fury," Bucky announced in a low sonorous and solemn voice as he set the massive hook-axe down upon the table before Lugus, now in its finished form. âœThere are some sunstones embedded in it, they will provide light in the darkest of places and times. It will cleave through steel or stone effortlessly. I have made a sheath for it that will hold the blade, it would cut through a regular steel and leather sheath upon contact. You must take serious care to never touch the edge of the blade, it will cost you parts of your body that you will miss.â

Lugus looked at the axe and felt quite humbled. This far exceeded any expectations that he had. It was black steel, just like Buckyâs armor. There was no shine upon the metal. It looked menacing. The axe blade was shaped like the crescent moon, and several stars secured the crescent into place. The hook on the other side was wicked looking, and had a barbed tip.

âœIt is feather light, but will strike with the force of a hurled mountain. If you throw it, it will teleport back into your talons. Eventually, this magic will run out and it will need time in the sun to recharge. Each throw it will take a little longer for it to return. The portion of your blood I took from you has bonded the weapon to you. It will only function in your grasp. After much debate, I have decided against making it hurt strangers, that would be too risky, but if any try to use it, it will fumble from their grip and be quite unmanageable,â Bucky explained.

âœThank you my friend,â Lugus said in a small humbled voice.

âœThink nothing of it,â Bucky said. âœRipple, come here,â he commanded.

Ripple, who had been sitting quietly this whole time, came forward, approaching the table. She smiled a soft smile and her hooves clicked and clacked upon the stone floor.

âœThese are yours,â Bucky stated as he placed four war shoes upon the table. âœThey are articulated, the metal plates are hinged to allow for some movement. There is bound to be a little restriction, but they will bind your fetlocks and keep them safe from breaking. The guards will keep your cannon bones from harm. Like Lugusâ axe, they are feather light and enchanted for striking. They have been enchanted with cold, my cold, a portion of my own essence, a bit of my life force. Your foes will feel the chill of the grave. Even the wolves, if I did everything right. The cold will slow your enemies, maybe even freeze some smaller weaker enemies solid. Striking them a second time will make a frozen enemy shatter like glass. With your blood, I have bonded them to you. They will grow with you, and will always fit. They also have sunstones embedded in them. In the presence of dark foes, they will ignite and light your way.â

âœThank you father,â Ripple said. She bounced in place for a moment, unsure of what to do, and then she pounced, wrapping her forelegs around Buckyâs neck and planting dozens of kisses all over the good side of his face.

Bucky patiently waited for her burst of enthusiastic affection to end, smiling faintly. It was worth every minute of effort placed into the shoes. When she finally worked her need to be affectionate out of her system and sat back down, Bucky took a deep breath and cleared his throat. âœKeep Rising Star safe Ripple. He has powerful offense, but I worry. I have debated about taking time to make another suit of armor, and Rising Star doesnât have the fine level of magical control needed to handle powered plate. And I donât think he is strong enough to move around in standard plate. It has been a troubling decision that I hope I do not regret later. I still remember our war councilâ everypony was worried about keeping you safe.â

âœThose sideburns that are taking over your cheeks make it difficult to kiss you,â Ripple said, and then she let out a fillyish giggle of happiness. âœTheyâve crept down your muzzle now and are almost to the corners of your mouth.â

Bucky rolled his eye. Fillies.

âœSo, Lugusâ axe has a name, but my shoes donât?â Ripple asked.

âœOh, the weapon has a name,â Bucky replied.

âœIt does? What is it?â Ripple inquired.

âœI call her Ripple,â Bucky answered.

âœBucky, I dunno about those sideburns,â Berry Punch said as she reclined against Bucky.

âœEverypony keeps talking about them,â Bucky muttered.

âœThey tickle the inside of my thighs,â Berry stated, making everypony in the room go completely silent. Even the foals fell quiet. âœWhat, they doââ

âœBerry Punch,â Derpy sighed in exasperation.

âœBerry is right, they do tickle the inside of my thighs,â Thistle said in a low coquettish voice as she began to blush.

âœWell this is going in my journal,â Sentinel muttered.

âœSentinel, no! Be a good colt for mama!â Derpy begged.

âœDerpy isnât complaining,â Berry Punch wickedly observed.

âœWell, I like being tickled,â Derpy confessed. She paused for a moment and then realised what she had said. âœBerry! Shush! You are Berry perverted!â

âœThis whole conversation is just awkward,â Sparkler stated.

âœSure is,â Loch Skimmer agreed.

âœI dunno, there have been worse conversations,â Ripple interjected.

âœWe all have to stay up all night,â Rising Star muttered.

âœWe made it though last night,â PiÃa said, poking Rising Star in the side. âœYouâre getting thinner like daddy,â she observed.

âœBeen using a lot of magic at the forge,â Rising Star said as he gently prodded PiÃa back. âœYou used to be pudgierâ what is your excuse?â

âœI dunno,â PiÃa replied while shrugging.

âœWeâre all a little thinner,â Dinky said as she looked up from her book.

âœStress most likely,â Berry said dismissively.

âœHarper has gotten fatter,â Lyra said.

âœShe has,â Bon Bon agreed.

âœFoals should be pudgy,â Derpy said as she pulled Thistle closer.

âœI dunno, I kinda like my mares a little pudgy,â Bucky stated.

âœBucky!â Derpy scolded.

âœHere here!â Rising Star said in support of Bucky.

âœRising!â Ripple scolded, sounding a bit like Derpy when she did.

âœMore cushion for the pu-mmmshing!â

âœOh thatâs enough of you,â Berry said as she covered Buckyâs mouth with her fetlock.

Bucky pushed her leg away and turned his head to look at her. âœYou taste like Thistle,â he muttered.

Berry Punch turned a much darker shade of plumb all over her face and neck.

âœShe goosed me!â Thistle said in her own defense before anypony else could say anything.

Sentinel rolled his eyes and began to scratch away inside of his journal. Tonight looked as though it would be promising, and Sentinel was looking forward to practicing his wordcraft. He was surrounded by witty adults and printing down their words was sure to improve his vocabulary.

âœMust have been a juicy goosey,â Derpy whispered into Thistleâs ear.

âœMom!â Sparkler protested.

âœI dunno, how juicy was this goosey? Iâm kinda curious,â Loch stated.

âœLoch Skimmer!â Sparkler said, grabbing the pegasus next to her and squeezing her around her neck gently. âœYou do not encourage parents to talk about the disgusting things they do to each other!â

âœBut we do disgusting things to one another too,â Loch Skimmer argued.

âœOh this conversation has gone sour,â Derpy groaned.

âœSure has,â Sentinel agreed as he scritched and scratched away. âœJuicy goosey. Ugh!â he said with a shudder of revulsion. âœAnd my itchy healing ear is driving me crazy.â

âœDonât scratch at it my little cuddlebug,â Lyra said.

Sentinel set down his pencil and looked at Lyra, his face a blank expression. One nostril flared slightly, which spoke volumes in pegasus-speak. He picked up his pencil and went back to writing.

âœWhat did I say?â Lyra asked.

Lugus settled down into the straw and pressed his head up against Peekaboo, who cooed in response. Beside him, Yew was laying on her belly with her head raised.

âœDo you think he is ready?â Yew asked.

âœReady or not, he is committed. We act soon,â Lugus responded without opening his beak.

âœI still find it strange you can talk without moving your beak,â Yew said.

Lugus did not reply, but delighted in the sensation of Peekaboo squirming beside his face. He could feel her stubby little legs kicking as she lay upon her back, fussing and fighting.

Yew leaned over and rested her head upon the back of Lugusâ broad neck, which was as large as her barrel. âœThis is niceâ I mean, this just feels good to be near somepony, er, some other being as you lay down and go to sleep."

âœIt is nearly dawn. Try to sleep as long as you can,â Lugus said gently. âœWe must prepare to go forth at night and do our dirty work my little bird. There are vermin to kill, and I loathe vermin.â

Bucky looked over his armor, which was finished. The last addition was a five gallon keg, also done in black steel, designed to hold whiskey, and lots of it. Upon the keg were several racks to hold spell jars. It was an armor worthy of Sombra. Sure, it was modern, thoroughly modern and sleek, but Sombra could appreciate it for the finely tuned instrument of death dealing that it was.

The last and final enchantment had been on the tail, and it now sought out enemies of hostile intent when he swung it, pulling him towards whatever he was fighting. The self targeting feature was Rising Starâs idea, after learning that arrowheads could be enchanted to find enemies once fired. Bucky tended to be complex while Rising Star favoured a simple practical approach.

One thousand spell jars had been loaded on board The Scorned Mare. Fifty racks of twenty each. Some were for the wolves. The rest were for their return home, just in case things got a little out of hoof. Keg Smasher had already told Bucky who he backed if the homecoming went sour, and while they were going to be away, the isles were going to be gearing up for an invasion, and the preparations were beginning now.

The Scorned Mare was loaded down with provisions for the long trip as well, dry goods mostly, and booze. There was a lot of alcohol on board. The crew quarters below decks had been finished and the fisherpony pegasi had woven netted hammocks for the crew to sleep in.

Summer would soon end and the fall would be upon them. Wolves had returned to the Isle of Groats. Dinky had thinned out their numbers a bit, but the wolves from other isles had been called back, going from one isle to another by whatever means they traveled.

Crush had a new hammer, a new anvil, and several surprising enchantments done to his smithy. All debts had been paid and then some. Bucky had found a clever way to smelt steel outside of his own magic, creating a rather simple solar foundry and a couple of overpowered sunstones. It could only produce steel in small batches, an ingot or two at a time, but it was functional. Armor was already being hammered into shape by Crush and his assistants. It was crude and simple, but of a time tested and proven design. Rising Star had offered a portion of his own life essence to help power the foundry and Bucky had carefully woven an enchantment worthy of Rising Starâs sacrifice.

Tonight, they would begin. The time of preparation was over. Several long weeks of making ready were now over and now was the time of proving. Bucky felt safe and secure in his plan. The Scorned Mare would be well defended high overhead. He would be safe inside of a moving fortress of magical might.

Lyraâs spells of detection and location would allow them to hunt down wolf packs and exterminate them with impunity. She was well attuned to their signature now, she would find them and Bucky would kill them all.

His family was asleep all around him, and Bucky found that he could not sleep. The room was darkened, the light from the window blocked out, and everything that he loved was all piled into the bed all around him, except for Berry Punch, who was in the straw with Harper.

Alone in the dark, Bucky continued his vigil.

Chapter 166

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Dinky Doo Hooves sat upon her motherâs back and waited for the sun to settle below the horizon. Her stomach was full of butterflies. She was absolutely terrified, but then so was everypony else, and she could sense it. The deck was full of ponies, mostly pegasi and a fair number of earth ponies were there as guards. Dinky and her mother stood in the center where it would be well lit, along with Berry Punch, Bon Bon, and Lyra. Secured in a protective magical bubble was Harper, magically tethered close to Lyraâs side. Lugus and Yew Wood stood near Derpy, and Lugus had his axe strapped across his back. Rising Star, Sparkler, and Ripple stood off in a small cluster together, and her father paced the deck wearing his terrifying black armor. Deadspin and Sour Mash stood near the front of the deck together, both were wearing simple armor.

âœWeâll not be fighting over the Isle of Groats tonight. Instead, we are departing for the outer isles. Our purpose tonight is to let ponies see us, a shining light in the night sky. If we do encounter anything, we will engage. Everybody knows the plan. Pegasi push the craft through the sky, the others form protective ranks around Knight Captain Bitterâs family and keep them safe should we be boarded. Everypony does what needs to be done and we should all live through this and have stories to tell our foals,â Deadspin said, giving a fine speech to motivate his troops.

âœLadies, do me proud. I ainât one for speeches. We got something to prove, so no fecking up. Weâve been given a chance that even the mares back in mainland Equestria donât have, so letâs prove to everypony that we can fight just like the big stallions and we ainât helpless little whiny milksop fillies. We have foals on board, and most of us know what losing one feels like, so lets make sure we put a stop to it,â Sour Mash said to her mares and fillies.

There were a few cheers and a couple of bellows. The mood was festive, and the multicoloured sunstones shining along the deck and along the rails added to the mood. Brightly lit glass globes that shone with warm sunny yellow light covered the rails and were secured along the underside of the gasbag. The deck of the ship would be as bright as day, and any shadow wolf teleporting aboard would be forced to materialise along the deck railing.

âœNo one is to leave the deck of this ship under any circumstance,â Bucky instructed. âœI will be the only pony on the ground. I will act as bait to draw them into the open. If my hunch is right, they will not be able to help themselves. The wolves for all of their apparent cunning, are still mindless creatures. They will sense that I am a unicorn and I am their prefered target. I do believe they will come for me even though they will no longer have the means to be able to hurt me,â he explained in a cold mechanical voice through his helmet. âœWhen the opportunity presents itself, I will send up a flare as an indicator that somepony to drop ordinance upon my location. Do not worry about harming me, I am well protected from the magical bursts contained in the spell jars. Rising Star, if I send up a series of five flares, you are to stand along the edge and rain down fire upon my location. Weâve tested this, so have no fear of harming me.â

âœYes sir,â Rising Star replied.

Bucky removed the tether and secured it into a nook designed to hold it. He looked around, his armor glowing with a blue-green field and his visor glowing with a pale green light. âœWe depart.â

âœThis is boring,â Dinky said as she stifled a yawn. She shifted on her motherâs back. She expected a lot more excitement. So far, all they had done was soared through the night. It was nice to see stars again though, Dinky realised.

âœSuch is the nature of battle young master Dinky Doo. Long periods of boredom interspersed by soiling yourself in terror,â Deadspin said dryly in reply.

âœI still want to know how daddy plans to get down to the ground from up here. He may have made his armor light, but it still has mass, and teleporting that much mass is going to burn through his mana reserves,â Dinky said in a low quiet voice. She could feel her mother shrugging beneath her.

âœI donât know Dinks,â Derpy said.

âœLook, the moon!â Dinky cried, seeing the moon slowly rising over the horizon. âœBeen so long since I have seen it through anything other than a window.â

âœSure is pretty,â Berry remarked. âœPoor Sentinel. I bet heâd love to be out here. If we were boarded by wolves though and the lights reacted, theyâd burn him.â

âœHe is safe in the cabin with Thistle, Loch Skimmer, and the others. I am sure that he is being a dutiful guardian for Peekaboo,â Rising Star said as he shifted his weight from his right hooves to his left hooves.

âœI am still not detecting any shadow creatures out and about,â Lyra reported. âœI only have two signatures. One is on the deck with us and the other is in the cabin. Feels weird to detect them.â

âœWe will be passing over Isle Fishhead soon,â Deadspin announced.

âœI was born there,â Bon Bon said wistfully.

âœWait, are we over the ocean right now?â Dinky asked.

âœYes young master Dinky Doo,â Deadspin replied.

âœOver the deep water?â Dinky said, her voice sounding a bit panicked.

âœWeâll be fine Dinky, donât be afraid,â Derpy said soothingly.

âœIâ I am not afraid for myselfâ just Thistle. If something were to happen, the sea water would kill her,â Dinky said in a pained voice.

âœNothing will happen Stinky Dinks. Father made this ship to protect his valuables, and Thistle is very dear to him, just like you are and the rest of us,â Sparkler said, trying to comfort her sister.

There was a suggestion of dawn just over the horizon, and a large heavily wooded isle was beneath them. There was a series of freshwater lochs and the map suggested that there may be some rather feral kelpies living way out here, but it was not known for certain. There were so few left.

Bucky looked down at the map and then raised his head to look at the horizon. âœThe pegasi have to be getting tired even with alternating shifts. Weâll find a spot to tether around here. Once the sun properly rises, we will relax our guard a bit, have a bit of rest and relaxation upon the ground, and I think I might send Thistle after some fish for me. And then it is back to the ship to sleep. Weâll keep a guard posted, everybody knows their shifts. We will begin again once the sun begins to settle. There are four isles very close together, and Pine Isle is the largest of them all. There are a few ponies living out this way, including a logging camp and a pitch processing camp. We will ask them what they know about the area and if they have heard howls.â

âœWe covered far more territory in one night than I thought we would,â Deadspin stated. âœI thought it would take two nights for certain to get out this far with a ship this size.â

âœWe had a good tail wind,â a pegasus reported.

âœAnd the ship really is light. It requires no effort to move it. I think one pegasus could probably push it around, but it would be slow,â another pegasus chimed in.

âœI have slain the dragon of boredom,â Sour Mash muttered as she prodded her cousin Berry Punch.

âœIâve been wondering for the past few hours if we could just strap a few pegasi to the back and feed them oatmeal until they were ready to burst. We could be the first ship powered by pegasus farts,â Berry Punch said to Sour Mash. The two earth ponies began to laugh riotously with one another and there were several chortles from all around them on deck.

Derpy giggled and she felt Dinky squirming on her back. The foal had stayed awake all night, and had been surprisingly alert.

âœI want to get down,â Dinky begged.

âœOkay Dinky, itâs dawning,â Derpy consented.

Dinky slid off of her motherâs back and landed on the deck with a thud. She stretched her legs and walked around in a circle, and several earth pony mares closed ranks around her. She was thankful for the mares, their need to protect her, and she smiled up at them as she walked the kinks out of her legs.

Derpy settled in next to her husband, ready to sleep the day away. She wrapped her forelegs around his neck, hauled him in for a sloppy kiss, and then pulled away with a wet sounding smack, leaving the unicorn stallion with a wet slobbery smile.

He tasted of fish and a faint hint of whiskey.

As she watched, he was pulled in for another kiss, this time by Berry Punch, whose lips lingered over his for just a little longer. She didnât pull away immediately, but rather gave a tug to his bottom lip and then let go only when it slid free of her puckered lips.

Derpy smiled. She wanted Bucky happy.

Thistle moved in for another kiss, her third or fourth this morning from what Derpy had seen. Derpy did not begrudge her, for fetching his breakfast, Thistle deserved those kisses.

âœI feel like the foals should be in bed with us,â Berry stated in an uncertain voice.

âœThey are safe and secure in their rooms,â Derpy stated.

âœRoom. You know that Dinky and PiÃa are together and eventually they will move in on Sentinelâs little cubby to take it over,â Berry said in a soft somewhat sad sounding voice.

âœThe foals will be fine,â Bon Bon said after she planted gentle kiss on Buckyâs cheek. The earth pony pulled Buckyâs head down and she began to rub the sides of his neck with her hooves, which caused the unicorn to relax somewhat. She watched as Bucky kicked out his withered hind legs and she knew that he was making himself comfortable. She hoped that he would sleep.

âœOh he is never going to get to sleep now,â Lyra moaned as she watched Berry Punch wrestle Thistle down to the bed and the two ponies began to make out aggressively, each trying to gain some sort of dominance over the other somehow.

âœEh, leave them be. I like watching,â Bucky grumbled as Bon Bon continued to rub his neck and tried to get the knots out of his muscles.

âœI kinda like watching tooâ there is someth-â

âœLyra!â Bon Bon scolded.

âœI dunno, it is kinda nice to watch them making outâ I wonder what it would be like seeing you and Lyra have a go at one another,â Derpy remarked to Bon Bon.

Bon Bon felt a hot blush rising through her neck and then it blossomed in her cheeks. âœThat might be kind of fun,â she said in a heated whisper. âœWhen we get home maybe if Lyra agrees,â the earth pony added in a slightly jumbled gasp.

Determination.

I have been thinking about this word. And others. Resolve. Willpower. Integrity. As I think about what it means to be my masterâs squire and my fatherâs son, I keep focused on the example given to me by how my father has lived his life.

When I first met him, he was a wealthless noble in exile. He had nothing. From what I have gathered, he has been cut off from his family and all he had was his name and his titles. He came to these isles with nothing. In the short time he has been here, his family has grown and he has carved himself out a life through force of will. He has gone from having nothing to prowling around on the deck of his own warship outfitted in magic armor. He has gained a group of followers who believe in him. He has founded his own tribe, and the numbers grow daily. I know that Keg Smasher now counts himself among our numbers, the Founderâs Foals.

As his squire, I can do no less. If he can start from nothing, then I can as well. I will become a knight and I will follow in his hoofsteps. My mother Lyra says that knights, real knights, are relics of the past in Equestria and most of the modern world, a meaningless title that nopony cares about. She also says that Equestria needs knights again. More than just becoming a knight, I feel the need to make ponies believe in knights again, to believe they are needed.

I have learned one important thing about my fatherâs rise to the guardian he has become. The world needs heroes. Ponies want heroes. Iâve read about the Elements of Harmony, Twilight Sparkle and her friends, and the hope they have brought to the world.

As soon as I can earn my knighthood, I plan to start my own order, the Knights of Harmony. Iâve been talking to Ripple, trying to fill her head with ideas, and I hope that she will join me. There is the little detail that she needs to become a squire first, but I have a plan to fix that, I just need to talk to Sir Lugus the Knight and try to convince him that he needs a squire. I need to make a well reasoned plea for my sister. Iâve asked my father about female knights and he cannot remember any in his history lessons, but he also told me that they could have existed at some point, he just cannot remember.

I need to end this. My sisters have invaded my bed and they are glaring at me angrily as I try to write. They are tired and wish to sleep. And to be truthful, I need to sleep as well. It has been a long night of thinking and worry.

I hope I prove worthy as my fatherâs son.

Squire Sentinel, son of Buckminster Bitters.

Chapter 167

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Bucky carefully considered the reports given to him by Deadspin and the others, the information gathered from the locals that lived in this area. There were still howls, but they were few in number. They had never had too much of a problem with wolves this far out. Lately, the wolves had been a bit more aggressive than usual, and Bucky suspected he knew why.

âœSir, the loggers say there are caves up along the ridge that overlooks this loch,â Deadspin said as he pointed to the location on the map with his wingtip. âœThe howls are also heard along this ridge and down in this gully. Produces an echo. Some nights it can be heard and it scares them something awful.â

âœClever, using acoustics to their advantage,â Lyra stated. âœWell, clever for something also mindless. Whatever is controlling these monsters knows hisâ its stuff,â she added, correcting herself after she fumbled her wording.

âœWe are moving to this location now,â Deadspin reported.

âœQuartermaster Bunny says she has prepared the ice bombs. The pine trees burn a little too well âcause the pine pitch. We donât want to burn down the whole isle. I know you could extinguish the flames afterwards, but as dry as it is here, the flames would spread fast and a lot of trees would be burned as you battled,â Sour Mash said, adding her own report.

âœMy wife, er, Quartermaster Bunny has good horse sense,â Deadspin stated.

âœWe may not even need the bombs. If there are only a few, I will eliminate them,â Bucky replied, finally weighing in on the plan, his voice a mechanical thrum coming from inside of his helmet.

âœSir, weâve been wondering, do you want some pegasi to provide you with an airlift?â Deadspin asked. âœI mean, when you go down.â

âœAs I have stated, a red flare for pickup. I have my own way down,â Bucky said, offering no further explanation to the ponies around him.

âœWell, the unicorns will be ready to lift you when you need a way back up,â Deadspin said in a slightly puzzled voice.

A howl tore through the stillness of the night, and Bucky found that it was music to his ears. He lifted his head and the green illumination of his visor glowed a little brighter.

âœVengeance,â Bucky stated in a cold mechanical growl.

âœAlmost to the location sir,â a pegasus reported.

Bucky tromped over to his family and looked them over. âœStay safe,â he commanded. âœI love you all. Do not worry for my safety.â

Dinky, sitting on her motherâs back, raised her right forehoof up to her brow in salute, copying what she had seen the earth ponies doing when they saluted. She was terrified and elated all at the same time. She watched as her father turned and approached the deck rail.

âœThis is a good drop off point,â an earth pony mare reported, shining a spotlight down below. âœThere is a clearing in the trees.â

âœSuits me fine,â Bucky said. He turned and gave one last glance to those he loved.

Derpy nearly took wing when she saw Bucky launch himself over the rail, knowing that he was not a pony with wings that could fly. They were hundreds of feet up in the air and he had simply tossed himself over. A worried wordless cry escaped from her lips, a whimper of fear that she knew spooked poor Dinky. She hoped that her husband would be okay. She felt a gentle touch and looked at Berry, who was beside her.

âœWe have to trust him,â Berry said in a strained voice.

Bucky plummeted to the ground, not feeling the least bit concerned. The sane rational part of his mind knew that he should be pissing himself in fright, but that part of his mind was so quiet and helpless now, each day it died just a little bit more. Soon, it would be gone, and Bucky would be free of the nagging worries of meaningless things like self preservation.

And Bucky would not mourn its passing.

A few seconds later Bucky slammed into the earth, his four legs braced for the impact. He hit the ground hard enough to sink in past his fetlocks. He laughed the sort of laugh that one gets when they verge upon insanity as he pulled his steel covered hooves free.

He stomped out of the clearing and into the woods, able to see in perfect clarity. He moved, a shadow slipping between beams of moonlight, and he began to hunt his prey. Roles had been reversed. He could hear them howling, and they were moving closer.

Bucky began to power up his sunstone eye and the green glow from his visor intensified. There was no point in wasting his magical energy. This would be a low power run. Try out a few blasts, open up the sunstone eyes all over his armor, and then stomp and kick the rest to death if they did not burn away completely during the initial exposure.

The moon seemed a little dimmer as darkness began to move around him. Bucky braced himself, rooting himself to the ground, bracing his legs in place. Above him, the lights of The Scorned Mare seemed to dim and he knew that shadow was all around him. He could sense them now, he could feel them in his horn, and he understood that his own shadow essence was reacting to them.

A dark shape lunged and struck Bucky from the side. He did not budge. He turned his head and his visor glowed a piercing green. There was a howl of pain and the dark shape slipped away, smouldering. Bucky felt a tinge of disappointment. His visor would need a bit of work it seemed.

Still surrounded by shadow, Bucky opened the eyes on his armor, exposing the sunstones. There was a brilliant flash of light that flared and grew brighter and brighter in the presence of shadow. He could hear howls of pain. And then, the first dark shape ignited. It shrieked in pain, running around and rolling on the ground, trying to extinguish itself. Bucky stomped down, crushing its skull flat beneath his hoof. Other wolves were combusting around him. The ones that tried to flee Bucky pulled back to him. They could not teleport away.

He ripped one open with a swipe of his claws, smashed another with his tail, and he reveled in his new found enjoyment of death and dismemberment. He bucked out, connecting with a dark mass that was only starting to burn. He killed with slow methodical mechanical efficiency. There was no need to hurry. His prey had no chance to harm him, could not escape, and if they ran, he would only pull them back or run them down.

Bucky carefully extinguished the corpses and made sure there were no smouldering embers. It wouldnât do to have the forest burn down. Some of the pine needles had ignited when a burning shadow wolf had rolled in them, trying to put itself out.

First contact had gone astonishingly well.

Bucky shot a red flare upwards and then stood there waiting. It didnât take long until he felt the tug of magic gently lifting him. He rose slowly, not at all concerned about being dropped.

âœNo further shadow creatures detected, other than the two on board this ship,â Lyra reported. âœHow did it go down there?â

âœExactly as planned, my love,â Bucky replied in his mechanical voice as he looked directly at Lyra. After the spree of violence, he was feeling strangely amorous and full of desire. He turned his gaze to Derpy and Berry Punch, and then to Bon Bon. He loved them all, but at the moment, he was in the mood to really show his love to any that would be open to his affection. All of his wives were looking at him strangely, and he couldnât figure out the looks upon their faces.

He pushed the distraction from his mind. He turned to look at Deadspin. âœWe will sweep the other isles tonight. Remember, staggered pattern. Lyraâs detection has a maximum range. We want to be thorough in our extermination.â

âœYes sir, of course sir,â Deadspin replied. âœFor your information sir, you have entrails clinging to your leg sir.â

âœOh? Eeeew,â Bucky groaned as he looked down. âœAre those intestines? Iâm sorry everypony, I didnât know and I couldnât feel them. Somepony needs to tell me these things!â Bucky stomped over to the deck railing and kicked out his front leg, trying to shake the ribbons of innards free from his armor. Finally, they fell over the side and down to the ground below, probably landing in a tree somewhere. Bucky hoped that they didnât stick to the side of the ship.

âœI wanted to say something, but I knew if I opened my mouth, I would have spewed,â Berry Punch said in a wavering unsettled voice. âœI donât know how Lyra handled it so well.â

Lyra shrugged. âœIâve studied haruspicationâ based on what I saw, that wolf had no future,â Lyra said. After she spoke, she began to chortle.

âœWhat?â Bon Bon said. âœLaypony terms Lyra,â she added.

âœHaruspication. The school of divination that involves studying entrails,â Lyra explained.

âœOhâ YUCK LYRA!â Bon Bon shouted.

âœWell, I was an exchange student for a while. I went to the Sea of Grass with the zebras. I also studied another form of divination called hieromancy and then there was hippomancyâ oh donât worry, hippomancy didnât involve studying dead ponies. The zebras have this neat trick were they can tell a lot about an equineâs future by listening to the sounds they make while rutting,â Lyra said in matter of fact tones. âœSquishy squelchy sounds are the portent of a good breeder and some say twins.â

Bon Bon covered her eyes with her fetlock and shook her head.

âœAnd I learned tyromancy from the Saddle Arabians,â Lyra said. âœThat was an awesome summer.â

âœDo I even want to know?â Bon Bon asked.

âœPredicting the future by studying cheese,â Lyra explained. The unicorn suddenly became aware that everypony on deck was staring at her wide eyed. She felt a twinge of self consciousness.

âœMmmâ cheese,â Bucky murmured mechanically from within his helmet. He began to pace the deck, trodding back and forth along the length.

âœYou know, this is almost too easy,â Berry said. âœJust a few wolves, way out here in the middle of nowhere, and I would almost bet we are going to run into just a few more wolves in an isolated patch of land someplace else. Lyra isnât the only pony who is a bit paranoid. I get the feeling that something wants to lull us into a false sense of security.â

Bon Bon nodded slowly, and Sour Mash also nodded in agreement.

âœEven if there were a hundred wolves, I donât think Bucky could be harmed by them,â Lyra stated. âœThat said, I am not trying to be dismissive of your observation. I do believe that something is trying to test our reactions and our capabilities. All the more reason to be increasingly alert. I can still remember the feel of it in my mind sometimesâ it used to be a ponyââ Lyra said as she rubbed her neck. Her face sank into a worried look and she pulled Harperâs bubble closer to her. âœIt stopped being a pony. It gave that up because equinity was holding it back.â

Lugusâ feathers ruffled and he appeared much larger than he usually did. âœI do not like this discussion,â he stated.

âœI hope that Bucky doesnât give up his own equinity to defeat it,â Lyra whispered.

âœWeâll probably have to help Bucky heal. It wouldnât be the first time and it probably wonât be the last time. He does his job, we do our job. He fixes this problem, we fix him. Iâve come to accept this. This is my duty as a wife. Bucky has his pain he has to endure, and so do I,â Derpy said in a low voice. She relaxed slightly when she felt Dinky patting her on the neck.

âœHeâs worth it,â Berry said. âœNopony else would put up with my shenanigans.â

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âœCrescent Moon Isle. Named so because it is actually shaped like the crescent moon. There is a colony of lunar pegasi here and they wish to speak with you sir,â Deadspin reported. âœDuring the day of course, which may be awkward for all parties involved. A forward messenger has been sent, they understand the danger of being on deck at night time.â

âœSquire Sentinel, you seem to be squirming,â Lugus said as he settled his haunches down upon the deck.

âœI want to see the colony,â Sentinel admitted.

âœI planned to take you with me,â Bucky said. âœActually, it was requested that you come along.â

âœThank you!â Sentinel gushed in an uncharacteristically excited voice. He threw his forelegs around Buckyâs neck and squeezed. He froze, mid embrace, and then slid away looking guilty. He cringed, now looking mortified. âœForgive me sir. We are not in private and I allowed my feelings to get the better of me sir,â he apologised as he hung his head in shame.

âœSentinel, I am not in my armor and we are in a moment of downtime. You are free to be a colt,â Bucky said soothingly to Sentinel, who seemed to perk back up a bit from Buckyâs words. Bucky gestured around the deck. âœRight now, everypony that is awake is relaxing and having a bit of rest. And everypony here knows how seriously you take your duties. So stop beating yourself up.â

âœYes si- …er, father,â Sentinel replied haltingly.

Bucky yawned and looked longingly at the cabin door. Even if he could not sleep, there were other things he could be doing in bed, even if he might feel slightly guilty about waking his mares to do so. He pushed the thoughts from his mind, they needed their rest.

âœWeâll be at the settlement soon Knight Captain Bitters,â a pegasus reported.

They lived in caves, Bucky realised as he approached. He could see the caves. He could smell rotten eggs from a nearby hot spring. There were crudely made rabbit hutches. And off in the distance, there was a small freshwater loch. Sentinel was right beside him, nearly bouncing with each step, scarcely able to contain himself.

And then, the lunar pegasi themselves came into view. Only a few of them were awake in the daylight hours to greet him.

âœGreetings honoured guest,â a male stated as he moved forward. âœI am Wave Breaker, he who fishes in the ocean. This is my colony.â

âœSalutations Wave Breaker. I am Buckminster Bitters, scourge of wolves,â Bucky said graciously in reply and making up something right on the spot. âœHow fares your colony?â

âœThis is all of us,â Wave Breaker replied, gesturing with his wing and looking sorrowful.

Bucky counted three mares, one filly, seven lunar pegasus stallions, and one solar pegasus stallion. He looked around in confusion. âœThis is all of you?â he asked.

âœWe are all that is left. We have fought the wolves. Finally, for whatever reason, they have stopped coming to our island. We used to be over one hundred strong,â Wave Breaker said in a now stony voice.

Bucky wheezed as he inhaled sharply, trying to think of something meaningful to say. He could think of nothing. This colony had endured such heavy losses. He turned to look at Sentinel, and saw the coltâs eyes were glassy with tears that were barely being held in check. He felt a stabbing pain in his barrel as Sentinel sat down roughly in the dirt, his hind legs giving way as his emotions threatened to overrun him.

âœWhy didnât you tell Keg Smasher it was this bad? Send a messenger?â Deadspin said in stunned disbelief.

âœAnd what would have been done? We would have had to flee our home. Give up our way of life. Run away as cowards. We would rather die,â Wave Breaker grunted in reply.

âœAnd you have,â Deadspin said flatly.

Wave Breaker bared his teeth at Deadspin and there was clearly tension in the air.

âœThatâs enough, both of you, we have a common enemy to fight,â Bucky said diplomatically as he moved between the two of them.

âœWe are abandoning our colony,â Wave Breaker said in a strained voice. âœOur home has become a place of graves now. The caves are tombs where our dead slumber. We no longer sleep within them.â

âœI am sorry,â Bucky offered. âœI am purging the wolves as we speak, perhaps something can be done to save this place?â

Wave Breaker shook his head. âœOur numbers are too few. We wanted to meet you and tell you of this place before we left.â

Sentinel left his fatherâs side and slowly approached Wave Breaker, his posture submissive. His ears were folded back, his wings, drooped, his head was held low, and his tail was pulled between his hind legs as he slowly approached.

âœI always wanted to come here, to see where it is I came from,â Sentinel said in a low whine. âœI wish I had something meaningful to say. I seem to only find meaningful words when I am writing.â

âœI know youââ one of the mares said as she limped forwards. âœYou are Bloodweatherâs colt. Iâd recognise that scab coloured mane anywhere. Come here to me, colt,â she commanded. She was much larger than Wave Breaker, as were the other mares here.

âœWho are you and how did you know my father?â Sentinel asked as he moved slowly forward. He lifted his head hopefully, looking at the mare for answers.

âœI am called Shadow Glide and at one point, I hoped to be your fatherâs mate. But he fell in love with a feather wing and I wanted his happiness more than my own,â Shadow Glide said in reply. She looked down at Sentinel and after a moment, touched him with her wing tip. âœYou look exactly like your father. I heard that he died. What is your name?â

âœI am called Sentinel. And yes maâam, he died,â Sentinel answered with a soft nod.

âœAnd this small stallion here? Who is he to you?â Shadow Glide asked.

Sentinel became painfully aware that everything around him had gone silent. He looked around him and saw every eye on every pony all around focused on him. He swallowed, trying to down the lump that had formed his in throat.

âœThis is my father now. He has been good to me. I have become his squire, but I am his son first and foremost,â Sentinel said, his voice cracking and becoming an embarrassing squeak.

âœAh, Bloodweather and his honour lives on,â Shadow Glide said in a bittersweet voice. She leaned down and nuzzled Sentinel. âœYou could have been my colt, and I would have been proud of you. Go and do good things.â

âœYes maâam,â Sentinel said, his voice still cracking.

âœPerhaps there is still hope for us,â Wave Breaker said.

âœTake shelter with Keg Smasher for a while. Rebuild your numbers. We have griffons now that I know in time will be welcome among your number. And when you are strong again, come back out here and reclaim your homes,â Deadspin said.

Wave Breaker looked around at his clan, then looked at Deadspin, studied Sentinel for a while, and then, he finally turned to Bucky. He peered at the stallion, as if trying to read him.

Bucky, aware of certain pegasus non verbal communicators, was aware that he was being sized up. He turned his remaining eye upon Wave Breaker and stared back, his face neutral.

âœI want a better life for this filly. Her parents are gone,â Wave Breaker said, breaking his long silence.

âœOh shite,â Deadspin breathed very quietly to himself, which might have worked around normal pegasi, but his lunar cousins heard his words. Several heads turned to look at him pointedly.

âœLet us speak plainly. What do you want?â Bucky demanded. âœDonât mince words. Just be out with it. Do you want us to take her with us?â

âœIn a sense, yes. I would like to arrange a betrothal,â Wave Breaker said as he looked directly at Bucky.

Bucky choked. He hacked and he heaved for air, trying to reclaim the breath that had fled his lungs. He coughed violently and finally hacked out a wad of phlegm. He sat down and thumped on his own barrel, trying to clear his airway.

âœShe has nothing. Nothing at all. Soon she will not even have our home. I want her to have something. I have nothing to give her, but by giving her to you, I can offer her a better future and our kind, which has always been few in number, will continue if she is bonded with Sentinel,â Wave Breaker patiently explained.

âœWe have heard stories. Even on the mainland, our numbers are too few,â Shadow Glide interjected. âœThis is about the survival of our kind. We have lost too many fighting this pointless fight to keep our homes.â

Wave Breaker turned and gave Shadow Glide a scathing hateful look and the pair locked eyes, trying to assert dominance over one another.

âœIt is not our way to run from a fight,â Wave Breaker snarled.

âœIt does not seem to be part of our way to survive eitherâ but now that we are too few, you have us run!â Shadow Glide snapped.

âœPlease stop!â Sentinel cried.

The two adults looked down at the colt and glared at him. Then, they resumed looking hatefully at one another, a fight that became apparent to any observer had been going on for quite some time.

âœYou have brought us to ruin,â Shadow Glide accused. âœYou broke with the old way. You stepped in to lead with your honeyed words and impassioned pleas. Once there were more males than females, you broke our sacred matriarchal ways and seized power for your self! And look where it has gotten us!â The much larger mare bristled and puffed out her barrel, making her look quite intimidating.

Wave Breaker slumped. âœI have. I did. I thought we needed better leadership. Shrike was no better though. Before she died, she revealed to me her plan to lead us all to glorious death in battle and have our colony come to a bloody and final end,â he admitted in a broken voice. âœMy pride and wanting to keep our home has been the end of us. Which is why I wish to send Moonbow away. Sentinel has a chance to learn a new way of life and I want the same for her. I am shamed by my failure.â

âœFirst wise decision you have made,â Shadow Glide said in an icy voice. âœAnd I did not know about Shrikeâs plans. Wave Breaker, you should have talked to me.â

âœYou judge and second guess everything I say!â Wave Breaker snapped.

âœStop!â Sentinel cried. âœJust stop being hateful to one another! A clan, a tribe, it all means familyâ just stop fighting!â he shouted as he ran back to his fatherâs side.

âœI donât know that I can do this,â Bucky interjected. âœI donât know how I feel about arranged marriage.â

âœWhat about Thistle?â Sentinel inquired.

âœThatâs different,â Bucky answered.

âœHow?â Sentinel asked.

âœIt just is,â Bucky replied. He could see Wave Breaker beginning to bristle.

âœHe is still young and so is she. A bit too young for marriage perhaps. But she could go with you and they could grow together. And when the time is right, they could marry,â Shadow Glide said in a gentle suggestion. She moved closer to Wave Breaker and stood next to him. âœIn this matter, we are in agreement. Our species must survive. Our colony has failed, but we have hope. Seeds can always be planted elsewhere and life will go on.â

âœI donât know that I can force my son to go through with thisâ this feels wrong,â Bucky said. âœI do not wish to insult you, and I am starting to understand that this is why you wanted me here, but I do not think I can allow this.â

Both Wave Breaker and Shadow Glide glared at Bucky now, trying to understand the outsider, fierce looks upon their faces.

âœI cannot do as you ask,â Bucky said, looking down at Sentinel.

âœWill nopony ask me what I want?â Sentinel asked in a quavering nervous voice.

Frantic, Bucky looked upon Sentinel, feeling frightened and worried. âœSentinel, do you understand what you are getting in to? If you agree to this and we took her with us, you would be obligated, do you understand me? There would be no backing out or changing your mind later.â

Sentinel licked his lips nervously. He looked at the filly, looked at Wave Breaker and Shadow Glide, and then finally, he looked up at his father. His ear itched terribly and he wanted to scratch it, but he knew that if he did, Lyra would somehow know and scold him.

âœWould you actually make this decision for me and not give me a say?â Sentinel finally inquired, looking up at his father inquisitively.

Bucky swallowed and looked around, realising how he answered was going to have drastic consequences either way. He had no clue what to do. He looked at Deadspin and saw only a blank face. He looked up at The Scorned Mare up above him and wondered how many slaps he might have to endure. Finally, he looked at the filly in question.

âœYou there, your name is Moonbow, correct?â Bucky asked.

The filly raised her head shyly. She looked at Bucky with piercing eyes.

âœYes, you there. Come forward. Moonbow, thatâs a pretty name. You are named after the rainbows that form around the moon before the weather changes, right?â Bucky said.

The filly nodded and she came forward slowly, slinking along, not meeting any other adult eyes as she passed. She walked in a servile crouch and approached Bucky. About ten feet away, she stopped and sat down, wrapping her wings around her body and her legs, trying to look very small and submissive.

âœMoonbow, I want you to tell me what you want. And donât be afraid of the adults. I am a unicorn you see,â Bucky said, gesturing up at his horn. âœAnd I will know if you are being honest with me. You can be completely honest with me and I will make sure that nopony punishes you for telling the truth. Now tell me, what do you want?â

Moonbow took a deep breathâ

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âœI want a chance to form a new colony where the females and males do not fight over whose way is right and whose way is wrong,â Moonbow said in a low raspy voice. She turned and looked over her shoulder after she spoke. âœI would rather see females and males work together, as equals. Just because we females are larger and smarter, doesnât always make us right.â

There was a low growl coming from Shadow Glide and Bucky ignited his horn, hoping a threatening gesture would be enough. As he lifted his head and focused his eye on the big mare, there was a blur of something sooty brown in his vision as something shot past.

It was Sentinel, and he had placed himself between Shadow Glide and Moonbow. His head was low to the ground to protect his throat, his backside was high in the air, his wings were out, his barrel expanded, and the colt was growling savagely with his lips curled back to expose his teeth.

Shadow Glide seemed taken aback by Sentinelâs snarling. She threw her head back and her posture shifted to something a bit more neutral. âœYou are like your father,â she muttered. âœSuicidally fearless and no respect for the superiourity of females,â Shadow Glide said with a disdainful sniff.

âœRespect isnât given, it is earned,â Sentinel snarled in reply, his teeth still bared. âœThreaten her again and I will make you thrash me.â The coltâs posture stiffened and his tail whip-cracked off to one side.

âœSentinel, enough, to me,â Bucky commanded.

Sentinel turned and looked at his father. He then turned and gave a final snarl to Shadow Glide. âœYes father, I will do what you ask out of respect,â he said pointedly. He relaxed his aggressive posture and backed away, still glaring at Shadow Glide. âœThreaten her again and see what I doââ he warned.

Moonbow peered at Sentinel and studied him. As he approached, she reached out and touched him with her central wing knuckle, stroking him softly. âœI want a mate who is utterly fearless,â she said in a low voice.

âœSquire Sentinel is certainly fearless,â Deadspin said, taking a deep shuddering breath and hoping there would be no violence. He understood a little bit of lunar pegasi and their confusing backwards ways, and he was surprised that it hadnât came to blows during the tense moment.

âœI understand my obligations,â Sentinel began. âœMy kind must continue. I understand that our numbers are too few. If required, I can be Moonbowâs mate and I will be dutiful to her needs. I can marry for duty so that our kind will have a future. If things do not work out too well between us, I can always marry for love later while still performing my duties for you,â he continued. The colt paused. âœNot to say that I would not love you. That came out sounding badly, do forgive me.â

Bucky heaved an internal sigh that showed nothing on the outside.

âœI have learned a great deal from my mother Thistle,â Sentinel stated. âœWe have a lot in common. We are both a species nearing its end. I have always known what would be required from me and I accepted it a long time ago. I can only hope that I am as lucky as she is, and find the love of my life.â

âœWe are few in numbers because our ways are foolish. Never running from battleâ what has that gotten us?â Moonbow demanded, daring to turn around and look at her elders. âœAnd dying gloriously in battle should we be injured rather than limp home and recover to fight another day. And we wonder why we approach our end!â

âœMy father committed suicide,â Sentinel said, coming to painful realisation.

âœI am sorry,â Moonbow replied, not taking her eyes off of her elders.

Bucky, realising what he had almost done in the dream, felt a painful clench around his heart from Sentinelâs words. He wanted to hug his colt, to pull him close and squeeze him dearly, but now might not be the best moment. He resolved to do so later.

âœSentinel, what would be more important, your honour or coming home to me and living to fight another day?â Moonbow asked bluntly.

âœWhile my honour is important, I place my family and especially my smaller siblings above it. You would be among their number. My father charged off into the night and left me alone. He wasâ STUPID!â Sentinel said, his words working into a shout.

âœSpeak not of your father that way!â Shadow Glide demanded in a throaty growl.

âœShut up!â Sentinel snapped. âœI will speak of him in the manner that he deserves! I wasnât worth living for! He left meâ and to do what? Die uselessly? He died for my mother, but he couldnât live for me. He was a COWARD!â

Shadow Glide bristled with anger and her hackles rose. She started to say something else, but Wave Breaker gently nudged her with his hoof. She swallowed her angry retort and flapped out her wings in annoyance.

âœBucky, my father, my real father, has taught me a better way. Family first before anything else. Nothing is to be put before family,â Sentinel said, glaring up at Shadow Glide.

âœI want that,â Moonbow said, whipping her head around owl-like towards Bucky.

âœSentinel, come here my son,â Bucky commanded.

Sentinel, grunting and panting with anger, went to his fatherâs side. He sat down when his father made a gesture to do so, and then he continued to glare angrily at Shadow Glide.

Bucky carefully wiped away the tears that were spilling down Sentinelâs cheeks with his fetlock and silently resolved to be a better father somehow, worthy of Sentinelâs adoration. He added it to his internal to do list, along with being a better husband.

âœIt is time to find a new way,â Wave Breaker said. âœOur way has brought us to this end. I wanted to change our ways, but I think I have failed. Or maybe it was too late. Either way, we are done. Our ways have failed us.â

Shadow Glide snarled at the stallion beside her but did not chastise him. She glared at him for a long heated moment, and then her snarl melted into something almost resembling a look of defeat. She looked at the stallion beside her for a long time, studying him, and then her gaze shifted to Bucky, and she began to study him.

Sentinel took the opportunity to compose himself, while Moonbow kept rotating her head around in what appeared to be a boneless fashion to study all involved.

âœTake her with you. Teach her your ways. Teach her the sort of courage your son displays,â Shadow Glide said to Bucky in a strangled voice. âœI am begging you tiny maleâ give her what we could not.â

Bucky felt a pang of irritation at âœtiny maleâ and realised that antagonistic behaviour was probably so deeply ingrained that she probably wasnât even aware of what she had said, or so he chose to believe to soothe his own frazzled nerves and growing temper.

âœWhen we are older, I will marry you if you will have me,â Sentinel said to Moonbow. âœThat is, if my father allows this. In the end, I must trust his wisdom and know that he will do what is best for me. In this decision, I also hope he will do what is best for us, and for my kind.â

âœI will go with you, learn your ways, and bear your foals,â Moonbow agreed, looking at Sentinel. Her gaze shifted to Bucky. âœIf you will have me. I am stubborn and headstrong. I am violent and savage. But I am also willing to change.â

âœWhy does this have to be betrothal?â Bucky asked.

âœShe is at that age. It would be cruel to string her along and then break off the agreement later, leaving her with nothing to show for what she has given,â Shadow Glide replied.

âœI suppose I can understand that,â Bucky sighed. âœMoonbow, do you want to be betrothed to Sentinel?â he asked. âœI want to hear what you want.â

âœI like what I have seen so far. I will not find such a mate here among my colony,â Moonbow said, whipping her head around to look at the other males. âœI want to be in a place where my views are listened to and even accepted.â

âœYes, but do you want Sentinel? Do you want to make such a big decision about your life and your future love?â Bucky asked.

âœFoals are needed, love is nice if it happens,â Moonbow said as she blinked several times at Bucky. Her ears were perked forwards.

âœOh nuts, I am dealing with Thistle all over again,â Bucky groaned.

âœI find Sentinel a worthwhile catch. He defended me,â Moonbow said. She made a series of clicking and popping sounds with her echolocation and moved a little closer to Sentinel. âœI could see myself loving him in time.â

âœI am still not certain about the betrothal part. Why canât she just come with us and then find her own love later?â Bucky asked.

âœWe need assurance our kind will survive now,â a female lunar pegasus said. âœWe have heard stories about you. We know you are honourable. Do you even understand the level of trust we have given you, tiny male?â

âœWe are trusting you to continue our kind,â the other female said. âœIf she goes off and there is no marriage to Sentinel, but to another kind of pony, if she never breeds with Sentinel, and she has foals that are not our kind, we die off just a little more. By giving you her, we are trusting you with our future, tiny male.â

âœOkay I get itâ you want me to defend you from extinction. Now stop calling me tiny!â Bucky snapped angrily.

âœSentinelâs father came from pure stock, and we know that Moonbow comes from pure stock. They will produce lunar pegasus foals,â Wave Breaker said, offering an explanation to Bucky.

Bucky nodded with newfound understanding. He looked down at Sentinel and Moonbow, now gaining a gleaning of understanding on what must be done and why this was important. âœYou need pure bloodlines to make sure that future foals are lunar pegasi.â

All of the other lunar pegasi nodded and looked all of them looked at Bucky expectantly.

âœSentinel, I will not make this decision for you,â Bucky said. âœThis choice is yours alone to make. I know you will do the right thing.â

âœBefore I accept, I have a few demands,â Sentinel said in a loud clear voice. âœMoonbow, you must learn to read and write. It is our way and you will follow it. Also, I have grown envious of my fatherâs good fortune in finding a mate that will bring him fish.â

âœYou want fish?â Moonbow asked. âœMales bring foodââ she said hesitantly. She paused, looking confused and then peered around her. Her ears folded back against her skull. âœYou tricked me into saying something awful,â she accused.

Sentinel allowed himself a ghost of a smile. âœIf you bring me a fish I will bring you a fish.â

Moonbow nodded in acceptance and her ears lifted slightly away from her skull. She slunk into a submissive posture. âœWe can trade fish clever male,â she stated.

âœWe act as a new colony and we make our own ways. Both of us. We make new rules, new traditions, and we will teach them to our foals. The old ways have failed,â Sentinel said.

âœIn this we agree,â Moonbow said in reply.

âœMy fatherâs word is law until we are married,â Sentinel stated. âœAnd I am leaving the decision to him to decide when we are old enough. I trust his wisdom on this issue.â

âœThat is acceptable,â Moonbow said in return, bowing her head.

âœDo you have any demands?â Sentinel inquired.

The lunar pegasus filly looked thoughtful and carefully considered Sentinelâs request. Her wings fluttered slightly and she narrowed her eyes to study Sentinel as she chose her words. âœOnly one. One very simple request.â

Sentinel shifted on his haunches, moving a little closer to Bucky.

âœI want a kiss.â

Sentinel cringed and then shuddered. âœUgh. Blech.â

Suppressing a laugh, Bucky rolled his eye and remained silent. Sentinel had a great deal to learn about the female heart and its demands. He gently prodded Sentinel, trying to encourage the colt to move forward. âœGo on son, seal the deal,â Bucky gently whispered into Sentinelâs ear.

Sentinel rose to all fours and strode forward a few steps, and paused as Moonbow also rose up on all fours. She turned towards him and batted her eyes at the colt, which made Sentinel step backwards.

Bucky, trying to be a good parent, gave Sentinel a loving gentle shove forward with his magic, being a good father and encouraging his son to do his best.

The colt and the filly stared at each other and then slowly began to circle one another as they sized each other up. Moonbowâs tail was swishing and her wings fluttered.

âœYouâre older,â Sentinel said.

The filly nodded but said nothing.

âœHave you had a heat?â Sentinel asked.

âœI had my very first heat this summer,â Moonbow replied as a blush filled her face, turning her a delightful shade of purple.

âœYouâre big,â Sentinel said as he continued to circle with Moonbow.

âœThank you. My mother was enormous,â Moonbow answered.

âœI never want to establish dominance by combatâ Iâve heard our kind does that,â Sentinel said as he struggled to work up his courage.

âœWe do, but I am sure we can find a new way,â Moonbow offered in reply.

âœYou have your mark, it is interesting. What does it mean?â Sentinel inquired as he peered around her front shoulders and tried to see her hips. There were wisps of blue flames.

âœWhen I dive into shadow, I turn into a willow wisp. I am a big blue ball of floating blue flames that do not burn or give heat, but provide light. It is an absolutely useless talent, I have no stealth to hunt by,â Moonbow answered.

âœI do not think that sounds useless, lighting the way for others who cannot see and keeping them safe is a powerful gift,â Sentinel said, lifting his head and looking Moonbow directly in the eye.

âœI never thought of it that way,â Moonbow said, her blush getting darker. Her dark grey pelt made her blush difficult to see, but it was quite visible now, as evidenced by the purple splotch her face had become.

Moonbow, growing tired of the waiting, reached out with both wings and grabbed Sentinel by the neck, hooking her central knuckles together behind his head. She hauled him in and kissed him fiercely, not bothering to go for his cheek. She clumsily smashed her lips into his and then moved them around as though she was chewing on his face, not knowing what else to do.

Sentinel's wings flared out and flapped as he tried to escape the much larger female that was now devouring his face, or so it felt like to him. âœMmmmMMMblumphrump!â Sentinel moaned as he tried to escape.

Finally, Moonbow let go of her prey and allowed him to breathe again.

Sentinel backed away, his barrel heaving. He was wide eyed and panicked. As the laughter started, he felt the hot fevered burn of embarrassment creeping up his neck and through his face. He slowly came to the realisation that he may have made a mistake as he looked at the much larger female lunar pegasus grinning at him and licking her lips.

More than anything else at that moment, Sentinel wanted one of his mothers as he heard the raucous laughter all around him.

Chapter 170

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It was only a few hours before the evening and Bucky watched his family interact. Moonbow had been made welcome, and now the filly was rapidly trying to find her place within the herd. He felt two lips press against his cheek and turned to look at Derpy, who was sprawled out beside him.

âœIt is good you got a little bit of sleep,â Derpy whispered into Buckyâs ear. âœAnd you did good today. Remind me to give you the special âœgood husbandâ hug sometime.â

Bucky smiled and shifted his weight, leaning up against his solid matriarch. He listened to the conversations floating around the room as he nuzzled and snoot-bumped the pegasus.

✅and she can turn into a willow wisp,â Sentinel said.

âœWill oâ the Wisp,â Berry Punch corrected. âœWill oâ Wisp. A fae spirit. Iâve heard lots of stories about them and the ponies of the isles have told stories about them for the past one thousand years. Now I wonder if they were seeing a lunar pegasus in shadow form. There have long been stories of helpful wisps leading ponies out of danger, lighting their way, and leading little lost foals back home.â

Bucky pondered Berryâs words. Fate had given him a powerful and meaningful herd, Luna had hinted at that. He thought about Moonbowâs ability to become a Will oâ the Wisp and what Berry said about wisps leading ponies back who had lost their way.

✅not going to catch Buckyâs fish forever. Heâs just a very busy pony,â Thistle said.

Bucky smiled. He was a very busy pony. He had just done his part to help secure the future of the lunar pegasi and he felt that he had proven himself a worthy father today. The happy grey pegasus beside him confirmed his beliefs. He could smell her happiness with him, and that made him feel good. He had expected a few slaps, but this was so much better.

✅my tribe, the males bring us food and we allow them to breed with us,â Moonbow explained in low voice that somehow carried over the various titters and giggles heard around the room. âœFemales never get their own food. We are too busy fighting, protecting, and guarding our males as they work to please us.â

âœI like these ideas,â Thistle said as she gave Bucky a very straightforward look. Her serious face melted as she began to giggle. âœActually, Iâd rather bring him fish than go out and fight his battles.â

âœSentinel has the right cutie mark for his species then,â Berry stated, suddenly understanding a whole lot more about Sentinel. âœA fish cutie mark makes a lot more sense when you think about the males being the hunters and providers.â

âœHis mark makes him very desirable,â Moonbow agreed. âœA fish bringer is better than a deer bringer. Deer bringers can get gored. Too much risk and danger for the deer hunters. Makes the females jumpy when they go out hunting. I find his fish mark very desirable.â

âœDid you get a chance to give everypony a proper goodbye?â Derpy asked.

Moonbow nodded. âœYes matriarch. Even the males.â

Derpy sighed and looked at Bucky with one raised eyebrow. âœYou know, I suddenly feel really bad about all of the times I said âœmare businessâ to you,â she whispered to Bucky.

âœMy little brother is betrothed,â Ripple sighed. âœYou had better be good to her Sentinel, or I will box your ears. And you Moonbow, you had better give my little brother the respect he deserves, or there is going to be a scuffle.â

Moonbowâs ears folded back and she went into a submissive slouch, still trying to find her spot in the female hierarchy of this herd. She looked pleadingly at Ripple but said nothing.

âœI donât like this,â Lyra whined. âœI was just getting used to being a mother. I was just starting to think of Sentinel as my foal. And now this happens,â she said, her face sinking into a pout.

âœLittle colts and fillies grow up Lyra,â Bon Bon said patiently.

âœI am still your foal,â Sentinel said in a pained voice. âœAnd now you have another on-oomph!â

Sentinelâs words were cut off as Lyra hauled him close with her magic and then began to squeeze him to her as she cried. Recent events and stress had simply been too much upon her and her mommy hormones.

âœSentinel found himself such a pretty filly,â Bon Bon said with a sniffle. âœSuch a beautiful silver mane.â

Moonbow blushed and then covered her face with her wings. She flopped down upon the floor and went limp, not at all used to such open affection and soft words.

âœI feel a lot safer,â PiÃa said to anypony that would listen.

âœI do too,â Dinky agreed. âœThere are two of them now. Monsters look out.â

Deadspin prowled the deck with Sour Mash and Bunny on his heels, walking on either side of him. The pegasi propelling the craft were in good practice and there was a tailwind. They were flying as they soared over the ocean.

They were heading to an isle known as Dragonmaw Island. There was a little flat patch of land in the center, and the entire isle was surround on all sides by jagged crags, stony outcroppings, ridges, and gullies. Nothing had been heard from the isle for a while and the worst was feared.

âœI have a bad feeling about this,â Lyra said. âœThere is something wrong on the isle ahead of us,â she insisted. âœI sense hostile magic. Very hostile magic. We should gain altitude and keep ourselves up high and out of reach if possible.â

âœSkyward lift!â Deadspin bellowed.

âœHEAD SKYWARD YOU BIRDBRAINS!â Sour Mash hollered, her voice impossible to ignore.

Deadspin smiled at his earth pony wife. She had a voice made for command. He loved everything about her, but he was especially proud of her voice. Even if she could get a bit deafening when he was on her back or they were belly to belly.

âœWill you be able to drop from this height?â Derpy asked her husband.

âœI could drop from where there is no air at the top of the sky,â Bucky replied in a cold mechanical voice. âœWould leave quite a crater though. Hmm, I could use my impact like a bomb.â

âœBucky, be careful. Be methodical. Be the sort of calculating bastard I know you can be,â Lyra begged. âœI donât like what I am sensing. There is shadow here, and something else. I donât like it, it makes my skin crawl and I can see little things in the corners of my vision and there are whispering sounds in my ears when I focus on it.â

âœThank you Lyra. I promise to be carefulâ and thorough,â Bucky replied to his nervous unicorn wife.

âœPrepare flaming ordinance!â Bunny shouted. âœWeâre dealing with mostly bare rock and scrub. Nopony cares if it burns!â

Sparkler lifted a rack of spell jars that glowed orange and were carefully marked as âœfireâ on the labels. She placed them on the mount made just for holding the rack and secured them. âœOrdinance ready!â Sparkler reported.

âœOh hey, the extra glowy orange onesâ I filled those!â Rising Star said excitedly.

âœExtra super burny flaming ordinance ready!â Sparkler repeated, correcting her earlier announcement.

There was a loud caw of laughter from Quartermaster Bunny, who delighted in her job.

âœWeâre too far up for me to see if we are over the island,â Deadspin reported. âœToo dark.â

Bucky stomped over the rail and peered down. âœWeâre here,â he announced. âœWill you be able to see me?â he inquired.

âœMy eyes are sharp sir and the night is clear. The glow you give off will be visible. So long as I have a clear line of sight, we will follow overhead,â Deadspin answered. âœFull stop!â he barked.

The ship slowed and then went almost still, still being pushed around slightly by the wind. The pegasi pushers compensated, becoming better and better at their jobs as time went on.

âœI love you all. I mean that. All of you. Guard my foals and what I hold dear,â Bucky said as he tossed himself over the edge.

Bucky braced his legs and tried to enjoy the freefall. He counted slowly, methodically, being the accountant that he used to be as he plummeted. His armor was well made and he trusted it. It would take some serious magic to even begin to undo its enchantments and protections.

One thousand thirty twoâ one thousand thirty three Bucky counted to himself.

At thirty three, he impacted into the ground. A thirty three second drop before crashing into the earth. There was an explosive blast all around him from the impact. Sealed inside of his armor, he felt nothing, it was like stepping out of bed.

A tiny floating golden lyre appeared near his head. It strummed for a moment, and the heard a familiar voice.

âœAhead of you lies gloom, so go and seal its doom, to guide you to your fight, just follow the big spotlight,â Lyraâs voice singsonged, coming from the lyre.

Bucky loved his clever unicorn mare. She had found a means to communicate, even if was in the form of a terrible song. As a fellow unicorn, he understood the weird constraints of how some spells worked.

âœAnd now I must go and shut my trap, âcause our sweet little Harper just took a crap.â

Bucky smiled inside of his helmet, feeling much better about the dirty work ahead of him. He took off at a slow steady pace, following the spotlight that occasionally flashed down ahead of him. Walking in low power mode was slow and tedious, but necessary. There was something here that frightened Lyra, and he didnât know what he was facing. He conjured a swallow of whiskey from the keg secured upon his croup and pressed onwards.

There were no howls, but Bucky could sense them. Large numbers, just ahead. He found it odd that there were no howls. He was starting to feel an odd feeling in his horn, a new tingling that worried him.

Suddenly, the world went completely dark around him and he was buried in shadow. Not sure of the numbers he was facing, and not happy about the strange feeling he was getting in his horn, he sent up a flare.

âœFLARE!â Sour Mash bellowed. âœLOCATION?â

âœI have eyes on Bucky, but he looks dim. It is like there is a hole in the night all around him. It is dark. Really dark!â Deadspin reported.

Rising Star came forward with a half dozen of the extra burny orbs held in his magic. He peered over the edge and stared downwards, and it took him a moment to see the dim figure of Bucky far below. âœHeâs mobbed by something!â Rising Star shouted. âœHold on Bucky!â

Rising Star released the spell jars over the side, given them a final magical nudge to guide them to their target.

The world exploded into fire and shrieks all around Bucky. His armor protected him from the fiery blasts. There was a savage roar as the world ignited, both from the flames and from something else. Still on fire, Bucky whirled around, trying to see what was attacking him. There were wolves, so many wolves, but there was something else.

He heard another roar and whipped around again, finally seeing a towering figure that blazed brightly as it stood over him. A massive shadow bear loomed above him, waving its forelegs around as it burned.

Something had corrupted the bear Bucky realised. He launched himself at the burning bear, and slammed into it sideways, knocking it over backwards. He stomped down upon its guts, trying to ram his hooves into the soft tissues of its entrails. He ignored the burning wolves attempting to gnaw on him and slamming into his armor. They were killing themselves in their mindless attempts to bring him down.

He felt a hoof sink in deep into the bears guts and heard a fierce roar of pain. He twisted his leg around, using his claws to rend the creatureâs insides, shredding it from within. The bear rolled and Bucky found himself falling over, and he thudded down onto his side. The bear was mindless in its corrupted fury and clearly was not slowed down by pain. The bear rose up on its hind legs again.

Bucky rose to his hooves and then launched himself at the bear again. He was tempted to use magic, to call forth some spell to finish his task, but that would be wasteful. He could kill claw to claw and conserve magic.

He slammed into the giant bear, punching and kicking with his front hooves, and bowled the big beast over. He slammed one hoof down upon the bearâs skull repeatedly, turning it into a lumpy paste filled with bits of splintered skull.

Long after the bear had stopped moving, Bucky continued punching, his foreleg moving like a piston with each blow. Finally, he stopped.

The wolves had burned and the big shadow bear was no more. Around him, the scrub grass was on fire and the light was illuminated by the flames. Bucky took a deep breath and steadied his nerves. His work was not yet done.

He illuminated his visor with his sunstone eye and shone the green spotlight around him. He saw a ravine up ahead through the trees, a narrow crack in a stone ridge. He felt a chill when he looked in that direction, and he moved off in his slow steady mechanical gait to investigate.

After moving through the crack he found himself in a narrow ravine with steep sides. He could sense more wolves coming, but he did not care. Something terrible was hidden in the dark ahead, and he could sense it.

He took another gulp of whiskey that he conjured from his keg.

He was aware he was being hunted, he just didnât care. As the wolves rushed around him, Bucky sent up a flare, choosing to save his magic for whatever was ahead. The wolves were swarming him now, swirling all around him, gnashing teeth and furious shadowy forms.

He continued to ignore them until the fire rained down, and then he took a bit of personal satisfaction in watching them all burn. They shrieked and howled as they sizzled and popped. Bucky felt no sympathy for them all. He supposed that he should feel some. The wolves never asked to be corrupted and turned to evil. They were part of the natural order too. But try as he might, Bucky could not muster any feeling of pity for the wolves.

The crack ahead of him filled him with a sense of dread. It would take him underground. There would be no sending up a flare to call for bombs. Bucky would be alone in the dark. The feeble voice that was Buckyâs sense of preservation implored him turn back, to run away, to not enter the dark abyssal depths of the crack. The voice was too weak for Bucky to hear now. He pushed his way through the dark crack and found himself in a sharply descending passageway.

The green light from his visor led the way, his sunstone eye proving its value and making itself worth the agony of implanting it. The green light was easy on his eyes and illuminated everything.

The passage was steep and narrow, but large enough for a bear to crawl out of Bucky realised. Ahead of him was more darkness, and he watched his step, knowing that some yawning chasm could appear in a moment. If he fell, he could teleport himself to safety, but it would be draining.

Finally, he saw a sickly yellow glow up ahead, and Bucky picked up his pace. He readied his magic, something felt wrong. This was a place full of magical sickness. A faint gibbering cry escaped from Buckyâs lips. What was left of his equinity suffered in this place. He could feel an ache in his bones and a dull thudding in his brain.

He rounded the corner and stepped into a cavern. Ahead of him, he saw piles of dead bodies, dead ponies, all brought here to this abattoir of horrors. Some had been hung on jagged stone outcroppings and flayed. After looking around and taking it all in, including a massive crystal spire in the middle of the grotto, he saw something that he wished he had never seen.

There was a unicorn colt that was about the same size as Sentinel. Looking at it, it was clear that it was dead. There was an exposed ribcage on one side. It glowed with the sickly yellow glow that the crystal emanated.

It was also moving around and it turned to stare at Bucky with empty eye sockets.

Bucky inhaled sharply as he looked upon the unbelievable unimaginable scene, and then to his terror, the unicorn foalâs horn began to glow. It was impossible for the dead to cast spells as far as Bucky knew. He braced himself for a magical battle with a foe that should not exist.

Chapter 171

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The undead foal moved slowly and without much coordination. Its horn flared brightly and a shield appeared around the crystal. It shimmered like a soap bubble and the colt backed up inside of the shield, seeking protection.

The crystal flared with a sickly yellow light and several of the dead bodies began to move, slowly rising up to their hooves. They moved slowly and stumbled towards Bucky, who was still in shock because of what he had witnessed.

âœGreetings Buckminster Bitters,â a cold sepulchral disembodied voice said.

Bucky began to sweat inside of his armor. The voice sounded entirely too much like his own. It was only a trick perhaps, intended to unnerve him. He tried to quell his unwanted and unwelcomed fear so he could focus upon the task at hoof.

âœYou are so gifted. I am so proud,â the voice said in cold cutting sarcasm. It filled the air with booming laughter. âœAt long last, one of our line has made it this far. You still have a horn. Sort of. I always knew that House Bitters was the only true heirs among the many houses of Avarice to the only two bloodlines that mattered.â

âœWho are you?â Bucky demanded as he kept a wary eye upon the undead.

âœIt doesnât matter, but the fact that you are of my blood will make it so much easier to absorb your essence when I claim you,â the voice said. âœAnd with your essence, I will claim your destiny as my own!â

âœNot bloody likely,â Bucky retorted. âœBah, I should know better, talking to dead things.â

âœI AM NOT DEAD!â the voice shrieked.

âœOh, struck a nerve have I?â Bucky asked in a harsh mechanical growl.

âœYou should respect your elders and your future GOD!â the voice bellowed.

âœA god that hides behind undead foals isnât much of a god,â Bucky snarked.

âœI am going to enjoy devouring your essence,â the voice hissed.

âœYouâre deluded,â Bucky snarled in a cold metallic growl.

Bucky lashed out with his telekinesis and sent the undead flying away from him. More started to twitch and rise. Bucky ignored them, focusing instead upon the shield and the crystal. He cursed himself. Abjuration was never his strong point.

To buy him more time to concentrate, he pulled a flame filled spell jar from the rack on his armor and hurled it at the undead, setting them ablaze. The cavern was now well lit, and ghostly shadows danced along the walls. He readied another burning spell jar and turned his gaze upon the shield. He gave it a good telekinetic thump and saw it shimmer. It wasnât that strong.

He hurled the second spell jar at the pile of the dead and then once again focused his attention upon the crystal and the troublesome shield. He needed Lyra. She would have had it down in an instant. He slammed it with another telekinetic thump, sending a few thousand tons of force at it. It cracked and static coursed along the outer surface.

Bucky felt a painful gurgle in his stomach. The last telekinetic burst has been a big one. He conjured more whiskey from the keg, knowing that it was a stopgap now. He pulled a lightning filled spell jar from his rack and hurled it at the shield.

The lightning crackled all along the surface and the shield began to flicker. As it flickered, Bucky slammed it one last time, lashing out with all of his willpower and fury. The shield popped like a bubble, exposing the undead unicorn foal and the crystal spire.

âœYou are disappointingly weak in some simple areas of spellcraft,â the voice taunted. âœReally, if all you have is brute force to remove even a simple shield, you have no chance to survive our encounter.â

âœOh piss off,â Bucky growled. He felt infuriated. He was all to aware of his own shortcomings as far as magic was concerned, and now he began to worry. His failures in school might come back to haunt him.

He focused on the task at hand and sent a spike of energy at the crystal. It cracked, and then the crack began to grow larger and larger. It sounded like ice cracking, a glacial shelf preparing for a thunderous break.

âœAcceptable losses. I have learned your weaknesses and will plan accordingly,â the voice announced in mocking tones.

The crystal exploded with terrific force, obliterating most of the bodies in the cavern.

Bucky looked carefully around the underground gallery, looking for signs of anything moving. Seeing nothing, he moved towards the crystal fragments, intending to collect a sample for study. Lyra would be most interested and might have a way to deal with future crystals that might be a little easier for him to manage.

He selected a long shard of crystal that still thrummed with magical energy and gathered it up in his magic. It felt wrong to even hold it. It reeked of dark magic and Buckyâs first instinct was to hurl it away. He resisted the urge. He needed its secrets, and perhaps Lyra would have a way to deal with the crystal shielding spell.

Bucky summoned a large quantity of whiskey and drank it down. He needed the energy. He summoned more, and then more, and then a bit more for good measure. His stomach still gurgled, but didnât feel so burned out and empty.

After stomping around, he found what remained of the undead foal. He shone his eyelight down upon it, and began to study what was left of the body. While most of the corpse was rotted away, the head and horn was remarkably well preserved. The foal had little magic Bucky realised. It was a custodian. A means to magically trigger defenses and maintenance perhaps. Bucky suspected that the bear was corrupted into shadow by the crystal, and then perhaps left here as a guardian.

Still, it was alarming. The dead should have no magic. Bucky racked his mind, trying to think of any undead types that might still have magic. Spirits like Sombra were one thing, they were magic, but corpses with no animating life force, this was a whole different issue entirely.

He thought of Harper and nearly pissed himself as he imagined what her fate might have been. Suddenly, more than anything in the entire world, he wanted to be in a cool dark place holding Harper and smelling her sweet milky scent. He ached to hold her.

He gave a final careful check to all of the corpses in the cavern, and then, deciding he couldnât be too careful, he froze them all solid. Closing his eye, he sent out a telekinetic nova and shattered them all. He felt a painful gurgle in his belly as he opened his eye. He could see the little frozen bits of corpses all around him.

Nothing threatening remained in the underground chamber, and the mystery of the lost ponies upon the isle had been solved.

The moment Buckyâs hooves hit The Scorned Mare he let out a sigh of relief. He didnât know what to say, or what to tell the the ponies around them. He could only stare at them dumbly as the feeling of numb shock continued to take over his body. He set down the crystal shard upon the wooden map table and then simply stood there, not moving, not talking, doing nothing.

âœBucky? You alright in there?â Derpy asked.

âœIâve been better,â Bucky said in a small frightened voice.

âœNo more tonight. I understand you need to be on deck just to keep guard through the night, but no more trips down to the ground tonight,â Derpy said soothingly.

âœI couldnât, even if I wanted toâ I canât talk about it yet,â Bucky said and then fell silent.

Derpy wanted Bucky to talk, but decided to not press the issue. She understood the need for silent reflection. More than anything, she wanted to hold him and comfort him. She felt a nudge, turned, and saw Berry.

âœI no longer detect anything below us,â Lyra reported. "The isle is kinda small. Whatever it was, it is gone now. Bucky put an end to it.â She moved forward to the map table and began to look at the crystal shard. She eyed it for a few moments, lowered her head to the table level, and then studied the crystal from a different angle.

âœThis feels wrong,â Lyra announced, not wanting to touch the crystal at all. âœOh this is bad. I am not even sure how bad this is yet, but it is bad,â Lyra said in a panic.

In the soft grey hour of the dawn, Derpy waved her hoof in front of Buckyâs eye as he lay on the bed. There was no response. He lay there, staring blankly off into space. She waved again, hoping for a response, and there was none. She pondered a gentle slap with her wing, but decided against it. She needed to get his attention somehow.

Instead, she kissed him. For a moment, there was no response, but then Bucky thawed. It was as if he slowly came to life. Derpy pressed her advantage and her lips against Bucky, pushing and then rolling him over onto his back. She climbed on top of him, straddling him gently, and stroked the sides of his face with her wings as she continued to kiss him gently and softly.

She broke the kiss and lifted her head, her eyes meeting Berryâs, who looked quite worried. Berry leaned over Bucky to say something, but was interrupted when Bucky grabbed her and pulled her in. Derpy, still straddling Bucky, gently kneaded his barrel with her front hooves. She wasnât an earth pony, but she knew how to make Bucky feel good.

âœI need my kelpie,â Bucky said breathily as he broke away from the kiss he shared with Berry. âœI need all of you. Iâm so tiredââ

âœWeâll be here with youâ get some sleep,â Thistle said as she crawled into the bed and went to Buckyâs side. The kelpie squeaked when she was taken and pulled in for a kiss.

Derpy slid off of Bucky and took her usual spot by his side. She watched as the others shuffled around and went to their usual positions, each one settling into place in turn, and she watched as Buckyâs head drooped into to place on Thistleâs back.

âœWhere is my other earth pony and my unicorn?â Bucky inquired in a dazed voice.

âœTheyâll come to bed soon. Harper wonât stop crying, they have her in another room and they are trying to quiet her,â Berry replied and then yawned.

Bucky thought of Harper, and then thought of the abomination deep underground. He shuddered and wondered if he would ever be able to sleep well ever again.

âœSentinel and Moonbow are doing well together I think. When I checked on them before going to bed, Sentinel had Dinky, PiÃa, and Moonbow all piled into the bed with him. They looked adorable together. I wish I had a camera,â Berry said as she rubbed Bucky with her hoof.

âœMoonbow hit her decade mark this spring,â Thistle whispered. âœShe and I talked during the night. We have so much in common. I donât want her making the same mistakes I did. Unlike me, she is willing to listen and learn.â

âœAlready showing signs of being a good mother,â Derpy said, praising the kelpie.

âœAlso, you have to watch when she pounces on Sentinel. Sheâll be sitting still and Sentinel will be minding his own business and then POW! She just bursts into action and pounces him, and Sentinel rolls and bounces away on stiff legs with his back arched and he hisses,â Thistle said, smiling as she told the story. âœAt first it scared me because they snarled and there was bared fangs and they made such ferocious noises at one another and I thought for certain there was going to be a fight. Turns out, this is how they show affection. So when it happens, donât be scared.â

âœThey donât hurt each other?â Derpy inquired.

âœNo, she likes him. She told me she was trying to teach him how to act like a lunar pegasi,â Thistle replied. âœSentinel was upset though because she interrupted his writing. She gave him something to write about.â

âœWell, we want Sentinel to be aware of his roots. Iâm sure after a couple of moments of terror, wetting ourselves, and worrying that they are attempting to murder one another, weâll get used to it like Thistle has and everything will be fine,â Berry said.

âœI can feel the foal kicking,â Thistle announced.

All three mares felt Bucky tense, and then he moved quite suddenly, pushing Thistle over onto her side. Thistle let out a squeaky squeal as the side of Buckyâs face and ear was pressed up against her navel. Thistle tried to hold still, tried to contain herself as she felt Bucky pressing up against her, but then she felt his ear slowly trail over one of her teats.

She lost it and let out a long low pleasurable moan. Her tummy and other tender bits were just too sensitive now. She let out a startled cry when she felt Buckyâs snoot pressing into her stomach, and then he began to sniff her, pressing his nose into different places and deeply inhaling her scent. Her eyes rolled up into her head and she let herself enjoy the experience.

Thistle believed that Bucky was at his best when he was in his most animalistic states. There was nothing that would ever come near her and ever harm her again.

Chapter 172

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Bucky prowled the deck, looking over the day guard. The Scorned Mare soared towards a new cluster of islands and the sun was directly overhead. There was blue-green ocean below. There was no more sleep to be had and there was nopony that Bucky felt close enough to talk to. It was just him and his thoughts.

He was alone with his thoughts, trying to put together the pieces of the puzzle.

He suspected that whomever was behind the wolves had to be a member of House Bitters, or had been when they were still a pony. Lyra was right on that account. There was no equinity left in his foe. Bucky worried how much of his equinity was left in him. It was a troubling thought. He knew he was breaking down. He was becoming numb inside, his feelings becoming dull and dead.

House Bitters had its own rogueâs gallery, the family members that were never talked about. So many had been carted off to asylums. Madness was a common problem. There had been quite a bit of inbreeding over the years to keep the bloodline as pure as possible, breeding only with other members of Platinumâs bloodline. Buckyâs own father had broke with tradition and had married his mother, Primrose Propers. It had been done with Goldflakeâs blessing, Goldflake being the head of all of the various houses of Avarice.

His fatherâs father, also named Buckminster Bitters, had married his first cousin, which was rumoured to also be his half sister due to a little adultery that was never discussed. Buckminsterâs fatherâs father had gone a little crazy after his father had apparently spontaneously combusted one day. They found his charred corpse in the study. He had been named Buckminster Bitters as well. Being the anal retentive obsessive compulsive types that they were, they stuck with what worked. The name was inherited, along with all of the prestige that came along with it. Bucky felt that he would be glad to break with tradition.

Spontaneous combustion happened. So did suicide. One of the many hazards of being a Canterlot unicorn. It was a fine thin line to walk and the pressures were many.

What Bucky wanted more than anything right now, was a cup of tea. Or coffee. Anything hot, calming, and flavourful. He could feel it in his throat, the desire, the need for something soothing that was not hard liquor. He turned his face towards the wind and felt his mane blow back. He closed his eye and allowed himself to get lost in the moment, feeling the sun and the wind on his face. There was a salty tang in the air.

His serenity was rudely interrupted by the thought of whatever it was he was fighting planning for his next visit. Bucky wasnât particularly skilled in abjuration or stripping away defenses. He had never intended his talent to be used for war. He had merely wanted to unravel the mysteries of what was possible, enchantment and transmutation had allowed him to do that.

He was going to need Lyra. He hoped that she could include a few spells inside of spell jars that would help him break down defenses, or that she could teach him how to shatter shields and protective wards. Lyra might have played second fiddle as a spellbreaker to Twilight Sparkle, but Lyra was second fiddle to Twilight Sparkle which meant that Bucky could ask for no finer teacher. There was also the fact that Lyra had created a shield which had even kept him contained. He thought of that night and how Lyra had subdued him and his magic.

âœYou should be sleeping.â

Bucky nearly jumped out of his skin at the sound of Derpyâs voice. It was the voice of an irritated mother who had just found her foal out of bed and prowling about the house. Quite without meaning to do so, he turned around and looked at her guiltily.

âœI canât sleep,â Bucky whimpered in a strained voice.

âœI know, but Bucky, you need sleep,â Derpy said.

âœThis is almost over. Maybe when my mind is at ease,â Bucky replied.

âœCome back to bed. Berry Punch is waiting. Sheâs full to bursting with milk and Harper is sound asleep. Let Berry comfort you,â Derpy said in a gentle enticing voice.

Bucky did not reply, but he did rise and begin to make his way to the cabin door, a pegasus just behind him prodding him along.

âœTonight, we will be over these cluster of islands here,â Deadspin said as he pointed to the map with his wing. âœWeâve already had scouts return with information. No howls. The isles are warm at night. No trace of bitter cold. Whatever might have been here has retreated, possibly pulled back. Weâre hearing reports from several outer isles of the same thing. Isle oâ Groats is reporting that the nights are bitterly cold again and the fear has returned. So the battlefield has changed. Weâll do a flyover so Lady Lyra can check, but I donât think we are going to find anything.â

Lyra yawned and peered off towards where the sun would soon be setting. âœWell if the battlefield has changed, we need to change. We keep up our flyovers but we should hurry back to the Isle of Groats and bring the battle back to whatever is holed up there.â

âœWe have to make sure there are no more crystal spires,â Bucky said.

âœI agree. I plan to spend tonight studying the shard you brought back. Bucky, it is filled with necromantic energies. I am positive it is a shadow battery,â Lyra stated. âœThere is also weird mental magic. Some kind of mind control magic residue. I can hear it whispering to me when I touch it with my magic.â

âœI need to be able to do something about the shields,â Bucky said to Lyra.

âœI know. Weâll work on that. There are hundreds of empty spell jars still and I plan to give you a crash course in practical spell breaking. I am not sure how well you will do though Bucky. It is all about magical finesse, not brute force,â Lyra replied.

Bucky gave his unicorn wife a sour look.

âœHey, donât you look at me like that you half a horse! You run around practically screaming âœBUCKY SMASH!â as you crush things and smash things and slam things using only the raw brute force of your telekinesis. I remember stories of what you did to the schoolyard slide back in Ponyville. You made a big tower by smashing rocks together! Letâs face it, you are a one trick pony!â Lyra retorted, not liking the sour look she was getting. âœI love you and you need to hear the truth. You canât brute force everything!â

âœYes I can,â Bucky stubbornly argued in a low subdued voice. âœAnd I have lots of tricks.â He thought about the accusations that Princess Platinum had leveled at him, calling him a brute. He felt righteously indignant that anypony would dare judge him.

âœYeah. You are a master enchanter. How do you use it? You make armor. And then, âœBUCKY SMASH!â as you run around crushing and kicking things to death. You make bombs to blow your enemies to bits. Donât get me wrong, it is practical and it gets the job done, but all you do is brute force everything, pummeling things into submission. You are as subtle as a whorseâs queef!â Lyra retorted, snorting several times to punctuate her words.

Bucky sulked in silence, glaring at Lyra.

âœI love you so much, sometimes I canât stand it,â Lyra admitted. âœBut you are so thick headed.â

âœThat crystal shardâ is it dangerous?â Lugus inquired, gently butting into the conversation.

âœI have it set up in a containment field and a resized repurposed spell jar. I had to wrap it in a null field to make it behave. It will be safe to study, and once I understand it, I intend to destroy it,â Lyra answered. âœWeâre dealing with another master level enchanter. Something that understands the subtle uses of magic.â

Bucky scowled and his head dropped even lower. He did not shrug away when Lyra kissed him on the cheek, but his glowering did intensify.

âœTo be fair, Bucky is still young. Given enough time, I have no doubt that he will become the greatest enchanter of our age. I am sure he will learn to be subtle someday,â Lyra said as she prodded Bucky with her hoof.

âœI am calling for rest and relaxation tonight,â Berry Punch said. âœWeâll post guards, but if there is determined to be no threat, I say pull up to a safe altitude and let the foals out on the deck. Let them see the the moon, the stars, and Lunaâs sacred night. And no dressing up as Bucky Buckethead tonight.â

âœI agree,â Lugus quipped, his beak clacking together for emphasis. âœOur chief looks awful. If he was food, I would not eat him. He appears to be living carrion.â

The ponies on the deck stared at Lugus, a silence falling upon them all. It was broken by Lyra, who burst out laughing, clutching her stomach with one hoof as she threw back her head and guffawed.

âœOh thanks Lugusâ I feel so flattered,â Bucky replied snidely.

The night air was cold at this altitude and the air was a little thin. The pegasi were fine, but the others had to breathe a little deeper. The breeze was salty and smelled of the ocean, even this high up. They drifted through the dark, clouds above and below them, and swaths of clear sky all around them.

Sentinel sat on the deck, looking up at the moon, Moonbow sitting beside him, the pair close together and sitting in silence. The magical lights had been dimmed and the offensive capabilities turned off to keep the lunar pegasi from harm on the odd event that anything might happen. Moonbow, much larger and shaggier than Sentinel, kept moving a little closer, until she was pressed up against his side so they could keep warm together. She was a creature of instincts, and her instincts were to keep the smaller males around her protected. Sentinel triggered those instincts. To an observer, it looked like budding affection.

Sour Mash was telling a story to Dinky and PiÃa, a scary story about banshees that left both of the foals clinging tightly to one another and shivering in the cold night air. Sour Mash was an excellent storyteller and several of the adults had gathered around to listen. Sour Mash was also quite good at making âœwooo woooâ noises to emphasise her story at key points. She sat on her haunches, waving her front hooves around, explaining with slow drawn out words how banshees would scream to paralyse their victims and then suck the life out of them, slurping it right out like soup from a bowl.

Lyra was off in a far corner studying, Bon Bon near her side, and Lugus stood watch near both of them, eyeing the crystal shard nervously. Bon Bon occasionally spoke to Lugus, and it was clear to any on deck that might be watching that the two of them were slowly becoming acquainted.

Berry Punch lay on a cushion, covered in a blanket, with Harper nestled against her belly. Derpy stood guard over them, the pegasus looking fierce. As serene as it might be, she was taking no chances. Yew Wood sat nearby, and Peekaboo was clinging to Yew Woodâs leg.

Ripple, on guard and on duty, walked the outer edges of the deck with several other pegasi. She was wearing her war shoes and they clicked softly with every step. Her mane whipped in the breeze and her tail billowed out behind her. She was solemn, she was serious, and even though she hadnât told anypony, she wanted a fight. She was tired of living in fear. Now, she wanted things to fear her. Not her fellow ponies though, and Ripple was beginning to think of the fine line she would have to walk to be a protector of her species.

Rising Star, Sparkler, and Loch Skimmer sat off alone, talking quietly to one another, sharing their hopes, their dreams, and their shared desires for the future. Loch Skimmer quietly confessed to the ears of her mates that while she did not mind continuing her education, she wanted a foal as soon as possible, telling Rising Star in quiet urgent tones that she had needs, powerful needs, and that she was ready for them to start their family as soon as this was all over.

Bucky sat on the prow of the ship, looking out towards the stars. He occasionally turned to watch the others, and then he would resume his star gazing. As he sat, he thought about the flayed bodies he had found, some skinned, some missing bits and pieces, and he wondered why. He wished he had given more attention to those details. Were they missing hooves? Wings? The assorted magical parts that different ponies had? Bucky did not know. He silently cursed himself for his lax behaviour, his emotional shock he had felt, and how it might have caused him to miss important details.

Chapter 173

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âœBucky, you are hopeless,â Lyra cried in exasperation. âœWeâve spent the past two nights trying to pound a little spellbreaking into that thick skull of yours. I donât know what to do with you. In a serious fight with a credible wizard, youâd be screwed!â

âœI would not!â Bucky argued.

âœYou would so! I could totally take you out!â Lyra crowed. âœI have the defensive means to hold you off long enough to wear down the defensive enchantments on your armor. I would work through your protections. Dispel your enchantments. While you were busy trying to bash your way through my defenses, I would be carefully undoing all of yours! Time would be on my side and eventually, I would crack you like a walnut!â

Bucky glared at Lyra but said nothing, knowing that every word she said was true, and painfully so. He hated Lyra just a tiny bit in that moment, but he also loved her fiercely all the more.

âœI donât understand, you had trouble holding back Buckyâs magic the night of the dream,â Bon Bon stated, looking with confusion upon both Lyra and Bucky.

âœThat was different. I was trying to hold back his magic and keep all of you safe. If we went at one another, Iâd let him cut loose with his magic and exhaust himself against my defenses and then Iâd pick him apart piece by piece and lay him low,â Lyra explained.

âœOh,â Bon Bon said. She looked away from the pair, off into the late afternoon sky. The sun would be setting soon. She turned back to Lyra and blinked several times. âœReally, you two should kiss a bit and make up. I think you hurt Buckyâs feelings.â

âœI needed my feelings hurt. I am still a Canterlot unicorn somewhere deep inside. I have too much pride. Lyra is right with everything she has to say,â Bucky admitted. He heaved a sigh and dropped his head down in shame. He stared down at the deck where he was sitting and began to trace over the whorls in the wood grain with his eye, looking for some kind of pattern or meaning in the wood.

Bon Bon placed her hoof under Buckyâs chin and lifted his head. She kissed him softly on the nose and then patted him on his neck. âœYou are getting better with your pride. There is hope for you yet,â she whispered, and then kissed him again.

âœThe isle below is unnamed. It is uninhabited mostly, but it has a few buildings and a place to rest for flying pegasi who are traveling from isle to isle. And ships. It is small. One half is flat, the other half is like a big mountain that has been cut in half, leaving a cliff on one side and a jagged slope on the other. Passing ships have reported hearing howls on the isle at night sometimes. Keg Smasher guesses that if the wolves swim, they might be stopping by here to get some rest and hide from the sun,â Deadspin reported.

âœThere is something awful here,â Lyra said as the ship was brought to a halt. âœIâve been feeling it as weâve been drawing closer.â

âœI feel it too,â Bucky said in a low mechanical voice that reverberated from his helmet.

âœI donât detect any shadow wolves though,â Lyra said in a voice full of worry.

âœThatâs because theyâve probably all been called back,â Bucky said.

âœThat seems likely,â Deadspin announced.

âœTonight you get to try the little cakes I made of compressed oats, corn, and dehydrated fish. They are heavy and dense. Iâve packed them inside of some folded canvas. Tuck them between you and your armor somewhere, like along your side. Magic some out when you need a bite to eat. They smell awful to me, but you will probably like them,â Berry Punch said as she gestured to a small folded bit of canvas on the map table.

The canvas vanished with a flash of blue-green light and Bucky gave a nod of thanks. Suddenly, he didnât want to jump over the side of the ship. He didnât want to face whatever evil was down below. He could feel his inner equine give a whinny. He wanted to be in his cabin, screwing Berry Punch until her eyes crossed and her tongue was hanging out. He wanted to hear her bleating. He wanted to climb over her back, grab her around her middle, and have a go at her. Or to even be her victim, where she took him down and had her way with him. Either way, his inner equine whinnied, snorted, and gave a few nickers to let him know that there were still things worth hanging around for. He smiled a smile that nopony could see and thought about everything he had to come home to.

Bucky moved along a ridge, flashing his eyelight ahead of him. He could sense what he was looking for, somewhere ahead of him and maybe above him in the darkness. A cold sense of dread made his testicles draw up into his body and sent painful contortions down his spine.

The inside of his armor had the mouthwatering scent of fish. It was difficult to believe that at one point he had been physically repulsed by that smell. Now, he was drooling uncontrollably, trapped inside of his armor with delicious fishy smelling cakes of oatmeal and corn.

There was a trail here, it had been used by many animals, and it was relatively near the shoreline. As he stomped along, he heard owls hooting and other creatures of the night making noise, probably scolding him for stomping up the side of a mountain while wearing heavy plate. He could hear frogs croaking somewhere in the tidal marshes off in the distance. If not for the overwhelming sense of evil, this would be a tranquil place.

Bucky had the curious notion of wondering what frog might taste like, and he resolved to ask Sentinel about it sometime. Given everything else Sentinel ate, including things like slugs, he suspected that Sentinel would know. He loved his son dearly, but Sentinel had odd eating habits. Anything could potentially be food.

He realised that he was paying attention to little details again, things he had tuned out before because he had always seen them as distractions. He found that he actually cared about frogs croaking and owls hooting. He cared about them because they werenât distractions, they were reminders that he was still alive. The idea brought him a small measure of comfort, and he promised himself that when this was over, he would spend a little more time being distracted.

The passage was wide, well traveled, sloped downwards, and was littered with the bones of small animals which crunched under his steel shodded hooves. He had found the cave entrance after climbing around for a while and shining his light around.

Nothing came to greet him, but he knew what lay ahead. He had with him several spell jars filled with shield busters that Lyra had created and he hoped they would work.

âœHello again Buckminster,â a disembodied voice said as he made his way down the passage.

âœI know you were once a member of House Bitters. Who are you?â Bucky demanded.

âœSo clever. I remember you being born and wondering if the shadow would touch you as it had touched me,â the voice replied.

âœWho are you?â Bucky demanded again, this time with more force. His voice echoed off of the walls.

âœYou were born and you ruined what little bit of happiness your father and your mother had. I must confess, they were so distraught, I thought about bringing you here as one of my special foals,â the voice said in a taunting fashion. âœNot going to ask me who I am again?â the voice asked after several moments of silence.

Bucky growled inside of his helmet and a red haze filled his vision.

âœI spent my life preparing this place and then old age caught up to me before I was ready. I had to improvise Buckminster. Just like you. Unlike you, I was only a type two, a shameful family secret. Now, there is no end to my power. I had to free myself from my worthless body that held me back, even though things werenât quite ready. But I have been fixing things. I am patient. I am beyond concerns such as aging now, I have all the time in the world.â

âœAre you my great grandfather?â Bucky demanded, trying to will the red haze away and keep his wits about him. He knew he was being goaded. It was a guess, but Bucky thought it was a good guess.

There was a long moment of drawn out silence before there was any sort of reply.

âœYou are clever. You might be one of the stupidest unicorns that has ever lived, but you have your moments when you are quite cleverâ did I leave behind a nice charred corpse?â

âœMy stupidity is matched only by my stubbornnessâ Celestia said I could out stubborn an earth pony. Know thisâ I cannot be stopped. I will come for you. And one way or another, I will kill you. And because of what you did to Lyra, I am going to allow myself to enjoy it,â Bucky said in acidic tones.

âœAh yes, the unicorn bitch. You do know she is a better wizard than you, right? Wait, of course you do. Does it gall you? Do you hate her? Do you wish to put her in her place? There is only one cure for a mare unwilling to breed you knowâ I had to use the cure on your great grandmotherâ If had not, you and I would not be talking. Funny how life is. She had a fancy for mares too. A pity she had to be broken, she was never quite the same afterwards,â the voice said and then broke into an obscene titter.

Bucky saw the red haze in his vision returning and it became hard to see. He stomped with enough force to crack stone as he made his way down the passage.

âœI put a spike bitted bridle in her mouth and I had to use spurs secured on my front fetlocks. I had to break her spirit before I broke her in. I know what happened to Lyraâ I tell you, she would enjoy you breaking her. It would not be the first time sheâs been broken.â

âœYou are so dead!â Bucky yelled.

âœI am beyond death,â the voice mocked.

âœYou fail to understand just how much I want to kill you. I will find a way,â Bucky snarled in reply, and then let out a wordless scream of rage. He charged forward down the dimly lit passage while mocking laughter flooded the darkness all around him.

He emerged into a cavern deep underground that was filled with a hazy purple glow. There were two crystal spires here, one red, the other blue. The voice had gone silent some time ago, and Bucky was breathing heavily from his rage. His body was already tired, exhausted, and his emotions had worn him out.

Several undead unicorns turned to look at him with sightless empty sockets. In the back of the cavern there was a large stone table, and on the table there were a collection of severed unicorn heads, all well preserved and their horns glowing with different magical signature colours. Some were adults, while others were considerably smaller. A few looked like the heads collected from infants.

âœI have no intention of fighting you and wasting my energy here. I already know your strengths and weaknesses. I will not waste precious energy defending this place. It will be painful losing my focus nexus, but I will not be needing it much longer. I am so close to ascension. Perhaps when you come for me, you will meet me in my new form. If not, I will absorb you and then perhaps I will become what I was meant to be.â

After the voice spoke, the undead unicorns dropped to the stone floor, no longer animated. The horns on the collection of severed heads went dark. The crystals began to flicker and dim.

Bucky didnât wait for them to go dark, he slammed into them with a powerful telekinetic blast, causing them to shatter explosively, flooding the room with raw magic. The explosive burst destroyed the bodies of the undead, sundered the table into several smaller pieces, and scattered the severed heads all over the chamber. They bounced, rolled, and burned.

Bucky felt cheated somehow after his enemy had simply withdrawn. He wanted a fight, and it had been denied to him. He wanted to take something from his foe, to lash out, to cause loss. Now he was left standing here, impotent with rage, and nothing to vent his fury upon.

He forced himself to calm down and regain his senses. He quietly resolved to not go rushing after his enemy. Time perhaps might not be on his side, or his foe could be lying, but either way, Bucky was determined to not go rushing in until he felt he was ready. There were still other isles to check. There were probably other crystal spires too, and he had to make sure they were destroyed.

After slowing down his breathing, he conjured a bit of fish cake into his mouth and chewed thoughtfully. They were quite good, and the bite of food helped Bucky calm down even further. He lifted his head and began to search the cavern. There was probably nothing here, but he would look anyway.

Chapter 174

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Just as the sun began to crest over the horizon, Bucky began to take off his helmet and power down his armor. He had spent the night pacing slowly over the deck, cursing and muttering to himself after his encounter in the cave. As his armor began to drop away, several ponies who loved him used this moment of distraction to strike.

âœSLEEP!â Lyra commanded, calling forth everything she had, surging forth with a powerful mental enchantment. The spell struck Bucky unawares. His horn flared for a moment and then his helmet clattered to the wooden deck just before his body tumbled down.

âœI didnât think that would workâ catching Bucky off guard allowed me to slip past his mental defenses and his guard. He didnât have his will power up,â Lyra said sheepishly.

âœGood work Lyra. Lugus, load Buckyâs armor into the case made for it. Derpy, letâs get him to bed,â Bon Bon commanded.

The grey pegasus nodded and gave a friendly kiss on the cheek to Lyra. âœYa did good,â she said to the unicorn and then she patted her with her wing. Derpy moved forward and gently prodded Bucky with her hoof. âœHow long will he be out?â

âœHours,â Lyra replied.

âœI feel bad for ambushing him, but it had to be done,â Berry Punch said as she drew near Buckyâs body.

âœThat wheeze of his is getting worse,â Bon Bon stated.

âœWhen he wakes up, if it is still daylight, we feed him, give him some water, and then we do what mares do to wear out our husband to make him sleep. We have numbers on our side. Or we can distract him and have Lyra zap him again, but he might be a bit suspicious or on to us,â Derpy said as she looked down at Buckyâs sprawled out form. As she watched, Lyraâs magic enveloped him and lifted him into the air. Derpy watched Buckyâs body wiggle in the air as Lyra shook him gently, shaking loose a leg guard and then she lowered him over Derpyâs back. Derpy grunted, shifting Buckyâs body around. âœHe doesnât weigh anything anymore,â she added as muscle in her foreleg quivered from a line of drool that came from Buckyâs open mouth as it began to trickle down towards her hoof.

âœI know,â Lyra said in a timid voice. âœIt takes no effort to lift him now.â

âœWe need for this to end. I know we need to go home, but I donât know if that is a good idea. Bucky needs time to recover. Iâm worried that this is gonna kill him,â Berry Punch said, giving voice to her fears. âœNot whatever is hiding under the mountain, but all of this.â

âœWeâll need to pamper him for a while. Heâs earned it,â Bon Bon stated.

Lyra nodded and watched as Derpy carried Bucky away, heading off to the door of the cabin. âœI love him Bon Bon. It makes me feel funny,â she admitted.

âœMe too,â Bon Bon replied.

Sentinel watched as Moonbow settled herself on his bed and sprawled out. It was the late afternoon, soon to be evening, and ponies were starting to wake up. Except for Moonbow, who seemed ready for a nap. He was sitting at a small fold out shelf desk intended just for him and his writing.

âœAre you happy?â Sentinel asked.

The lunar pegasus filly yawned and then studied Sentinel before responding. âœWhat does happiness have to do with anything?â

âœWell, I donât want you miserable,â Sentinel replied.

âœI like it here. I like Dinky and PiÃa. I like Ripple, from what little I have been around her. And I really like our matriarch,â Moonbow admitted.

âœI love all of my mothers,â Sentinel stated.

âœIt is only proper for a male to love the females that have reared him,â Moonbow said with a snort. She wiggled around and rolled over onto her back, scratching herself with a hoof as she did so. âœWe must hunt other worthy females together. I demand a proper herd.â

âœHunt? Seems like such a strong word,â Sentinel said in a soft reply as he watched Moonbow rolling around and scratching. âœYou need a brushing. I get the itchies too.â

âœHunt. Capture. Catch. Lure in with sweet words. Find. Keep. I require more females,â Moonbow said as she gave Sentinel a look.

âœI want to make something very clear. I intend to follow my fatherâs example if I do form a herd. If I take other wives, they might not be like us,â Sentinel said in a worried voice to Moonbow.

The filly gave a snort. âœI like you. You are bold. I shall hunt you something soft and weak.â

âœThey are not soft and they are not weak. Berry Punch, the earth pony mare, she started a war to declare her love for my father,â Sentinel said in a slightly annoyed voice. âœShe set off a war that ripped a country apart and broke a fragile peace that has lasted for centuries.â

Moonbow rolled over onto her belly, lifted her head, and then looked at Sentinel with narrowed eyes. âœThat is a powerful courtship display. I shall have to rethink my thoughts of the others.â

âœYou do that,â Sentinel said, looking Moonbow in the eye.

âœYou are a fearless male to be meeting my eyes like that. In my colony, if a male looked into the eyes of a female, he was thrashed until he submitted,â Moonbow stated.

âœAnd how did that work out for your failed colony?â Sentinel asked. He watched as Moonbow bristled in front of him, he could see the fine hairs along her back rose up in anger. Her breathing increased. As Sentinel watched, the filly became angrier and violence seemed likely.

âœYou are right. We were stupid.â

Sentinel gave an internal sigh of relief when he realised that her anger was not directed at him. He watched her ears droop as the anger melted away from her, and was replaced with sadness. He abandoned his desk and went to his bed, which was two whole steps away. He crawled onto the bed and sat down beside Moonbow, who was looking at him. He thumped his skull up against hers, headbutting her gently, and rubbing his scent glands below his uninjured ear over hers.

It was a move that Moonbow did not expect and had nothing to compare to. In her colony, no male had ever done anything quite like this. Unable to come up with any kind of response, she froze and waited for Sentinel to make the next move.

Sentinel raised his head and peered at the door. A second later, Dinky and PiÃa came barreling through, big grins plastered on their faces as they looked at Sentinel and Moonbow.

âœYou two are kinda adorable,â PiÃa said as her smile widened.

âœBucky, I know how to speed up our search,â Lyra said.

The stallion yawned as the sun neared the horizon slowly. There was still a while before there was darkness. He looked up at Lyra as he lay upon his back on the bed.

âœI had the most excellent idea Buckyâ weâre wasting too much time and effort hunting for spires and going from island to island. I was able to secure the magical frequency from the crystal sample you brought back. I am working on a spell that will make the ethereal bridge visible and make it flash like a beacon. The ethereal bridge will look like a beam of magic going towards the Isle of Groats. We just need to find the beams and follow them out to their locations. At the end of each beam will be a crystal spire. I just need for you to give the command to head back towards the general direction of the Isle of Groats so we can find the termination point of the beams, and then we can head back out and follow the beams to their source. No more random fumbling around hoping to find a spire,â Lyra said, giving a long winded explanation.

âœYou are a better wizard than I am,â Bucky said as he pulled Lyra down on top of him. The unicorn mare let out a cry of alarm as Bucky groped her, and Bucky gently embraced her. He kissed her on the cheek as he rolled over on his side, spooning a bit with a Lyra and looking into her golden eyes with his own single eye.

Lyra, realising that once again, Bucky was not actually trying to do anything too untoward with her, relaxed in his embrace and trusted him with her body.

âœI was taunted by our mutual enemy. Heâ it said that you were a better wizard than me. And heâs right. You come up with utterly brilliant simplistic solutions while I rely on brute force. We might have been out here hunting for days,â Bucky said as one hoof traveled up Lyraâs shoulder, trailed along her neck, making the mare shiver, and then he gently pulled her in for a tender kiss, holding the back of her head with his hoof.

Lyra melted. It was a simple soft kiss, there was no invasion, no intruding, no tongue, not even an open mouth, just a simple soft pressing of the lips together. There was absolutely nothing at all threatening about the kiss, and Lyra found herself reciprocating, reaching around and stroking Buckyâs neck.

And then, before things got too heated and tempting, Bucky pulled himself away.

âœI am a one trick pony. I am practically a pegasus when it comes to magic. I use raw magical intimidation, brute force, and I bludgeon everything into submission because it is the only thing I know how to do,â Bucky whispered to Lyra, whose snoot was scant inches from his own. âœBut I can change. I need to change. Help me.â

âœOf course,â Lyra said in a strained voice, feeling strangely emotional. She was close enough to be breathing Buckyâs air, something that usually only happened with Bon Bon. âœWeâll start all over tonight if you will give the order to head back to the Isle of Groats so we can find the ethereal bridges.â

âœDone,â Bucky said.

âœThese two are so sweet with one another,â Bon Bon said as she crawled over the bed and flopped down on top of Lyra, making the green unicorn grunt.

âœBucky, you can cast wards and protective spellsâ you have the basic theory. You just lack the patience. Donât get me wrong. You can be incredibly patient when it comes to certain things,â Lyra said as she struggled to talk with Bon Bon crushing her.

âœHey, come and eat. Dinner is done and the sun will be setting soon,â Berry Punch announced as she stuck her head in the door.

Bucky stood at the prow of the ship, staring ahead into the darkness. They had changed course, and flew back at full speed towards the Isle of Groats, the ocean dark beneath them. The wind whipped his long mane around him, and the ponies behind him agreed that he struck a fine figure leaning into the wind.

Ripple stood by, fierce and protective. It was unlikely that anything would attack them, but Ripple felt better protecting her father. She was beginning to understand that she needed to feel useful, she needed something to define her life and give her purpose.

âœBucky, thatâs enough dramatically staring ahead into the darkness for now,â Lyra said in a loud merry voice. âœYou and I are dueling. Right here on the deck. Sparkler, Rising Star, Dinky, it is time for you to learn something, so gather around and watch. The rules are simple. Defensive spells. No hurting one another. Iâll use a little zap spell that might sting a little, but it doesnât really hurt. Iâll even go easy on you at first. Try to wear down my protections using the spells Iâve been trying to teach you.â

Bucky turned and looked at his unicorn wife, who was already throwing up protective bubbles and shields. A floating tiny magical bubble was orbiting around her body, darting about wildly to and fro. He started calling up his own defenses, which were crude and simple, things he had learned in remedial defense, which he had only just barely passed.

The other ponies on the deck scrambled, giving the dueling unicorns a wide berth.

Before Bucky could even get off a spell to begin to wear down Lyraâs defenses, he felt a powerful zap. It made his mane and tail stand on end and electricity coursed over his pelt.

âœThat was easy,â Lyra teased.

Bucky let go with a brutishly powerful dispelling enchantment. The blue-green bolt of energy flew at Lyra. The little soap bubble that Lyra had conjured zoomed in to intercept and second later Bucky was hit by his own spell, which did nothing. The tiny magical orb that Lyra had summoned bounced around in a seemingly mocking fashion.

âœYou would have just ripped apart your own defenses. This little floating orb is a spell reflector. Anything you cast at me will be bounced back to you. So trying to break down my defenses, slapping me with telekinesis, shooting ice magic at me, this little bubble will bounce most direct attacks aimed at me back at the idiot shooting me. You need area of effect attacks that do not try to target me specifically to even have a chance at slipping past this little fella. Heâs protective,â Lyra explained.

Bucky nodded and began to summon more defenses. âœHow do I dispel it?â he asked.

âœYou donât,â Lyra replied. âœIt is master level abjuration. There is no way to dispel it, you have to slip past it somehow,â she instructed as she made the spell reflector pop into nothingness.

âœWell, that makes things a little more fair,â Bucky muttered.

âœI have no intention to make this fight fair. Fights are never fair. You and I, we donât have honourable enemies Bucky. So come on, do your worst,â Lyra invited. She smiled a smug smile and gave Bucky a saucy wink.

Bucky let go with several spells, most of which bounced off of Lyra. One spell caused her shield to crackle and pop but the shield held. He took a bit of satisfaction in seeing the look of surprise on Lyraâs face, but he couldnât tell if she was being genuine or just leading him on. Lyra was crafty, and like Berry Punch, probably much smarter than he was. Bucky was beginning to realise just how thick headed and stupid he was.

âœIt is all music Buckyâ spell crafting is music. Shields and protections are like glass and spells are frequencies. You have to find the right pitch, the right tone. You make just the right sound, and glass shatters. When you slam into a shield, you have to figure out how it hums, how it reacts, and then you have to hit it with just the right frequency to make it shatter. Just like tapping on a wine glass will make it ring, you have to learn how to listen to the sounds of magic as it happens. I have a pitch perfect ear. I know every spell, I hear the music in everything. And then it is merely finding the harmony between the spell and the shieldâ the right magical musical note to make the shield shatter,â Lyra explained.

âœBah, your metaphors are confusing and sleep inducing!â Bucky taunted.

Lyra pulled back her lip into a sneer and pressed her advantage. She let go with a powerful burst of magic, stripping away all of Buckyâs defenses and giving him a good zap to teach him some respect.

Bucky staggered backwards, sparks still coursing along his body, and gave a maniacal laugh. âœFor all of your defenses, taunting still gets through,â he said after he guffawed for a bit.

âœYou celebrate a pyrrhic victory,â Lyra scolded.

âœI take what I get!â Bucky retorted.

âœUgh, you are so thick headed and brutish!â Lyra grunted.

Still smiling, Bucky began to summon up his defenses as he heard laughter all around him. Lyra was soundly thrashing him, repeatedly, but he didnât mind. He grinned his fiendish grin and send off a few shots at Lyra, making her shields crackle and pop.

Lyra blocked his attacks effortlessly and kept her defenses secure. Buckyâs attacks were weak and ineffectual. She sighed, and began to prepare a much stronger zap spell. Bucky only understood one thing when it came to instruction, there was only one way to reach him. As she prepared to cut loose, a glass orb materialised directly in front of her and crashed to the deck, shattering. There was a flash of golden light, and she felt the powerful rush of her own magical signature. A second later, she felt a light telekinetic tweak upon her nose, and a building fury began to build up inside of of her.

âœYOU CHEATED!â Lyra shouted.

âœUNICORN CLEVERNESS!â Bucky crowed. âœIt isnât cheating when I do it!â

âœYou used a spell jar you conjured up filled with my own magic against me!â Lyra cried.

âœYour own magic ignores protective enchantments and always works. No chance of being resisted. I learned that in enchantment,â Bucky replied.

Lyra felt a grudging slightly hateful respect for Bucky as she stood there glaring at him. She had been defeated, felled by her own magic. âœYou clever bastard,â Lyra said. âœUgh right now I want to toss you over the railing Bucky. You are unbelievably infuriating sometimes. And I think I love you for it.â

Bucky lifted the shards of broken glass in his magic, crushed them into a fine glittering powder, and then let them float away into the breeze.

âœWould somepony explain to me the moral of this lesson?â Rising Star begged.

Chapter 175

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âœI donât understand what is going on,â Bucky said, shaking his head slowly. âœWe saw the beamsâ I mean, we all saw them. Lyra cast her spell and now they are gone. Did he hide them somehow?â he asked, turning around to look at Lyra.

âœThere are a few possibilities,â Lyra replied nervously. âœThe most obvious one is that it severed the links once it realised what I have done. The other possibility is that it hid them somehow, but I doubt that. That would require tremendous amounts of energy, and they vanished far too soon after being revealed for this to be likely.â

âœCan he reconnect?â Bucky inquired, his face pinched in concentration.

âœI canât say for certain, but my gut says no. To create the ethereal bridge you have to physically go to the location to create the magical wormhole. You might be able to do it over a short distance, but that would defeat the purpose of an ethereal bridge, and that is distance. No Bucky, heâ it is withdrawing. I think it wants to force your hoof in battle. Heâs wasting no more resources and no doubt preparing for your arrival,â Lyra said in a worried frightened voice. âœI feel panicky Bon Bon, help me.â

Bucky watched as the earth pony and the unicorn clung to one another. He turned to look at Deadspin. âœDeadspin, send messengers to Keg Smasher. Send out scouts to each island and search every cave, turn over every rock. If the links are severed, and I believe Lyra is correct, there should be no danger. I hopeâ anyways, we shouldnât waste time and effort hunting them down. We will deal with the ruins after I deal with the master of the wolves under the mountain.â

âœThere were three beams and I still have the general directions in mind,â Deadspin reported.

âœPegasi are marvelous creatures,â Bucky murmured.

âœWhy thank you sir,â Deadspin said, saluting as he did so.

âœSo what do we do now?â Sour Mash inquired.

âœWe are currently over the Isle of Wheat and the Hydra Teeth are right ahead of us. We pull back to a secure distance and we spend one more night in preparation,â Bucky replied.

âœSoâ why donât we attack during the daylight hours?â Deadspin questioned.

âœTempting,â Bucky said. âœVery tempting to to do just that. But then the caves would be full of wolves and who knows what else and I would have to fight my way in, battling for every inch taken. As much as it bothers me to say this, I donât think I could do that alone. I would get tired and worn down eventually. No, we have to attack at night and I will try to lure them out of their lair. We then proceed to dump every spell jar we have upon them and thin out their numbers. I am positive that every corrupted shadow creature has been withdrawn to guard the lair. We probably face numbers in the hundreds, if not thousands.â

âœHow could thousands of creatures exist? I mean, food,â Sour Mash inquired.

âœThey donât actually need to eat flesh,â Bucky answered. âœThey can eat flesh, but they donât actually need it to survive. They just need to feed on fear. Sort of like changelings I suppose. When they eat a pony they arenât doing it for the meat, they are doing it because it scares other ponies.â

âœWell that explains why there can be so many,â Sour Mash said, looking thoughtful. âœWait, if they are ALL on the Isle of Groats right now, howling and scaring ponies, how bad is it? It must be unbearable, the fear and the cold. I bet it has never been this bad,â she added in a fear-filled whimper of concern.

Bucky grimaced but did not respond, knowing that Sour Mash had to be right. The master of the wolves was probably making a last ditch effort to draw as much energy as possible now that his batteries were gone. Ponies could die from extreme fright, they were simple creatures, and Bucky understood this on some deep instinctual level. Fear travels fast through the herd. When the sun set, the wolves would go out in force. They would howl, they would invade homes, they would be out in force, killing and scaring ponies, probably like they had never done before, trying to make a last ditch effort for their master.

âœBucky?â Derpy asked in concern. The grey pegasus mare looked a bit sleepy, being awake during the midday. She reached out with a wing and stroked Buckyâs side.

âœWe attack tonight. Prepare everything. Leave some orbs for Canterlot, we might need them, hard to say, but get everything you can up on deck and prepare for tonight. Secure the foals and Thistle in Lyraâs special room. It is small and cramped, but I am taking no chances. The rest of the ship is no doubt secured, I trust in Lyraâs spellwork, but it was Lyraâs idea to make the room, so this is for her peace of mind as much as it is my own. Everypony make your preparations for battle tonight. More than anything I want to put all of you out of harmâs way, but I canât do this on my own,â Bucky said, looking around and meeting the eyes of the ponies he trusted most.

âœI was born for this, and have spent every day of my life training for a time such as this one,â Deadspin said solemnly. âœSour Mash and I will prepare our troops.â

âœAre you sure you are going to be safe?â PiÃa asked in a wavering voice that sounded like she was on the verge of tears.

âœPiÃa, love, as much as I want to, I canât promise that I will be coming back. Which is why I wanted to spend a little time with all my foals,â Bucky said.

He looked around him, surrounded by his foals, he looked upon each of them in turn, feeling them pressed up against him. Sentinel, who was stoic but slipping, PiÃa, whose eyes were glassy, and Dinky, who made no attempt to hold back the tears. Lyra was close by, holding Harper close, and Moonbow sat near the bed, an outsider looking in, trying to understand what was going on.

âœSentinel, if I fall, if I do not return, you are to make sure that my girls have worthy loves later on in life. It will be your duty to protect them, to look after them, and do what needs to be done,â Bucky instructed.

âœNoââ Sentinel replied, his voice pleading. âœDonât talk like that.â

âœSentinel, please, do as I ask,â Bucky whispered.

âœOf course father, I will do as you ask. I am grateful for your trust,â Sentinel whimpered.

There was a pained cry from Ripple, who was sitting near Derpy, suddenly not sure about her place in herd. She fled from Derpyâs side and dove onto the bed, crashing into the pony pile with reckless abandon. She squeezed Sentinel and then she hugged Bucky, but said nothing. She wiped her eyes with her wings and settled in beside her father and pulled PiÃa close to her.

âœBucky, I know how important this is, but you need to try and get some sleep. All of you, stay with your father. Spend a little time with him. Treasure every moment,â Berry said in a strained voice, giving up her own happiness and need to be near Bucky so PiÃa and the others could have what might be Buckyâs final time spent with them. She wanted to be with Bucky, to feel him against her, to feel him inside of her, but she didnât want to take this time away from the little ones she held dear. She leaned on Derpy, knowing that Derpy must be feeling the much the same.

Looking upon her young, Derpy felt conflicted. She wanted to push them away and cling to Bucky, and she hated the selfish feeling she kept having. Instead, she settled for climbing up on the bed and settling down near them, close to them pressing up against Ripple instead. She kissed Ripple affectionately, and then settled in, choosing to stay quiet so nopony would hear the strain in her voice. She watched as Berry Punch settled in beside her, and she gave a kiss to Berry as well.

Not knowing what else to do, Thistle piled into the bed and joined the others, settling in with Berry and Derpy, pressing her face into Berryâs side to finally release the bitter tears she had been holding back this entire time. The sobs were painful and wracked her spine, causing her back to ache fiercely.

âœIt is good that all of us have come together during this time,â Bon Bon said in a low gentle voice as she climbed up into the bed and then made a gesture for Moonbow to come to her. She embraced the lunar pegasus filly who crept in beside her and held her close. âœThis is all we have in life. Each other. And we donât know how much time we have. Bad things happen in life, and we are not promised another day. So we need to make each moment matter. This is why we shouldnât squabble with each other. This is why we should remind each other each and every day why we love each other, what we mean to one another, and what we feel towards each other in our herd.â

Rising Star shoved Loch Skimmer onto the bed and then followed as Sparkler climbed in. The bed was crowded now, and Rising Star grunted as Loch Skimmer flopped down on top of him. âœWhat is it with pegasi and their failure to understand personal space,â he muttered.

Holding Harper in a bubble, Lyra climbed into bed and settled in near Bon Bon.

The grey expanse stretched endlessly all around him. Bucky wasnât even aware that he had slipped off into slumber, but it must have happened at some point. Two figures stood nearby, looking nervous. Bucky didnât even have a chance to say anything before the smaller of the figures slammed into him and hugged him fiercely.

âœSo now you know,â Sombra said.

âœHow much do you know?â Bucky asked.

âœOnly a little. And what I do know, I am forbidden to say,â Sombra replied.

âœI understand,â Bucky said in grim acceptance.

âœHe was sick Bucky, the shadow, it corrupted him. It is not his fault. It came to him at an early age. Like it did you. But Celestia didnât protect him, he wasnât a very strong unicorn but he was so ambitious, she didnât think-â

âœThatâs enough Platinum,â Sombra gently interrupted.

Princess Platinum fell silent and then sat down next to Bucky after releasing him. She looked him over, touching him several times. She prodded his ribs, his too thin legs, and his bony neck. A look of dreadful worry spread over her features.

âœI have faith in your abilities,â Sombra said reassuringly. âœYou have endured so far. You have done so much. Just a little longer, and this terrible test will be over.â

âœIâve spoken to Celestia, Iâve wanted to tell her of the good you have done, but the master of this place will not allow it. She knows very little of what is happening. But she does now know that you are in mortal peril and that you face a trial that few could imagine. No one knows the outcome, but you have become the subject of many wagers-â

âœPlatinum, please, we will be punished again if you keep speaking on these issues,â Sombra urged, cutting Platinum off.

âœAbout our last conversationâ I was wrong Buckminster,â Platinum said, falling silent and unable to say anything else about the subject. She looked at Sombra and made a little gesture with her dainty hoof.

Sombra gave a knowing nod, turned his gaze from Platinum, and focused on Bucky. âœA time will come when Sentinel will truly prove worthy as your heir. For good or for ill, certain entities have taken an interest in him. We can say very little, but he will be given a chance to prove himself. Once this is over Buckminster, you must prepare him for an interesting life. He has drawn the attention of many powerful entities. Already, various parties are busy squabbling over the future of your foals,â Sombra said in a low rumbling voice.

âœSentinel and his foals will long guard your foals and their foals, I was eavesdropping again when I was out on the astral plane being clever and-â

âœPlatinum!â Sombra scolded.

âœI CANNOT HELP IT!â Platinum shrieked. âœI want to give Buckminster some measure of hope!â

There was an ominous rumble from somewhere far off in the distance, and both Sombra and Platinum began to tremble. What sounded like a thunderstorm came rolling in, and the grey around them darkened. Platinum lifted her head and regained her composure, refusing to be threatened.

âœBucky,â Platinum said, dropping all sense of formality. âœDonât be brave. Be clever. Just between the three of us, you are not terribly bright all things considered. You blunder through everything you encounter. You are like one of those steam driven contraptions that move on tracksââ

âœTrains,â Sombra offered.

✅yes, that is it, a train. Hit your trouble like a train! And that might be enough for now, but you must try to change your ways later,â Platinum said in an urgent voice. âœYou are quite bright in some aspects, but overall, you tend to be painfully dull witted, and at some point, this will be your undoing.â

âœUgh, everypony keeps telling me how stupid I am lately,â Bucky grumbled.

âœWell, we all love you and worry about you,â Platinum said sweetly, still ignoring the darkened expanse all around them.

âœWhen all else fails Buckminster, go with your strength,â Sombra advised.

Platinum wrapped her forelegs around Buckyâs neck and hugged him again, and after embracing him for a moment, kissed him softly. âœTry not to dwell too much on what victory will cost you,â she whispered. âœYou will endure-â

There was another rumble of ill omen and Bucky felt himself being swept away as he heard Platinum shrieking and begging. She was still saying something, but he couldnât make it what it was over the thunderous sound all around him as he was expelled from this plane of existence.

Chapter 176 (now slightly edited to fix an oversight)

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A yawning chasm loomed before Bucky, and it was filled with darkness. He could feel it deep within his bones. The ground around him was littered with bones and debris. He was deep within a ravine, with sharp angled walls on each side. The path to the crack in the mountain was only a few ponies wide.

And then, the darkness came to life.

Black shapes slipped out of the gap before him, like Tartarus spawned nightmares slipping from an infernal womb. Bucky looked miniscule compared to the coming onslaught, a tiny black shape in the night about to be swallowed by darkness. He sent up an attack flare and readied himself to endure whatever it was that might come at him.

As Rising Star began to approach the deck rail to send spell jars over, a dark shadow formed around the outside of the ship. He felt his blood turn to ice and dark shapes began to appear on the outer edges of the deck, no longer able to shadow wink. The air was filled with the snarling and the growling of wolves.

He stood frozen, unable to comprehend what he was seeing.

All around him, the guard began to mobilise, but none moved as fast as one dark shape among the shadows. As the dark tide surged towards Rising Star, a dark grey blur shot past him and collided with the first of his foes.

âœNOT MY MATE!â

Ripple moved among her enemy, smashing and crushing. She flowed out of the way of snapping jaws and struck with the force of a tidal wave. She danced among her foes, bashing them down and Rising Star felt a magical tug pulling him back to safety as the darkness continued to swarm the deck.

Others had joined Ripple, Sour Mash now at her side, leading a charge of bellowing mares, and Ripple was their champion. In the panic and confusion, nopony saw the golden glow of light flashing on Rippleâs hips as she did battle.

Rising Star knew Bucky needed help on the ground, but no spell jars were being dropped. They were swarmed. There was no way to reach the deck railing and send aid down below. The world seemed to slow down all around him as he watched the battle unfold. Sparkler was bowling through the wolves in stone form, sweeping them from the deck.

More wolves kept coming, shadow winking up to the deck to do battle, and Rising Star felt his heart stop when there was the sound of a massive explosion and he felt The Scorned Mare shuddering from some massive impact.

âœWEâVE BEEN HIT! FIRE DOWN BELOW THE SHIP! THE HULL HAS BEEN BREACHED!â

Buried in darkness, Bucky understood that something had gone horribly wrong. There were thousands of wolves coming out of the hole, and something else as well. Something dreadful, and he didnât know what it was. There was no fiery death raining down, or any sort of death for that matter.

There as a massive explosion above him in the night sky and Bucky very nearly teleported himself back up to The Scorned Mare. Everything had gone wrong. He could see dimly see fire up above him, and he felt sick with worry.

He pulled a spell jar from his rack, something he intended for emergencies, and it glowed a violent looking purple glow. He lobbed it forward into surging darkness and it shattered with it hit the stone. For a moment, the darkness continued to seep from the crack, but then, something changed. Several wolves became outlined in a faint purple glow.

The âœwant it need itâ spell went to work, and the night suddenly became a lot more horrible.

Thistle realised with growing horror that the wolves were inside of the ship. She could hear them as they snarled and howled. She clutched PiÃa and Peekaboo, holding them close, trying to comfort the screaming foals, but more than anything else, Thistle wanted to be comforted as well. Loch Skimmer huddled beside her, trembling with fear and clutching Thistle's neck.

Sentinel stood beside Thistle, growling softly and preparing himself for the worst. He was willing to die if he had to, and he swallowed his fear. He felt Thistle touch him, and he leaned just a little bit closer to her, hoping that Lyraâs protections would hold.

A terrible change had come over Moonbow.

She stood at the door to the small secured room with her head low, growling and snarling savagely. Her teeth were bared and every shaggy hair on her back stood on end. A long line of drool dangled down from her slavering jaws. The lunar pegasus filly was utterly terrifying in appearance during her current state. She pawed the wooden floor occasionally with her hoof and her teeth gnashed together from her nervous twitches. She was a murderous beast, and her instincts had been triggered. She felt no fear. The foals being in danger had brought out the very worst in her, the beast of nightmares that the lunar pegasi still were deep on the inside.

âœFORM RANKS AND MOVE BELOWDECKS!â Sparkler shouted in a voice that sounded like a rockslide. Others were falling into place around her, and they were moving to take care of the wolves that were inside of the ship, no doubt shadow winking in through the hole in the bottom.

Berry Punch stood in the middle of a protective phalanx of earth ponies and pegasi, watching the chaos all around her. Lyra was with her, Harper still by Lyraâs side, and Bon Bon stood pressed up against Lyra. Rising Star stood with them, a last line of offense if needed, but his fires were a danger to the ship. Derpy had taken to the air, Dinky on her back. The wolves did not fly, and could not teleport in the bright lights of the deck.

Other pegasi had formed ranks around the airborne Derpy Doo Hooves, and she hovered among their ranks as Dinky rained down telekinetic death. Dinky could drive a nail into wood with her telekinesis, and she was driving bit sized holes through the skulls and bodies of any wolves she could safely target.

A large mass of darkness took shape near the prow of the ship and cold fear settled over the entire crew. All of them felt it, and the air turned icy cold, hot breath now visible in the night.

âœBANSHEE!â a voice cried in warning.

The magical rape bomb was highly effective, but Bucky could take no satisfaction. Hundreds of creatures were in the cave entrance, taking part in an orgy of death and dismemberment. Too many creatures to deal with magically, if Bucky did do anything to dispose of them, he would be too depleted to continue.

He was at a standstill, and he could not simply smash his way through. He looked upwards and could see flashing flaring lights. The deck lights were strobing slightly and he knew what was happening up there. There was nothing he could do. He had to continue somehow.

He lobbed a precious burning spell jar into the pile of snarling snapping gang rape and set a few on fire, and much to his surprise, the fire spread rapidly. He thought about flashing them with the sunstones embedded in his armor, but he didnât know what he might still face inside. He needed to conserve as much energy as possible.

He made a decision, and the eyes on his armor opened, flooding the area with light. They burned with blazing intensity, and many wolves burst into flames. It also caused the shadow wolves to stop teleporting from the mouth of the cave and up to the ship up high above them.

Ripple lashed out with one front hoof and snapped the spine of her hated foe. She punched another one and shattered its skull. She moved through them dealing death, a beautiful delicate dancer in the darkness. Her war shoes kept her well protected and the sunstones weakened her foes.

Lugus, hearing the cry âœbansheeâ took to the air to intercept. He didnât know what a banshee was, and he didnât care. He pulled his axe from his back and prepared to give a good accounting of himself. He lunged at the dark shape that was forming near the prow, the sunstones on his axe igniting. It was not a solid foe, but more of a dark amorphous shape, a dreadful spirit.

And then, the banshee screamed.

Several ponies froze in fright, and there was a sound like a loud ringing bell over the decks. The banshee moved swiftly towards its frozen foes.

âœSTRIKE NOW, LUGUS! NOW! WHILE MY SPELL IS MOST EFFECTIVE!â

The voice was Lyraâs, Lugus realised. He shook the strange feeling from his muscles and and raised his axe high for an overhead chop, hoping that Buckyâs enchantments could somehow cleave a foe with no physical body.

The axe came down and there was a crackling sound, like fat frying in a skillet.

There was another shriek from the banshee, this one of pain. Lugus reversed his stroke and struck with the flat of his axe, somehow connecting to a solid foe. The banshee wailed in agony and turned to face the enraged griffon, not understanding how the griffon was hurting it.

Lugus made another mighty swing, this time in an arc, his axe moving through the middle. The dark shape flew apart into motes of darkness, and then was no more.

Sparkler moved though the dim hallways and rooms belowdecks, crushing, stomping, and killing. She bodychecked one wolf, pinning it against the solid wooden bulkhead. Several mares and a few stallions moved with her, and the group moved from battle to battle, trying to work their way down to the breached section of hull.

Sparkler was unstoppable now, she had perfected control of her stone form, and she had the combat skills to use it effectively. She impaled one wolf upon her stone horn and then shook him free, its blood trickling down her sensationless face. More than anything, she hoped that Thistle and the others were safe in the secured room that Lyra had made.

âœDINKY! FATHER STILL NEEDS HELP! PICK UP AS MANY SPELL JARS AS YOU CAN AND DROP THEM OVER THE SIDE!â Rising Star shouted over the din of battle.

Derpy swooped down, and Dinky snatched up several whole racks as they flew by, the other pegasi flying with them in formation. The pair worked well together, Derpy kept her foal safe, and Dinky was proving to be a competent battle mage in spite of her age.

The pegasus mounted unicorn foal held over a hundred spell jars in her telekinetic field, shaking and unsteady, but she didnât need to hold them for very long. She struggled to hold everything up as her mother approached the railing of the ship, flying between the deck and the gasbag, flying over large numbers of wolves doing battle with the pony guards upon the deck.

She looked down once they cleared the railing and could see a faint glow down below. She dropped everything she had upon the faint beacon that she knew was her father and hoped that this would be enough to help him. âœI need more spell jars!â Dinky shouted to her mother, and she felt her mother bank, maneuvering around to do another fly over.

Spell jars exploded all around Bucky and he felt relief. He reasoned that they must be gaining control of the situation high above him, and it put his mind at ease. Ice, fire, and lightning froze, burned, and flashed all around him, and his enemies died by the hundreds. The entrance was nearly plugged up with still writhing bodies.

More death came down from up on high, and Bucky smiled a grim smile.

The wolves in the pile were mostly dead now, burning and blazing merrily, a funeral pyre with flames that whirled up into the night sky. Bucky decided not to wait, and began to climb over the pile of burning bodies, ready to make his way down into the dark depths, to face the master of the wolves.

It was time to end this.

Lugus moved among the injured, lifting several ponies at a time and bringing them back to secured locations upon the deck. So far, somehow, nopony had died, but there were grievous injuries that needed to be tended to before somepony did die. These were his friends and his comrades, his brothers and his sisters, and he loved them dearly.

Lugus knew from experience that the battle was dying down. The wolves had come and they had failed. No new wolves were teleporting aboard the deck. All that was left now was clean up.

As he watched, an airborne wing led by Derpy descended upon the wolves, and the wolves were pummeled by magical blasts from Dinky. The pegasi were brutal and did what they did best, attacking as a group. The wolves were being pushed back towards the rails, and Lugus saw that the deck was drenched in blood and entrails, running over the sides in streams.

A cheer went up from where Sour Mash and her group were fighting, having slain the last of their foe and clearing their section of deck. They moved quickly, moving on to assist others in sweeping the deck clean, Ripple by Sour Mashâs side and protecting her commander.

Sparkler stood near the hole in the hull and continued to extinguish the flames. The blast had ripped a massive section of the hull away and had set the lower hold on fire. The charred bodies of wolves were all around the hole. Some had teleported in and escaped the fires through luck, but the ship was being cleared. She stood in the flames unconcerned about being burned, and she carefully put out the fires all around her.

She peered down, hoping to see some sign of Bucky, but saw nothing but a column of fire stretching high into the night sky beneath her. She hoped that he would return, alive and in one piece.

âœGood luck father.â

Chapter 177 (The Darkness is vanquished and the Isles Arc approaches its end)

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The dark passage was pierced by the green glow of Buckyâs spotlight. The ground beneath his hooves hummed and vibrated. There were hundreds, maybe thousands of bodies just behind him, but Bucky knew that the worst was still ahead, somewhere down in the depths.

âœTheyâre dying you knowâ I blew a hole right through the bottom of that worthless ship. Even now, my wolves prowl the inside, killing as they go. The defenders die one by one. And soon, very soon, I think I will have enough energy to send off a second blast. If I adjust my aim, I do believe I can bring it down.â

Bucky hoped the voice was goading him. He pressed onwards, not bothering to reply.

âœMost of your foals and your pathetic herd died screaming. But I have special plans for your student and the one you call Harper. Sheâs more powerful than you realise. But you canât see what I can see. You are still in that pathetic mortal body. Donât worry grandson, I plan to remedy that soon!â

Forcing himself to stay calm, Bucky made himself take deep breaths and maintain his slow and steady pace. Running or rushing forward would be careless, and would take too much energy. He began to hate the low power mode of his armor though. The magical drain was minimal, but the pace was unbearable.

âœThe cross eyed grey pegasus was the first to dieâ the banshee got her. She died from fear. And that filthy mud pony that you actually enjoy sticking your stubby little dick in, she died, her foals were ripped from her belly, and then devoured.â

So this is what going mad feels like Bucky thought to himself. He choked back his replies, determined to remain silent. Bon Bon had lectured him thoroughly about his temper before the sun had set, and her gentle but forceful words echoed in his ears even now.

âœSentinel died begging for his life like a coward.â

One hoof in front of the other Bucky thought to himself. Now he knew the voice was lying, Sentinel was suicidally fearless when it came to the defense of others. He had seen that just the other day. He thought of the warm hug that Sentinel had given him before he had donned his armor. Sentinel's hugs were rare, special, infrequent enough that they were treasured when they happened.

âœAnd that whiny little milksop mud pony foal, her constant whining has finally ceased.â

âœDaddy, you are probably going to have to do bad things again to get through this. Just do whatever you have to so you can come home to us. I donât care what you have to do or how bad it is, nopony will ever convince me that you are a bad pony. Just be careful, okay?â Bucky recalled Pinaâs final words to him as the sun was beginning to set and she was being dragged off to Lyraâs warded fortress within the bowels of the ship.

Apparently frustrated by the lack of response, the voice fell silent.

Bucky came to a vast underground grotto and heard the yelping of wolves. The chamber was dimly lit, illuminated by several crystal spires. There were several bitches in here, and many wolf pups in pens. A couple of crude golems prowled the room.

After studying the room for a few minutes, Bucky realised that this chamber was a breeding pit. This was where new wolves were born and then corrupted as they matured. Nothing moved to attack him, the golems seemed uninterested and the bitches appeared to be spellbound.

The golems really were extremely crude, poorly made, and the enchantments appeared to be decaying. They were made of shoddily carved wood, walked bipedally, and seemed to have no real awareness. They were clearly the sort of golems a dedicated type two might create if they could summon enough skill. Bucky set them ablaze, igniting the wood with a simple ignition cantrip. The golems had no defensive enchantments. After looking around, Bucky flashed his sunstone eyes on his armor, setting the bitches and some of the wolf pups on fire. The rest he burned using his magic. It didnât take much to make them blaze.

He turned his attention to the crystal spires, examining them carefully. One glowed with an eerie black illumination. It was small, shorter than Buckyâs withers, and it throbbed with a horrible power. Bucky could feel the magical radiation in the air through his horn, and even though he had only been here a few minutes, he could feel the shadow essence in his body growing stronger.

Knowing it was foolish, knowing it was wrong, he basked in the dark glow of the crystal, and he could feel the shadow magic within him growing stronger as his body drank in the dark energy. It gave him strength. His vision improved in the dark room, and the faint light seemed brighter.

It was killing off his solar nature by degrees, working rapidly on him because of the fact that he was already so heavily touched by shadow, and Bucky somehow knew that he would be stronger now in the dark, and weaker in the light. He could feel it. As the darkness settled in around him, the aches and pains in his hind legs eased. The nagging fatigue he felt was fading now, and he felt stronger.

He wanted nothing more than to stand by this crystal shard forever. Realising that he was losing too much of himself to shadow, Bucky kicked out and struck the shard, making a fine spiderweb of cracks appear. The cracks grew and spread, and eventually, the crystal went dark, a swirling vortex of shadow leaking out of it.

The darkness was comforting now. Soothing. He dimmed his eyelight, not needing so much illumination now. He went to work shattering the other crystals, kicking them with a steel covered hoof. These crystals exploded violently when damaged, but Bucky wasnât bothered by the explosions.

The crystals gone, the only light in the room was the faint blue-green glow from Buckyâs armor, the spellweave that held the armor sections together, and the faint green glow from his visor. Bucky found that he could see everything in the room with perfect detail in the dim light.

Bucky could not see it, but a powerful dusky ambience now emanated from his armor, a writhing mass of shadow, the same sort of wispy tendrils of darkness that he had seen coming from Sentinel when the colt shadow dived.

Only darkness was ahead, and Bucky continued down into the depths. There were stairs carved into the rock here, and rusting iron mounts on the walls that held globes of magical light. The globes were still there, but had long since gone dark. Bucky took the stairs carefully, not wanting to tumble down the long flight of stairs in a suit of heavy plate mail.

As he walked down the stairs, he thought about the final lesson he had given Dinky, standing on the deck in the late afternoon sun, holding her close and spending a final bit of time instructing her as both her father and her teacher. This lesson was about sacrifices, and acceptable losses. Those with great power have great obligations, and sometimes, a job had to be done because nopony else could. Sometimes the jobs were unpleasant, sometimes they were dangerous, and at other times, they were fatal, but the job still had to be done. Dinky had looked at him, tearfully nodding and telling him she understood.

To be completely truthful, Bucky did not expect to climb back up these steps, and he made peace with that fact as he made his way down. He was surprisingly calm for a pony walking to his own death. Bucky had one trump card that he knew he could play. He could make this mountain his tomb, bringing down the entire mountain upon his own head and bring about his enemyâs ruin as he did so.

He entered another chamber, this one small and illuminated by many large crystal spires. He peered around, trying to figure out what he was looking at. In the back of the chamber, he saw a brightly glowing crystal spire that swirled with shadows, and near the base of the crystal, he saw the dried, desiccated, now mummified body of a unicorn with a broken horn.

Inside of the crystal spire that towered over the shrivelled remains, he saw a ghostly figure swimming through the swirling shadow.

âœGreetings. Iâve been waiting for you to show up. I see youâve been drawing shadow from one of my marvelous crystals. Feels good, does it not?â

âœI didnât come here to talk,â Bucky snarled.

âœNo, you foolishly came here so I could bleed you dry and add your magic to my own. And then perhaps, I will finally be ready to create a new body, one made of infernal shadow, and I will be free to ascend to godhood.â

âœNot if I can help it,â Bucky said.

âœGo ahead. Do your worst. I will do nothing to stop you.â

Taking the invitation at face value, Bucky let go with a massive telekinetic blast. He let go of thousands of tons of force, cutting loose with a good sized burst of power.

Bucky blinked, and inside of his helmet, his mouth dropped open in shock. Nothing had happened. There was no damage. Nothing in the chamber was disturbed except for the mummified remains upon the floor, which were now a pile of dried bits blown into a corner.

âœThat was helpful Buckminster. A few more of those and I will be ready to ascend. Please, help your dear old grandfather.â

Bucky snarled. âœIt appears we are at an impasse.â

âœYou idiot! I feed on harmony magic! What do you think Iâve been drawing off of these wretched mud ponies that infest these isles? They do not have much magic, but they do have magic, and Iâve been down here slowly drawing it away from them. A pity I could not have done this in Canterlot, drawing magic from these dirty draft animals makes me feel soiled.â

For the lack of anything more useful to do, Bucky conjured whiskey from his cask and had a few swallows. He had come so far, endured so much, and now, there was nothing he could do. He hated the realisation he had reached, but he understood that, perhaps, it was time to bring the mountain down upon both of them.

âœTsk tsk, suicide Buckminster, really?â

Now, Bucky felt really peeved, not wanting this thing inside of his head.

âœWell, it appears you are no longer any use to me. You refuse to feed me willingly, so it is time for you to be humbled and taught a lesson. You are a terrible grandfoal!â

As the voice spoke, a tremendous black blast flew from the crystal in the back of the room, hurtled through the room, and struck Bucky directly, sending him flying into the wall with terrific force. There was a loud thunderclap that reverberated through the chamber.

It took a few moments for Bucky to come to his senses. He was laying on his side, and everything hurt. All of his previous encounters with pain seemed pleasant to what he was enduring right now. He could see several bits and pieces of his armor scattered around him. He looked down at his own left foreleg, and saw that his hoof and fetlock was hanging on by a few meaty strands, the cannon bone had been shattered and the jagged ends were visible, exposed, and full of agony as he could feel the sensation of air blowing over exposed bone.

And, as Bucky realised, his blood was flooding the chamber around him, spurting out of his leg in time to the rhythmic pumping of his heart.

âœDisappointing really. I actually expected something from you. A fight perhaps. Some form of entertainment. Instead, you lie there, bleeding to death upon my floor, your armor useless, and your life now measured in minutes. Any last words Buckminster?â

âœYou fail to understand something. Unlike other ponies, I am not full of sunshine and rainbows,â Bucky spat, coughing out blood as he did so. âœI AM FULL OF DARKNESS AND PAIN!â

He dug deep into his own pain and hatred, reaching down into the very essence of his being, and let go with a massive blast of dark magic. There was a dull roar and a muffled explosion.

When the dust cleared, cracks were visible and spreading along the crystal spire that held his great grandfatherâs life force.

âœAnd whiskey,â Bucky muttered. âœCanât forget the whiskey.â

âœYou fool! Do you know what you have done?â

âœDIE!â Bucky cried in a wet wheezing shout. Bucky could hear blood sloshing around inside of his helmet. Around him, his armor was slowly reforming and pulling itself together.

Several crystals exploded violently, and one of the larger bursts sent Buckyâs body flying again, his body only partially armored this time. He slammed into an outcropping of rock and then fell for a good twenty feet, slamming into the floor.

The chamber went mostly dark, there was a faint light coming from near the main crystal near the back. The only sounds in the chamber was Buckyâs wet whistling wheeze and something liquid dripping to the floor, which was Buckyâs blood.

Bucky cast a simple spell, trying to detect magic of any sort, and something in the back of the chamber glowed brightly. He gave it a tug with telekinesis, too weak to do much of anything else, and it tore free from the magical machinery it was bound to. After Bucky pulled it to him, he saw it was an egg. A phoenix egg, or had it been at one time. Now, it radiated a bone chilling cold and the once orange shell had turned blue.

Now struggling to think, Bucky realised this was the start of it all, it had been used as a battery, much like a potato could be used to provide power. His grandfather had used the endless supply of harmony magic that would trickle from the phoenix egg to power his crystal soulstone. He gently set the egg down near his visor so he could watch the swirling patterns of blue on the shell.

He was dying. He could feel it. His heart felt too slow. His horn sparked, and he couldnât seem to draw up enough magic to do anything meaningful. He needed to stop the bleeding somehow. He sent out a red flare, not that he expected it to do him much good, but at least his body would be recovered. He watched at the red ball of magic took off up the stairs, and he gave it mental instructions to find Lugus.

Chapter 178

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Lugus watched as the tiny red flare danced around his head, bouncing around enthusiastically and zooming about back and forth. He peered down over the side of the ship and saw nothing. They shone the big spotlight down, but there was no sign of Bucky.

âœI am going down there,â Lugus stated in flat voice. When he spoke the red flare popped out of existence in a shower of sparks.

âœWe are under orders to stay on board,â Deadspin said.

âœMaybe so. but I am going down there,â Lugus said, repeating his intent.

âœI am going with you,â Sparkler said.

âœNo. You are not. Stay put filly,â Lugus said, turning to stare at Sparkler.

âœYou canât stop me,â Sparkler said. âœIf there is trouble down there, nothing can hurt me. You are soft and squishy Lugus. Donât make me thump you to prove it.â

Lugus puffed out nervously, his feathers making him look much larger than he really was. He glared at Sparkler.

âœBuck Sergeant Sparkler, you are to escort Lugus in the cave and keep him safe. You are also charged with bringing Knight Captain Buckminster back to us,â Deadspin commanded.

There was some grumbling around the group gathered on the deck.

âœIs it actually over?â Berry asked in a dull deadened voice.

âœIt isnât even midnight yetâ everything feels so calm,â Lyra said in a flat monotone.

âœThe air feels so warm,â Ripple said. She turned around and looked at her mark once again, scarcely believing it was there. A bright red horseshoe surrounded by silver stars and crescent moons. It was a combat mark, or, as Rising Star had said upon seeing it, âœa cutie mark for knocking stuff the feck out.â

âœI will carry you down,â Lugus said. âœGrab spell jars. We do not know what we face. How can we be sure it was Bucky who sent up the flare?â

âœBe careful Sparkler,â Derpy said, stepping forward, Dinky still on her back. Both of them looked exhausted.

Sparkler grabbed a dozen spell jars in her magic and stood ready near the rail. Lugus snatched her around the middle, his long talons completely wrapping around her barrel, and he effortlessly lifted her in one set of talons. His beak clicked nervously and he looked around him.

âœWe shall return,â Lugus said, leaping from the railing, causing Sparkler to let out a loud squeal of fright.

They landed in the passageway after Lugus had carried Sparkler over the burning pile of bodies at the entrance. The pair looked at one another for a moment, and then Sparkler threw her forelegs around Lugusâ neck and squeezed. Then, they turned to face the darkness together.

Sparklerâs horn lit the way and a glow emanated from Lugusâ axe as they made their way into the depths. Sparkler set a brisk pace, and Lugus followed just behind her. The smell of charred bodies invaded their nostrils and Sparkler began to realise that she was afraid of the dark. Her horn flared a little brighter, and she held up the spell jars before her, their faint light illuminating the way.

Eventually, they came to the breeding pit and found the mess that Bucky had left behind, both of them in shock at what they saw, Sparkler was careful stepping through the mess, and she tried to not step on any of the scattered charred bodies.

On the stairs that seemed to stretch forever, they both caught a whiff of something truly awful, something rotten and terrible. Something foul lurked below. They hurried, not knowing what they would find.

Sparkler was the one who saw him first, and she ran to his side, her hooves splashing in some sort of liquid. She realised it was blood when she shone the light upon it, and then she realised it was Buckyâs blood. She screamed in terror and nearly fainted.

Lugus rushed over and immediately began to access the situation. He kneeled down. âœAre you alive, friend?â

âœLegâ bleedingââ

âœWe need to get the bleeding to stop,â Lugus said. He began to look around for something to use as a tourniquet, to tie around Buckyâs leg. There was nothing.

âœSparkler, can you burn him shut?â Lugus asked.

âœOh thatâs horrible!â Sparkler cried.

âœBut can you do it? He is dying. Maybe already too far gone,â Lugus said in a calm voice.

âœIâm not good at stuff like thatâ wait, the alcohol. Douse his leg and I will ignite that,â Sparkler said, feeling sickened at the thought of what she was about to do.

âœThis is too much blood for a leg wound,â Lugus said in a low whisper, mostly to himself as he worked open the spigot on the cask located on the back of Buckyâs armor. âœCatch it in your magic. There is no cup.â

Sparkler did as she was told, and caught up a sizeable portion of whiskey in a magic bubble. It dribbled everywhere, her fields were not very good at holding liquids. She doused Buckyâs leg, which made her father jerk. She took this as a good sign. And then, hating herself even as she did it, she ignited the whiskey and set Buckyâs leg on fire, which caused Bucky to let out a wet raspy yelp.

âœI hear a sucking chest wound,â Lugus said, his beak grinding against itself in worry.

âœEnâ enâ enact emergency protocols. Follow Lugus,â Bucky said in a weak wheeze. His armor began to pull itself together from around the room, and sealed him inside. âœWhen weâ when we return, tell your motherâ Sparkler tell her to say those three words I love to hearââ Bucky commanded haltingly, and then fell silent as his armor slowly rose up to its hooves.

âœHeâs walking on a stump!â Sparkler shouted.

âœNo he isnât, he is floating inside of his armor. Grab that egg he was staring at and letâs go,â Lugus said in a nervous pained voice. There was no light inside of Buckyâs visor and the magical aura on his armor was especially dim. Lugus waved his talons in front of Buckyâs visor and there was no response.

âœThe egg is freezing cold,â Sparkler said. âœIt is difficult to hold it in my magic.â

Lugus slowly walked towards the stairs, and noticed Bucky moving slowly after him, his movements especially slow and jerky. âœHe isnât walking right,â Lugus said.

Sparkler again led the way, holding the egg a fair distance away from her, it was too cold to get near her. She looked around the grotto, wondering what took place here, her eyes lingering over the dark room one last time, and then she took off up the stairs.

Lugus had to carefully nudge Buckyâs armor a few times as Bucky mounted the stairs, the armored unicornâs steel hooves failed to move with any sort of coordination at all. It was going to be a long trip up.

On board the deck of The Scorned Mare, Rising Star gently lowered Buckyâs armor down to the deck after lifting it on board the ship. Bucky did not move, nor did he respond to anything being said to him.

âœHe said to say the three words he loves to hear from you,â Sparkler said to her mother, the poor pegasus looking absolutely beside herself with worry. She gently placed the egg down in a rack that was empty of spell jars and focused on her father.

Derpy stepped forward and then leaned in close to Buckyâs helmet. âœI love you,â she said in a strained voice that cracked with emotion.

There was a loud hiss and the magic aura around Buckyâs armor grew dimmer and dimmer, until it was gone completely. With a clunk, the armor powered down and began to fall away from his body. What Derpy saw made her puke, spilling out the contents of her stomach.

Blood began to spill onto the deck, dribbling out of Buckyâs armor, and it was Lugus that caught his body before he fell over. The big griffon gently lowered Bucky down and began to pull away armor panels. Behind him, he heard the sounds of retching from several ponies who could not bear what they saw.

The stump of Buckyâs left leg was still bleeding, but it had been slowed down. Just behind his left shoulder though, there was a terrible gash in Buckyâs side, exposing several ribs, and raw red glistening flesh was exposed, along with peeks of Buckyâs pulsating insides.

âœWe have to fix this,â Lugus commanded. âœWe need to begin by removing the rest of the bone from the joint. Then we need to seal it shut with burning. We need to stop the bleeding from the gash in his side.â

Lyra stepped forward and looked at Rising Star. âœIâll remove the rest of the bone, you burn it shut. Gently. Not too much fire. I dunno if I can do this!â Lyra cried. She began to sob as she settled down near Buckyâs side, and then she dry heaved a few times, gagging when she saw the wounds.

Lugus placed his head over Buckyâs ribs, trying to stay away from the open gash. âœHis heart is very weak but it is beating. We need to hurry.â

âœDo it Lyra,â Derpy commanded, wiping her lips with her wing.

The exposed bone jutting from Buckyâs leg vanished into nothingness and then there was a poof of fire. The blood stopped trickling and then Rising Star turned to examine Buckyâs side.

âœI donât know if I should burn that,â Rising Star said.

âœThe bleeding has to stop,â Lugus said.

Rising Star scrunched his muzzle with concentration and closely looked at the wound. His horn ignited, but instead of a poof of fire, a thin red beam came out from his horn tip. He drew a fine line down several locations, closed several bleeding openings, and then lifted his head. âœI didnât want to burn the bones. We need to bandage it.â

âœThis is good work,â Lugus said. âœSuch fine detail,â he added as he studied the wound.

âœWe need to get cleaned up and in bed,â Lyra said. She kneeled down close to Bucky, lifted his head, and gently opened his remaining left eye to check on him. She screamed and nearly dropped Buckyâs head on the deck at what she saw.

âœWhatâs wrong?â Derpy asked.

âœHis eye!â Lyra whimpered.

âœShow me,â Derpy demanded.

Lyra carefully turned Buckyâs head around again and opened his left eye. The sclera was a sickly green and the iris had turned crimson. As they watched, a purplish haze began to drift away from his open eye. âœBut he isnât using any dark magic right now, this shouldnât be happening,â Lyra whined. âœSomething is wrong!â

Berry Punch staggered forward, looking quite frazzled, bits of vomit still on her muzzle. âœWeâll worry about that later. Get him cleaned up, get that wound bandaged, and then get him in bed. After that, let us leave this place.â

Lyra closed his eye and the drifting purple haze slowly vanished. She gently laid his head down and waited for somepony to bring some water, sitting in a daze. She heard Harper crying and wanted more than anything to hold her foal.

âœThink heâll live?â Berry asked in a low whisper.

Derpy nodded, but said nothing. She was glued to Bucky, who was laying on his uninjured side, and Derpy was pressed up against his spine. She gently nuzzled him with her snoot, snorting into his mane, which always gave him the shivers and made him react.

Only now, he wasnât responding.

âœOnce again, he did what needed to be done and paid for it with his body,â Berry said as she scooted a little closer to Derpy. She looked at Thistle, who had cried herself to sleep quite some time ago. âœItâll be dawn soon.â

As Berry watched, the tears finally came for Derpy, who began to sob silently. Berry pressed the side of her face up against Derpyâs neck and the old friends pressed together, leaning on each other, knowing that they would get through this somehow.

Bon Bon awoke, lifting her head and looking around blearily. She looked at Derpy and Berry, and gave them both a sad smile, trying to comfort them.

All of them took consolation in the fact that the nightmare was over.

Chapter 179

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âœHow are we to give him sustenance in this state?â Lugus inquired, sitting close to the edge of the bed. He moved slowly, all too aware that Derpy was eyeing him. They were on friendly terms, but Lugus understood instincts, being a creature that lived by them himself.

âœBerry was desperate and wanted to get some sign of life from him. She rubbed her teats in his face. When some milk dribbled over his nose, he started to suckle on the air. So she stuck a teat in his mouth,â Derpy said as she fluffed out her feathers and tried to relax, knowing that Lugus was not a threat.

âœPonies are celebrating. They are cheering. Dancing. Breeding for sport. We remain here in the dark being sorrowful,â Lugus mused.

âœWeâre alive and we are together,â Derpy responded. She nickered faintly and looked down at Bucky. She shoved her snoot into the back of Buckyâs head and nosed around in his mane. She snorted and waited for some kind of response, and then looked heartbroken when there was none. A soft wordless whimper came from the back of her throat and she continued her long vigil.

Ripple sat preening her feathers, all too aware that Rising Star was watching her every move. It made her feel funny and a little self conscious as she carefully put everything in order. She heard Rising Star clearing his throat and she raised her head.

âœYou saved me. You came waltzing in and you kicked and you crushed and you killed to keep me safe. You called me your mate,â Rising Star said in a soft low voice. âœYou were so amazingâ mostly, I just feel inadequate. I wasnât able to do much.â

Ripple had a bit of down clinging to her nostril and it made her sneeze. She recovered and looked at Rising Star sheepishly. âœYou are my mate. One day, I might give you a foal. I think I am starting to love you, just like Bon Bon and Lyra love Bucky. If something tries to hurt you, I will kill them.â

âœWell, weâve established that you will in fact do just that,â Rising Star said. âœYou were amazing. You were like some super hero in a comic book. Youâll have to read about them when we get home.â

The filly smiled and wiped her nose with her leg. She then gave a halfhearted scratch at one of her many bandages before going back to her preening. She heard hoofsteps coming closer, and she raised her head. When she did so, she bumped snoot first into Rising Star, who kissed her softly but warmly on the lips. She felt a leg snaking around her neck and pulling her closer, and Ripple allowed herself to be drawn in, not feeling threatened or scared by the kiss.

Dinky lay on the wooden planks of the deck and tried to make her stomach stop heaving. She had already puked over the edge a few times, hoping that there was nopony below. The Scorned Mare was tethered to the castle now, and the past day had been one of recovery and celebration. But not for Dinky. She was sick with worry.

She felt two forelegs slipping around her, one of them working its way under her, slipping between her body and the wooden deck. She was pulled up into an embrace by Sentinel, who was sitting on his haunches. She felt her mane being brushed out of her eyes and her head cradled.

âœYou feel too warm.â

âœI donât feel good Sentinel.â

âœLet me help you inside. Lay down with mama bird and father.â

âœOkay. I just hope I donât throw up again.â

âœLook, Ripple is kissing him back,â Loch Skimmer said, pointing down to the pair below them on the lower deck. She was sitting on the upper deck above the cabin with Sparkler. âœI donât know how I feel about my little sister kissing, but I think I am okay with it.â

âœSheâs happy Loch. Sheâs alive and sheâs figuring out her place in the world,â Sparkler replied in a low voice. âœShe was amazing in battle. Sour Mash says she killed dozens of wolves. Sour Mash couldnât keep count of all the kills.â

âœMy cutie mark is for music, I canât believe my baby sister got a mark for killing,â Loch said, her voice sounding somewhat bittersweet.

Sparkler stared down at her trembling jerking foreleg and said nothing. She watched the muscles twitch and spasm, wishing they would stop. It kept happening, and it worried her.

âœHappening again I see,â Loch said, watching Sparkler.

âœI canât stop shaking Loch. It keeps happening. Just when I think it is over, the shakes return. Deadspin says I have battle nerves. It is my bodyâs way of dealing with all of the killing I did. But Ripple is just fine and I donât understand,â Sparkler said in a quavering voice.

âœI am sure that Ripple is having her own troubles,â Loch said. âœBut sheâs a hard little cuss. With her mark, sheâs made for killing. I am not so sure that youâre cut out for it though.â

âœI donât want to kill ever again,â Sparkler said, the tears finally welling up. âœThe sounds Loch, I keep hearing the sounds. Like when father had to rip open that filly. Or the sounds of me walking through a lake of my own fatherâs blood. It is all I can hear Loch.â

The pair embraced one another and fell silent, and Loch Skimmer held on to Sparkler while the tears worked their way free.

Moonbow settled herself onto a soft cushion in the corner and watched the grey pegasus named Derpy from a distance. The big griffon and the pegasus were worried about Bucky, and rightfully so. She snatched up the little pegasus foal named Peekaboo from up off the floor and pulled her close, cradling the filly in her forelegs. Moonbow lowered her head and gently sniffed the foal she was holding, breathing in her scent, trying to bond with her new colony.

âœCan I sit with you?â

Moonbow looked at the pink earth pony that was called PiÃa Colada. She blinked a few times and studied the very pink filly.

âœI donât want to be alone,â PiÃa said.

âœSit with me, little one,â Moonbow said, scooting over on her cushion and raising her wing. As she watched, PiÃa was on the cushion in a hot moment and settling against her side. She lowered her wing over PiÃa and pulled the foal closer.

PiÃa heard a few echolocation sounds from Moonbow and wondered what they meant. She had heard Sentinel make them too. They made her feel safer, so she didn't mind them. âœYou turned into a very scary pony in that room.â

âœSomething was threatening you and the others. Nothing threatens foals and lives. Unacceptable,â Moonbow said.

âœSeems like all pegasi are real fierce about defending foals,â PiÃa said.

âœIt is what we do,â Moonbow said. She paused, hearing the door open, and she saw Sentinel entering the room. She smiled, her fangs visible. Behind Sentinel was Dinky.

âœDinky isnât feeling good, I brought her in,â Sentinel reported, snapping off a salute to Lugus.

Moonbow watched as the big griffon lifted Dinky in his talons, and she felt her muscles tense. She had to remind herself that the griffon was not a threat. She watched as Dinky was gently placed on the corner of the bed and stroked a few times. âœSentinel is an interesting pony,â Moonbow observed.

âœHeâs my brother,â PiÃa said as she cuddled even closer against Moonbow. âœPlease be good to him. I love him so much.â

Berry Punch, on the ground and done checking up on a few ponies she was worried about, was stopped by three ponies who asked for her attention. One was a unicorn, the other was an earth pony, and the third was also an earth pony but looking at her made Berry Punch feel weird. The third also had a brown hoof.

âœWe worry for Buckminster,â the unicorn said.

âœWe desire to help him,â the earth pony said.

âœTo this end we have made a potion to ease his wound,â the earth pony with a brown hoof said in a low melodic voice that made Berry Punch feel a little sleepy when she heard it.

Berry Punch shook her head. âœThatâs very nice and all, but I am not about to give my husband some strange potion from ponies I donât know,â she said in a reserved but friendly voice.

âœWe mean no harm,â the unicorn said.

âœHe is dying, this is very important,â the brown hoofed earth pony said.

âœI am very sorry, but no. And I need to go,â Berry said, sounding worried.

âœStop,â the unicorn demanded.

Berry Punch froze in place, her eyes wide, not moving at all.

âœBuckminster is dying and that goes against our plan. He was struck with a necromantic death spell, it is mind boggling to all of us that he did not die immediately. You will take this potion and you will pour it over the wound in his side to close the hole in his lung and to stop what is devouring him from within. We need him around to collect his future reward,â the unicorn said in a hypnotic voice.

âœYes, when the one called Cadance meets with her fate, she will need a powerful guardian, and so much of our plans now depend on Buckminster,â the earth pony with a brown hoof said as she shimmered and became a zebra with a brown hoof.

âœAnd there is the matter of punishmentâ he still needs to deal with his horrendous house, he is the only one who can,â the earth pony said. âœHe is the only being who can give them the punishment they truly deserve.â

âœSo you will do what we tell you to do, Berry Punch, mother of Brandywine, mother of Barley Bitters, mother of Juniper Berry, and mother of Berry Mash. We need your foals and for them to be useful, they require the guidance of their father. So you will do as we command,â the unicorn whispered into Berryâs ear.

Spellbound, Berry Punch gave a vacant nod. âœI will do as you ask,â she said in a dull voice.

âœJust pour this into the wound. All of it. Do as we ask and you will never know the motherâs pain of having to bury your own children,â the earth pony said in a warm gentle voice.

âœWe give you this as a compensation for doing us this favour,â the zebra said.

âœA fair exchange by any account,â the unicorn stated.

Berry Punch snapped to attention, realising that she must have zoned out. Stress did funny things to a pony. She blinked a few times and rubbed her head with her hoof, and, as she did so, looked down at the tiny phial hanging from a cord around her neck.

The three ponies had given this as a gift to Bucky, to help him after he had done so much to help others. She moved off at a trot, off to get a lift from one of the many pegasi standing guard around The Scorned Mare.

She peered off towards the setting sun, knowing that the isles no longer had to fear the night. All around her were happy ponies, still reveling in their victory. Berry wished that Bucky was awake to join them.

Derpy watched as Berry approached the bed and slipped a small blue glass bottle from off of her neck with a hoof. She pulled out the tiny stopper on the blue glass bottle using her teeth, and then carefully approached Bucky.

âœWhat are you doing?â Derpy asked. âœWhat is that?â

Berry did not respond, but had a blank look on her face. As Derpy watched, Berry carefully pulled away the bandage and then tipped the glass bottle over and poured out a white syrupy liquid into the wound on Buckyâs side. A terrible smell filled the room and Buckyâs flesh sizzled when the liquid made contact.

âœWhat is that terrible smell?â Lugus said, waving one wing. The big griffon looked concerned and he craned his head to get a better look.

Derpy leaned her head down and looked at the wound. It was bubbling, like pouring peroxide over a cut. Something black dribbled out of the wound, it moved, wriggled, and writhed. Once upon the surface of Buckyâs flesh, it hardened and solidified into something resembling black dried out clay. Derpyâs nose crinkled.

âœThat is a very strange infection,â Lugus said.

âœIt would have killed him,â Berry said in a soft dull voice.

âœThis is miraculous,â Lugus said. âœThe wound, I can see the flesh closing around it, the ribs are no longer visible.â

âœThere is still an ugly gash, but you canât stare down into Buckyâs insides any more,â Derpy said in an awed voice as she continued to watch the wound closing, slowly but surely. Already, the process seemed to be slowing down.

Lugus carefully picked up the black bits and placed them into a cool damp rag that had been used to clean Bucky off. He folded the rag and set it down, planning to dispose of it into a fire later. He felt a powerful sense of relief when there was no longer a wet sucking wheeze coming from Bucky. The sucking chest wound had closed.

Berry blinked a few times and the bottle she held in hoof vanished in a flash of blue light. She looked down at Bucky, whose breathing now sounded much better. She watched his barrel rise and fall. The terrible wound on his side was mostly healed. All that was left was a laceration, a surface wound that should heal up in time. The flesh looked healthy and pink.

âœThose were some nice ponies. If I see them again, I hope I remember to tell them thank you,â Berry murmured. âœHey, where is Thistle?â

âœShe is with Lyra and Bon Bon. All of the stress has made her feel poorly,â Derpy answered.

âœIt is finally over. Well, this is. There is still the matter of making repairs to the hull and going home,â Berry said, laying down beside Derpy. âœThink Bucky needs another feeding?â

âœI shall leave for that. Moonbow, do you mind looking after my foal?â Lugus inquired.

Moonbow looked up from her corner. âœI donât mind. I like looking after foals.â

âœI am going to spend some time with Yew,â Lugus announced.

âœBut youâve already been spending time with us,â Berry said with a faint smile.

Lugus fluffed out and his tufted tail twitched. He stared at Berry, saying nothing.

âœLugus, go spend some time with your pegasus. Just be gentle. Sheâs injured. I just got done talking to her in the barracks. They had to cauterise the bite on her leg because it kept trickling blood. Sheâs fine though,â Berry Punch said. Berry Punch pulled the sleeping form of Dinky close to her and made the foal comfortable.

âœI feel conflicted. I should have been there with her,â Lugus said. âœBut I could not leave Buckyâs side in the condition he was in.â

âœLook, she understands you big honour bound lug. Now go tell her that Bucky is recovering and ease her mind. Frankly, I do believe she would have been angry with you from shirking your duties and leaving Buckyâs side while he was so close to deathââ Berry said, pausing and looking thoughtful for a moment after she spoke.

Lugus, still fluffed out and looking apprehensive, quietly departed, easing his large bulk out the door.

Chapter 180

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Bucky stared down into the pool of water and saw his own reflection. He could see the moon above him and his face in the water below him. His eyes, both of them, were wrong. The blood red crimson irises had slitted pupils and the whites of his eyes had turned a foul shade of green. The foal in the water looked up at him with a sad, pained expression upon his small face. He could see a tiny pair of wings fluttering at his sides.

âœWhat have I become?â Bucky asked his reflection in the water below.

As he watched, he saw his motherâs face in the water, appearing next to his own.

âœYOU ARE A MONSTER! AN ABOMINATION! YOU ARE THE WORST MISTAKE I HAVE EVER MADE! JUST THE SIGHT OF YOU NOW SICKENS ME!â

Bucky cringed away from the water, a whimper escaping his lips.

âœI tried to tell your father that nothing good would ever come from having foals! I told him! I TOLD HIM! I begged him to leave me be! But one drunken night and he has to hold me down and force meâ and then YOU happened, an everlasting reminder of my shame!â

âœNoââ Bucky whimpered as he looked over his body and saw that he really was a foal, and it wasnât just his reflection.

âœI begged your father to let me drown you in the riverâ or to leave you in the orphanage!â

âœNoâ why are you telling me this?â Bucky whined. âœStop, please stop!â

âœWhen you were little I tried to POISON YOU! You lived you little monsterâ the doctors saved youâ said the manticore venom would stunt your growthâ you became even more worthless. Your father had to cover everything up. He made the doctors believe it was an accident, you got into something you shouldnât haveâ I wish it would have killed you!â

âœNoâ Why?â Bucky pleaded. He could take no more and he backed away from the pool, falling over his own hindhooves as he stumbled from fear.

And then, he heard the wolves howling all around him.

Bucky did the only thing he could do, he ran, a corrupted purple haze streaming from his eyes as he did so. He ran as fast as his stubby legs would carry him, his small stunted body darting off into the darkened woods, his wings flapping but unable to provide him lift. The howls grew closer and Bucky felt his bladder give way.

He slipped between shadows in the trees, running for his life from the wolves that now hunted him. He hear them drawing closer, their heavy ragged breathing, and the snapping of their jaws, all of them hungering for his flesh.

âœYou monster!â one of the wolves shouted in Celestiaâs voice.

âœI didnât want to be this way!â Bucky cried as he willed his tiny legs to run faster.

âœYou have fallen into shadow!â

âœI didnât have any choice!â Bucky protested as he ran, his sides hitching, now burning from his exertions. He was having trouble breathing.

âœThere is no point in running! The light will find you. My light will find you!â

âœWhat else could I have done?â Bucky begged as he ran for his life from the wolves who were closing in all around him. Turning to look over his shoulder, he could see one now, drawing close, jaws open, teeth gleaming in the moonlight, ready to take him down.

âœYour mother was right! You should have never been born!â one of the wolves cried in Celestiaâs voice.

The night was filled with an explosive roar and even darker shadows moved all around Bucky as he ran. Something truly black and terrible descended down upon him. Something so dark that it made the rest of the night seem like daylight in comparison.

âœBEGONE FOUL SPAWN OF TARTARUS! GET THEE HENCE YE FOUL MONSTROSITIES OF FELL SHADOW! THIS DARK ONE IS MINE!â

Bucky felt himself taken in by magic, his running halted, there were four legs standing around him like bars in a cage, and a tall dark figure up above him. He cowered, not knowing what was happening, but all around him was swirling shadow.

Then there was a bright piercing flash of light and Bucky saw everything. All around him were enormous lunar pegasi and they were battling horrible misshapen demons. It was a fierce battle, full of flashing fangs, claws, and hooves.

âœSECURE THIS REALM! PROTECT YOUR PRINCE!â Princess Luna commanded, using the Royal Voice.

Bucky clung to Lunaâs leg, burying his face behind her knee. The sounds of battle all around him were horrible. Screams, tearing and rending of flesh, savage sounds, bones snapping, and the wet spattering of blood hitting the earth and the trees. Bucky wrapped all four of his legs around Lunaâs leg and held on to her, shivering and afraid.

More demons came, blinking into existence all around them, and even more lunar pegasi arrived to do battle. Lunaâs horn flashed again and gleaming moonlight shone around her and the foal she sheltered beneath her. She glared fiercely at anything that drew close.

Nothing made it near enough to attack her.

Luna kneeled down, settling herself to the ground, and cradled the tiny foal she was sheltering in her forelegs, holding him close. She wrapped her wings around him and shielded him from the sight of the horrific battle being waged all around them.

âœI have you Buckminster,â Luna said in a soothing voice, whispering into the foalâs ear.

âœWhy is this happening?â Bucky whimpered.

âœSsh, be calm little one,â Luna whispered in a soft silky whisper that somehow carried over the sounds of the battle all around them.

âœWhy did my mother say those things?â Bucky asked.

âœThose were demons my precious little foal,â Luna explained. âœNot your mother.â

âœWas it true?â Bucky inquired, burying his face into Lunaâs neck and wrapping his forelegs around her neck tightly.

âœSadly, some of it, yes,â Luna answered, her voice full of hesitation. âœThe demons spoke the truth, knowing it would hurt you. Not the parts about you being a monster. You are not a monster.â

âœSo my mother did that?â Bucky asked. There was a sound of ripping flesh nearby and he cringed. The hot smell of sulphur and blood filled the air all around them.

âœYes,â Luna answered.

âœHow could they get away with that?â Bucky questioned, the first shuddering sobs beginning to overtake his tiny frail body.

âœI wasnât here to watch over dreams and scare ponies back into the light. I wasnât here to stop the shadows as they burrowed into the minds of my subjects. I was locked away on the moon and the shadows prospered. All manner of horrible things happened and I could do nothing to stop them. My sister simply does not have that kind of power. She held up our nation as best as she could, but she could not stop the decay happening from the inside. She wasnât capable of watching things as I can watch things,â Luna soothed, her voice practically a lullabye.

âœMy motherâ reallyâ poisoned meââ Bucky sobbed.

âœHad I been here, I would have possibly prevented that,â Luna whispered comfortingly. âœOr would have found out through her guilty mind. She would have been punished. There is so much work to do now, I am overwhelmed. There is simply too much decay to deal with. Canterlot is a cancerous growth upon our society.â Luna wrapped her wings a little tighter around Bucky as a severed demon head went soaring past and blood splattered over her muzzle. She looked up in annoyance and then dropped her head back down to focus on the injured dreamer in her embrace.

âœDoes Celestia really hate me? Is she going to kill me?â Bucky whined.

âœShe isâ upset. She is worried. She is still trying to figure out exactly what has taken place here. I will shield you from my sisterâs anger though. Do not worry about her. She does not know the full extent of what you have endured, or what you had to do. There was no other way, little Buckminster,â Luna answered. âœShe has made mention about having you permanently exiled to the Shetlands though. She is confused, hurt, and upset right now. I will deal with her, give me time.â

âœThere was nothing else I could do!â Bucky wailed.

âœI know. I can see it all in your mind right now. I helped you once, and I will help you again. I am tired of losing my precious foals to darkness. No more,â Luna said in a forceful voice. âœI will preserve you. What our society might throw away, I still see great value in. You have endured a terrible trial and you did what had to be done. I will do everything I can to heal your mind, but it is going to take time, if you will permit me.â

âœHelp me,â Bucky pleaded.

âœDo not worry, I will,â Luna promised as the battle began to die down around them. She watched as her lunar guard formed a protective perimeter around them, a circle of muscle and rage, a wall of fury and fangs. âœYou are mine now, I have claimed you. I have put down my hoof and laid claim to your life, as is my privilege. Celestiaâs hurt and confusion will blow over and she will come to terms with all of this in time. You must come home soon Buckminster, I give you my word, you will be safe if you do. There is much that needs to be done.â

âœOkay,â Bucky snuffled. âœWhy didnât you come to help me sooner? When I had that horrible dreamâ they were all dead, and everything hurt so much!â

âœThere was a crisis Buckminster, I do hope you will forgive me. I could not come. I could not help. Everything had collapsed and fell apart, and in the chaos, an old enemy from our past tried to take revenge. He has been dealt with and now we are rebuilding,â Luna answered.

âœI would forgive you anything Luna,â Bucky whispered, wiping his face against Lunaâs neck. âœAm I an alicorn now?â

âœNo Bucky, this is a dream. You are seeing yourself for how you really are, what you are meant to be, the alicorn of war,â Luna explained.

âœI donât want to be an alicorn,â Bucky whined.

âœWhy not?â Luna asked in confusion. âœThis is what everypony dreams of, Buckminster, you have earned this. This is your rightful place, your destiny. Even my sister, for all of her confusion right now, knows this.â

âœBut she was going to exile me,â Bucky said.

âœWell, the Isles could use an alicorn to assist them and lead them,â Luna said. âœNot that I want you exiled. What do you have against being an alicorn?â

âœIâve had dreams Luna, look into my mind. I will let you see everything. The alicorn of war only has one purpose,â Bucky said.

âœI will examine your dreams in time,â Luna replied. âœI hope you realise that you cannot hold off your destiny. This was meant to happen. You have been Touched.â

âœDonât make me do it,â Bucky begged.

âœNow is not the time for this decision. You are wounded and fragile. You were poisoned with necromantic death magic. Recover Bucky, now is not the time to worry about this issue. A mutual acquaintance of ours had made sure you had something to drive the magical poison from your body and render it harmless. All of us involved in this affair are still wondering how you survived being struck by that spell. It should have been instantly fatal, severing your soul from your body,â Luna said as she stroked Bucky with her wings. Her guard stood stone still now, resolute and unmoving as statues. They snorted occasionally as they peered into the darkness around them.

âœWill they come back?â Bucky asked.

âœThe demons? No. I shall be speaking to their master about their release. This wasnât supposed to happen. There are many forces at work here Buckminster, all of them wanting something different from you,â Luna replied.

âœWhat do you want from me?â Bucky inquired.

âœI want to see you happy,â Luna answered. âœMore than anything else. More than living up to your potential. You have endured a miserable experience. And if you really do not want to be an alicorn, then I suppose I can find a way to live with that. The others will hound you though.â

âœThank you Luna,â Bucky said, finally sounding somewhat at peace.

âœNow rest, my foal. I will watch over you. You exist on the edge of life and death at this moment. And since everything else is breaking the rules I have chosen to be clever as well. You will live Buckminster, I will see to that. I will stay here with you and watch over the fragile connection you have to your body. Now rest. Sleep here in my embrace,â Luna said as she began to hum a soft song of sleep.

Feeling safe and secure, Bucky allowed himself to slip off into slumber, Lunaâs lullaby cradling his very soul in a velvet embrace.

Chapter 181

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Yew Wood looked up at the large griffon hulking over her, a soft smile turning up the corners of her mouth. She couldnât feel the pain in her leg when she looked at him, and there was something certainly attractive at about the big predator. He had fought valiantly in the battle, fearlessly charging in to deal with all threats, and he had struck down the banshee. He had braved the darkness to rescue Bucky.

Trembling slightly, she reached out and carefully smoothed out the ruffled feathers along his broad chest, and she felt him jerk slightly at her touch. Yew understood she had power over him, she could gently push him and he would fall over and go belly up for her.

âœHow is Bucky?â Yew asked.

âœRecovering. I think he will live,â Lugus replied.

âœMmm, that will be good, if we have young together, I want them to know their chief,â Yew said suggestively.

The big griffon made a nervous squawk.

âœI have decided that I want to keep you. If you will still have me. You and your catlike curiousity. You and your fascination about us ponies and our squishy parts. If you would like, I will show you all of my squishy parts. I could show you all of my expressive and silly faces I can make if you would like to see them,â Yew said, looking at Lugus as she spoke.

As she watched, Lugus reached up and smoothed down his feather crest with his talons.

âœHave I shown myself as a worthwhile mate?â Yew inquired sweetly.

The big griffon nodded slowly and then scratched at his left front leg with his right set of talons in a careful sort of way that he did not cut himself with the sharp edges or tips of his claws.

âœSo how do griffons marry? Do we write out a contract? Go before Keg Smasher?â Yew asked in a low seductive voice.

âœI do not know. I do not wish to write a contract for you. No words could be used to describe your value,â Lugus responded nervously. âœThere is no way to accurately measure your appropriate worth.â

âœAw, you really know how to make a mare feel special,â Yew gushed.

âœI give you my solemn vow that I will be a good life-mate for you. My life for you,â Lugus said in a low flat voice.

âœI accept Lugusâ I offer you everything I have in return,â Yew replied. âœSo are these our vows? What comes next?â

âœI spend the rest of my life proving worthy of your affections,â Lugus stated.

âœThere you go again, making a mare feel good,â Yew said teasingly. âœIâm tired Lugus. Care to take me back to our quarters on The Scorned Mare?â

Saying nothing in return, Lugus carefully took Yew into his talons, spread his wings, and took off into the air with a single leap from his powerful hind legs.

Bon Bon held Harperâs tiny body close to her and tried to put everything back together inside of her mind. Lyra was beside her, sleeping fitfully and crying occasionally in her sleep. Her husband was hovering somewhere near death. She had witnessed a terrible battle and she could still hear it in her ears. The bansheeâs wail had caused her to freeze completely, like it had so many others.

She could still hear it shrieking.

She tossed and turned a bit, trying to find a comfortable position to lay in, still clutching Harper to her barrel. The foal was finally asleep and Bon Bon didnât want to wake her up. As Bon Bon struggled to deal with everything on her mind, she felt a warm sensation spreading over her barrel and stomach.

âœAs if mama didnât have it hard enough, you just had to widdle, didnât you Harper?â

The sun settled over the horizon and ponies remained outside. Guards were posted just in case a few shadow wolves had somehow survived somewhere, but no howls had been heard. Ponies were slowly coming to the realisation that the nightmare was over.

Ponies remained in the grassy meadows around the castle and the tiny town, staring up at the stars and the moon, finally able to enjoy Lunaâs night without fear. Fires were lit and ponies gathered around to talk and tell stories.

Far above them, on the deck of The Scorned Mare one pony who truly loved the night sat staring up at the moon as it rose over it trees, a sad distant look upon his face. He sat alone, a crude journal upon the deck planks in front of him, and a pencil held between his grasping digit and the central knuckle on his wing. The pages in his journal fluttered in the faint breeze.

âœI donât know if you can hear me Princess Luna, but if you can, my father needs your help. Heâs not well. All of those ponies down there below me, they are out celebrating your nightâ something they would not be able to do if my father had not reclaimed it from the evil that has plagued these isles,â Sentinel said in a quiet voice. âœI am not saying you owe him, but it would be awfully nice of you to help him if you can hear me.â

The colt scribbled something down in his journal, his ears folded back as he wrote.

âœMy father ended the nightmare here, the dark shadow that tainted this land. I only know a little bit about you, but I know enough to know that surely, you of all ponies must know what it feels like to be trapped in a nightmare,â the colt said in a low whisper to himself. âœAnd what it means to be freed from darkness,â he continued.

Sentinel looked down at the sketch in his journal, the outline of trees and the moon rising over them. He didnât think it was a very good sketch, but it captured the moment well enough. He sighed, wishing he could draw better. It was something he was going to have to work on.

âœI would do almost anything you might ask of me if you will help him,â Sentinel offered, glancing up briefly at the moon.

He scratched down a few more lines, trying to add shape and definition to the trees. He made careful soft strokes, and what he drew resembled the suggestion of trees rather than actual trees themselves. He added a few round circles to the moon that were intended to resemble craters. He tried shading one and then frowned, not happy with the results.

As he continued to scratch and scribble, the sky in front of the moon began to warp and shimmer. Sentinel looked up and saw the disturbance in the sky, his mouth dropped open, and he let out a small startled cry.

The sky above him swirled, a dark vortex of shadow, and silver streams of moonlight shimmered through the whirling shadow. There was a distant roar in the night, followed by a loud thunderous boom, and then the sky was filled with silver light.

Two very large figures came out of the vortex and came streaking down to The Scorned Mare, and a general cry of alarm went out as the pegasi guarding the deck began to mobilise to deal with the new threat.

The two figures drew close and Sentinel realised what they were. Lunar pegasi. Big ones. Really really big ones. They came down hard and came to a skidding halt upon the deck, each of them as wide at the shoulder as a pony was tall. They were clad in heavy plate armor.

âœStand back you lot!â one of the two lunar pegasi warned.

âœWe are Mistress Lunaâs Myrmidons, and as of this moment, this ship is now Princess Lunaâs sovereign territory. We are here to secure Prince Buckminster,â the other explained.

Sentinel rose slowly, assumed a submissive posture, and then slowly approached the pair. As he did so, he realised that they were female. As he drew near, he raised his head slightly and looked up. The two big mares looked down at the trembling foal and then both of them bowed their heads down, which left Sentinel stunned and confused.

âœYou are his son, are you not?â one of the mares asked.

âœIâ Iâ I am,â Sentinel stammered.

âœI am Grimglammer and this is Shadowguard. We need to see him at once. We come with supplies, medicine, and we are to stabilise his condition. More of us are coming, but they have to fly here. Opening a shadow portal is very draining. Will you take us to him?â Grimglammer asked.

Sentinel looked around him at the pegasi on the deck, all of them looking confused. âœStand down,â he commanded in a soft voice. âœCome with me,â he said to the two big armored mares. He began to cross the deck slowly, his heart thudding painfully in his barrel.

âœDo not slink little one, it is ill befitting our kind and your stature,â Shadowguard commanded.

Sentinel stood up straight as he walked and he felt a hard nudge in his backside.

âœHead high,â Grimglammer demanded in a harsh bark.

The colt lifted his head high and approached the cabin door. It opened, and Lyra came out, looking bleary eyed. Her horn was glowing with an alarming intensity.

âœWhat is the commotionâ oh my goodness!â Lyra said, her last words becoming a gasp.

âœLady Heartstrings?â Grimglammer inquired brusquely.

âœYeah?â Lyra replied.

âœWe are here for your husband,â Shadowguard announced.

âœMother Lyra, they are here to help,â Sentinel said, trying to calm his motherâs seemingly frazzled nerves. He reached out and touched Lyraâs leg softly. He heaved a sigh of relief when he saw Lyraâs horn go dim.

âœLady Hooves,â Grimglammer said, bowing her head slightly.

Derpy stared up at the two big armored figures as they loomed over her and Bucky. Sentinel was standing beside the bed, and Lyra stood nearby. Others had begun to gather, crowding into the small room.

âœPermission to examine our Prince,â Shadowguard said.

âœYou may,â Derpy said in a low somewhat confused voice. âœPrince?â she muttered.

Grimglammer leaned down and began to look Bucky over, sniffing him a few times, placing her head over his barrel and listening, examining his the remains of his leg, and finally peeling back the bandage over the gash in his side.

âœHave you been able to get anything down his gullet?â Shadowguard inquired.

âœWe, uh, well, Berry actually, she got him to suckle at her teats several times now,â Derpy said in a somewhat embarrassed voice.

Shadowguard stared at Derpy for a moment, turned around, focused her intense stare upon Berry, and nodded. âœYou are a clever mare. Just what he needs. Nutrients and hydration. Probably why he is still alive. Too bad there are no IVs here,â Shadowguard stated.

âœThank you,â Berry said, backing away shyly from the big mare who stared at her.

âœI thought all of the Royal Guards were male?â Bon Bon asked. She cringed when Shadowguard focused her piercing upon eyes on her.

âœWe are not Royal Guard. We are Mistress Lunaâs Myrmidons,â Shadowguard said. She turned and looked at her companion, who was still examining Bucky. âœHow does he fare?â

âœHe is bad off, malnourished looking, and surprisingly alive,â Grimglammer answered. The lunar pegasus mare popped a latch upon her armor using her wing and then pulled one of her saddlebags free. She opened it, stuck in her central knuckle, and began to dig stuff out.

She pulled a giant syringe from the supplies, held it up to the light, gripped between her grasping digit and her central knuckle, read the label, her lips moving slightly as she did so and a faint murmur escaping her fanged mouth, pulled off the cap from the needle, and then stabbed Bucky in the buttocks with the enormous spike. She jammed down upon the plunger and emptied the syringe.

âœYou better make sure he lives Grim, I am not in the mood to have the Mistress sever my head from my shoulders for failure,â Shadowguard muttered as her companion worked.

âœWhat are Myrmidons?â Bon Bon gently inquired.

âœWe do not exist,â Shadowguard replied as she focused her attention upon her companion and Bucky, scowling as her companion worked.

âœYou look pretty real to me,â Sentinel said.

âœHere squire, hold this,â Shadowguard said, taking off her helmet using both of her wings. She plunked it down upon Sentinel's head, and it nearly took the colt down to the floor.

The colt stood on trembling legs, struggling to hold up the immense weight of the heavy plated helm. His knees banged together and with great effort, he held his head up high, unable to see anything.

âœHuh,â Shadowguard grunted. âœColt has grit, Iâll give him that. There are grown ponies that couldnât hold my helmet. You got balls squire.â

âœThank you maâam,â Sentinel said in a quavering voice. âœMight I hold anything else for you maâam?â

Grimglammer pulled out another syringe and began to prepare it, this one holding a dull pink liquid. She was still scowling. âœHis body has been purged of the worst of the necromantic poison, this will make him sweat out the rest of the toxins in his body,â she muttered as she stabbed the six inch needle just below Buckyâs hops plant mark. âœHe must have a natural resistance to poison or something, no pony should be alive in his condition. Even the Princesses would be laid low for quite some time by this kind of magical venom. Worst thing is, if he would have died, I do believe this would have revived him from the dead as some sort of zombie. Mistress mentioned something about that as she procured the medicine I brought.â

âœGrim, stop, you are scaring his wives,â Shadowguard said in a low voice.

âœHas your husband ever been poisoned by magical toxins before?â Grimglammer inquired, looking up at Derpy.

âœNoâ I donât knowâ not that I know about,â Derpy replied, looking worried.

Grimglammer nodded and resumed her task. She pulled Buckyâs mouth open and examined his tongue, which looked purple. âœNuts, Mistress will have my head,â she grumbled.

âœSo more of you are coming?â Sentinel asked, still standing on trembling legs and holding up Shadowguardâs helmet upon his head.

âœYes. Weâre going to haul this ship back to Canterlot. Mistress is worried that there are things that might take an interest in Prince Buckminster never returning home. Heâs made enemies, the likes of which you can scarcely imagine, which is why we are here,â Shadowguard replied.

Grimglammer poured a liquid over Buckyâs gash that smelled like sour bananas, her nose crinkling as she worked. She pulled the bandages away from his stump and then poured the rest of the liquid over the burned end. It sizzled as it made contact with the seared skin.

âœSquire, we will require quarters. One bed. We can hotswap our rack. But one of us is to be standing guard at all times,â Shadowguard said, looking down at the colt that was still struggling to hold up her helmet. She smiled a crooked smile, revealing her fangs.

âœI am sure we can come up with something,â Sentinel replied from within the helmet.

âœOne of us is required to be at his bedside at all times. I apologise in advance if this upsets you ladies,â Grimglammer said. âœOrders are orders.â She went back to work, this time applying fresh bandages to cover Buckyâs wounds.

âœThank you,â Derpy said in a raspy emotional voice.

âœWe are here to serve, Lady Hooves,â Shadowguard replied.

Chapter 182

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Sentinel stared up at Grimglammer in what appeared to be total awe, sitting quietly in the dark while most of his family was sound asleep. They were free to return to being awake in the daytime now, and Sentinel wasnât sure of his place within the herd any longer, with Lyra and Bon Bon now moving to a more diurnal schedule.

âœDid Princess Luna hear my prayers?â Sentinel asked in a low sibilant whisper that he knew Grimglammer could hear. He could hear Moonbow breathing right beside him in the dark.

âœI canât tell you that, colt,â Grimglammer answered.

âœI mean, I was out there praying to her moon when you two showed up,â Sentinel stated.

âœShould you be talking to us on duty?â Moonbow asked inquisitively.

âœI have other directives. Comfort for one, but I have no idea how to fulfill that function. Plus, these are the Isles. I am always to be on the lookout for talent,â Grimglammer answered.

âœHow does one become a Myrmidon?â Moonbow asked.

âœIt starts by being deemed worthy. You donât find the Myrmidons, the Myrmidons find you. First you get put on trial, and when you are finally found guilty, you wear the chains and weights until you figure out how to fly again. Some never learn how to fly. I canât tell you more than that,â Grimglammer replied. âœI might have told you too much already, but I have been told to expect this question.â

âœHow did you know how to heal my father?â Sentinel replied.

âœI am a medical doctor, I specialise in curses, jinxes, and in magical maladies and malaises,â Grimglammer replied.

âœYou are amazing,â Sentinel breathed in the dark.

âœEvery Myrmidon is required to be the very best in their field. I am a doctor, Shadowguard is being trained to become a dream healer,â Grimglammer explained.

âœDream healer?â Moonbow asked.

âœGo into a ponyâs mind and make them face their fear in such a way that it benefits them. Help them repair the broken parts of their equinity. Take each and every hequine and shequine, figure out what makes them strong, and then bring it out. Only Shadowguard is being trained to deal with those who have been targeted, touched by shadow or corruption in some way, influenced by things that want to hold them back or keep them from some form of greatness,â Grimglammer explained in a soft silken whisper.

In the dark, two figures held each other close, and a third smaller figure was pressed tightly between them. The smaller figure was sleeping, as tiny foals tend to do in the night, and its sleep was undisturbed by howls or the terrifying things that had once stalked the night.

âœIt feels strange not being able to kiss you on the lips,â Yew murmured.

âœIf I had lips, I would kiss you all over. Especially in your mare places, I long to find out why such a thing is done,â Lugus replied in a soft voice.

âœMmm, that would be nice, but to be fair, my mare places have been thoroughly loved. Repeatedly in fact. The first few times were a bit awkward, but you are three times as big as I am, if not larger,â Yew said in a faint soft musical giggle. She rubbed her face against Lugusâ soft feathers and velvet coat, right on the place where the two intermingled. It made the large griffon shiver in the dark. âœYou know, you have a very strange organ. It is veryâ hard.â

âœIt should be, there is a bone in there,â Lugus said, his feathers fluffing out to cool his suddenly flushed skin. âœI used to have spikes and barbs. I had a surgery while I lived in Equestria to remove the barbs and spikes. My kind has evolved our organs for rape and unwilling copulation.â

âœThatâs awfulâ but you were so gentle and kind to me,â Yew said in a pained voice.

âœWe can choose to rise above our bestial natures, but many of my kind do not,â Lugus stated in a sad wistful sounding voice. âœBucky told me that if I took you as my mate and I did so much as scratch you with my talons, he was going to have a new lion skin rug. I offered to skin myself for him, to ease his mind.â

âœYou talked about me with him?â Yew inquired.

âœWe talked a bit as we worked in the forge. I asked him what he thought about interspecies breeding. He said it would be a good statement for our tribe,â Lugus answered. He reached out and stroked Yewâs cheek with his folded knuckle, keeping his razor sharp talons away from her face.

âœI like his tribe idea,â Yew said. âœI am a pony with wings. But I am a pony first and foremost.â

âœAnd I am a winged avian mammal, I chose to guard ponies and defend my chiefâs ideals,â Lugus said, pulling Yew a little closer as his beak opened in a yawn.

Grimglammer gently reached out and stroked Bucky with her central knuckle. The stallion was sweating profusely, and the bed around him was soaked with sweat. It had taken a lot of convincing to make the grey pegasus give the unicorn some needed room. A foul smell wafted off of Bucky. Grimglammer lifted a wet cool cloth and gently wiped Buckyâs face with it, cleaning gunk out from around his eye. âœYou did a marvelous job replacing your eye and your horn,â she said in a low soft whisper that sounded far too gentle to be coming from such a big brutish creature.

She looked down and saw Moonbow standing beside her, still as a statue, unmoving in the darkness. Grimglammer smiled to herself, welcome for the help from a fellow guard. She shifted her weight, causing her armor to clank softly in the dark. She reached out and touched Sentinel, nudging him softly as he slumbered.

âœHe is to be my mate,â Moonbow whispered.

âœAre you worthy of him?â Grimglammer asked.

âœWhat a strange question coming from a female,â Moonbow replied.

âœBut the question remains valid. I know of your views, I used to hold them as well, I came from these isles,â Grimglammer stated in a smooth voice that seemed to blend with the darkness in the room.

âœHe is different, I will confess,â Moonbow stated. âœHe confuses me. He is quite unlike our kind. I have spoken to him, he has read me things he has written. He has dreams and wishes that confuse me and leave me asking questions.â

âœAh, so you are open minded enough to ask questions, that is a start,â Grimglammer whispered to the smaller female at her side.

âœHe wants to be a knight, he has this image of what a knight should be in his head. He wants to go off and battle giants, trolls, manticores, and things that eat ponies. He wants to be just like his father, and that really confuses me because males are supposed to be the hunters and the gatherers while we go out and do the fighting,â Moonbow said to the much larger female hulking over her. âœIt doesnât make sense. He is smaller and lighter, faster on the wing, and more suited for hunting, stalking prey, and getting food. We are larger, stronger, and more suited for fighting. But he wants to fight. When I pounce him, he bounces away ready to scrap. He doesnât just fall down submissively and let me dominate him.â

âœOne day, mark my words, you will pounce him and he will swat you aside, I donât care how big you grow,â Grimglammer said in a thoughtful whisper.

âœThe idea of that excites me,â Moonbow purred.

Grimglammer heaved a sigh that made her armor clink softly. âœDeviant,â she muttered.

The sky of dawn was a faint soft pink, a smear of pastel blue, and a hint of royal purple as the night retreated from the light. Many ponies had slept outside in the meadow, around fires, out under the open stars. Pegasi and earth pony guards moved among the sleepers, still cautious, still careful, but optimistic that the nightmare was now over. The dew covered everything, and several early risers had taken to rolling in the wet grass, kicking and snorting to welcome the day.

Rising Star stood on the deck of The Scorned Mare watching Lugus prepare for a hunt. The griffon had a long wooden bow, the string made from a fine braid of donated pony hairs. It glistened in the early morning sun, the wood polished to a mirror finish, and Rising Star recognised the arrowheads on the arrows as his own. His sharp eye had spotted the three tiny stars he had left impressed into his work as his signature. Lugusâs arrows were terrifying, longer than a ponyâs leg, and the bow had to be at least six feet in length. The grip of the bow was as large around as Rising Starâs fetlock.

Shadowguard came strolling out onto the deck and watched the griffon. She was wearing her armor and she moved slowly around, each hooffall thudding on the deck.

Rising Star was terrified by the lunar pegasi mare that dwarfed him, and suddenly understood what it felt like to be Bucky in a world full of much taller stallions.

âœHe is going to awaken soon. His eye shows sign of movement and I do believe my Mistress has been successful in securing his body and his soul. He is kicking and twitching, showing signs of life. Bring back a deer or a boar or something, full of blood, and bring Grimglammer the heart. The rich heartblood will be good for him, he needs the iron and the nutrients. His body is a burned out husk,â Shadowguard commanded.

âœI will do as you bid,â Lugus said in reply.

âœYou are his griffon at arms?â Shadowguard inquired.

âœYes maâam, that I am,â Lugus answered.

âœI am making you his royal hunter. He needs rich red bloody meat,â Shadowguard stated.

Rising Star gulped and felt a little sick. He swallowed and hoped his queasiness would pass. âœSo Buckyâ heâs a prince now?â he asked in a squeaky nervous voice.

The big mare turned her gaze upon Rising Star and stared at him, studying the unicorn colt with a blank expression. âœYes, he is my prince,â she answered.

âœYou know, he is going to be really angry if he hears you calling him that,â Rising Star said nervously, daring to correct the big mare. Shadowguard blinked a few times, and Rising Star felt a deep sense of inner satisfaction in watching her squirm uncomfortably. âœHe hates titles, but if you call him anything, it should be Knight Captain because he feels that he has earned that,â he explained. As he watched, the big lunar mare turned her head back towards the door, stared for a moment, and then swiveled her head around to stare once again at Rising Star.

âœBut he has earned the title âœprince.â He is Sombraâs heir. He has earned the right to claim his ancient birthright, and has proven himself as a champion of my Mistress Luna,â Shadowguard said in a slow drawn out voice.

Rising Star took a moment, but he caught the careful wording of the giant mare. âœSoâ Princess Celestia doesnât feel this way?â he asked.

âœI cannot speak for Princess Celestia. She is currently grief stricken and rife with emotional turmoil. She needs time toâ reflect upon her sensibilities,â Shadowguard carefully responded. âœI owe no fealty to Princess Celestia. She is not my princess. I have sworn fealty to my Mistress Luna, and when he awakens, I will swear my oath to Prince Buckminster, once he is of sound mind.â

âœBucky is not a sound minded pony,â Rising Star said in a low voice.

Lugusâ feather crest rose and his eyes darted from pony to pony as he watched the big mare bristle from the coltâs words.

âœNo offense intended maâam, but Bucky kinda had to let go of his sanity, it was holding him back. Somepony had to face the darkness on its own terms, and Bucky willingly let go of some of his equinity, his fear, his sanity. He did what needed to be done. Have you seen his eye yet? Itâs stuck that way, that horrible purple fog starts to creep out the moment you open his eyelid and you can see the slimy green colour of his eyeâ this has hurt him in ways I can scarcely comprehend. The sounds of foals playing now makes him cringe and jump. Sudden noises startle him. Unexpected laughter makes his horn ignite and the look on his face sometimes when this happens would probably even make your pucker clench. And this was before he went down under the mountain and fought whatever it was he faced down there. I canât imagine him being better any time soon,â Rising Star said, angrily and bitterly. âœMeanwhile, you lot in Equestria let this evil fester here, growing worse and worse, and it took something from me that I hold very dear. I had to watch as this fight consumed him, devoured his body, and broke him.â

Shadowguard stared at Rising Star, but the big mare made no reply.

âœI am off to hunt,â Lugus said nervously, gathering up his bow and his arrows.

Chapter 183

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âœHmm, why yes, I do believe he is coming around. When he wakes up, I want all of you to try and stay quiet. I am sorry, but I must insist. My Mistress has been working on his mind, he will be fragile and easy to overwhelm,â Grimglammer said, looking around the room at Buckyâs wives.

âœHe is going to want his foals,â Derpy said in a firm voice.

âœI doubt he will even be able to talk,â Grimglammer said, looking Derpy in the eye.

âœDoesnât change the fact that he is going to want his foals,â Derpy retorted, sounding slightly annoyed and angry as she repeated herself.

âœAll I ask is that you give me a little time to work,â Grimglammer said gently. âœThe big griffon should be back soon and I intend to feed your husband a meal of blood while he is still awake. Do you want your foals seeing that?â

âœNo,â Derpy said in a sour angry voice. âœNot sure if I want to see that.â

Looking anxious, Berry Punch wiggled a little closer to Buckyâs body and rested her head down on her crossed front legs. Her mane, now long and untrimmed for quite some time, spilled over onto her face. She looked rough, and her eyes were bloodshot from crying. She felt Thistle scoot up next to her and she could feel Thistleâs wide pregnant belly pressing into her ribs.

Hearing Harper beginning to fuss, Lyra tried to quiet the foal. She stroked her fetlock along Harperâs spine and nuzzled the foal with her snoot, but to no avail. Harper began to kick and whimper, which made Grimglammer stare at her.

âœBring that foal over here. Place it next to his head, close to his ear. Let us try something,â Grimglammer commanded, her voice gentle but insisting.

Her mouth pressed tight into a straight line, Lyra did as she was instructed, placing Harper down near Buckyâs neck. The foal squirmed and wiggled until she reached her fatherâs head, and, finally getting what she wanted, cuddled up against the side of her fatherâs face, took an ear into her mouth, and began to chew on it, slobbering copiously as she did so. âœMama,â Harper mumbled, her mouth full of ear.

âœHmm, curious,â Grimglammer muttered.

âœWhat?â Thistle asked.

âœSuddenly, I have the desire to have foals. Ugh!â Grimglammer grumbled.

âœThere is nothing wrong with that,â Thistle said.

âœYeah there is,â Grimglammer replied.

âœAnd what could that be?â Berry Punch inquired.

âœThere is currently a wager between Shadowguard and I over who will crack first and give in to foal making desires. It canât be me. She wins everything,â Grimglammer said as she watched the foal attempting to devour her fatherâs ear. Her face looked hopeful for a moment as Bucky twitched and the corner of his mouth moved.

âœSo after he wakes up and gets better, what do we do? What happens?â Thistle asked.

âœWell, I stabilise him, and then we wait for the others to arrive. After that, we go home,â Grimglammer said, turning to look at the kelpie as she did so. âœWhich reminds me, Luna wants for me to give you a thorough examination if you will consent. May I do so later?â

âœOkay,â Thistle squeaked nervously.

âœI will be gentle,â Grimglammer promised.

âœMost ponies when they see the doctor, the doctor is not covered in reinforced plate mail,â Berry Punch quipped, nosing Thistle and trying to comfort her.

A low groan came from Bucky and the whole room fell silent, save for Harper.

âœMama?â Harper burbled, letting go of Buckyâs ear as she did so.

âœPrince Buckminster, can you hear me? I am Myrmidon Grimglammer, and I am here to help you. You probably canât talk, but can you give me some kind of sign you understand what I am saying?â Grimglammer said in a clear voice, speaking her words slowly.

A leg twitched weakly and Buckyâs eyelid fluttered. After a few tries, it opened, and a foul purple mist emanated out from his corrupted orb. There were a couple of gasps from around the room as his eye became visible again.

âœIs it safe for the foal to be around that?â Bon Bon asked in a frightened whisper.

âœMistress Luna will explain more about his condition when we return home. I do not know enough about it to comment. She did say that as bad as it might appear, it is perfectly safe for all of you to be around him, and told me it was simply excess dark mana burning off from his body. She explained that it was like a fire being extinguished but still smoking to me when I inquired several times about the nature of his condition, so that I might understand him better and help him,â Grimglammer answered.

âœHnnnngunnnnf, Tharferf,â Bucky moaned.

âœYes, very good. You made a noise. Good job my Prince. Soon, you will string several noises together in a coherent fashion and recover your ability for speech,â Grimglammer stated.

âœBucky, did you just say âœHarperâ … can you hear us?â Lyra gently urged.

âœTharferf,â Bucky mumbled somewhat incoherently.

Grimglammer went to work, looking over Bucky, prodding him to check his responses, looking into the his eye, and even pinching him gently upon the neck using her grasping digit and her central knuckle to get ahold of a bit of tender flesh. She looked extremely pleased when Bucky gave a faint yelp of pain. âœPlease forgive me my Prince, and I hope you do not request my head for what I have done to you,â she said in a contained but excited voice. She lifted a cool damp cloth and wiped Buckyâs face again, wiped away encrusted mucus from around his nose, and then gently wiped away more gunk from his eye.

âœBucky, can you hear me?â Derpy asked.

Every mare in the room fell silent as Buckyâs nostrils flared and a raspy wheezing sound came out from his lips. His barrel rose and fell, but no words came out. The stallion struggled to move his legs, but nothing really happened after the initial twitches.

âœMama?â Harper chirped, breaking the silence.

âœDaddy,â Grimglammer corrected helpfully.

Harper turned her head to look up at the big mare, her eyes narrowed fiercely and a few sparks spewed from the tip of her horn. âœMama,â she insisted, before resting her head on her fatherâs ear.

âœIf you argue, she will zap you. She did it to Rising Star one night when he kept trying to get her to say âœdaddyâ to Bucky. She burned off a patch of hair from his pelt,â Bon Bon warned.

âœOh my, she is one of those types of unicorns,â Grimglammer muttered.

âœHrrrflurghlarf,â Bucky stammered, his still purple tongue hanging out of his mouth.

Eyeing the glass near the bed, Grimglammer had an idea. âœSomepony try giving him some water. Lady Heartstrings, I do believe that fine control is in order here.â

Lyra nodded, lifted the glass, conjured some water, and then held it in the air above Bucky, who responded by extending his lips towards the glass eagerly. Berry Punch was the first to respond, sitting up scooting over, sitting back upon her haunches, and then lifting Buckyâs head away, which make Harper protest angrily and beat her tiny front hooves against Berryâs belly.

The glass was lowered to Buckyâs lips and he drank greedily, spilling more water over his muzzle and his neck then went down his throat. Lyra conjured a bit more water and Bucky continued to drink, his movements barely coordinated enough to allow him to swallow.

Finally, his thirst slaked, Bucky ceased to drink and his eye looked up at Berry, giving her a pleading look. Berry continued to hold Bucky, stroking his neck and cradling his head.

âœNow hopefully he is still awake and aware when Lugus returns,â Grimglammer said.

The griffon was all too aware of the eyes upon him when he hung the small mindless deer by the leg from a section of rope secured to the upper railing on the deck above the cabin. He worked near the edge of the rail, the deck was going to have to be scrubbed. He placed a large clean bucket under the deer, said a few silent words of thanks, and then using one of his claws, sliced the deer open. It was still warm. He slit the throat, allowing blood to go into the bucket, and then he sliced open the belly. Making a few well practiced cuts, he reached in a foreleg up to the elbow and pulled out the still warm and rather gooey heart. He set it down upon a clean cloth provided just for this purpose. He wrapped it carefully, picked it up, and then he went inside the cabin to deliver it to his chief.

âœI canât watch this,â Berry said.

âœNeither can I,â Derpy admitted.

Most of the mares except Thistle and Grimglammer turned away. Thistle gave a faint nod to Lugus, her lips moving but no sounds came out. Grimglammer stared down at the now bloodstained cloth that was intended to be a bandage before it was repurposed.

Lifting it from the cloth, Lugus held the heart over Buckyâs maw. Berry Punch was holding him up again, as she had done before, but she had her head turned away. Lugus, holding the heart in his talons, allowed the blood to drip on Buckyâs lips, the thick purplish red heart blood oozing down in viscous droplets. Bucky began to lick the liquid from his lips eagerly and Lugus squeezed a bit more, causing a stream to to trickle directly into Buckyâs mouth.

âœThis is good, just what he needs,â Grimglammer said as she watched Bucky feed. âœIron, protein, all manner of nutrients, just what the doctor ordered.

The heart was squeezed carefully, slowly, a steady pressure applied to get the precious life giving liquid to come forth in a steady stream of nourishing sustenance. Finally, after what seemed like several minutes, the heart had nothing left to give. Bucky was still licking his lips and gurgling for more.

Using his beak, Lugus carefully snipped off a tiny morsel from the heart, pinched it between his other talons, and then stuffed it into Buckyâs mouth. After a moment, the tiny tidbit was swallowed whole. He snipped off another piece after getting a nod of approval from Grimglammer, and making sure his claws did not snag Buckyâs face or lips, slipped in another sliver of raw heart, which Bucky swallowed.

There were gagging sounds from around the room as the strong scent of blood clung to herbivorous nostrils.

Snipping off a rather large piece, Lugus offered a bite to Thistle, who hesitated a moment before accepting, allowing Lugus to stuff the meaty morsel into her mouth. She gnawed for a bit and her eyes closed, little happy noises came from the back of her throat as she chewed and then swallowed.

âœThatâll be good for the mother to be,â Grimglammer said. âœThere is more deer outside. I think Iâll get some myself before I get some rack time and let Shadowguard take her shift.

âœBuck Sergeant Sparkler, permission to check out your backside, maâam.â

Sparkler rolled her eyes and then looked at her husband. âœYou know, you are not actually enlisted in the guard. You donât have a rank. You donât need to call me that,â she said.

âœBut if I was enlisted, you would outrank me. Iâd be a private right?â Rising Star asked, a faint smile upon his lips.

Sparkler nodded.

âœWant to inspect my private parts to see if they are fit for duty?â Rising Star inquired, somehow keeping a straight face as he asked his wife a very silly question.

Rolling her eyes again, Sparkler gave her husband a hard shove that tipped him over, causing him to fall over upon his side in the grass. When Rising tried to get up, she shoved him again, shaking her head in exasperation.

âœPermission to stand at attention,â Rising Star said, trying hard not to smile.

âœOh you are impossible!â Sparkler groaned.

âœFeeling any better yet?â Rising Star asked, this time his voice was completely serious.

âœNo,â Sparkler said. âœNot at all.â

âœIf it is any consolation at all, it was amazing watching you work. The way you helped to hold the deck. You secured the bowels of the ship after the wolves got inside. Theyâre all saying that your actions, your defense, what you did saved so many lives,â Rising Star said. âœHowâs the shakes?â

âœThey come and go,â Sparkler replied. âœHowâs the anger?â

âœI think I need some time burning things or working in the forge smashing stuff with a hammer,â Rising Star answered. âœI just want to set everything on fire.â He paused, rubbed his ribs, and turned his head skywards. âœYou were a hero,â he stated.

âœI did what needed to be done,â Sparkler said. âœDinky was the hero.â

âœDinky was awesome. Watching her and Derpy work togetherâ I think Dinky might have scored more kills than you did Sparkler, and thatâs not even counting her bombing run where she dropped dozens and dozens of spell jars on the wolves down below. It was unexpected watching them take to the air and really stick it to the wolves. They worked so well together. I couldnât do much but stand around because of the danger of using extreme fire magic on a wooden ship,â Rising Star said, shaking his head sadly at his own final words.

âœRising, donât sell yourself short, you played your role in the preparation. You helped make all of this possible. You helped my father make his armor. Your fires forged the tools of war,â Sparkler said reassuringly.

âœThanks Sparky, I think I needed to hear that,â Rising Star said as he looked up at his wife.

âœYou okay Dinks?â

Dinky shrugged, not sure how to reply.

âœPlease say something Dinky. Youâve been so quiet,â PiÃa begged.

âœI feel better, but my mind doesnât,â Dinky said as she rolled over in bed.

PiÃa placed both of her hooves on Dinkyâs back and pressed down lightly. âœDonât turn away from me,â she requested. âœI need my sister back, I am suffering too.â

âœIâm sorry PiÃa,â Dinky said in a miserable voice. âœNothing makes sense right now. One moment I am really happy to be alive, and the next moment I just want to lay down, go to sleep, and not wake up for a long time, hoping that somehow, all of this will just be forgotten or something.â

The door opened and a shaggy head with long tufted ears poked through the door.

âœYou okay?â

âœWe need you Sentinel, Dinky is having one of her moments and I think I am too,â PiÃa said.

The colt entered the room, walked to the small bed, and hopped up. He settled in beside his siblings, yawned, and then prodded Dinky. âœYou should be outside. In the sun. It will make you feel better. Want to go to the lake or something?â

âœI dunno,â Dinky said.

âœIâm worried about daddy,â PiÃa said.

âœHe was awake for a while,â Sentinel said. âœNot long though. He ate a little, they got some food in him, and the effort of eating wore him out. He sleeps again. He is going to live though.â

âœI wish I could have been there while he was awake,â PiÃa whined.

âœHe is very, very sick PiÃa,â Sentinel said in a comforting voice. âœAnd they fed him blood. Fresh blood.â

âœEeew yuck,â PiÃa said with a shudder.

âœGross,â Dinky said as she huddled into a tiny ball, pulling her legs into her belly.

âœDid you eat some?â PiÃa asked.

âœI ate some of the deerâs liver, it was actually quite good,â Sentinel said. âœAnd yes, I drank blood. Lugus collected it in a big bucket. He is going to cook it in a kettle and make some kind of broth from it and a bunch of deer fat for father to drink during the moments he is awake.â

The earth pony clutched her sides. âœThat makes my liver hurt just thinking about it. I think. Where is my liver anyway? I hope nothing ever eats my liver, wherever it is.â

Sentinel smiled, revealing his fangs, and then he hugged PiÃa. âœWhile I am around, nothing will ever eat your liver,â he said, trying to comfort his sibling.

âœPromise?â PiÃa asked.

âœI give you my word,â Sentinel replied.

The grateful earth pony foal threw her forelegs around her brotherâs neck, squeezed tightly, and then kissed his cheek. âœSentinel?â

Hearing the question in PiÃaâs voice, Sentinel gave his sister a reassuring squeeze. âœWhat?â

âœYouâve been talking to those big guardsâ are you going to leave us when we go home? Are you going to become a guard?â PiÃa asked, her voice strained from barely contained emotion.

âœNo, sister,â Sentinel said, not hesitating for a single moment with an answer. âœMy place is here with you, Dinky, and Harper. You need a big brother. Things are going to be hard for you and Dinky for a while I think. I donât want to be a guard, I want to be a knight, and that means staying by my fatherâs side and doing good deeds, and maybe fighting monsters if there are any.â

âœWhat about Moonbow?â Dinky asked, squirming and rolling over to look at her siblings.

âœI think she is quite taken by them. I think if they asked her, she would go,â Sentinel said, a trace of sadness in his voice that only his sisters would be able to detect.

âœStill going to marry her?â PiÃa asked.

âœOf course, I gave my word. If she leaves, I suppose we will have to get to know each other when we are older,â Sentinel replied. âœShe has a right to have dreams, to have desires, to wish for things that might be different than what I want.â

âœYouâre starting to get wordy, just like PiÃa,â Dinky quipped.

âœHow do we go home?â PiÃa asked.

Both of her siblings looked at her blankly, not understanding her question, but both saw the pain upon her face, her eyes filling with tears and her tiny nostrils flaring.

âœHow do we go home? Weâre not going to be like the other foalsâ when we sit in schoolâ when we try to talk to them, weâre going to be different from them. We are going to know things, feel things, weâll have seen things they will not have seen. And I used to get teased for being too pink. What are they doing to do to Sentinel? What are they are going to say about us? Being in a herd? Our daddy, what he didâ I am starting to realise and understand so many things, and I am so afraid,â PiÃa explained.

âœYou sound neurotic,â Dinky said.

âœMaybe I am,â PiÃa whispered. âœI have magic. Maybe I have the neurosis that comes with it too,â she added, looking thoughtful as the tears began to trickle down her cheeks. She felt two strong forelegs lock around her and nearly squeeze the air out of her lungs.

âœWe will have to protect Sentinel,â Dinky said. âœIt doesnât mean we have to hurt other ponies, but I donât have a problem scaring them just a little bit. I think I am turning out like father. Iâve seen the darkness and now life seems so much more important to me. I never want to hurt other ponies.â

âœDo you think Ripple is still going to be part of our little gang or have we lost her to adulthood?â PiÃa asked, sniffling and struggling to breath as her small barrel hitched.

âœSheâs changed since sheâs killed,â Sentinel said. âœSheâs stopped being afraid. She knows what she is capable of now.â

Dinky squirmed closer to her siblings and touched her brotherâs side. âœHave you talked to Lugus yet about having him take her on as a squire?â

âœWhen things calm down I plan to do that,â Sentinel replied, stroking Dinky with his wing as he held on to PiÃa, who was still crying.

âœYou are like the best big brother a filly could ask for,â Dinky said, looking up at Sentinel. âœI am going to try and sleep again. Can you watch over me in case the bad dreams come again? I keep dreaming that I slip off of my motherâs back and fall down to my death.â

âœI will watch over you Dinky, try to get some sleep,â Sentinel promised.

Chapter 184

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Heaving a sigh of relief, Derpy was thankful that Buckyâs tongue was no longer swollen and purple, but had gone back to a somewhat more usual orange colour. She stroked him gently with her wing, moved just a little closer without pressing up against him, and laid her head down upon the bed. She wished that he was awake, but was content to know that he was currently beyond pain.

Grimglammer had seen to that, injecting him with powerful painkillers when he had awoke an hour or so ago. Bucky had slipped off with a dopey smile after eating the rich broth that had been prepared for him.

It was late, and it had been a long day for Derpy. A long troubling, trying day that had left her mentally exhausted. Knowing that time was the only thing that would heal Bucky, she gladly slipped off into slumber, hoping that when she woke, Bucky would be better.

Another day, another dawn. And on this day, as the sun dawned, Ripple stood proudly at attention as the day began and the golden rays of sunlight spread over everything as the sun rose above the treeline.

âœYou lot turned the tide of battle. All of you, male and female, have proven your worth. We have special honours for pegasi and for earth ponies, and the earth ponies are off earning their honorifics right now from Lord Thrasher. It is my honour to look upon you fine pegasi, knowing that I see the very best of the best before me,â Deadspin said as he moved among his troops.

Ripple stood shoulder to shoulder with several other pegasi, some of them much larger than she was, but she had no doubt where she stood among their ranks. Still at attention, her eyes traveled over to her teacher and instructor, Knocker, who was a fair distance away, looking upon several of his students, Ripple among them.

âœEvery pony proved their worth during the battle, but you lot went above and beyond the call of duty. Some of you held the line and defended Knight Captain Bitterâs wives. Others pushed our enemies from the deck. One of you turned into a whirlwind of death to defend your husband, and you acted bravely in the defense of the one you love,â Deadspin bellowed as he paced.

A hot feeling filled Rippleâs cheeks and she struggled to remain at attention. She felt too hot and wanted to flare out her wings for a cooling breeze along her sides.

âœEach and every one of you are now within the ranks of the Dragoons, our air cavalry. The best of the best. The numbers fell for a while, many died defending farmhouses or off picking fights with the wolves. But now, the ranks are growing again, and all of you have proven worthy. You are an elite brotherhoodâ and sisterhood, of death dealers. I am proud of you all and it has been an honour to serve beside you!â Deadspin shouted.

A cheer went up from the gathered pegasi and the ponies standing around them. In the crowd, Sparkler, Loch Skimmer, and Rising Star all beamed with pride as Ripple received her accolades and new title.

âœAll of you are dismissed. Go and celebrate today as Dragoons. Remember, Dragoons keep Death busy while skillfully evading Deathâs clutches,â Deadspin said to his crew of deadly killers.

Leaning over to whisper into Sparklerâs ear, Loch Skimmer lowered her voice and spoke. âœYou know Sparky, I am the only one in this herd that has not served and does not have a rank.â

âœOne of us has to stay sane,â Sparkler replied. âœMight as well be you.â

Unable to stop squirming, Thistle tried to relax and let the big lunar pegasus mare have a look at her. She rolled over onto the back, exposing her belly, and a faint squeak of fear escaped from her lips. She could feel her hind legs being gently pulled open, and then rotated, checking the movement in her hips.

âœDo try and relax little one, it will make this easier,â Grimglammer said, looking somewhat tired. It was going to be rack time again soon, but she still had some work ahead of her.

Closing her eyes, Thistle decided to try and wait this out, just letting it happen. She felt vulnerable and exposed under the much larger predator. She felt a pressure upon her large belly, and the tickle of a large tufted ear. She giggled nervously from the tickle.

âœTwo heartbeats, both of them quite strong and healthy,â Grimglammer murmured.

A moment later there was a very embarrassing sniff in a very delicate location and Thistle squealed before finally letting out another nervous giggle.

âœAny discharge?â Grimglammer asked.

âœDischarge?â Thistle asked, opening up her eyes and looking at the much larger mare.

âœDischarge. Runny gunk that oozes from your vulva,â Grimglammer explained.

âœOhâ I think I understand. I get really runny and dribbly when Berry Punch or Derpy work me over,â Thistle confessed, now blushing. She bit down on her lip and fell silent.

âœI see,â Grimglammer stated. âœWell, thatâs pretty normal. So no runny smelly discharge, burning painful itchy sensations, or just a feeling of something being wrong?â she inquired.

âœNo,â Thistle said.

âœBeen taking the neo-natal vitamins that were sent out for you?â Grimglammer asked.

âœYes, weâve all been taking them, Derpy said they were running low,â Thistle answered.

âœI am going to be inserting something into your vulva and down into your vagina. It is going to be cold, I am sorry,â Grimglammer said apologetically.

âœOh? Why would you neED TO DO THAT?â Thistle asked, her voice shooting up several octaves. âœCOLD!â

âœI need your temperature,â Grimglammer said. âœI need to do the best I can to determine how healthy you are. If you have a higher than normal temperature down there, I can spot things like infections or other complications. I donât have a lot to work with out here, and I could only bring what would fit in the saddlebags of my companion and I.â

The kelpie squirmed uncomfortably and tried to not squeeze her legs shut. âœI donât like this,â she whimpered.

âœI know, I am sorry,â Grimglammer whispered in a soothing tone.

Finally, the invading feeling of cold pressure was pulled free and Thistle was able to take a deep breath of relief. She rubbed her belly, mostly trying to make herself feel better. And then, she saw the enormous metal spike being held up in Grimglammerâs thumb and knuckle. âœOh no no no, what is that?â Thistle whimpered.

âœVaccinations,â Grimglammer answered, preparing the syringe.

âœNo!â Thistle cried.

âœThis will all be over in just a second, I apologise miss, but I do need to poke this into your backside,â Grimglammer stated.

âœNo! NO! NOOO! DERPY! SOMEPONY HELP ME!â Thistle screamed as she scooted over the bed away from the big mare holding the giant metal needle.

Grimglammer scowled when she heard the thudding of hooves, and all of her muscles tensed. âœOh nuts, why canât this ever be easyââ

A second later the door exploded open, nearly torn free of its hinges. Stiff legged and stomping, a grey pegasus pushed into room, her wings flared and each breath a violent snort. Her golden eyes were filled with what could only be described as homicidal fury. Behind her was a green unicorn, and the doorway was filled with golden light from the unicornâs horn.

Grimglammer held up the syringe before her for all to see. âœVaccinations. She just got a little scared.â

Derpy pawed the wooden planks and took a deep breath. Her wings flapped a few times, then fluttered, and then she slowly folded them in to her sides. The look of homicidal rage was still blazed in her eyes though, and her pupils were the size of pinpricks. After taking a few deep breaths, the grey pegasus finally let go of her berserker fury and the faint light of sanity crept back into her eyes.

âœThatâs a railroad spike!â Lyra shouted.

âœIt is a standard guard issue field syringe,â Grimglammer said. âœI plan to stick all of your other family members as well, so make peace with it now.â

âœI donât wanna be stabbed!â Thistle protested.

âœNeeds to be done,â Grimglammer said firmly.

âœYes it does,â Derpy said in a ragged voice.

âœTRAITOR!â Thistle cried.

The grey mare sighed and then turned to look at Lyra. âœGo get Sentinel and the girls.â

Lyraâs lower lip quivered and trembled. âœOh donât make me be the bad mama,â Lyra begged as she backed away. She saw the look on Derpyâs face, took a deep breath, and resigned herself to her fate. âœIâll go get Sentinel and the girls.â

Going to Thistleâs side, Derpy pulled the kelpie close and tried to sooth her. âœThis needs to be done,â she whispered, stroking Thistle and glaring at Grimglammer. âœIt might be kinda awful because some inconsiderate arsehole couldnât be bothered with packing needles for little ponies.â

âœNO!â Thistle sobbed, squirming in Derpyâs embrace. The kelpie resisted being turned slowly over, exposing her rump to the big mare holding the metal spike that was the sum of all of Thistleâs fears. Finally, knowing that she was no match for Derpyâs strength, Thistle gave in and wrapped her forelegs around Derpyâs neck and squeezed.

A moment later, her frenzied scream of pain could be heard all over the whole ship.

A few minutes later, there was another scream of pain when Derpy Doo Hooves received her vaccination boosters from a standard issue syringe, stabbed directly into the big fleshy padding of her rump.

Bon Bon came running, no longer able to stay put like she had been told, and she froze in the door, her eyes wide with horror. She began to back away into the hall. A guard pegasus showed up a moment later, and peered around in confusion.

âœVaccinations, little cousin,â Grimglammer said to the pegasus. âœWant one?â she asked, holding up a syringe.

The pegasus took off, running away as fast as he could go down the hall, returning to his post, his armor clanking as he departed.

Lyra returned, with three foals with her, holding two them with her magic.

âœWhat is going on?â Sentinel demanded. âœWhy are my mothers screaming?â He pushed his way through the door, looked up, and let out a shrill squeak of alarm from his echolocation when he saw Grimglammer.

âœSentinel, be a good colt, show your sisters how brave you are,â Derpy said, rubbing her backside with one hoof while wiping away tears from her eyes with her wings. âœLet Grimglammer stick you in the backside.â

Looking around and weighing his options, Sentinel made a very difficult decision, something his kind seldom did. He chose strategic retreat, taking off as fast as his legs would carry him, panicked clicking sounds coming from his throat as he ran.

âœAw nuts,â Lyra said, shoving Dinky and PiÃa into the room and shutting the door behind them. She took off after Sentinel at a run, hoping to catch him. She readied her magic and began to feel a crippling sense of self loathing setting in.

âœSentinel, come back! Mama loves you!â Lyra cried. She reached out with her magic and grabbed Sentinel, and then as she watched, he dissolved into shadow in the dim light of the hall and slipped free from her magical grasp. âœOh bother! Shadow diving isnât fair!â

Sentinel was simply gone. He hadnât just shadow dove, he had shadow winked, which meant he could be anywhere on the ship, anywhere where it was dark. Lyra set off to play hide and go seek with her colt, hating herself for what she was doing.

âœNo way!â Dinky cried, her horn flaring with dangerous intensity.

âœDinky, donât do it!â Derpy warned.

âœIf she sticks me Iâll zap her!â Dinky threatened, backing into a corner and shielding PiÃa with her body. âœYa like bees? Well, do ya?â

Derpy cautiously approached her cornered foal. âœJust a shot Dinkyâ you can be brave for just one shot. It will only hurt for a few minutes, and mama got one, so canât you do it for me?â Derpy coaxed.

âœBEES!â Dinky shouted. âœSting me and I will sting you back! Donât make me call out the wrath of the swarm! There is no place to run in this little room!â

Grimglammer wasnât sure what was so threatening about bees, but she stood at the ready with a syringe, waiting for Derpy to wrangle her foals.

Derpy pounced on Dinky, wrestled her, and pinned the foal down, securing her in a headlock. She folded Dinky in half, exposing her buttocks to the air. A moment later, Dinkyâs agonised cry filled the room.

Thankfully, there was no bees.

Derpy tried to console Dinky, and was promptly bitten, Dinky biting down savagely on her motherâs leg. Derpy let go, and Dinky ran off to another corner to rub her aching buttcheek, glaring balefully at her mother.

Holding a fresh syringe, Grimglammer advanced on PiÃa, who was cowering in the corner.

âœStay back, if you hurt me my daddy will kill you when he wakes up!â PiÃa wailed, the tears already flooding down her cheeks. She pushed herself into the corner, her hooves scraping and skidding.

Derpy pulled PiÃa into an embrace, and began to expose PiÃaâs backside, lifting her slightly for the injection. PiÃa gibbered with fear, kicked, squirmed, and her full earth pony strength kicked into emergency mode. Derpy was actually having trouble holding her.

Berry Punch came through the door, saw what was going on, realised what was about to take place, and said nothing, knowing her sister needed the shot, but secretly hoping that PiÃa would wiggle free and escape somehow. Berry did not close the door behind her.

As Grimglammer approached, PiÃaâs hooves began to glow alarmingly. One shot out and connected with the lunar pegasus mareâs leg. There was loud crackle and a whiff of ozone as the big armored mare was launched across the room and smashed into the wall. She bounced and fell to the floor, and there were several gasps from all around the room.

But none looked so shocked and stunned as poor PiÃa, who was now sitting on the floor, free of Derpyâs grasp, her hoof still trailing smoke. âœWhat did I do?â she whimpered.

Chapter 185

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âœI have served but I donât have a rank,â Rising Star said to Loch Skimmer, correcting her earlier statement she had made after he had thought about it for a while. âœSo you are not the only one without a rank.â

âœYeah, but you got a title, and you are now Lord Rising Star,â Loch Skimmer argued.

âœYeah, but I was considered too dangerous to be around other ponies in combat in case I flared or ignited,â Rising Star mumbled.

âœAnd I am just a boring pegasus,â Loch Skimmer said, watching a butterfly go fluttering past, her eyes bright and happy.

âœYou are not a boring pegasus. Your sister is mastering the arts of war and you are Berry Punchâs perverted pupil,â Sparkler said, prodding Loch Skimmer in the ribs.

Above them was loud cry, and all three of them looked up. Above them, a dark figure popped into existence, and leathery wings could be seen fluttering.

âœHeâs too disoriented to fly!â Loch Skimmer said, her pegasus observation kicking into overdrive. Her wings whipped out. Rising up on her hind legs, her broken leg clutched to her barrel, she kicked off from the ground and shot into the air, her powerful wings creating a downdraft that kicked up debris all around her and her companions.

She was airborne in seconds and hurtling skyward.

âœHow did he end up outside of the ship?â Sparkler asked in a panic.

âœHold on Sentinel!â Rising Star shouted.

Loch Skimmer flew through the air, her legs folded against her body, her ears folded back against her skull, and she moved as fast as her physiology allowed. She was made for strength while her sister was made for speed, but in this instance, strength was needed. She maneuvered beneath Sentinel and then tried to adjust her speed to match his freefall speed so there would not be a painful collision. She had seconds, the ground was already too close for comfort.

There was no time for corrections, Loch Skimmer gritted her teeth, and braced for impact. Sentinel slammed into her hard enough to knock the wind out of both of them, and Loch Skimmer struggled to keep her wings flapping. For a moment, she lost her own orientation, and couldnât tell which way was up or down. She saw stars in her vision, and there was a stabbing pain right between her wing joints. There was no time recover, she bucked her body, tossing Sentinel free from her for just one second, rolled over in the air, caught Sentinel again, clutched him tightly to her barrel, wrapped her body around him as best as she could, and then a moment later, she crashed withers and shoulders first into the ground, hitting hard.

âœLoch?â Rising Star asked, the first to reach the crashed pair. âœSparky, go get help!â

Sparkler took one long look at her mate and her younger sibling, and then ran off shouting. She didnât have to wait long, guard pegasi were already hitting the ground.

âœLoch, talk to me, say something before I piss myself,â Rising Star pleaded.

âœI finally did something heroicâ ouch,â Loch Skimmer groaned. âœSentinel?â

âœIâm good,â Sentinel said after sucking in a gasping breath. âœCanât see, sun blinded me.â

âœLoch, is your leg okay? Did you bump it? Does it hurt?â Rising Star asked, his voice full of worry and concern. He pranced in place before darting forward and nosing both Loch Skimmer and Sentinel.

Loch cradled Sentinel in her embrace, and neither of them made any move to separate. They could feel each otherâs hearts thudding crazily, and Sentinel rested his head on the crook of Loch Skimmerâs neck, where it met her chest.

âœWhat happened little guy?â Loch Skimmer asked, extending her wings and making sure they were intact. They were sore, but seemed to work.

Sentinel did not respond. He shuddered, grunted, and wrapped his forelegs around Lochâs neck, squeezing her tightly.

âœI know this is embarrassing Sentinel, but your little balls must be sucked right up inside of your bodyâ are you okay? What happened?â Loch Skimmer asked, running her good foreleg over Sentinelâs spine and trying to comfort him.

Other guards were crowding around now, waiting, trying to see if the pair was okay. As they watched, Sentinel gingerly pulled himself away from Loch Skimmer, stood on wobbly legs, and staggered away. Rising Star helped Loch Skimmer get up on her hooves, and after an initial stumble, she too managed to walk a bit.

âœBig brute mare wanted to stab me in my arse,â Sentinel said, giving himself a good shake.

âœWhat?â Rising Star said.

âœGrimglammer wanted to jab an enormous metal spike into my arse!â Sentinel repeated.

âœWhy?â Rising Star asked.

The lunar pegasus blinked a few times, trying to adjust his sun dazzled eyes. He shrugged in reply to Rising Star and then looked up at The Scorned Mare. âœShe wants to stab all of us in the arse. Are all mainlanders barbarians? And they call me a savage!â

Bucky once again found himself somewhere outside of his own body. He stood in a field of stars, stretching around him infinitely in all directions. He could see galaxies and all sorts of heavenly bodies. He also saw a tall alicorn stallion staring down at him, and Bucky realised he was in his alicorn foal form. The large alicorn was grey, and his mane was full of galaxies.

âœGreetings,â the alicorn said, his voice almost unnaturally soft in the void of the universe.

âœWho are you?â Bucky asked.

âœSome names are better not known little one,â the tall alicorn replied.

âœI suppose you have something to tell me,â Bucky said, looking around. âœWhy else would I be here?â he added, wondering what it is what he was standing on, which seemed solid but was invisible. He looked up and studied the tall stallion, trying to figure out what he was seeing. For a moment, the stallions pelt turned white, and then, for a single blink of an eye, his pelt had turned black. His mark was a set of scales, and they moved, shifting constantly.

âœWhat do you know of balance little one?â the grey alicorn asked.

âœI know that it is an impossible ideal, something you chase after but never can catch,â Bucky said, watching as a star supernovaed and exploded, ripping apart a small galaxy.

âœAstonishing, I did not expect for you to make that answer,â the alicorn said in a deep warm voice, the ultimate fatherly voice.

Bucky turned to watch the stallion again, no longer looking at the universe around him, and for a moment, the stallion became a mare. She flicked her tail during that moment and a new galaxy went whizzing off into the void.

The alicorn, now a stallion again, smiled and his horn ignited. A small sun appeared, but it was not a star, it was the symbolic representation of Celestiaâs mark. It floated around Buckyâs head for a moment, and then came to rest in front of Buckyâs nose.

âœThis is light. By itself, it means nothing. It needs to shine somewhere, that is its purpose,â the alicorn explained. He spread his wings and snorted. From his horn more magic came, and a floating image of Lunaâs mark whirled around Buckyâs head, before settling close to Celestiaâs mark. âœThis is darkness. Also meaningless without something to define it. These two were meant to exist in balance. And for a time, they did. They coexisted and my offspring did as I intended for them to do. In time, I gave them bodies because other forces came into play that wanted to destroy the balance. The very heavens had been wrecked, the sun, the moon, and even the planets were all torn from their celestial mounts during the war that nearly ended all things. Celestia and Luna brought harmony back to the sun and the moon, and they made the planets move and follow order. It was not perfect order though, the fine machinery of the cosmos was broken, and due to the chaos curse, the planet itself was locked in place. So the sisters have to juggle the sun, the moon, and the other planets around it in a careful dance, making sure nothing ever collides, ensuring that life goes on.â

Bucky watched as a tiny model of the solar system appeared before him, the planets moving in impossible orbits around a small green and blue planet that did not move.

âœAll of this requires two sisters,â the alicorn said. âœWithout both of them, the system fails. Chaos introduced a new foe, but it was not Discord. This time, the sisters were turned against one another, and one was forced to hold up all of this, all by herself, an impossible task that took all of her energies. Somehow, through impossible odds, she endured after losing her sister. Celestia suffered for a thousand years, enduring an unspeakable amount of mental anguish and pain. She had to keep all of this moving, and run an empire. To say her attention was divided is an understatement,â the alicorn explained.

âœHow did she manage?â Bucky asked.

âœExtraordinary ponies like yourself gave all they had to help her. She held herself together, somehow enduring the thousand years it took to manifest a new balance,â the alicorn stated. As he spoke, a new star was born, and Bucky recognised it as Twilight Sparkleâs mark. It moved, zipping around, before finally settling near Celestiaâs sun and Lunaâs moon. âœTwilight is where light and darkness exist together in balance. It is harmony. Twilight Sparkle restored the much needed darkness, the world was dying without it. She restored Luna, rebirthing her though the Elements of Harmony, returning her in a diminished state as a foal, so Luna could grow up and learn a few much needed lessons once again.â

âœSo that is why Luna came back as a tiny filly? I remember her, I saw her a few times,â Bucky said, sitting down upon nothing and stretching out his wings. He reached up and wiped his eyes, trying to fan away the purple mist oozing from his corrupted orbs.

âœCelestia and Luna both are still trying to repair the damage done during Lunaâs absence. Not only to the world around them, but the celestial mechanics as well. Even magic was breaking down, and would have died, ending all life upon this tiny planet. Twilight Sparkle became necessary in more ways than one. She is magic. Should she choose to remain mortal, eventually her body will be returned to the ground like a seed, and new magic will grow. Should she choose immortality, in time, she will embody and control all magic in the local cosmos. So now, there is the sun, the moon, and magic, all working in balance, keeping the celestial mechanics moving,â the alicorn said, touching Bucky with his wing.

âœWhy are you telling me this?â Bucky asked.

âœBecause, you have claimed your spark of divinity, and the time is coming for you to make a choice. It is time to create a new balance. Or to destroy it,â the alicorn answered.

âœI donât understand,â Bucky stated, looking very confused.

The big alicorn became female once again, and a blue glow surrounded her body. From her breast, a blue crystal heart came forth, and floated in the void. It was alone, close yet distant from the others, the sun, the moon, and the star. âœLove has been made manifest, during Lunaâs long absence, love nearly died from the world, shadows remained free to roam, and they poisoned the hearts of many without Luna to hold them back. Hatred grew strong, so did apathy. The world rapidly approached destruction, the different species and tribes growing to resent one another. The unicorns, able to touch the universe directly through their horns, many of them suffered the worst of all. The cosmological decay hurt them in ways you can barely imagine. Then Cadance came and she held the rampant hatred in check. She battled apathy. She made the ponies and other species begin to care about one another again. She worked to make the tribes remember why they came together. But Cadance, like Celestia, is alone,â the alicorn explained, turning back into a stallion as it spoke.

âœSo I am here to balance Cadance?â Bucky inquired.

âœPerhaps,â the alicorn answered.

âœBut I donât want to be the alicorn of war,â Bucky said. âœDo I have to do it?â

âœNoâ you do not. In the end, the choice is yours. You will either bring balance or you will upset the scales completely. You get to choose how this ends,â the alicorn said.

âœThatâs an awful thing to lay down upon someponyâs shoulders!â Bucky shouted. âœI know what happens if I become the alicorn of warâ all life ends!â

The big alicorn looked sad for a moment, and then joyous. âœThe old machinery is cleared away, the wreckage removed, and a new machine will be created to replace it. Perhaps this time, the balance will be held.â

âœNo!â Bucky shouted. âœEven if it is flawed, the old machinery should be allowed to continue! It doesnât need to be perfect, it just needs to keep functioning! Perfection, while desirable, is impossible!â

The big alicorn became a foal almost the same size as Bucky and the pair studied one another. âœNew flaws will be introduced into the system. The current model is not sustainable. All that can be done is to introduce stopgaps to keep the celestial cogs from flying apart. An alicorn for love, to repair something that should have never been broken. Other systems will break down and others will have to step up to hold the machinery together. They will know unimaginable suffering holding together the cosmological machinery, just as Celestia has experienced.â

âœSo by refusing to do what I was born to do, I am condemning others to suffer?â Bucky asked. ââœEither I end all life or I increase the suffering of those who liveâ what sort of horrible choice is this?â

âœYours,â the alicorn foal replied, now becoming a filly.

âœSo what happens if Cadance dies?â Bucky asked.

âœLove dies with her. Eventually, another will rise to take her place, or she will choose a second ascension which will render her immortal,â the alicorn filly responded. âœShe will choose just like you must choose. You have freedom of choice, but you do not have freedom from choice.â

âœSo I become the alicorn of war or I do not become an alicorn,â Bucky said.

âœYes,â the alicorn answered. âœYou have two choices. Either or. In the end, it comes down to what you believe is right.â

âœI do nothing but make bad choices! I am constantly being told how stupid I am! I have lousy judgment and do nothing but make mistakesâ and now it falls on my shoulders to screw this up too?â Bucky asked. He watched the sun, the moon, and the star as they orbited around one another. âœWhy canât love and war exist together? Where is whatever will bring balance between us?â

âœIt is not fated to exist. If it did, as the alicorn of war, you would know how to exploit its weaknesses, and would move to undo it. It would never survive your onslaughts,â the alicorn answered, now a full grown adult again.

âœSo after I end all life and destroy the celestial machinery, what then? What becomes of me?â Bucky questioned.

âœThere are always further forms of ascension,â the alicorn answered.

âœDid something like me cause the chaos war that broke the planets and screwed everything up?â Bucky asked.

âœYou must choose. In the end, you will decide what is the right thing to do,â the alicorn stated.

âœYou did not answer my question,â Bucky said with surprising vehemence.

âœThere is no answer,â the alicorn responded.

âœScrew you and your ambiguity!â Bucky snarled. âœI bet if I ascended Iâd know your weaknesses tooââ

âœEventually,â the alicorn remarked, not at all concerned. âœNone of that matters. Like it or not, you are now one of my foals. I have Touched you as I have Touched others. And now, you must make a choice.â

Bucky stared at the representations of various alicorns floating in the void. He reached out with his hoof, and much to his surprise, he was able to touch the crystal heart that represented Cadance. He gave it a gentle nudge, and moved it closer to the sun, the moon, and the star. âœThe machinery might not be perfect, but I intend for it to continue,â he said as he kept nudging the crystal heart closer and closer to the triune cluster.

Chapter 186

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âœWhat did I do?â PiÃa asked in a worried whisper.

Grimglammer struggled to stand, her legs not wanting to work. She shook her head, causing her armor to clank and rattle, and finally, with a great deal of effort, she heaved herself up onto her hooves and wobbled unsteadily in the small room.

âœWe all knew that PiÃa had magic,â Berry said. âœBut I donât think anypony expected whammy jammy zap boom pow magic.â

âœIâm starving!â PiÃa said, rolling into a fetal position and clutching her stomach.

Derpy took this opportunity to snatch PiÃa again and wrangle her into position for getting a shot in the backside. PiÃa kicked and struggled, but was left weak from her magical outburst.

âœThat was unexpected,â Grimglammer said as she crossed the room, and stuck PiÃa in the behind with a syringe. âœMust tell Mistress about this alarming development.â

âœOW! GOBSHITE!â PiÃa swore. Her lips quivered and her eyes filled with tears. She rubbed her backside and glared at Grimglammer. âœI should zap you againâ if only I knew how I did it the first time!â

Derpy let PiÃa go and the earth pony foal retreated to the corner with Dinky, both of them glaring balefully at the adults in the room.

âœWhat is with all of the shouting?â Moonbow asked, coming around the corner at the worst possible time. She was half awake and completely unaware of what was about to happen next.

Not saying a word, Grimglammer stabbed a freshly prepared syringe into Moonbow, causing the big filly to snarl, snort, and then roar. Moonbow scuttled off once the syringe was pulled out, fleeing down the hallway, her echolocation making angry sounding squeals, clicks, and pops. Grimglammer prepared another syringe and advanced upon Berry Punch…

âœCome on, time to face the music,â Rising Star said, as guard pegasi set him down upon the deck. âœLetâs go and get this over with, this cannot be anywhere as bad as Sentinel is saying. There are no needles longer and fatter than a pencil.â

Sentinel glared up at his older brother, his lip curled back, saying nothing.

âœShots arenât so bad, the needle always looks bigger than it really is,â Sparkler said. She waved at the kind guard pegasus who had set her down gently and nodded her head in gratitude.

Rising Star gently pushed Loch Skimmer towards the cabin door and watched as Sparkler gave a similar push to Ripple. Sentinel followed behind them on his own.

âœYou will eat your own words,â Sentinel muttered as the group pulled open the door and went inside.

âœWoah there, we need to talk this over!â Rising Star said. âœNow, I hate to abuse my authority, but as a local lord, I am demanding that you stand down with that weapon!â

âœThere are now two sources of authority I recognise,â Grimglammer said. âœAnd you are not one of them.â

âœBut that needle is bigger than a pencil!â Rising Star said, backing his backside up against the hall wall.

âœDo your worst!â Sparkler demanded. She stood resolute and unmoving, ready to turn to stone at any moment.

âœAll of you are behaving like foals!â Derpy shouted.

âœYou are not sticking me,â Ripple said. She sat down and glared defiantly at Grimglammer.

âœYou all have to go to sleep sometime,â Grimglammer said.

âœYou just go right ahead and spook Sparky,â Ripple said with a smug smile.

Derpy rolled Bucky over onto his back and propped his head up on Berryâs soft side. She gently lowered his severed stump down onto a folded blanket on his barrel to cushion it, and was very careful about the gash in his side just behind his front shoulder. She looked at Lyra, who was holding a bowl and a spoon in her magic, the bowl steaming from the reheated blood broth that Lugus had made.

Lyra rubbed her rump and winced before trying to settle into a more comfortable position. She stirred the soup, crinkling her nose as she did so, and then lifted up the spoon, extended it out to Bucky, and fed him a bite.

âœAre you comfortable Bucky?â Derpy asked as some soup dribbled down his chin. She watched carefully as Bucky looked at her, unable to respond. He really wasnât able to move on his own yet or do much of anything, but he was now awake, alive, and slowly recovering because of Grimglammer. His corrupted eye made her feel queasy looking at it.

Unable to contain her curiousity, Bon Bon looked up at Shadowguard. âœIf Bucky is a prince now, what does that make us?â

Shadowguard pursed her lips and looked thoughtful for a moment. âœMistress was not specific about that. My best guess would be his consorts.â

âœMy arse hurts,â Thistle grumbled, rolling over onto her belly and rubbing herself.

âœIt was immensely satisfying watching PiÃa take down Grimglammer,â Berry said.

âœI still want to know why Sentinel was covered in bruises and so was Loch Skimmer,â Derpy said as she reached back and rubbed just behind her bubbles. âœAnd why neither of them wanted to talk about it.â

âœFoals donât always tell their parents everything, especially when they reach Sentinelâs age. He probably doesnât want to worry you any more than you are. In his mind, it probably made sense, even though in reality it still worries you,â Berry said. âœIt is going to be awful when PiÃa reaches that age.â

âœShe ate like Bucky eats after a big burst of magic,â Derpy said.

âœWell, she had a big burst of magic. And now sheâs napping, which is probably for the best,â Berry said, stretching her neck out and nosing Thistle as she spoke.

Derpy watched as spoonful after spoonful of broth disappeared into Bucky and she felt a little better. She watched Lyraâs careful movements, the way she wiped Buckyâs chin with the spoon, the care and gentleness she had, making sure she didnât bang into his teeth or his lips. Lyra was going to be a good mother, and Derpy knew it. The fragile unicorn had her faults, but she was a caregiver.

âœBucky, we have the phoenix egg, just so you know. I donât know if you remember it, but Lugus and Sparkler found it on the ground next to you. We have it in storage in a cabinet, it is actually what is keeping your broth chilled so it doesnât spoil. It has turned the cabinet into a freezer,â Lyra said as she continued to feed Bucky. âœSomething is wrong with that egg. Phoenix eggs are supposed to be hot.â

Bucky squirmed and his mouth moved, causing soup to spill out. His whole body tensed with effort, his eye blinked, and finally, an ear twitched.

âœBucky?â Derpy asked.

Bucky wiggled helplessly in reply, his eyelid fluttering.

âœDo you want to see your egg again?â Lyra asked.

The stallionâs lips quivered and his nostril flared.

âœWell, after you eat, I will get it for you so you can have a look at it,â Lyra offered. âœBut you have to eat first. Doctor Grimglammer says you are malnourished.â

âœI feel like we are treating him like a foal. Eat your dinner and you get to see your egg,â Derpy said bitterly. âœHow long is he going to be like this? Heâs just laying there, mostly paralysed.â

âœWell, Grimglammer told me that he should be dead, so she doesnât have a basis to measure recovery. He is already awake, somewhat aware, and responding to various stimuli, so it is anyponyâs guess really,â Shadowguard said as she shifted her weight and looked down upon the bed.

Derpy reached out with her wing tip and carefully tickled Buckyâs sensitive frog on one of his hindhooves. His body jerked and his eye locked on Derpy. She smiled. âœSee, thatâs something I understand. That look,â she said as she tickled the sensitive place on Bucky again.

âœDerpy, stop, I canât feed him if you are tickling him,â Lyra protested, holding the spoon aloft near Buckyâs snoot.

âœWell, Iâd kiss him right now but he probably tastes like blood broth,â Derpy said, her words causing Bucky to smack his lips together. The grey pegasus smiled for a moment, a sad smile, and then she placed her hoof on Buckyâs belly, patting it affectionately. âœYouâd probably really like a kiss eh? Iâd say thatâs a sign you are getting better.â

The night was warm and full of fireflies. The breeze was somewhat humid, the air was balmy, and the moon was high in the sky. Sentinel sat upon the deck of The Scorned Mare, his journal before him, and his eyes were held skyward.

Returning from a short flight, Moonbow landed on the deck, coming down hard and heavy, before stumbling and going face down into the deck planks. She was already a strong flyer, but her landings were terrible. She picked herself up and recovered her dignity.

She approached Sentinel with a look of mischief and then sat down beside him, a playful grin upon her face. Her face changed to one of concern as she leaned in and studied Sentinelâs stitched ear, and then it changed back to one of playful mischief as she pulled back.

âœI heard what happened today,â Moonbow said.

âœLoch told you?â Sentinel said.

âœYes she did, future life mate,â Moonbow responded.

âœUgh,â Sentinel groaned.

âœIâve heard that you can fly, but you canât fly very well. I am guessing you have only flown in the daytime, right?â Moonbow inquired.

The colt nodded after a moment of internal debate.

âœThe daylight weakens us. Come with me, I will help you fly. Our matriarch has commanded me,â Moonbow said.

âœMy journal,â Sentinel said, looking down at the rather crude looking book.

âœWill be right here when you get back,â Moonbow insisted.

âœI canât fly that wellâ the few times Iâve flown Derpy had to keep raising me up so I could glide for a while,â Sentinel said.

Letting out a stream of annoyed clicks and pops, Moonbow leaned in and nuzzled Sentinel. âœShe has feathers. She canât teach you what I can teach you. Now come on little male.â

âœI dunnoâ after todayâ I am kinda worried. I shadow dove and wound up outside of The Scorned Mare and no matter what I did, I couldnât fly, and I think I would have probably died if Loch Skimmer hadnât saved me,â Sentinel said, his face contorted in shame. âœIâve been stuck indoors at night for so long. Iâve only ever tried flying down a hallway at night.â

âœFly with me,â Moonbow said enticingly.

âœI dunno,â Sentinel whimpered.

âœI understand. You donât know how to fly well and you donât have a lot of skill with your echolocation. You are blind,â Moonbow whispered in a low voice so the pegasi guards wouldnât hear her.

Upon hearing her words, Sentinel slumped down in defeat, his wings going limp against his sides and drooping down to the deck. His barrel hitched once, then twice, and then continued hitching in the rhythmic telltale pattern of one who cries silently so others do not hear.

Not knowing how to react or what to do, Moonbow sidled up closer to Sentinel and wrapped her wing around him, pulling the smaller colt close to her. âœThis is nothing to be ashamed of, we can fix this. I do not think any less of you, future life mate,â Moonbow whispered. She waited, letting Sentinel cry his frustrations out.

After a long wait, Moonbow prodded Sentinel again. âœCome now, just leap off the edge of the deck and try to fly. If something goes wrong, I will catch you. I give you my word to keep you from serious harm. The landings might be a little rough.â

Sentinel ducked his head and did not respond.

âœOur matriarch wants you to fly. The bossy cross female has put her hoof down,â Moonbow stated.

Moving slowly, Sentinel slipped free from Moonbowâs embrace, rose up on all fours, and stretched out his wings. âœIf I fly and my wings get sore, I will not be able to write,â he said. âœMaybe this is a bad idea.â

Feeling frustrated, Moonbow gave Sentinel a shove towards the deck railing. The colt squeaked and stumbled forward, casting one final glance backwards towards his journal. He was shoved again, and then again, and finally, he stood at the rail.

âœYou know, I donât know that I am in the mood for a flight,â Sentinel said.

âœDonât make this hard,â Moonbow said, her voice a growl.

âœWhat are you going to do?â Sentinel said, peering over the edge and looking down.

âœWell, Derpy and Loch Skimmer both suggested that I throw you over the deck rail,â Moonbow said. âœBut that would not endear your trust.â

Sentinel froze up completely and then looked at Moonbow. He peered over the side, looked down, thought about what happened earlier, and then back at Moonbow.

âœSo here is what we are going to do. You are going to climb up on my back, hold on, and I am going to take off, and once we are flying, you are going to slip off of my back and fall back into my slipstream, gliding behind me. If there is a problem, I give you my word as your future mate that I will catch you,â Moonbow explained.

âœOkay,â Sentinel squeaked, his voice overcome by uncharacteristic fear.

âœSo come on then, climb on,â Moonbow said.

Hesitating for a moment, Sentinel found his courage and clambered up onto Moonbowâs back. He pulled himself up, climbing up over her rump, sliding over her back, pulling himself into place by hooking his front hooves onto her wing joints. As he slid over her croup, something terrible happened.

He became aware of exactly how he was climbing onto Moonbowâs back and how it looked. He became aware of the exquisitely soft and shaggy coat that Moonbow had. He became painfully aware that his scrotum was sliding up and over the curve of her buttocks, and then over her well padded croup. And there was the embarrassing awareness of of a growing problem. And by the stars, how it was growing.

âœWait, is thatâ are youâ is that what I think it isâ ooohâ hey thatâs kinda nice,â Moonbow said, shifting her body around, trying to get a feel for what was rubbing up against her.

The sudden movement and the silky feeling of Moonbowâs pelt was too much, and Sentinel found his growing problem has grown out of hoof. He slipped from Moonbowâs back and went scampering off over the deck, trying to hide himself as he fled.

âœSentinel, come back,â Moonbow said, taking off and chasing after the colt. It wasnât like he could get away from her, being trapped on deck.

She cornered him at the prow, when he had ran out of places to go. He was sitting down with his legs squeezed together, his head down, and his posture submissive. âœSentinelââ

âœJust leave me alone,â Sentinel said.

âœSentinel give me a chanceâ

âœJust go away!â Sentinel interrupted.

âœNo! What has gotten into you?â Moonbow said. âœThis is perfectly normal!â

âœI donât want to talk about it!â Sentinel snapped.

âœYou went hard, so what, Iâm flattered!â Moonbow said. âœThis is your first time, isnât it?â

Sentinel nodded.

âœThis is supposed to happen,â Moonbow said.

âœYou donât understand,â Sentinel said, ducking his head down in shame.

âœYou are impossible! You have all of these feelings and emotions. You place so much feeling into everythingâ I do not understand you at all,â Moonbow said. âœSmall impossible male,â she grumbled.

âœWhat if my sisters were sleeping with me and this happened?â Sentinel whispered.

Moonbow felt her breath catch in her throat, suddenly understanding Sentinelâs concern. In the short time she had known him, she had come to understand one thing. He lived for his siblings. âœLittle colts grow up,â Moonbow said, feeling that her words were useless but saying them anyway, not knowing what else to say.

âœSo what do I tell them? How do I make it better? How do I kick them out of my bed?â Sentinel said in pained whine, his voice full of strain and emotion. He squirmed and tried to cover himself, not liking the fact that Moonbow was still trying to catch a peek, even during this serious moment. âœOr you. Youâve been sleeping in my bed as wellâ ugh this actually hurts.â

âœIt will go away in time,â Moonbow said. âœI had terrible urges during my first heat. I had to chew on these bitter leaves given to me to try and make it easier. And I was separated from the males and had to stay by myself. I spent my time in the top of a very tall tree, sleeping during the day, and waiting out the night hoping that the wolves would not eat me. And I was miserable.â

The colt squirmed.

âœI mean I was really miserable. I found out that rubbing myself didnât help at all. Just made everything hot and sloppy-â

âœNot helping!â Sentinel gasped, cutting Moonbow off.

âœI am actually really flattered,â Moonbow whispered. âœI got to cause your very first hardness, and it happened when you climbed up on my back.â She turned and looked around, the guards were all the way over by the door to the cabin, and she turned to look back at Sentinel.

âœYou were very soft and I could feel things rubbing and suddenly all kinds of things happened,â Sentinel admitted in a pained whisper. He shuddered, gasped, then he squeezed his hind legs together even tighter and wrapped his wings around his body.

âœTell me how soft I am,â Moonbow said sweetly.

âœNo!â Sentinel protested.

Hissing slightly, Moonbow slumped. âœI liked hearing I am desirable. It makes me feel things.â

âœLike what?â Sentinel asked.

âœLike I have moths fluttering in my stomach. Like my head is full of moonbeams. And right now I feel sweaty under my dock,â Moonbow answered.

âœUuuuuaaaaagh!â Sentinel gasped, closing his eyes. He clutched himself, pulled his wings around him even tighter, and tried to think about something other than Moonbowâs sweaty dock, which quickly become impossible. The more he tried not to think about it, the worse it became. And then, much to his horror, his hypersensitive nose caught a whiff of Moonbow. He needed to be away from her. He needed air free of her scent.

With nowhere to go, and no more deck left to retreat upon, Sentinel, knew what he had to do. Moving with sudden speed and swiftness, Sentinel broke for the railing, spread his wings, and hurled himself over the side.

Plummeting towards the ground once again, his wings flapping uselessly, Sentinel understood just how much of a mistake this was. He closed his eyes and flapped even harder.

He felt his wings brushing up against something, and then he felt something large and solid pressing up against his back. Two large legs wrapped around his barrel, and he felt himself jerked skywards. He opened his eyes and saw the ground just a few feet below his hooves as he soared, slowly being pulled upwards. He heaved a sigh of relief and felt Moonbow squeeze him.

Worst of all, he could feel the cool night air blowing over his fevered exposed skin, and more than anything else, he wanted to find a warm place to bury it.

Chapter 187

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With the new dawn came more preparations. The Scorned Mare was due to have her repairs finished today, the hole in the hull filled in with new wood by a few unicorns held in place by helpful pegasi. Work had already been partially completed.

Provisions were further being loaded into the holds, and even in the early dawn hour, pegasi lifted heavy loads from the ground and carried them skywards, to crews waiting on the deck. Earth ponies pushed and pulled cargo around on deck and secured it down into the hold. Lugus worked tirelessly, directing the flow of traffic and making sure there were no airborne collisions, while Yew stood on the ground and gave clearance to go up.

A falling crate could be fatal for any pony unfortunate to be underneath it when it fell.

Help was scheduled to arrive today, and departure for home was scheduled for tomorrow, with little time for rest for the arriving pegasi.

Laying in bed, Bucky stared at his phoenix egg and tried to recall the strange dreams he had been having. The egg was sitting in a simple wooden stand that Lyra had crafted, and it filled the room with cold. The blue tints in the shell swirled and waved as Bucky watched. It was mesmerising, soothing, and calming. It was like watching a lava lamp, something Bucky enjoyed a great deal.

His wives were bundled under blankets, asleep, and Grimglammer loomed protectively over him. Bucky had only been awake for a while, he was full of morphine from the shot that Grimglammer had given him a while ago. The blue on the egg rippled and swirled, always moving, ever shifting. Bucky could remember staring into the shell as his life hung by a thread, down there in the darkness, after having delivered ruin to his hated enemy.

Am I free?

Bucky struggled to move his head, to see who was speaking. He couldnât move, his head was propped up on a lumpy cushion, and his eye darted around trying to see who was talking.

You ended the nightmareâ can you free me?

Again, Bucky heard the voice. He whimpered, trying to alert Grimglammer, but all she did was stroke him gently and make a wordless sound of comfort.

I can feel my strength returningâ I am no longer a chick in mind, but I am trapped in this shellâ free me and I will help youâ I must be reborn!

Bucky struggled to move, tried to make his legs work, tried to do anything he could to communicate that something was going on.

I canât go on like this.

Bucky wondered if there was more than morphine in that shot. The egg was alive right now, different shades of blue dancing over the surface of the shell, and he could see it vibrating slightly.

He turned my shell into a prison and then he drained meâ he never stopped taking from meâ if you help me, I will help you, I will willingly give you what he took!

Having nothing else to fall back on, Bucky tried to summon up his magic. Nothing happened at first, but he persisted, trying to flog his drug addled brain into functioning. The warm haze of morphine dulled his senses and robbed him of his willpower. He felt a painful pressure building up behind his fulgurite horn, the pressure building to such a point he could feel it pressing against the back of his eye.

I give you my life willinglyâ you ended the nightmareâ I will bond us and you will live!

The voice in his head was soothing, comforting, and it made the horrors still fresh in his mind fade. It overpowered the terrible voice of his grandfather telling him that his foals had died, and all of the other terrible things said. He could see the egg vibrating now, bouncing around expectantly.

I will cleanse your body with fire!

Buckyâs horn finally ignited, his magic taking a great effort to make happen. He touched the shell with his will, and could feel the dark magic binding it. The blue-green aura around his horn faded, and black flames quickly leapt up to replace it. The dark magic came easy, it took no effort, no extensive focusing of will, the dark energy flowed from Buckyâs body. He broke the seal on the egg even as Grimglammer was giving off a panicked cry of alarm.

The egg exploded, filling the room with bone chilling cold, coating the walls with ice, and filling the room with snowflakes. Blue flames rose up from the egg, a burning funeral pyre that gave no heat, but burned with freezing intensity. The blue flames streaked through the air and enveloped Buckyâs body, the primal magic lifting him from the bed.

The room filled with worried cries as Bucky began to burn.

The pain was agonising, Bucky could feel it all, but he welcomed it. It coursed through his body, making every nerve scream with agony, restoring and repairing as it rippled through him.

He became aware of the sound of his own breathing.

After several agonising moments, the pain faded, and a soothing feeling of cold settled over his body, overpowering the fevered agony he felt, cooling even his feverish thoughts, easing his delirium. The burning pain in his stump faded into nothingness. He felt himself drop onto the bed and bounce, his stump hitting the mattress, and there was a final spike of cold that traveled through his brain and out his horn, sending shivers and convulsions up and down his spine.

Bucky heard a faint squawk and the fluttering of wings, and then he knew no more.

Grimglammer eyed the phoenix warily, not sure what to make of the bird perched on the unicornâs horn. She shivered, still feeling a cold that had even pierced her thick shaggy pelt, and tried to make sense of what she just saw.

Both the phoenix and Buckminster had just been burned in blue freezing fires.

Now, there was an adult phoenix sitting guard and trying to nip anypony that got to close. She had seen it for a moment when the egg had exploded, it had been a chick, but then it had caught fire and burned, taking Buckminster with it.

She needed to check on Buckminster to see if he was okay, but the phoenix seemed to have other plans. It was blue and white, much like its shell had been, and burning continuously with chilly azure flames that defied all sense of logic. Fire was supposed to be hot.

âœStupid bloody bird!â Grimglammer swore.

âœIt is so beautiful,â Lyra said, wiping sleep from her eyes. The phoenix turned to look at her, and she smiled at it, trying to be friendly. She could see the birdâs talons clenching Buckyâs horn. There was still a faint blue glow around Buckyâs body. âœGrim, stand down. The phoenix is sustaining him. I think. Look how easy Bucky breathes now.â

The phoenix squawked and bobbed his head, looking around the room, and the fires radiating from its body flared for a moment in a display of defense. The chill in the room grew even more painful, and then began to ease off as the phoenix seemed to understand there was no threat.

âœWeâre his wives, he needs us,â Lyra said soothingly. She approached on the bed slowly, reaching out her hoof. âœWeâve been keeping him alive. I must confess, I am surprised to see youâve hatched, but you are a phoenixâ can your kind even be killed?â She stopped in place when the bird made a cooing noise, and she bowed her head. âœDonât move, let me handle this,â she whispered.

Lyra waited, eyeing the phoenix warily, waiting for some sign that it accepted her. âœYou and Buckyâ he saved you, so you are saving him?â she asked.

There was a trilling sound from the phoenix and it bobbed its head.

âœLook, I am no threat at allâ I am his mate. I have no desire to harm you,â Lyra said soothingly. She panicked for a moment when she heard the flutter of wings and then gasps from the mares all around her. She squeezed her eyes shut and waited for the blast of cold that was sure to come.

Instead, she felt a weight on her horn and a chilly feeling on her forehead. She looked up at her horn, now crosseyed, and saw the phoenix sitting there, preening a blue flaming wing. It was cold, but not unbearably cold. She felt a soothing calm take over her body and all of her worries and fears fell away. It was like Bon Bonâs touch, only stronger. She felt herself going limp, and her body eased down to the bed beside Buckyâs. She felt like she could go back to sleep. She felt safe and secure. She felt her eyelids growing heavy.

And then, the phoenix fluttered off, returning to roost upon Buckyâs horn, and Lyra was left feeling sleepy and discombobulated.

âœLyra?â Bon Bon asked, worry in her voice. She clutched Harper to her, little Harper who did not seem to be afraid at all, but laughing and cooing.

Lyra did not respond, but slipped off into a blissful slumber, her mind free from its usual troubles, a smile still upon her lips.

âœYouâre just like Philomena,â Grimglammer breathed. âœWell, you look different, but you are capable of drugging overly neurotic unicorns, arenât you? You had me worried.â

âœPhilomena?â Berry Punch asked, shaking some snowflakes free from her ears and shivering against Derpy.

âœPrincess Celestiaâs phoenix. She uses the phoenix to dope students that are too far gone into neurosis. She doesnât like having to use pharmaceuticals more than absolutely necessary,â Grimglammer explained.

âœBucky has a phoenix?â Derpy asked.

âœIt seems that way,â Grimglammer replied. âœI am sorry bird, but you did give all of us a pretty good scare,â she said to the phoenix, who was still eyeing her warily.

âœWill it help his mind?â Derpy asked.

âœLook what it did to Lyra. She went down like she was hit with a wagonload of chlorpromazine hydrochloride with a diazepam chaserâ she is even drooling and smiling, the sweet happy smile of the chemically calmed,â Grimglammer answered, looking down at Lyra.

Derpy slowly approached the phoenix, her head low and her ears back. Her wings fluttered nervously, and Berry Punchâs hoof trailed along her side. âœThank you,â Derpy said in a low voice as she drew nearer. She froze when the bird turned its head to look at her. Its eyes were glittering black orbs and they stared at her, meeting her gaze. She saw the beak open and the bird bobbed its head, bouncing around on Buckyâs horn, dancing from one set of talons to the other. She watched as the wings flared out and the phoenix presented its tail to her.

She did not know how respond. âœYouâ whatever fates brought Bucky to this horrible place and put him through these trialsâ you are here to help him recover,â Derpy said, struggling to put into words the complicated thoughts running around in her mind. âœYouâre here to make things betterâ to make things right.â

The phoenix shrugged and then turned its head upside down to look at Derpy.

âœDid that phoenix just shrug?â Berry asked.

âœIt appears so,â Grimglammer said. âœPhilomena is pretty smart. She plays pranks on ponies. Guards who screw up have to guard her and she makes their lives miserable.â

âœHi birdie,â Thistle said, looking at the phoenix, but not daring to approach.

Derpy pushed forward, reaching Buckyâs side, and leaning in close. The bird made a warbling sound, but did not stop her as she leaned down and gently kissed Bucky on the cheek. She raised her head and looked at the phoenix, and not knowing what else to do, snoot-bumped it.

The feeling was unique. Cold, but comforting. A brisk sensation coursed through her, like eating a big bite of strong peppermint ice cream. She felt a wing brush up against her cheek, and the worry of many days melted away from her body, all of her fears and concerns melting away, her muscles finally relaxing.

âœEverything is going to be okay,â Derpy said, a single tear sliding down her cheek.

Chapter 188

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âœBucky, since you seem to be feeling better, Grimglammer wants to see if we can get you up on your hooves. Lyra will be here to catch you if you fall. Loch Skimmer is going to help you walk. You must be careful,â Berry Punch said in a slow careful voice. âœIt is important to keep the blood flowing to your legsâ there could be problems, issues, things like blood clots.â

Bucky nodded slowly. He kicked out a leg and gave it a wiggle. âœWhy Loch?â he asked in a somewhat drugged slur.

âœBecause honey, she has experience in walking on three legs,â Berry replied, her voice hitching when she said the word âœthree.â

Shadowguard stood nearby, looking nervous and apprehensive. âœIf he suffers any further harm, Mistress will demand that I sever my own head,â she muttered.

Derpy pulled Bucky close, kissing him for a brief moment, and there was a squawk from the phoenix, who was now perched on a small bookshelf. She rolled Bucky onto his side, careful of the gash behind his shoulder, and watched as the golden glow of Lyraâs magic surrounded his body.

âœCome on father,â Loch encouraged. She lowered her head and nosed Bucky.

Lyra lifted Bucky, held him aloft for a moment, and then set him down upon his hooves, but did not allow all of his weight to settle. He wobbled in place and his head drooped.

âœTry to hold your head up father, it will help you keep balance with one front leg,â Loch Skimmer said, offering up gentle instruction.

âœIs walking,â Bucky murmured.

âœHow much morphine does Grimglammer have in him?â Berry asked.

âœEnough, apparently,â Shadowguard replied.

âœNow father, pay attention. When you walk now, you have to start to rear up on your hind legs, kick out your good front leg, bring it down, and then make a little hop forward with your hind legs. See, watch me,â Loch said, and then demonstrated, taking a few steps in the small room before reaching the wall.

Bucky watched Loch for a moment, licked his dry lips, and then wobbled in place. He kicked out his front leg, stumbled, and then hung suspended in mid air. He felt his legs being moved back into place by Lyra. âœLove Lyra,â Bucky mumbled.

âœYes Bucky, we all love youâ but you need to move your legs so you donât run the risk of losing another one,â Lyra said.

Loch Skimmer demonstrated her walk again, this time crossing the room in the opposite direction, coming towards Bucky. As she passed him, she kissed him softly on the cheek.

The phoenix came down and perched on Buckyâs horn, surrounding Buckyâs body in a blue aura. The shaking and wobbling eased a little bit as the bird flexed its talons, clinging to Buckyâs jagged horn. It whistled at Loch Skimmer.

Loch Skimmer whistled back, and the phoenix began to bob around.

Bucky made the motions of movement, and Lyra eased him along. He just wasnât strong enough yet to rear up, but he did kick out his legs and move around.

âœHopefully, this will do,â Shadowguard said. âœGrimglammer was worried about his lymphatic system not working right and so many other problems. Hopefully, this will reduce some of the swelling in his fetlocks. You there, kick those legs!â she commanded.

âœAre you even allowed to give him commands?â Thistle asked.

âœI am allowed to do anything within my power to preserve him, keep him alive, and make sure he survives until I deliver him to my Mistress,â Shadowguard replied. âœI am to also provide comfort, behave like a fellow family member, have a friendly bedside manner, AND YOU THERE, KICK THOSE LEGS!â Shadowguard bellowed.

Bucky nearly lept out of his skin and wiggled his legs, shuffling around on his hooves.

Rising Star looked over at Sentinel, who was sitting beside him and yawning. The colt looked troubled and rather sleepy. âœLong night?â Rising Star asked. âœGet lots of writing done?â

âœOnly a little,â Sentinel replied.

âœDid you spend a little time getting sweet with Moonbow?â Rising Star asked in a teasing tone of voice, giving Sentinel a nudge. Much to his surprise, the colt reacted, his whole body tensing up and his eyes clenching tightly closed. âœWhatâs wrong? Did she hurt you? Did she get too pushy?â

âœNo, nothing like that,â Sentinel replied.

âœWhat then?â Rising Star inquired.

The lunar pegasus squirmed, his leathery wings fluttering at his sides. âœI wish I could talk to father,â Sentinel said. âœI really need to talk to him.â

âœWhatâs wrong?â Rising Star questioned, slipping a foreleg around Sentinel.

âœIt is really embarrassing,â Sentinel said.

âœHey, my whole life is one long embarrassment,â Rising Star said with a soft laugh.

âœMoonbow was going to give me flying lessons,â Sentinel began. He looked up at Rising Star, and saw that Rising had his serious face on. âœAnd I climbed up on her back to so we could fly, and then I got really hard and poked her.â

âœOh,â Rising Star said, no trace of a smile or a laugh manifesting. âœThis upsets you?â

âœAll I could think about last night is how I sleep with my sisters and having this happen,â Sentinel said. âœAnd then I started to freak out because I thought about having to tell them to stay out of my bed, and sounding cruel, and I started to wonder if I was going to have to tell them why I was kicking them out of my bed, and then I started to feel kinda panicky, and Moonbow, she wasnât helping me at all, I could smell her and it only made the problem worse, and then-â

âœWoah, slow down,â Rising Star said soothingly, cutting Sentinel off. âœDeep breath.â

Sentinel took a deep breath, then another, and finally, another.

âœBoners happen. Especially around a filly that you really like. And they like to happen while you sleep. They creep up on you and then jump out and surprise you. At this stage of your life, there isnât much you can do to stop them,â Rising Star carefully explained.

âœHow do I tell PiÃa and Dinky that they canât sleep with me?â Sentinel asked.

âœThose girls adore you Sentinel, they love you a great deal. My advice, be honest with them. Just sit down and be totally honest with them. Tell them the truth. I promise you, as difficult as it might be, it will be better for all of you than just shutting them out and telling them nothing,â Rising Star explained in reply. âœIf you just shut them out, you will break their little hearts.â

âœI suppose you are right,â Sentinel said.

âœThere was a morning a long time ago, when we first came to the isles, and it was freezing cold, and Bucky threatened to plant me in my grave because I was belly to belly with Sparkler in bed. I had a raging stiffy. Sparkler was actually trying to help me hide it, because she loved me that much. We suffered through that moment of embarrassment together,â Rising Star said.

âœWhy are you telling me this?â Sentinel asked in a low whisper.

âœSo we have something in common. You told me something that probably makes you feel embarrassed and humiliated, it is only fair that I expose myself and tell you something equally as bad. To give you perspective. If we have something in common, something weâll share, weâll be closer. As brothers should be,â Rising Star replied.

âœMoonbow kept wanting to see it,â Sentinel said. âœI am not sure I understand why.â

âœIt excites her. Sheâs a little older than you Sentinel. Did you show her?â Rising Star inquired.

âœYeahâ I did. She finally talked me into it. It lasted a long time, and it just wouldnât go away. She said she would show me hers if I showed her mine,â Sentinel answered.

âœThe standard exchange,â Rising Star stated.

âœWhen I saw her, I had really strange feelings,â Sentinel admitted in raspy nervous voice.

âœDid she lift her tail?â Rising Star asked.

âœNoââ Sentinel said, nearly choking. âœShe rolled over onto her back and she showed me everythingâ and she talked me into sniffing her.â

âœDid she sniff you?â Rising Star questioned.

âœYeah, a few times at that point. When I told her yes she caught me by surprise, knocked me over, had a good long look, and then she just stuck her head down there and starting sniffing me and I felt shivery all over,â Sentinel answered.

âœYeah, Moonbow strikes me as the take charge type,â Rising Star said. âœSo what happened?â

âœWe spent some time on the deck together. She just held me, she had me pulled up close to her barrel and her belly, and she had her legs around me, and I could feel all of her against my back, and we just laid there for a long time looking at stars and the moon together,â Sentinel replied.

âœSee, it turned out okay. I think she likes you Sentinel,â Rising Star said.

âœThanks,â Sentinel said. âœI donât think I need to talk to father anymore. I feel a lot better.â

âœBy the stars, look at them all!â Rising Star said.

A swarm flew overhead, circling around, some of them already beginning to land. A big male lunar pegasus landed on the deck of The Scorned Mare and looked around. He wasnât wearing heavy plate, but the light partial plate of the common guard.

âœI am Captain Furious,â the lunar pegasus said, introducing himself. âœWho are you?â

âœI am Rising Star,â Rising Star answered.

Ripple kicked the colt next to her, making Rising Star cry out. âœLord Rising Star, you doofus.â

The guard immediately snapped to attention and his wing went out in salute. There was a faint smile on his lips, the white tips of his white fangs visible.

âœI have no idea how this works,â Rising Star said awkwardly. âœI was deemed too dangerous to be in the common rank and file. Iâm a living bomb. Are we supposed to use titles, or ranks, or ranks and titles? Why can't I just be me?â

âœDragoon Ripple, at your service sir,â Ripple said after she kicked Rising one more time before stepping forward. She snapped a wing out in a swift smooth motion and saluted.

âœDragoon? A filly? At your age? I bet thatâs quite a story,â Captain Furious said. He snapped off a respectful salute to Ripple. âœWhat is the situation? How is Prince Bitters?â

âœKnight Captain Bitters is recovering. Myrmidons Grimglammer and Shadowguard have done their jobs. He is secure, safe, and alive. Everything has gone as planned, sir,â Ripple reported.

Rising Star squirmed uncomfortably and looked at his wife, not knowing what to think. To say that Ripple had changed was an understatement.

Grimglammer arrived on the deck, she wasnât wearing armor. Her body was one giant mass of scars and missing patches of pelt. She looked half awake, irritated, and pleased all at the same time.

Captain Furious quickly stood at attention upon seeing her.

âœGreetings Captain. Nice of you to finally arrive,â Grimglammer barked.

âœThere was a headwind most of the way,â Captain Furious reported.

âœThen you should have used it to better yourselvesâ AND ARRIVED EARLY!â Grimglammer snapped.

âœYes maâam, of course maâam, I missed an opportunity,â Captain Furious said.

âœI missed you Furious. I saw a foal. It made me have funny feelings,â Grimglammer said.

Captain Furious froze, unblinking and unmoving.

âœOh stand down you bucketheaded moron,â Grimglammer commanded.

The lunar pegasus stallion relaxed his stance a little bit but still stood at attention, more or less. He stared straight ahead, looking somewhat scared.

âœYou know, my husband here makes the same look when Sparkler or my sister torment him,â Ripple observed, speaking to Grimglammer.

âœDragoon Ripple, you have a husband? The living bomb?â Captain Furious asked.

âœSir, yes sir,â Ripple replied.

âœOkay, thatâs enough of the rank and file meadow muffins,â Grimglammer said.

There was a clank as Furious took a deep breath, held it, and let it out slowly.

âœSo what is it like being married, Grimglammer?â Ripple inquired as the deck began to fill with more pegasi.

âœFurious is a devoted and dutiful mate. He gave me quite a chase though. Heâs fast, he outran and outflew me. I had to build my endurance before I could run him down,â Grimglammer said with a wry smile. âœHe proved himself worthy prey.â

âœWow, that is a lot of lunar pegasi!â

Ripple turned to look at Sparkler who had just appeared on deck.

âœArse stabber,â Sparkler said to Grimglammer as she approached.

âœStuck Sergeant,â Grimglammer replied.

âœStab somepony in the arse today?â Sparkler asked.

âœDay is still young, Stuck Sergeant,â Grimglammer answered.

Furious cleared his throat and stretched his wings, and then cracked his neck to relieve the tension. âœI could use some rack time so I can be ready when we depart tomorrow.â

Chapter 189

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Rising Star looked up at Crush the earth pony and felt a tightness in his throat. The silence hung heavy in the air, Rising Starâs emotions were running rampant, and he couldnât find anything worthwhile to say after telling Crush that he was leaving.

He felt himself being snatched, taken in a fierce hug, one big strong leg around his neck squeezing him almost but not quite to the point where he couldnât breathe. The hug lasted several minutes, and spoke volumes. Finally, Crush let go of Rising Star, stepped away, pointed all around the forge, pointed at the tools, pointed at the fire, and then prodded Rising Star in the chest.

âœYes Crush, I plan to keep working metal. It keeps me from going loony,â Rising Star said in return, feeling the tears coming and unable to do anything to stop them. âœAnd if Bucky were able, I am certain he would give you the farewell that you deserve.â

Crush pointed down at his own left leg and then pointed at Rising Starâs horn.

âœYes, I plan to help Bucky if he needs me. I know he will be thinking of something to replace what he has lost. Bucky is that sort of pony,â Rising Star said.

Crush looked concerned for a moment, and then prodded Rising Star several times, emphatically, his brow furrowed in concern.

Rising Star nodded. âœI suppose he will always need me.â

Crush lowered his hoof, holding it over the ground, and then raised it up high, holding it in place for a moment before prodding Rising Star once again.

Looking somewhat embarrassed, Rising Star looked down at the floor. âœYes Crush, I did a lot of growing up this summer. I came here to these isles, got a chance to learn how privileged I was, just how good I had it in life, I got to learn what life would be like without the Princesses, I got married, had to grow up a whole bunch, had to learn how to be strong while watching a pony I love die by degrees, consumed from the inside out, got to experience fear, got to experience death, saw the walking dead, learned how to wage a war, learned I was too dangerous to participate in the war, survived a major battle, saw a banshee, became a noble, and I learned a trade.â

The big mute earth pony nodded enthusiastically and prodded Rising Star one last time.

âœI suppose I did find myself. Huh.â

âœLoch Skimmer, Ripple, some of your mothers are belowâ they know you are leaving. They wanted to say goodbye, they are seeking permission to board,â the pegasus guard said to the two pegasi sisters.

Ripple and Loch Skimmer exchanged a glance with one another, saying nothing between them. Ripple looked away first, staring down at her hooves, and it was Loch Skimmer who looked the guard in the eyes. She held her head up defiantly, whipping her long mane around.

âœI am not sure what you are talking about. All of my mothers are here, onboard this ship, looking after my father,â Loch said in a cold angry voice. Beside her, she heard a silent pained gasp from Ripple, and then she felt Rippleâs face pressing into her withers. In a moment, she felt a moist dampness spreading over her pelt.

In a small room within the castle, another father was busy talking to his son, the tone serious, the mood somber. In the room there were others, a small council of highly trusted and proven ponies.

âœThrasher, while I am away, your word is law. I am trusting you to look after my ponies. All of them. Right now, they are pretty happy and well behaved, but that can change. Lord Wrecker has offered to help you, you listen to himâ Bah, I know you will. Lord Deadspin will be here to assist you as well. Lady Sour Mash and Lady Bunny are earth ponies. If you have doubts, you talk to them and you listen to them. We pegasi can be a little flighty at times, but those two are good solid dependable sorts,â Keg Smasher said to Thrasher. âœAnd you look after Wheatberry.â

Thrasher nodded solemnly, but said nothing in return.

âœThere is one little problem we need to discuss before you go,â Lord Wrecker said.

âœAnd that is?â Keg Smasher inquired.

âœWhen you go, send word to Princess Celestia. There are some troublesome reports coming in from the Minnowrock Isles, our neighbor in the archipelago, that griffons have been raiding their most distant isles, and scout airships have been sighted among their inner isles. It seems the griffons are working their way westward, and if their progress continues, they will reach us eventually. The ponies of Minnowrock are experiencing losses, and have requested our aid. I just got the missive this very morning,â Lord Wrecker replied.

âœOh shiteââ

âœCome to visit us,â Berry Punch invited.

âœWe will, I promise Berry,â Sour Mash said.

The two cousins exchanged a smile and a hug, glad to have found one another, happy to have had a chance to get to know one another, and a little sad about the coming separation. Sour Mash poked Berry Punchâs belly with her hoof, and then leaned in and kissed Berry just behind her ribs. Not satisfied, she threw both forelegs around Berryâs neck and squeezed tightly.

âœLook after my Sparkler,â Sour Mash begged. âœSomething is wrong with her, she canât stop shaking. I hope we will have some way to communicate. Try to find some way to send me a message if you can. Bucky is cleverââ

âœI will try,â Berry promised. âœI am worried about Sparklerâs shaking too. Keeps getting worse. Gets real bad when she is upset.â

âœYou kick Bucky in the arse when he needs it and be really gentle with him at all other timesâ we earth ponies can get a little boisterous with those we love,â Sour Mash said.

âœDeadspin is going to need you and your solid shoulders. Bunnyâs shoulders too,â Berry stated, nuzzling her cheek against her cousinâs muzzle.

âœThere has been reports of griffon raidersâ I was there when Lord Wrecker got the security briefing. I hope you have enough guards to keep the ship safe,â Sour Mash whispered into Berryâs ear.

âœYou keep these ponies safe,â Berry begged.

âœI will,â Sour Mash said. âœMarried me a good husband, I plan to have me some foals, this is my home and I will keep it safe.â

âœName a foal after me,â Berry requested.

âœYou do the same for me,â Sour Mash returned.

âœDeal,â Berry responded.

Sentinel stared dully at the wall after telling both PiÃa and Dinky everything that had happened, not able to look them in the eyes. He had spilled out his heart and now the room was silent. He didnât know what else to say, he had followed Rising Starâs advice to the letter, and had spared no detail for the sake of honesty.

âœSo you are kicking us out because of a boner?â PiÃa said, scratching her chin as she spoke. She scowled. âœThatâs no reason to kick us out. Dinky and I will just bring our own blanket, wrap ourselves up, and you can sleep under your own blanket.â

âœOh, this could poke though the blanket,â Sentinel huffed.

âœHmm, that is a problem,â Dinky said.

Feeling a painful tightness in his chest, Sentinel said goodbye to his innocence, unable to find some way of salvaging what was left. âœI canât do that to either of you. I would never be able to live with myself. Like it or not, we are going to grow up. Soon, both of you will have your first heats. And then the real trouble will start because weâre not actually related, I will be able to smell it, and the smell will cause me all manner of problems.â

âœWe have ways of dealing with that on the mainland,â Dinky said.

âœDoesnât change the fact that we are growing up. And I must protect youâ even from myself,â Sentinel said in a heartbroken voice.

âœWe still love you,â PiÃa said. âœSo things are changing. So what. You are still our brother, you canât change that.â

âœAt least you loved us enough to be honest with us,â Dinky said. âœIf you would have just kicked us out, I would have hated you.â

PiÃa crawled closer on the bed, wrapped her forelegs around Sentinel, and pulled him close. A moment later, Dinky joined them and the trio sat in silence, all too aware that things had changed for all of three of them over the summer.

The sun was nearing the horizon after a long day and Thistle looked out upon the land she loved, but wanted desperately to leave behind. She thought about everything that had brought her to this point. She thought of her failure, her isolation, her growth, her acceptance, and finally, she thought about her family, and what they meant to her.

It had almost been like a fairytale when Keg Smasher had first told her. A noble was going to come and sweep her off of her hooves. She was going to have a herd to look after her. It was going to be all so perfect. She had even accepted the idea of being a servant in a nobleâs family, or even a broodmare, because nobles had wonderful lives and provided well for their foals, or so she believed from everything she had heard from fanciful stories.

Thistle had her noble. A knight. A knight in terrible black armor. Much to her dismay, there was no romance, no fairytale ending of happiness ever after from marrying a knight that took his duties seriously. His body was ruined, no doubt that his soul was broken, and Thistle had watched him slowly sink into ruin. He was going home to face the consequences of his own family and the country they laid to waste.

She took consolation in knowing that she had brought him happiness, and every day she made it a point to be as dutiful to him as he had been to the ponies of the isles. She lifted a hoof and rubbed her belly, silently thankful she had found Bucky. She had seen how he was with other foals, and she had no doubt that he would claim this foal as his own. She had no fears, no worries, no concerns that her foal would be an outsider in this herd, an unwelcome foal forced to live beneath the others or without a caring father.

She sat down, settling her now widening backside down upon the planks, and she looked off to the horizon, watching the sun set upon a land she no longer called home.

A lone figure stood in the doorway, watching a trio of foals cling to one another. She was the outsider, but she had been made to feel welcome. The herd was crazy, no doubt about that, they had peculiar ideas, strange practices, but they had welcomed her in without hesitation.

âœMight I come in?â Moonbow asked.

âœCome and join us,â PiÃa said invitingly.

Moonbow crossed the room and jumped up into the small bed, came close to the trio, and settled in next to them. She folded her legs beneath her and laid down.

âœYou gave my brother a boner and now things are weird,â PiÃa said, summarising the current state of affairs in a manner reminiscent of her big sister.

Feeling self conscious, Moonbow said nothing, but looked up at PiÃa. She saw a pained and embarrassed expression on Sentinelâs face, and she tried to imagine what the colt must be feeling right now. She felt a pang in her heart.

âœI hope you understand just how much we love him,â Dinky said.

âœThat is part of the reason why I am here,â Moonbow said. âœSentinel, I wanted to tell you something. Something important. Iâve made a decision.â

âœAnd what is that?â Sentinel inquired.

âœYou have picked a good fight. A worthy foe. I want to join you,â Moonbow stated.

âœI donât understand,â Sentinel said in return.

âœLast night, I saw the real you. I saw you for what you really are, and I felt something in my heart. When I was holding you last night, when we were looking at the stars, I started thinking about it. The way you treasure your sisters. The love and devotion you show. You had your little moment with me and you didnât even think twice about your own needs, your first thought was how this was going to affect your sisters. That touched me,â Moonbow admitted.

Sentinel nodded and waited for Moonbow to continue.

âœYou are going to have a whole bunch of little brothers and sisters soon, and I donât think you can defend them all by yourself, but I know you would try. It is what we do. We are protectors. You and I, we are not happy unless we have something to defend. It is what we are. To that end, I plan to join you in your efforts to protect this herd, this family, this tribe. And when we have foals, and we will have foals, I will raise them to be the protectors of this family. I will be the mother of a whole new type of colony, and we will have one purpose. And I hope that all of our foals, and their foals, and their foals will follow this purpose. We will raise them to understand honour and to defend our ideals, whatever we choose our ideals to be, and this family will always have worthy protectors, defenders to watch over them.â Moonbow said.

Sentinel felt himself squeezed by his sisters and he looked at Moonbow, looking her directly in the eye. âœI would like that. I would like to know that my family has somepony to watch over them, and will continue to watch over them even after I am gone.â

âœI want your sisters to sleep a little easier even though they can no longer sleep with you,â Moonbow stated, her eyes meeting Dinky and PiÃaâs.

Chapter 190 (Heading Home)

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Lugus stood near while Yew said goodbye to her sisters in arms, watching her as she hugged and kissed members of her fellow brigade, wished them well, and exchanged hopeful words about the future. He settled back upon his haunches, and gave Peekaboo a gentle squeeze, holding her tucked in one foreleg. Peekaboo was apparently in some pegasus stage where she needed constant contact and affection, and her little forelegs were wrapped around Lugusâ leg, refusing to let go or be put down.

He watched as Keg Smasher was airlifted onto The Scorned Mare. A gust of wind came up unexpectedly, causing the ship to move slightly on its tether, and he could feel his feathers ruffling.

His time upon these isles had been brief, and he found them every bit as savage as his homeland. This was an awful place, but it was getting better. Equality was taking root here. His chief had left behind an indelible mark upon the isles. It would be a long time before all of the change had any real widespread effect, but the seeds had been planted.

Lugus wanted to plant seeds in his homeland. He clicked his beak thoughtfully and bounced Peekaboo a bit, causing her to giggle.

âœBath?â

Again, Lugus bounced the foal he was holding. âœNo Peekaboo. It is not bath time.â He felt the foal go still in reply. âœIt is goodbye time. Our tribe is heading home,â he said. Lugus felt a tingle as he felt Peekabooâs breath ruffling the feathers at the base of his neck. He valued her breathing quite highly, and Yew Wood teased him frequently for his constant checking to see if Peekaboo was still breathing after being asleep and quiet for a few hours.

The big griffon was beginning to understand Buckyâs mania with foals, and he lived in constant worry.

A pair of lunar pegasi stood near the prow, a smaller male and a much larger female. Both were armored, one in light partial plate, the other in full heavy plate. They stood close to one another, watching the bustle all around them.

âœI was serious, I want to have a foal. Just one. Maybe two,â Grimglammer whispered into her husbandâs ear.

âœHmm, Equestria is a real mess right now. Tirek managed to destroy pretty much everything that was left. We are going to be very busy ponies for a while,â Furious responded.

âœFurious, please, donât make me pull rank on you and give you orders,â Grimglammer replied, her tone soft and needful. âœI donât want to do that but I willâ I mean it, being around thisâ this herd has done something to my mind. They live with reckless abandon and love one another so much, I want to be like them. I feel like I have been infected with some kind of disease after being exposed to them. Even in their darkest moments, you should see how they are.â

âœI have never been able to say no to you,â Furious muttered. âœI am a spineless wretch.â

âœThatâs not true!â Grimglammer snapped.

âœHey, I was making a joke,â Furious said in soothing tones. âœTake a deep breath, I think the stress is getting to you. First everything in Equestria, and now this.â

âœYou are the bravest pony I know,â Grimglammer said, turning her head so she could see her husband. She lifted the visor on her helmet so she wouldnât have to peer through the slit.

âœI donât know about that, but I had to be brave to marry you, they call you the Night Terror,â Furious said with a crooked smile. âœBut I hear you are now called âœArse Stabberâ by these ponies here.â

The big mare shifted her weight, causing her armor to clank and rattle. âœI mean it, I want a foal. Which means getting cut from active duty. And to be honest Furious, I am not sure I plan to return. After everything that has happened in Equestriaâ and then everything Iâve witnessed standing bedside over our new Princeâ I think Iâm done. It is time to have a family.â

âœYou are actually serious about this,â Furious stated.

âœOf course I am serious about this you mental midget! If I stop now, if I have a foal now, if we have a foal now, I will be past my half a century mark when they graduate the guard academy. Or go to university. Or do whatever it is they want to do,â Grimglammer responded.

âœYou know, I never wanted to be a guard,â Furious confessed.

âœNo?â Grimglammer replied. âœThen why did you join the guard academy? I mean, all of your years of serviceâ all of your accomplishmentsâ and you didnât want to be a guard? Why did you join?â she questioned.

âœWell, there was this really sexy filly I met one night who wanted to be a doctor, she was all angsty because she wanted to be a doctor and a guard. She wanted everything all at onceâ she was really hot. I mean really hot. She was the total package. So my dick made a decision for me, and I joined the guard academy hoping to get laid at some pointââ

Dinky could barely contain herself because of the excitement in the air. She could scarcely believe they were leaving. She sat upon the upper deck, the deck above the cabin in the rear of the ship, and watched as the final preparations were being made.

There were solar and lunar pegasi saluting one another before the solar pegasi flew away, there was a cheering crowd down below them, and the skies around them were filled with pegasi and a few griffons who were now part of the guard.

There was a loud cry as the tether was lifted away by Lyra, and the ship began to drift away from the castle. The lunar pegasi began to slip into the harnesses secured along the long lead, the lead being played out slowly as the lunar pegasi took their positions.

âœI canât believe this is happening.â

Turning her head, Dinky glanced at PiÃa.

âœIâm scared Dinkyâ at least here, as bad as it is, we are accepted,â PiÃa whispered, scooting closer to her sister and wrapping a foreleg over Dinkyâs withers.

âœHomeâ PiÃa, homeâ ice cream again. And cupcakes. And grocery stores full of food that is not pease porridge or some glop,â Dinky said to her sister and best friend.

âœRoot beer,â PiÃa said wistfully.

âœScratch and sniff stickers,â Dinky quipped.

âœOh gosh,â PiÃa gasped as The Scorned Mare lurched.

The ship began to move as the lunar pegasi team pulled. It picked up speed rapidly. The fliers had shed their armor and were free to give all of their effort to pull on the harness. The castle rapidly began to become smaller behind them. Clouds whizzed by in the sky.

âœPoor Sentinel, he just got smooched,â Dinky said, feeling genuine sympathy for her brother but also a strange sense of happiness which unsettled her for reasons she could not explain. She silently watched PiÃaâs reaction, which seemed to be one of curiousity rather than disgust, but she couldnât tell for certain.

The siblings felt another pony sit down behind them, and it was PiÃa who craned her head around to see who, because Dinkyâs attention was now focused on watching Sentinel and his stoic responses to Moonbowâs friendly affections.

âœHi Berry, how is Harper?â PiÃa inquired.

âœHarper is napping, right along with Bucky, who spent some time wobbling around this morning. He wore himself out,â Berry replied, stroking her sister and then patting Dinky affectionately.

âœWhen he wakes up again, can we please spend some time with him if we are careful about his wounds and we are very, very quiet?â Dinky asked.

âœYes Dinky, he has been wanting to see you. He isnât himselfâ he is full of morphine and a couple of other drugs to keep him from suffering,â Berry Punch answered.

âœIs his mind okay?â PiÃa questioned.

âœWe donât know yet. Heâs so drug addledâ there are some concerns though,â Berry said with soft honesty in reply to Pinaâs question. âœBoth of you are going to have to understand that Bucky, your father, might be a bit different. He has survived an ordeal that has changed him. He is going to need your help to see him through as he recovers.â

âœBut the bird will help him, right?â Dinky asked.

âœYes, that silly crazy bird seems to be helping him and Lyra. All of us actually. If we start to get weepy, it comes over to cheer us up,â Berry replied.

âœPhoenixes are very rare and powerful animals, Starjammer has a lot to say about them. When they choose to bond with another creature, they are the best friend you could ever ask for,â PiÃa said, her muzzle scrunching as she tried to recall what she had read.

âœDoes it have a name?â Dinky asked.

âœBucky keeps grumbling about freezerburn in the room. It stays a little chilly in the room now, and the bird leaves icicles where it roosts on occasion. I do believe that Bucky is calling the bird Freezerburn, but it is really difficult to say. Your father is like a very simple minded foal right now,â Berry answered.

âœWeâre out over open ocean,â Bon Bon reported, sticking her head in the door. âœThere are sea birds flying along side of us. White birds with grey heads. Theyâre beautiful!â she added, before slipping out of the door and vanishing.

âœWet birds,â Bucky said in a slurred voice.

âœYes, sea birds,â Shadowguard said, smiling down at Bucky and trying to look dutiful with a phoenix perched upon her helmet. She could feel the cold radiating through the metal.

Derpy made a wordless noise of worry and carefully pressed her snoot against Buckyâs neck, breathing in his scent and trying to remind herself that she was grateful that he was alive.

âœCold birdâ ice bird,â Bucky muttered.

âœPhoenix,â Shadowguard said helpfully.

âœFreezerburn,â Bucky said. He struggled mightily, his thoughts were active in his mind, but he was having trouble speaking. He was having trouble concentrating. And everything was coming out garbled no matter how much effort he put into trying to communicate. He couldnât understand what was wrong.

Your mind has been damaged. Be patient. The moon pony is repairing it.

Bucky squirmed, hating all of this, hating that he sounded like a drooling idiot. He raised his stump and looked at the bandaged end, trying to focus his eye. He currently saw five or maybe six different stumps. The world was very confusing and he had trouble trying to form a coherent thought in his mind.

âœToo many half leg,â Bucky heard his mouth say, and he seethed inside when he heard himself. He could feel Derpy touching him and he made a vain attempt to move his body closer to her, all he succeeded in doing was exhausting himself and making it difficult to breathe.

The moon pony really is tryingâ you should not even be alive.

âœBucky, love, you have some visitors,â Berry Punch said as she stepped through the door. âœBon Bon told me you were awake, and I promised some very concerned foals that they could have some time with you today.â

âœFoals,â Bucky gasped, a long string of drool gushing from the corner of his mouth. He squirmed when he felt Derpy wiping his face. He felt like an idiot. More than anything, he wanted to kick, scream, and shout, to force his body to move around and to communicate something other than gibberish.

âœHi daddy,â Dinky said as she climbed up on the bed, her brow furrowed with concern.

âœHey there,â PiÃa greeted, pulling herself up behind Dinky and drawing close to her father.

âœFather?â Sentinel asked, standing by the bedside and looking on with a serious gaze.

Remaining silent, Bucky could feel his heart breaking. He wanted to say something meaningful, he wanted to say he loved them, he wanted to express that he was okay, but he could not make anything work the way he wanted it to work. He could feel his girls settling in beside him and then he felt the bed shake again as Sentinel climbed on and drew close.

A loud cry of alarm had mobilised the deck, and three faint shapes could be seen on the horizon. Grimglammer peered off into the distance, trying to discern the threat. The sunlight dazzled her eyes and made it difficult to see, but she had a nagging suspicion of what it might be out here over open ocean.

âœPrepare the emergency evacuation plans. I am going out to intercept those fliers. If I donât come back, if I can be seen fighting, take whatever time I can buy you and get everypony off of this ship. Carry them on your backs. Leave behind half of the guard so we can buy more time for Knight Captain Bitters, his family, and Keg Smasher,â Grimglammer instructed.

âœI am coming with you,â Furious said.

âœNo, you are not. Rally the guard and prepare to evacuate, should it become necessary,â Grimglammer said.

âœNO!â Furious barked.

âœSTOW YOUR SHITE! Thatâs an order!â Grimglammer shouted as she took wing.

âœYou heard her. Do everything she saidâ we will buy you timeâ three dragons coming in hard and fast. Move quickly!â Furious commanded as he took off after his mate.

Chapter 191

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Lugus peered out toward the horizon with his griffon eyes, both of them narrowed and squinting, straining to see what was going on. He saw five figures heading back towards the ship. Three dragons and two lunar pegasi.

âœStand down!â Lugus shouted.

The ponies on deck remained alert, but waited as the figures drew closer.

Finally, after many suspenseful minutes, Grimglammer landed upon the deck, lifted her visor, and folded back her wings. âœReinforcements!â

There were many sounds of relief as the three dragons drew up alongside the ship and glided on enormous leathery wings. One flew on each side, and one dropped down below the ship. One was black, one was green, and the last was blue.

âœA gift from the Queen of the Sea Dragons. She owes Mistress Luna a favour and sent help. They will escort us back to Canterlot. We are officially under the Queenâs protection and we can relax our guard a bit. Two more dragons will be joining us shortly,â Grimglammer explained.

The big mare looked at Furious, who handed landed beside her. âœYou!â she barked. âœYou are in a world of shite! I gave you an order and you defied me, you brave stupid bastard!â

Furious gave a sheepish grin and looked at his mate. âœI saw an opportunity to improve myself. It was only three dragons, I figured we could take them.â

âœI am going to finally get some rack time. Captain Furious, I demand a word with you down below,â Grimglammer commanded. Her expression softened. âœDonât you ever disobey me ever again when it comes to a matter like this. Iâve already killed one dragon. I am not a helpless filly. I can handle myself.â

The stallion stared at his mate, drew in a deep breath, and let it out slowly. âœWe go together. If I am with you, and I see you in trouble, I am coming with you. Donât be a bitch about it.â

âœFurious, please, a word with you in private. Come with me,â Grimglammer said in a soft low voice. âœI am angry with you, but I do not intend to chew you out.â Having said what needed to be said, Grimglammer turned and headed towards the door that led to the crew quarters. After she stepped through the door and it closed behind her, a series of low cheers erupted from the guards left on deck.

âœWhy is it that I am more afraid of her than I am a dragon?â Furious asked of himself in a low whisper, slowly heading for the door. He shook his head in confusion, feeling an odd mix of fear and love for the big mare he called his mate.

âœCaptain, we are all more afraid of her than the dragons,â one of the lunar pegasi reported, snapping his wing into a salute. âœGood luck, sir.â

The stars overhead seemed to drift by slowly. Bucky watched them as they passed. He was sprawled out on a blanket propped up between Derpy and Thistle, with Berry Punch sitting close by. The moonlight seemed invigorating and everypony seemed to notice the change in Bucky when exposed to the night.

âœMoon,â Bucky mumbled, his mouth sounding like it was full of food and his tongue slipping out from between his lips as he spoke.

âœYes Bucky, moon,â Berry said in reply, sounding very much like a mother speaking to her foal. She pointed at the moon and then repeated the word again. âœMoon.â

His frustration rising, Bucky seethed and kicked against the prison that was his body. He made a mental note that one day, he was going to screw Berry Punch silly. His eye darted about, looking for something, anything he could use to make his point, some means to communicate. His gaze fell on Sentinel, and in particular, Sentinelâs journal. He struggled to pull his willpower together, his mental focus, and strained to snatch the pencil out of Sentinelâs grip, to free it from the funny little thumb that Sentinel had sticking out on the joint of his wing.

His body began to sweat from the effort. This was like learning how to levitate a feather all over again, which had seemed like an impossible task at the time. Or learning how to lift a one ton statue for the first time. That had been tricky. The only difference between lifting a feather and lifting a one ton statue was raw magical aptitude and willpower. There were plenty of type threes who could barely write their own names using their magic because of how little control they had.

You are going to rupture a blood vessel in your brain if you continueâ Bucky heard inside of his mind.

The phoenix was a distraction that Bucky didnât need. He strained, trying even harder, forcing his brain to focus, it was just a pencil and a simple message. All of his efforts caused a few tiny drops of urine to dribble out, and nothing else.

Oh you are impossible. Very well, I shall help you before you give yourself an aneurysm or have a stroke. You did save me from the horrible crystal lich. Your stubbornness disturbs me and worries me war pony, I shall go and pester the honour pony and steal his writing stick.

The phoenix took wing from the deck railing, swooped around Sentinelâs head, snatched away the pencil, and then landed on Sentinelâs journal. Holding the pencil clumsily in his claw, the phoenix began to scratch something down, and the ponies on the deck watched in wide eyed awe.

After completing his task, the phoenix made a squawk of annoyance, dropped the pencil, and flew off, circling overhead a few times before landing on the deck rail and staring at Bucky.

âœHe wrote something,â Sentinel said in a confused voice.

âœWhat?â Berry asked.

The lunar pegasus colt dropped his head and struggled to read the rough poorly written letters. After a few minutes of study, he cocked his head to the side and read it again, this time with his lips moving. He then began to read in a loud clear voice. âœSorry honour pony. War pony angry. Not stupid. Not foal. Having trouble. Wants to angrily mount too smart pony forâ hey, I donât want to finish reading thisâ my apologies.â

Grimglammer threw back her helmeted head and laughed riotously, stomping one foot on the deck. After a moment, she composed herself and drew nearer to Bucky. âœYour mind is intact inside of there somewhereâ oh thatâs a relief.â

âœHow?â Berry Punch asked. âœWhat?â

âœSentinel, please continue,â Derpy said in a pleading voice.

âœVery well mother, I suppose you want to hear fatherâs thoughts… Wants to angrily mount too smart pony for speaking to him like a foal and make her go stupid after many hours of mindless rutting,â he said, finishing the crudely written words and making a face of disgust, his muzzle contorting and crinkling.

âœThat sounds like Bucky,â Berry said. She looked at him apologetically. âœWhen you get better and you are capable, I will try to make it up to you,â she promised.

âœSoâ Sentinel is honour pony, Bucky is war pony, Berry Punch is too smart pony, what are the rest of us?â Derpy asked slowly as she turned to look at the phoenix, now aware that there is was a lot more to the bird. âœAnd how did the bird know what to write down?â

âœMy most educated guess is telepathy of some kind,â Grimglammer said. âœWould explain how it knew how to write. It borrowed Buckminsterâs knowledge. Which means that bloody bird knows everything Buckminster knows. Oh my stars and moon, we have a phoenix that is using the future alicorn of war as a libraryâ nice birdyâ good birdy,â she said in a saccharine worried voice.

Squawking and shrieking in annoyance, the phoenix took flight, flying off into the darkness of the night to find food.

âœI wonder how fast weâre moving,â Derpy said, looking over at Berry in the dark as they tried to go to sleep.

âœI dunno, but we should be home soon,â Berry said.

âœBucky got a whole lot better tonight after the time in the moonlight. Grimglammer says he is like the lunar pegasi now,â Derpy said, aware that Grimglammer was right beside the bed and listening. It was difficult to have a conversation with a guard beside the bed. She pressed her snoot against the side of Buckyâs face and inhaled deeply, glad to feel warm flesh against her own.

âœI wonder what the sun will do to him,â Berry said, knowing that there would be an answer.

âœSunlight will be disorienting and confusing for him. Might cause headaches. Lowered visual acuity. A loss of some physical strength. On the list of positives from his change, he will have increased strength and stamina at night. Trust me ladies, you will grow to love this part of him. He will heal minor wounds quickly by drawing in shadow. It is how we lunar pegasi are able to deal with tears and rips in the membranes of our wings. Your husband should be able to shadow dive, and will very likely be able to dreamwalk. Hard to tell what gifts the shadow may have manifested in him. His physiology is not at all unicorn-like anymore,â Grimglammer explained in a low steady whisper.

âœSoâ heâs like aâ a lunicorn?â Berry Punch asked in reply.

It took a moment of thoughtful silence for Grimglammer to ponder Berryâs question, picking apart the word lunicorn carefully, and there was a snort in the dark. âœNot bad, not bad, good work too smart pony,â she said in a low breathy voice that contained a hint of laughter.

We race towards a home I am not certain I belong in, towards a future I am not sure if I want. Perhaps it is my nature, but I fear the worst is somehow yet to come. As I watch the stars go flying past, I am afraid, deathly afraid of what lies ahead. We move swiftly, how fast I cannot tell, but in my mind, we move at the speed of thought. It seems there is only one thing to do on this ship as we travel, and that is think. For me, it is thinking about being trapped on a ship moving towards something that fills me with dread. I am not even sure what it is that scares me, I just have a bad feeling about returning to Canterlot.

The phoenix calls me âœhonour pony.â Is that what I am? Is that the sum of my parts? Is that all I amount to? Am I like my fatherâs armor? A strong sturdy shell but empty on the inside? I hope this is not the case.

I am still trying to deal with how the war ended. It was a warâ there were two sides, a well defined enemy, there was right and wrong, black and white, and a goal in mind for each side. On our side, it was fought by good and brave ponies, ponies who understood that being free was going to take some sacrifice. They worked tirelessly, they gave all they had, and thankfully, they had a champion to do battle with the darkness under the mountain.

Our part in the war is not yet done. They get to celebrate, they get to be free, the shadow in their lives finally gone. What do we get? We get the broken remains of the champion, thatâs what we get. Iâve heard the guards talking. Princess Celestia has actually said that she wants my father held accountable and there has been a bitter dispute between the two sisters. The sisters are on the verge of war over my fatherâs fate. I donât even think my family is aware of the trouble that lies ahead. Or maybe they are and they say nothing, trying to spare us âœfoalsâ from further pain.

War. We ended one war, and I fear we are heading for another. The sisters have fought before. Iâve heard the guard talking, Equestria is in ruin and there is so much fighting and squabbling already. War between the sisters would be the end of all things I think.

There is nothing worse than fighting between siblings, which is why I maintain my passive nature with my sisters. I love them dearly and would never do anything to offend them, hurt them, or cause them to hate me. Father commanded for me to protect them, his final instruction was for me to look after them if he fell.

I believe the fall is yet to come. I hope I am the pony my father believes me to be.

Squire Sentinel, the honour pony.

Chapter 192

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âœWe just flew over the remains of Manehatten,â Furious reported, sticking his head in the door and making a brief announcement. âœWe should be arriving in Canterlot in a short time. This evening, if the wind holds.â

âœRemains of Manehatten?â Bucky said in a slurred voice, struggling to turn his head and look at Furious. âœRemains?â The stallion squirmed in frustration, Furious was already gone.

âœManehatten was hit hard by Tirekâs rampage,â Shadowguard said. âœAnd before that, the earth ponies rioted against the unicorn government in the city. The government sector was burned to the ground, except for the big steel and glass buildings. Word got out that House Avarice was tainting the cityâs drinking water with birth control chemicals to keep the earth pony population in check.â

Suddenly filled with rage, Bucky kicked out his hind legs feebly and made a wordless cry of anger. He lifted his good front leg and struck the mattress, venting his bile.

âœGood, good, starting to see some fine motor control, Grimglammer will be pleased, so will my Mistress,â Shadowguard said.

Taking a deep breath, Bucky tried to regain control of himself. He wasnât sure how many days had passed. Time was a blur. He was getting sick of being drugged. He wanted to feel pain again. âœNo more shots,â Bucky grumbled, turning his head enough to look upwards. âœNo more.â

The pegasus beside him scowled. âœBucky, you need those to keep you from pain,â Derpy said soothingly, stroking her mate with her wing and watching as Buckyâs muscles quivered from her touch.

âœNo more drugs!â Bucky demanded, his words only slightly garbled. âœWant to feel something again by damn! Want to feel your lips on mine when you kiss me!â he mumbled angrily.

âœWell, at least he has the ability to talk again,â Bon Bon said. She stroked Bucky softly, trying to calm him down. She lifted Buckyâs hind leg and carefully moved it back to a better position and then patted him on his cutie mark. She lifted Harper, hooking a foreleg around her, and then dropped her in front of Buckyâs face, figuring she could fix the fussing foal and the grumpy stallion in one fell swoop.

âœHarper,â Bucky said, seeing the foal suddenly in his field of vision and his mood instantly improving. âœHi fuzzball.â

Biting her lip, Bon Bon held back her irritated retort. She watched as Harper wiggled over and cuddled up against Buckyâs face, trying to smother her father to death by laying down over his muzzle, one more repeated attempt at patricide. She sighed. She thought of another little filly with a frizzy fluffy mane, a filly named Twist who sometimes helped her in her shop in exchange for sweets. She remembered Twistâs nasal lisp and her sunny disposition.

Bon Bon fervently wished that Twist would be there when she returned to Ponyville.

Derpy watched the standoff, worried about the outcome. Sentinel was standing over Bucky, teeth bared, his lips curled back, and a fierce but tiny growl was coming out of the colt. She started to reach out and pull Sentinel away, knowing that he would submit to her touch, but then she decided to leave him be, which was a very difficult decision.

âœHe said no more,â Sentinel snarled.

Feeling angry for a variety reasons, being summoned out of her rack and now being challenged by a colt of all things, Grimglammer tried to suppress her own need to growl in reply. âœI am under instructions to keep him from suffering. I was given orders by my Mistress to keep him free from pain and to look after his well being. Please, stand down.â

âœNo!â Sentinel shouted, spreading his wings and standing stiff legged. He could feel his father touching one of his legs, a soft clumsy contact from his fatherâs good front leg.

Squinting one eye shut to clear her vision, Derpy studied Grimglammer, and decided to only interfere if she had to. If Grimglammer made a move towards Sentinel, there would be words. And maybe violence, for all of the good it might do. Grimglammer wasnât wearing her armor.

âœYou will respect his wishes. He said no more, and you will obey!â Sentinel said, puffing out his barrel and trying desperately to look intimidating.

There was a deep savage sounding growl from behind her, and Grimglammer realised that Moonbow was in the doorway flanking her. Moonbow wasnât very big yet, but her growl certainly was. The growl trailed off and become a demonic sounding hiss, followed by a series of clicks, pops, crackles, and chirps made by echolocation. The most direct translation into spoken words was âœtouch my mate and I will murder you and then eat your corpse, afterwards I will crap your remains into your empty skull.â Realising that this was a fight she didnât want to win, Grimglammer stood down. She recapped the syringe and placed it into the container near the bed.

Sentinel hissed, trying to mimic Moonbowâs demonic death hiss, hoping to drive home his victory. He did not stand down, but continued to stand stiff legged, wings out, and barrel inflated as much as possible, his eyes never leaving Grimglammer, and he remembered all too well the feeling of being stabbed in the backside.

Ignoring Sentinel and turning around to face Moonbow, Grimglammer offered up a peacemakerâs smile. âœYou have quite a way with threats,â she said.

Moonbow stood down, relaxing her posture and folding her wings. She raised her head high and perked her ears forward. âœAnd I meant it tooâ never try to dominate my male ever again. He is mine.â

âœI get that,â Grimglammer said in neutral tones. âœI am going back to my rack. If you need anything, come and get me,â she said as she made her way to the door. âœOh, and Moonbowâ I am impressed. I will speak with you later after I sleep. You did good. You continue to surprise me.â

Sentinel gave one final yowl as Grimglammer stepped out the door, his pride still stinging from the vaccination. Once she was gone, he deflated, folded his wings, stepped away from his father, sat down, and then fell over, breathing heavily from fear and panic.

Derpy snatched him up immediately and began to squeeze him.

âœYou did good my squire,â Bucky said in a rather clear voice.

âœThank you fatherâ for a moment, I thought I was going to piss myself and bring shame down upon my head,â Sentinel replied.

Moonbow hopped up onto the bed and settled in near Bucky, watching Sentinel get comforted by Derpy. She felt immensely proud, seeing Sentinel stand up to the big mare made her have a peculiar feeling inside.

âœYou said something in echo talk, what was it?â Sentinel said, as he calmed, feeling Derpy stroke him. He snuggled closer to his mother and tried to make his heart slow down.

âœI told her that if she touched you, I would murder her, eat her body, and then crap out whatever was left into her skull,â Moonbow said, cocking her head to the side to study the drifting purple mist that continuously spilled from Buckyâs eye.

âœI am starting to love you just a little bit,â Derpy said to Moonbow.

Bucky gave a faint chuckle but said nothing.

âœDoes that impair your vision? Do you see the glowing purple whatever it is coming off of your eye?â Moonbow asked.

âœNo, I see nothing. Everything looks normal,â Bucky replied.

âœAre you in pain?â Derpy inquired.

âœI can feel again, it is much easier to talk,â Bucky answered. âœWhere is Freezerburn?â

âœI think he went off to find food. He always comes back,â Derpy said. âœSo you are in pain,â she added, looking a bit glum.

âœIt isnât so bad,â Bucky said, reaching out and touching Sentinel with one trembling leg.

âœI wasnât sure which side to take,â Shadowguard said from her corner in the room. âœI was beside myself over here thinking I might have to step in.â

Berry Punch and Bon Bon stared down over the rail as the day neared its end. Both of them had seen the devastation from their lofty height. A massive forest fire had burned away a large section of forest and left behind the blackened remains of now dead trees.

A massive black dragon flew along their side of the ship, its body longer than the ship itself, but not as long as the gasbag. The pair could see the dragon occasionally turning its head to look at them. The dragonâs talons were longer than a ponyâs body.

âœSo much has happened,â Berry Punch said.

âœAnd there is so many things we donât know,â Bon Bon added.

âœLook over there, out in that big field, you can see campfires and each of those campfires probably have ponies around them. I think it is a refugee camp,â Berry said as she pointed with her hoof.

âœI hope the dragons donât spook them,â Bon Bon said, her voice full of concern for her fellow ponies. âœThose poor souls have probably suffered enough,â

âœHey hey, look at that, I spy with my little eye a pony necking with a griffon and giving the griffon neck nibbles,â Berry said as she poked Bon Bon.

Turning her head, Bon Bon saw Yew Wood planting kisses along Lugusâ impossibly broad neck and the griffonâs feathers continued to fluff out with each kiss as she worked upward. Peekaboo was sitting on a blanket watching the world go by.

âœThose two have been using this little trip home to honeymoon. I really hope that biology plays nice with both of them and gives them offspring,â Berry Punch said in a wistful voice.

The air was warm, almost uncomfortably so, and was unusually humid. There was a tension in the air, the tension felt just before a thunderstorm. Berry looked around, scanning the sky, and off in the distance, she could see dark clouds and flashes of lightning. Something felt wrong, and it bothered her earth pony senses.

âœIs that a wild storm?â Berry asked one of the lunar pegasus guards on deck.

âœYes,â the guard replied. âœDuring the collapse, we lost control of the weather. Many of the weather teams were busy doing other things, like acting as a militia or trying to deliver supplies to needy ponies. Princess Twilight Sparkle used her influence and secured much needed food and supplies from the Saddle Arabians. I donât know what she offered in return, but there is no doubt she has saved hundreds of thousands of lives because of her efforts.â

âœDiscord also used his magic to feed ponies. The draconequus proved his worth. I hope he will recover,â another guard said in a voice filled with concern and worry.

âœRecover?â Bon Bon asked.

âœDiscord battled Tirek. Tirek moved towards Ponyville and Canterlot, and Discord engaged him in battle. It destroyed the countryside, ravaged the Foal Mountains, and destroyed the Hollow Shades. Thatâs the burned forest you could see as we passed,â the guard explained.

âœWhyâ why would Discord risk himself like this? Heâs never struck me as the noble self sacrificing type,â Berry Punch said in disbelief.

âœWord has it he did it because he loves some mare named Fluttershy,â the guard replied.

There was a loud gasp from Berry Punch, and she began to cough and sputter. She hacked, horked, and wheezed, until Bon Bon pounded her on the back, trying to help her breathe again.

There was a loud cry of alarm which didnât help Berry Punch and her breathing at all, and the deck all around them was suddenly exploding with activity. The guards mobilised and formed ranks, forming neat rows along each side of the deck along the rails.

Berry heard a loud squawk from Lugus. She then saw the big griffon gently extracting himself from Yewâs clutches, getting up on his paws and talons, and then standing protectively over Peekaboo.

âœOver there!â Bon Bon cried.

Looking around, Berry saw what Bon Bon was pointing at. A flock of pegasi approached as the sun began to tease the horizon. In the soft light of sunset and the approaching twilight, Berry Punch saw a pink figure that stood out in the mass of dark hues and she felt her heart leap into her throat. The flock approached quickly, and would be on deck in minutes.

âœOh nuts, somepony, quick, go get Sentinel!â Berry commanded, and she watched with satisfaction as a guard scrambled to do her bidding. She secretly delighted in her newfound authority. She wasnât sure what her authority was, or if she was even technically royalty now, but she did enjoy watching the guards hurry to follow her occasional commands.

Captain Furious stood on deck, near the center, waiting for the honoured guests to land. At his side was the colt known as Sentinel, and the colt was clearly beside himself, breathing heavily from fear, worry, and apprehension.

âœCalm down,â Furious whispered to Sentinel. âœStand at attention. Prepare your best salute. Remember who you are, and who your father is. Behave in a manner befitting your position, squire.â

âœY-y-y-yes sir,â Sentinel stammered as he drew himself to attention. He closed his eyes and waited, trying to slow down his breathing. He heard a thump on the deck, and then a few more thumps and thuds. For a moment, he thought his throat was going to close.

And then, he opened his eyes. Above him, inches away from his snoot, was Princess Luna. She was covered in full heavy plate mail, the visor was up, and her face was visible. Sentinel felt his knees buckle and he fell down to the ground, cowering and bowing, forgetting to salute. He closed his eyes and shivered.

He felt the electric tingle of magic all over his body, lifting him up from the deck planks, and then he was gently set down upon his hooves. Something cool touched his cheek, and he realised it was metal. He opened his eyes and saw Princess Luna looking at him in concern. Slowly, it dawned upon Sentinel to salute, and his wing haltingly went out, finally snapping into the correct position.

âœWhy do you fear me?â Princess Luna asked.

At that moment, Sentinel wanted to crawl into a dark hole and die. All that came out of his throat was a whimper. He could feel his cheeks flooding with heat, and his ears were on fire, especially his stitched ear which still hurt. He saw Princess Luna leaning her head down, drawing close to him, until he could feel her breath near his ear. An embarrassingly loud squeak escaped from him, and he felt his balls being sucked into his stomach.

âœI heard every word,â Princess Luna whispered, speaking into Sentinelâs ear.

The small room was crowded, and two alicorns stood near the bed, one dark blue and wearing full heavy plate mail, the other pink and wearing a light partial plate which seemed more ornamental than anything else.

âœCadance, how is your foal?â

Cadance, who was getting ready to say something, felt her breath slip out in a gasp. She heard a similar gasp come from Luna beside her. She stood there open mouthed for a moment, blinking in disbelief, and then she regained her composure. This was not the greeting she expected at all.

âœHow did you know?â Cadance asked.

âœI donât know,â Bucky said, struggling to lift his head.

âœStay down Buckminster, do not attempt to rise upon our account,â Luna commanded.

âœYou must not say anything. Nopony knows. It is currently a well protected secret,â Cadance said in hushed whisper.

âœI will defend you and your secrets with my life,â Bucky offered, still trying to lift his head.

âœBuckminsterâ your eyeâ your bodyâ you…â Cadance said, taking it all in.

Lunaâs armor clanked and creaked as she turned her head and watched as Cadance began to weep. She wanted to comfort Cadance, but wearing heavy plate made it difficult to hug other ponies. She had to be content to stretch out a wing and stroke Cadance.

âœWhat happens now?â Bucky asked in a weak voice.

âœWe return to Canterlot. Cadance and I are to secure this ship, the magical munitions, and the dangerous artifact onboard. They are all evidence against you now. As of this moment, you are in custody and under arrest for a list of crimes that stretch from Canterlot to Ponyville,â Luna answered.

There was a loud angry growl from Derpy, but Bucky silenced her by feebly raising his stump in her direction.

âœI understand and accept everything. I will not attempt to resist,â Bucky said in a weak raspy voice.

âœBuckminsterâ do you trust me?â Luna inquired in a cold emotionless voice.

âœIâve let you touch every part of my mind while Iâve been dozing away in drug induced slumbers, of course I trust you,â Bucky said to Luna.

âœShining Armor is already preparing your legal defense and so is Twilight Sparkle. She cannot defend you though, that will be Shining Armorâs job. After the treaty is signed, you will be brought before a court of four alicorns, you will be tried, afterwards, you will be sentenced once the nature of your crimes have been examined and discussed. And no matter what happens, I beg that you trust me,â Luna explained. âœPlease trust my sister as well,â she added.

âœAfter everything he did to end the terror on the isles,â Derpy whimpered. âœWhy?â

âœI did bad things,â Bucky admitted. âœI did immoral things. I did wrong things. And I am prepared to face the consequences for doing those things. Princess Luna, I am trusting that you have a plan to see me through this.â

âœIt will be difficult, and there is no way you can avoid punishment. I do have a plan, however, I am sure that you understand that I am forbidden to speak about it with you,â Luna responded in a cold officious voice.

Bucky nodded weakly.

âœBuckminster, why did you turn to dark magic? You have so much love in youâ so much strengthâ surely there was some other way?â Cadance said in a voice that cracked with emotion.

Drawing in a deep breath and closing his eye, Bucky went limp on the bed. After a moment of silence, his eye still closed, he let out his breath slowly and drew another. âœThere was no other way Cadance.â

âœThat is for the Court of Royals to decide,â Luna stated.

Chapter 193 (Canterlot)

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Derpy was not a happy pony. After their arrival at Canterlot castle, they had taken Bucky away, hauling him off to the hospital wing. The only thing keeping her from falling apart was her herd and her fellow tribe mates. They had been given a collection of rooms and then left alone, the door to the wing locked to keep them all secured.

This was not the homecoming Derpy wanted.

âœOkay everypony. As hard as this might be, we all need to settle in. I know we are all worried, scared, wanting to know that Bucky is alright, and wanting some answers. We will get those in time. We just need to be patient and on our best behaviour,â Bon Bon announced, taking command saying what needed to be said.

âœThey just left us here. Not one word, just locked us in like prisoners,â Berry Punch grumbled angrily. She began to pace back and forth in the large common room.

âœThere is food on the table there, and there is a refrigerator,â Sparkler said. âœAt least they are looking after our needs and being kind. There are bedsâ and bathroomsâ and bathtubs,â she added, her voice collapsing into a needy whine.

Rubbing her head with her hoof, Derpy looked thoughtful for a moment and then looked at her herd. âœSomepony is going to need to explain what a toilet is and how it works to those of us that donât know what a toilet is and how it works,â she instructed.

âœThe lights look funny,â Loch Skimmer said.

âœThose are electric light bulbs,â Berry said in reply.

âœHuh?â Loch grunted.

âœYou can turn them on and off by hitting the light switch. Think of it as magic that earth ponies and pegasi can use,â Berry explained.

âœThey took our weapons,â Lugus complained, his crest standing at full attention.

âœNot all of them,â Sentinel replied. âœWe still have Rising Star, Sparkler, Lyra, you, and Ripple to look after us if something goes wrong.â

âœI am shocked that we didnât get fitted with magic inhibitors,â Lyra said as she began to explore the area, poking her head through the various doors exiting the common room.

âœSentinel, you really know how to make a filly feel good,â Ripple said, patting her sibling with her wing. âœIf we get a chance, Iâll show ya some of my fighting moves to help pass the time.â

Derpy listened as her herd settled in, the overwhelming sound of too many voices, and she began to think about how nice a hot bath would be. She felt guilty and conflicted, worried about her husband but wanting a bath for herself. A faint wordless whimper escaped her throat.

âœIt will be okay,â Bon Bon whispered into Derpyâs ear.

âœPregnant pony needs to pee,â Thistle announced.

âœI guess we get started now,â Berry Punch said.

âœYou want me to pee into the freshest cleanest water Iâve ever seen?â Thistle asked in disbelief. She stared at the toilet, squirming and kicking her hind leg, and then she stared at Berry Punch. âœAre you mad?â

âœYouâve been to the mainland!â Berry Punch cried in exasperation.

âœThey pooped and peed in little wooden sheds!â Thistle cried back in reply.

âœJust plop your backside over the bowl and pee Thistle, then you flush it by pulling down on the handle,â Berry instructed, trying to not let the stress get to her.

âœBut that water is fresh!â Thistle shouted. âœWhat happens to the water after it is soiled?â

âœIt gets flushed and then it goes away. After that, ponies donât think about it. The toilet just fills back up and we go on about our lives,â Berry answered.

âœI feel funny about thisâ that is clean precious water,â Thistle whined. She began to dance in place. âœWhat about that big thing over there, it has a little hole in the bottom?â

âœThe bathtub?â Berry asked. âœUm, generally, you donât pee in the bathtub, but there are exceptions,â she explained.

âœLoch Skimmer! Stop playing with the light switches!â

Berry covered her eyes with her fetlock.

âœMoonbow! Stop swooping around the chandelier at once! This is not a good time to practice flying in the dark!â

âœI really gotta pee!â Thistle begged. âœWhere is a bucket?â

âœThistle, there are no buckets. Youâll have to pee in the toilet or end up going onâ oh bother you actually did,â Berry said in a strained voice. She looked down at the growing yellow puddle. She could see the look of humiliation and shame on Thistleâs face.

âœIâm sorry,â Thistle squeaked.

âœThistle, I know it seems strange, but you have to pee in the toiletâ now the bathroom is dirty and weâre going to have to pester Lyra to come in here to clean it because there is no mop or some means for us to clean it up,â Berry said. She wrapped a foreleg over Thistleâs neck and tried to comfort the crying kelpie.

âœLoch Skimmer! This is not one of Vinyl Scratchâs raves!â

Bucky watched the ceiling as his bed was wheeled to a room. He was comfortable enough, but lonely already. He wanted his family. He wanted somepony to be there to comfort him. Luna and Cadance were gone. He looked down at the IV now sticking out of his good leg and sighed. He hoped he would not be drugged up too much.

âœI will bring you some special ice cream to help you get fattened up,â the nurse promised as she moved his bed. âœMister Bitters, I wanted to thank youâ I think every earth pony in Equestria will want to thank you,â the nurse whispered in a low voice full of emotion.

âœThank you,â Bucky answered in a raspy dry voice.

âœI will bring you some ginger ale tooâ is there anything else you want? Anything at all, some special treat?â the nurse inquired.

âœJust my family,â Bucky grumbled.

âœI wish I could do that, you deserve itâ at least you will not be lonely, you will have a roomie,â the nurse said cheerfully.

Feeling frustrated already, Bucky groaned. The bed stopped for a moment and Bucky heard a door opening. Then, the bed started to move and Bucky saw the door frame up above him as the bed passed through the doorway. It was turned around so the foot of the bed was facing the door, and then rolled into place near the wall. He heard clicks as the wheels were locked into place.

âœI will be back with the ice cream and a few drinks for you real soon. And donât worry, Iâll feed you,â the nurse promised.

Bucky heard hooves on the hard tile floor and realised the nurse was gone. He sat in silence, hoping his roommate would be the silent type, maybe in a coma or a nice vegetative state so Bucky could be alone with his thoughts.

âœIt is funny what we do for love,â a weak scratchy voice said.

Wincing, Bucky tried to place the voice. It sounded terribly familiar.

âœLoveâ the most hated of all emotions. It makes us stupid. We do stupid things. Well, I did stupid thingsâ you on the other paw, you did incredibly evil things and I am not the least bit surprised, Buckminster Bitters. I remember you that day in Ponyville when you saved Dinky from the whole town. You went to such extraordinary lengths to save her. Dark magicâ tsk tsk.â

The voice was vaguely sarcastic but surprisingly genuine and heartfelt. Buckyâs mind sluggishly attempted to put a name to the voice.

âœYou killed something on the cusp of godhood,â the voice said, all sarcasm gone. âœYou killed something that even the Elements of Harmony would have been powerless against. Some other way would have to be foundâ like dragging it to Tartarusâ but you killed it and saved all of us the trouble.â

âœYou sure do talk a lot,â Bucky grumbled, still not able to place the voice.

âœI get bored easily,â the voice answered. âœTalking is all I can doââ

âœDiscord?â Bucky asked.

âœThe one and only,â Discord replied.

âœWhy are you here? Canât you just magic yourself better with chaos?â Bucky inquired as he tried to move his head enough to see his roommate.

âœI would if I had magic,â Discord said.

Bucky heard the snapping of Discordâs talons and then heard the pop and fizzle of magic.

âœIt will come back in timeâ or so Celestia thinks. She isnât sure. Nopony is sure. Right now, I am distressingly mortal. I could die. It is so exciting!â Discord said in a manic voice. âœIâve never died before. Fluttershy slapped me when I told her that I could die and said she would never forgive me if I did.â

âœIâm sorry Discord, I donât know what to say,â Bucky said in a weak voice.

âœI am not sorry. Not sorry at all,â Discord whispered in a frantic voice full of worry. âœBut I do regret not confessing my feelings for Fluttershy sooner. Why do we love? What do we gain out of it? Look at us, both of us, we lie upon the edge of ruin. They are going to railroad you Buckminster,â he added in a pained grumble.

âœI know,â Bucky answered. âœI donât know why we love, Discord. I suppose it makes life bearable,â he said, answering his own question hesitantly. âœHow did you beat Tirek?â

âœI dropped mountains on his head, zapped him with chaos magic, blasted him with harmony magic, I tried everything. Finally, I tried something crazy on the old magic eater. I gave him what he wanted,â Discord answered.

âœYou gave him what he wanted?â Bucky questioned.

âœI lured him to a ley line nexus. He wanted to eat magic, so I force fed him all the magic he could stand. For a brief moment, he became the god he wanted to be. He was a giantâ he was immense and all powerful. The next moment he popped and I contained the blast to keep Canterlot and Ponyville from being destroyed. It was an incredibly insane thing to do and also quite stupid,â Discord explained. âœI didnât know if it would work. I had no idea what I was doing, I used the only weapon I had, which was chaos. Tirek is dead, his physical body is no more. And the one little pony that I care about is safe.â

âœThat is all that matters. We keep those we love safe and damn all other consequences,â Bucky mumbled, feeling exhausted.

Foals could be counted on to be foals. Even during the worst of times. Especially during the worst of times. Berry shook her head at the rampant destruction of the common room. Sparkler had found several canisters of whipped cream in the fridge and all of the makings for ice cream sundaes. Instead of going on the ice cream, Sparkler had squirted the whipped cream into Dinkyâs ear, setting off an epic battle between siblings, which quickly turned into a battle between hastily gathered allies.

There was chocolate syrup on the chandelier.

At least Derpy finally lightened up just a little tiny bit and had let go after PiÃa had squirted her with the strawberry sauce. Berry felt a bittersweet moment of happiness, it was good to hear Derpy laughing again, sounding almost carefree.

She hoped that Keg Smasher was well. He was somewhere else, secured away in another set of rooms somewhere. Berry did not know.

The door behind her opened and Berry Punch turned around. She saw Cadance, who looked incredibly sad. The sad look turned to one of shock when the alicorn saw the state of the room she had entered, and Berry felt a smile spreading over her muzzle.

âœIâve come with a bit of news,â Cadance said in a low voice. âœBuckminster is secured in the hospital wing. He is comfortable, they have placed an IV in him, and the nurse intends to stuff him with special high calorie and high fat ice cream. Tomorrow, early morning, Loch Skimmer will be escorted to the hospital wing, and one pony may go with her. She will have her leg examined to see how it is healing.â

Sighing, Berry Punch looked Cadance in the eye. âœAre we prisoners?â

âœNot exactly. You have two family members who have beenâ altered, for lack of a better description. You are being observed. Which reminds me, Sparkler also has a doctorâs appointment tomorrow as well. Grimglammer wants those tremors checked out,â Cadance answered.

âœWhat if we donât want to be observed any more?â Berry said angrily. She held her temper in check, not making threats, and biting back all of the rage filled words that wanted to spill out.

âœPlease, for your husbandâs sake, try to cooperate,â Cadance begged. âœNow is not the time for rash anger, even if it is justified.â

âœSO YOU ADMIT IT IS JUSTIFIED!â Berry snapped. She heard hooves behind her and could smell a whiff of ozone.

âœWhy are we being locked up?â Rising Star demanded. The room began to grow warm.

âœBecause of you and Sparkler,â Berry said. âœCalm down Rising, donât give them a reason to lobotomise you,â she warned. âœI shouldnât have lost my temper.â

âœWe would never lobomi-â

âœOh stow it,â Berry interrupted. âœWiping someponyâs mind clean is just the same is cutting out a chunk of their brain. I know what was done to Bucky. They carefully snipped out the truth and the dangerous parts and they poked around inside of his head trying to keep him safe. Are you going to keep Rising Star and Sparkler safe?â

The pink alicorn slumped. âœI donât agree with what is going on! Stop taking it out on me! I am not even speaking to my aunt right now because of what is being done! I hate her! I HATE HER!â

âœIâ I didnât knowâ Iâm sorry,â Berry said in a halting voice, her mind a confusing jumble after hearing the alicorn of love announce that she hated somepony she had loved.

âœI hate that she is right. Weâve tried the other nobles. They are down in the caves below, which are now converted into dungeons. Theyâre not up here in the lap of luxury being made comfortable. Celestia said if we let Buckminster get away with what heâs done, it would undo all of the hard work that has been done to hold the nobles accountable. We canât make exceptions for just one, no matter what heâs done. It would be hypocritical!â Cadance cried, the tears now running like rivers down her cheeks.

The crushing weight of reality came crashing down upon Berry Punchâs broad withers, and she felt faint. She felt her legs begin to wobble.

âœWe have to hold him accountable so we can uphold our values. We cannot excuse him for what he has done, no matter how good or how valid his reasons are. The future of our new legal system rests upon what we do next,â Cadance said as she sniffled.

Rising Star reached out and gently prodded Cadance. âœCome sit with us. Stay with us for a while. Talk with Harper or play peekaboo with Peekaboo.â

âœYouâd let me stay for a while? You donât hate me?â Cadance asked, confusion now in her voice and pain clearly visible on her face.

âœNo,â Rising Star said. âœIf you will excuse the mess, maybe we can show you that we are not a threat. We welcome you to spend a little time with us,â he added, the room cooling off slightly as his rage subsided.

âœI would like to stay,â Cadance admitted. âœFor observation reasons,â she said with a sniff.

Chapter 194

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It felt funny not having a cast on her leg. Loch Skimmer stuck her leg out and wiggled it. It felt too light and most of her pelt had been rubbed off. Whatever it was they had cleaned her bare flesh with stung her skin and left it feeling cold.

âœDonât put all of your weight on it. Just a little of your weight. Be careful, the bone has healed well. Whomever did that set the bone almost perfectly. You shouldnât have any problems with it at all. In time, you will be able to run and do all the normal things a fine filly like yourself would enjoy doing,â the doctor said.

âœThanks,â Loch said, still flexing her leg.

The doctor looked up at Cadance. âœActually, we should examine them all. If you would, have them brought to us one or two at a time so we can run a full battery of tests and give them exams,â the mare requested.

âœConsider it done,â Cadance said.

âœJust a few more tests to do,â the doctor said to Loch Skimmer, smiling gently as she did so.

âœWhat sort of tests?â Ripple asked, feeling concerned.

âœBuckminster, donât move, there is some kind of monster perched at the end of your bed!â

Opening his eye and wiggling, Bucky struggled to wake up. He looked around wildly, and saw no monsters. He did see Freezerburn, who had somehow found him. The phoenix was preening his wings and looking smug and self satisfied.

âœFreezerburn, how did you get in here?â Bucky said in a dry raspy voice.

âœThatâ is your friend?â Discord asked. âœDo you know what kind of hideous monster that is? That is a corrupted phoenix. It is death on blue wings!â

The phoenix squawked indignantly, took off from the foot of the bed, landed on Discordâs bed, and began to pace along the blanket.

âœItâs coming for my eyes!â Discord cried in alarm.

âœDiscord, stop being a goof,â Bucky muttered.

âœItâs terrifying!â Discord said, his head scooting over his pillow.

Bucky waited and listened, and sure enough, he heard Discord go silent for a moment, his body going still. He heard the sound of Discordâs breathing become regular and steady, and the sounds of his weak struggles faded.

âœOh thatâs kinda nice. Much better than eyeball eating,â Discord said as he heaved a contented sigh.

The shaking would not stop. Not with all of the stress. Sparkler took a deep breath and tried to make her body go still. A lot had been done in the early morning hours, and now, she was sitting in a small room in the hospital wing of Canterlot Castle.

âœIâm scared Rising,â Sparkler admitted. âœWorried about Loch and Ripple.â

âœI know,â Rising Star admitted.

âœWorried about us,â Sparkler said.

âœBucky said he had a plan to protect us,â Rising Star said.

âœHe canât even do anything right now but lay there,â Sparkler said bitterly. âœRising, if it came down to it, do you think we could fight our way free and help the others?â

âœDo you think we would get very far? Would it help us? Would it help Bucky?â Rising Star replied, looking at his wife with some concern. âœWe would only prove them right, that we were dangerous monsters. Now is the time to settle into place and wait things out.â

âœSince when did you become so mature and dependable?â Sparkler asked.

âœSince Crush the earth pony pointed out that I had found myself and showed me the measure of a stallion. Bucky had been quietly showing me by example, Crush had to explain it to me. Now you listen to me Sparkler, and you listen well. Donât do anything rash,â Rising Star replied.

âœCrush is mute,â Sparkler said, shaking her head in confusion.

âœCrush had a lot to say if you listened,â Rising Star retorted.

Not knowing what else to say, Sparkler fell silent and her eyes roamed over the room. There was an eye chart, jars full of cotton balls, as well as a poster announcing that sexually transmitted infections were the silent killer among the guards and every bit as insidious as any foreign invader.

Luna warily eyed the phoenix that was staring at her. The pair watched one another, neither moving, each trying to size the other up. Luna had been quite surprised to come into the room and discover the large and surprisingly predatory phoenix sitting on Buckyâs horn and preening itself.

âœLong story,â Bucky said.

âœOne worth telling,â Luna stated, looking at the bird. âœAt another time though.â

âœThis isnât a social visit I take it,â Bucky grumbled.

Fluffing out her wings, Luna shook her head and approached Buckyâs bedside. She noted the bottles of ginger ale and the wrappers of a few treats at bedside. âœDo you want anything?â

âœNo, just my family,â Bucky said, struggling to lift his head.

âœI wish I could give you what you wish. In time. For right now though, there are things that need to be done,â Luna answered. âœWe need to discuss a few things,â she added, casting a simple silence barrier around the bed.

âœSome answers?â âœBucky stated.

âœYes,â Luna responded. âœLike your eye, which I know you have been asking about. The condition is called Taint. It happens when your bodyâs natural mana reserves become corrupted by dark magic. Normally, when casting dark magic, you summon forth the energy and then use emotion to corrupt the energy into dark energy. The bodyâs natural mana remains harmonious.â

âœSo I am producing dark mana naturally?â Bucky inquired.

âœYesâ you were always a quick one,â Luna said, clucking her tongue lightly to punctuate her words. âœThe issue here is, now you must learn to free your mana from corruption if you want to cast harmony magic. Dark magic will now come easily to you. This condition is complicated and unknown really. Most unicorns die from it, because it is deadly poison to the body. You should be dead really, there was only one other unicorn in history who survived the Taint and grew strong from it,â she explained.

âœSombra,â Bucky said.

Princess Luna looked terribly sad for a moment. âœI see so much of him in you Buckminster, Iâ I loved him like a brother. We went into Tartarus together. He was so loyal. He followed me, always my shadow, always just slightly behind me on my heels, always so dutiful, so diligent, always faithfulâ until he changed.â

âœI know. I have his memories. Every day a few more of them surface,â Bucky said, looking Luna in the eye. He could see that her eyes were tearing over. âœI would follow you into Tartarus. Cadance too. I understand what you fight now, and how the world fell into decay without you. I have been made aware of a great many things.â

âœWould you Buckminster? Would you willingly follow me into Tartarus? Do I have your oath?â Luna said, her voice very insistent and pleading.

âœI give you my word as a knight, and not just for you, but for all of you. Even Celestia, I understand what she must do, and she is right for doing it,â Bucky answered.

Looking unsettled, Luna stepped away from the bed, her eyes closing and an expression of pain flooding her face. âœWe should discuss more relevant issues. Like your health. The stress and everything that has happened has taken a toll on your body. Buckminster, I know how you feel about ascension, so I will not even discuss that option with you. We dare not use healing magic because that might trigger the change. It would heal you, restoring you to what you were meant to be, which is an alicorn. You have the spark of the divine inside of you now.â

Bucky nodded weakly.

âœWe need to have you up and moving for the treaty. After some heated debate, my sister and I have decided to place you inside of your armor and then trust you to be on your best behaviour. I know you will do everything I command of you, including taking it off when it comes time to do so. It will restore your mobility and allow you to function. I must admit, the design is impressive. I have never seen its like. It has also been shadow infused, which means it will bond with your nature. I am not sure how you did that,â Luna said as she studied Buckyâs face, looking for some of expression feeling.

âœI changed under the mountain,â Bucky said in a raspy wheeze. âœPerhaps my armor did as well,â he added.

âœWe have so much to talk about involving your changes. The Taint. Other issues. You are going to need to learn how to use your new magic. But all of this will have to come at another time,â Luna said, her eyebrows raising in concern. âœThe doctors tell me you are malnourished. You have worms. You have stomach parasites, which have been sapping your strength. Your family probably has them as well, but with your heavy magic usage, it is a wonder you havenât killed yourself. The doctors tell me they cannot figure out how you are even alive. The Taint is a particularly virulent toxin. They are going to begin the processes of fixing what they can the hard way, without using healing magic. I have made it clear that they are to respect your wishes.â

âœThank you,â Bucky said gratefully.

âœI must go. There is much to do,â Luna said regretfully.

âœTell Celestiaâ tell her I am sorry and I wish to see her,â Bucky whispered.

Luna gave a faint nod, turned, and headed for the door.

Holding her close, Rising Star tried to comfort his crying wife. He had his leg around her, and he kissed her neck softly, gently pressing his snoot against her, trying to let her know that it was going to be okay somehow. He wanted to cry himself, but was somehow holding it all together. Bucky was gone, and Bucky was usually the one who held things together. Rising Star realised he had to step up now and fill Buckyâs shoes somehow.

âœThe condition is called Shivers. It is a neurological condition, a type of palsy. It is aggravated by stress and other factors. It grows worse over time, and is a surprisingly common problem in unicorns. At one time not all that long ago, it was untreatable, but now we have a variety of medications which fix the problem. The medication is really quite good, but sometimes it can take a while to find the right pill to ease the problem. The good news is, there is a pill for every type of case, and no case goes untreated,â the doctor explained.

âœAny time there is good news, there is bad news,â Rising Star said, eyeing the doctor.

âœYes, there are a few side effects. One major one and a few minor ones that are of no real concern at all, the little side effects are all easy to deal with,â the doctor replied.

âœAnd what is the major side effect?â Rising Star inquired in a clipped voice, wishing the doctor would just be out with it.

âœWell, that is a delicate issue and one that should be discussed car-â

âœOut with it!â Rising Star demanded.

âœSterility. The medication causes sterility. Not right away, but after about a year of taking it, give or take, it causes permanent sterility,â the doctor said in a halting voice.

âœSo I get to go on shaking and have foals, or I get to stop shaking and never have foals,â Sparkler whimpered.

Rising Star actually lifted Sparkler out of her chair and cradled her in his forelegs, holding her close and clutching her body tightly. He buried his face into her mane, he could feel the sobs increasing, and feel her twitching muscles convulsed, as though they were reacting to the bad news.

âœI understand you are in a herd marriage,â the doctor said sheepishly.

âœYes,â Rising Star growled, his voice a clear warning that this was a delicate issue.

âœWe can extract eggsâ we can store them. We can do amazing things nowâ one of your other wives could be a surrogate mother. There are ways to still have a happy ending from this,â the doctor said, reaching out and touching Sparkler with her hoof.

âœReally?â Sparkler sniffled, her barrel hitching. âœI could still have foals?â

âœThere are ways,â the doctor offered, offering up a hopeful smile.

Chapter 195

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Derpy tried to deal with all of the news and information she was having to take in. It was overwhelming and unsettling. On top of worrying about her husband, there was the fact that Sparkler had something called the Shivers. The entire herd had worms and stomach parasites. There were cavities. Fungal infections. Multiple cases of malnutrition.

And there was the introduction of rich foods to their diets. Miserable gassy ponies reclined on every comfortable surface, occasionally getting up to run to the bathroom, cursed with an explosive case of the trots. Derpy was terrified to even fart anymore and her pucker was horribly chapped from the constant squirts. All of them were waiting for the pills they had taken to help their stomachs to kick in.

All of them had been poked, prodded, stabbed, violated, had stool samples taken, blood drawn, and had exceedingly thorough physical examinations that had violated their senses and their decency.

It had not been a good day.

Thistle was terrified of indoor plumbing as well as all of its implications and was torturing herself, refusing to go until it was absolutely necessary. Loch Skimmer would foalishly play with the light switches if left in a room unwatched and unattended. Ripple tried crawling inside of the fridge to cool off her overheated belly. Moonbow had done a cannonball from the bathroom counter into the tub, the force of the impact actually having washed poor Sentinel right out of the tub after he was hit with a tidal wave of water.

The entire living space was completely trashed and there was nothing that could be done about it. Lyra was passed out on a chaise lounger, a diapered Harper right beside her, little Harper who suffered the most out of all of them, wanting to see Bucky and not understanding why she couldnât. She wanted her mamaâ

âœIs this what dying feels like?â

Derpy pondered Sentinelâs words and contemplated the effort required in making an answer. She lifted her head weakly and looked at her colt, he was sprawled out over the arm of a very large overstuffed couch, his legs dangling down on either side, and his wings hanging limp. He didnât look well.

âœI donât wanna fart no more, my pucker hurts.â

Alas, Derpy had trouble generating sympathy for Dinky. Derpy had her own problems. She cursed the cupcakes she had eaten, the ice cream, and the brownies. Well, everything really. The massive plate full of macaroni and cheese she had eaten had turned into lead inside of her stomach.

There was a loud trumpeting blast and an ear piercing squeal from Dinky.

There was still no sympathy from Derpy.

The room was filled with an uncomfortable silence as Bucky studied Shining Armor. The stallion looked like he hadnât slept in a long while. His eyes were puffy and bloodshot, and a nervous tic made the corner of his eye twitch.

Discord was gone, having been wheeled outside to spend some time in the sun, to relax and have a pleasant time in the gardens, leaving the room for the two stallions who were now stuck in a drawn out silence.

âœHow bad was it?â Bucky asked, finally breaking the silence.

âœPardon?â Shining Armor responded.

âœThe trial. Your sentence. For your family and others,â Bucky said in a weak dry sounding voice. He saw his ginger ale lifted in Shiningâs magical aura and he took the straw between his lips gratefully.

âœSome of my family were punished quite harshly. Others, like my mother and my father, they were sentenced to a lifetime of community service and shown mercy. They are now forbidden from owning anything or having wealth and must depend entirely upon the kindness of others to survive, have a roof over their heads, and get food. They are not allowed to keep bits. My father, as head of the house, he had to write out a public apology and make a speech in the middle of Canterlot, and then another speech in the middle of Ponyville in front of all of the earth ponies and pegasi, all the refugees. Theyâ theyââ Shining Armor stammered and his voice faltered. âœThey were grateful and they called my father a good pony, an example to others and that his humility was appreciated. The ponies of Ponyville have been very good to my father and mother, and look after their needs. Twily and I are forbidden from doing anything to help them like taking them in with us.â

Swallowing a bit more ginger ale, Bucky struggled to turn his head to look at Shining Armor a bit more directly. He licked his lips and cleared this throat. âœThat doesnât seem so bad.â

âœWe saw which way the wind was blowing and we did the right thing. It saved us a lot of hardship and grief. We were shown mercy while many others were tried to the fullest extent of the law,â Shining Armor replied.

âœWhat will happen to me?â Bucky asked.

âœI am unable to comment on your possible punishments, but mercy isnât possible,â Shining Armor said in a dull deadpan. âœThey wonât kill you. Celestia has told me that. Youâve done a few things that actually deserve the axe though. Buckminsterâ how much punishment are you willing to endure?â

Bucky tried to make sense of the strange question. âœHuh?â

âœSparkler and Rising Star being what they areâ Lyra Heartstrings… they are all going to be placed under the judgment of the inquisition. Lyra has used dark magic and necromancy. Sparkler and Rising Star, it is likely that they will be punished quite harshly for allowing you to change them. And Lyraâ I have been told to begin preparing a legal defense for Lyra,â Shining Armor stated in a low pained voice. âœHow much punishment are you willing to endure?â

âœAll of it,â Bucky said in a weak wheeze. âœHow can I have them spared? I will let my head be separated from my neck if need be.â

âœI have a planââ Shining Armor offered.

Buckyâs mind whirled with everything that Shining Armor had said. He didnât know what to make of it all or how to accept what he had to do. He was going to have to hurt his family terribly and he hoped that one day, they would forgive him. In time, he hoped they would understand what it was he was about to do. Out of all of them, he hoped that Bon Bon would find it in her heart to forgive him for what he was planning.

He was just able to get his lips around the straw in his drink and suck some liquid through, but it required him straining to lift his head slightly.

âœBuckminster?â

Bucky saw a flash of pink in his vision and his head fell back onto his pillow.

âœBuckminster, I brought you visitors,â Cadance announced. She stepped out of the way of the door to allow the pony behind her access.

Seeing the flash of grey made Buckyâs heart leap up into his throat. As Derpy came into his field of vision, he began to sob with relief and he heard her doing the same. She stood on her hind legs at his bedside and he could feel her strong legs pulling tight around him, careful of his injuries. A moment later, there was a shift in the bed as something small was dropped near his neck, and he knew it was Harper.

Cadance watched the reunion and basked in their love, drawing strength from it. She had carried Harper for Derpy, holding the foal in her magic, and now she thought of the foal in her belly. She drew near the bed, knowing she was welcome, but fearing she was an intruder. She watched Bucky fall prey the affections of his mate and his obvious relief from being able to see her. She heard the happy little grunts that Harper made.

âœEverypony is sick Buckyâ they say we have worms,â Derpy said in a sour voice.

Bucky nodded. âœI have them too.â

âœThistle is terrified of plumbing. I told her she was acting like a foal and she accused me acting like her mother instead of her fellow-wife. I think sheâs mad at me,â Derpy said.

âœTry to see it from a kelpie perspective,â Bucky wheezed.

âœI am tryingââ

âœI know you are,â Bucky said. âœBe strong.â

âœWe can see out of our windowâ big parts of Canterlot are missing. Theyâre just gone!â Derpy said, crawling up into the bed and squeezing in beside her husband. The narrow hospital bed was only meant for one pony, but the couple made it work somehow, Derpyâs tail swishing from side to side as it hung off the side of the bed.

âœYou smell so good,â Bucky breathed.

âœSoapâ we have soap. And bathtubs. I donât smell like stale farts and hot sweaty pony anymore,â Derpy said excitedly. âœI had a bubble bath and I swear, it felt like I was getting my cutie mark all over again,â the mare gushed.

âœYou smell like jasmineâ and some kind of berries,â Bucky said, breathing in slowly.

âœTheyâre keeping all of us locked up Bucky,â Derpy said, her happy mood suddenly gone.

âœI know,â Bucky whispered.

The grey pegasusâ eyes narrowed. âœSparkler has a condition called the Shivers. It is because she is a type three now.â

A terrible pain tore into Buckyâs chest and it made his breath catch in his throat.

âœShe is going to be okay though, there are pills to fix it. Iâ I donât think I should have brought this up. I am sorry,â Derpy said apologetically. âœAll of us are going to be getting trims to our manes and tails. There is going to be some big photographic opportunity when the treaty is signed. We have to look good. You know, you could use just a tiny trimâ but not too much. I like your mane and your tail to be long and full,â she added, changing the subject.

âœI will not be seen at the treaty signing. They are placing me in my armor so I can be mobile,â Bucky said in reply.

âœOoh! That will make a good picture!â Derpy exclaimed. âœTry to look extra scary as you loom menacingly over your family!â

Standing silently in the background, Cadance hoped that the treaty signing would go off without a hitch. More than anything, she hoped that Bucky would hold everything together.

âœLoch! Stop flushing the toilet! Youâre upsetting Thistle!â Berry shouted.

âœWhat makes the water do that? The whirlpool?â Loch inquired.

âœSuction as it goes down the hole,â Berry said.

âœWhy is it always in the same direction?â Loch asked as she hit the handle again.

âœI donât know,â Berry said. âœI said stop flushing the toilet!â

âœSorryâ it is like magic though. I hit the little lever and I make a whirlpool happen!â Loch Skimmer said. She watched as the bowl begin to fill with water once again.

Berry Punch, now at the end of her patience, shoved Loch Skimmer out of the bathroom and into the common room, grunting and gritting her teeth as she did so. The flighty pegasus giggled softly as she was evicted. Berry pulled the door shut behind her.

âœRipple! Stop trying to see if the light in the fridge stays on or off!â Berry barked.

Ripple pulled away from the fridge, looking guilty.

âœAnd close the door!â

Her head down low, Ripple closed the door and slunk away from the fridge. She fled the room, slipping through a door, and once out of Berryâs sight, broke into a mischievous grin as she lept up onto the bed and began to bounce around. The mattress was extra springy and jumping on the bed was exactly what PiÃa and Dinky promised that it would be.

Berry sat down on the couch and thought about crying. Not long after Derpy had left, the entire herd had gone crazy, rising up from their various places of rest and then going nuts. Lyra and Bon Bon had disappeared behind a locked door and there was a mysterious silence that Berry suspected had something to do with a soundproofing spell.

âœBlech! Soap! Why is there soap in the chocolate syrup bottle?â

âœHAH! Thatâll learn you to stop drinking from the chocolate syrup bottle Moonbow!â

Berry fell back into the sofa and wondered if she was cut out to be a parent in a modern sugar filled world, Dinkyâs shrill voice echoing in her ears as she sank into the cushions.

âœBRAAAAAAAAAAAP!â

âœSoap bubbles!â

Closing her eyes, Berry could hear PiÃaâs sugar fueled manic giggling as Moonbow belched out soap bubbles. In one of the bedrooms, she heard a crash, and she could only assume that Ripple was jumping on the bed once more. She had probably done a super double bouncy and cracked her head into the ceiling again. She already had one goose egg sized lump that had turned her into an honourary alicorn.

Berry put her hooves to her head and tried to hold back her rising frustration as she heard Thistle starting to cry once again as the sound of a flushing toilet could be heard from the bathroom.

âœLOCH SKIMMER!â

Chapter 196

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Bucky stared at his armor case. The dull black armor was visible and he shivered as he recalled painful memories of descending down under the mountain. He suffered a flashback, a vision of his own severed leg extending from his sundered armor and lying in a pool of his own blood.

âœBuckminster, focus.â

He snapped to attention at the sound of Lunaâs voice and looked at her.

âœHow do I help you put this on?â Luna inquired.

âœI just need to place the helmet on my head,â Bucky answered. âœOnce it comes into contact with my horn, the rest of the plates will slide into place. Iâll need to be out of bed though.â

âœI understand. I will hold you up,â Luna offered.

âœAm Iâ am I still an armiger?â Bucky questioned.

âœDo you still have armiger status?â Luna responded. âœYes. For good or for ill, you still have that power. For now. Do not count on having it for long.â

âœI understand,â Bucky whispered.

âœPlotting revenge?â Luna asked in a low voice as she lifted Bucky out of bed and suspended him in the air.

âœLuna, I swore I would never bring harm to another pony ever again,â Bucky wheezed.

âœI will hold you to that,â Luna said.

âœPleaseâ do,â Bucky gasped, his voice raspy.

âœYou sound like you are in pain,â Luna said, her voice full of concern.

âœIt doesnât matter,â Bucky said. âœMy magic functions better when I am free of the drugs. I am still having trouble making harmony magic happen.â

âœWhat now?â Luna asked.

âœThe helmet if you please,â Bucky instructed.

Bucky watched as the helmet lifted in the soft glow of Lunaâs magic and the room went dark for a moment as it was slipped over his head. He could feel the metal sliding around his horn. And then, he felt the sweet tingle of magic coursing through his body. He felt the armored plates sliding into place and the magic field suspending him in mid air, securing him inside of an armored womb. He felt himself set down upon his steel hooves and his armor quivered, making a faint clank.

âœAnd you say you are completely suspended inside of there? No weight on your joints or metal pinching you? No weight on your stump?â Luna inquired.

âœI am fine,â Bucky said in a low mechanical growl, his wheezing making a dreadful sound as he breathed.

âœThat is so intimidating,â Luna murmured. âœSo dark and melodramatic. You have a sense of style that I can appreciate.â

âœThank you. Have you seen Freezerburn?â Bucky said in reply, wondering where his phoenix was.

âœHe was last spotted terrorising the north wing of the castle and my sister actually gave chase to him to try and stop him from being a public menace,â Luna answered. âœI found it highly amusing, much to my sisterâs dismay.â

âœAmusing?â Bucky questioned.

âœYou know, it always surprises ponies, but at one time, I was the bearer of the Element of Laughter, along with Loyalty and Honesty. And watching a corrupted phoenix playfully scaring ponies is funny,â Luna replied.

âœSo I take it that Celestia was Kindness, Generousity, and Magic,â Bucky said, trying to flex his mental muscles and prepare for the coming storm. âœLoyaltyââ he muttered inside of his helmet.

âœYes Buckminster, I was the Element of Loyalty, and I will always provide for those who remain true to me. Are you my devoted servant?â Luna inquired.

âœFrom now until my death, Mistress,â Bucky vowed, his voice a low mechanical thrum.

âœMistress?â Luna said in a tone of faint disbelief. âœYou, a prince, call me Mistress?â

âœI would be your slave if it would have my family spared,â Bucky said, turning his head to study Luna. âœYou and I both know I have useful talents and Equestria lies in ruins. You have been in my mind. You have seen every dark corner. You know what I am capable of and what I willing to do. You know that I will do anything and that there is no end to what I am willing to embrace for their sakes. Celestia has her ponies, her champions that are full of sunshine and rainbows. I am full of darkness and pain. You and I both know I no longer belong in their world. I belong in yours.â

For a long moment, Luna listened to the wheezing sounds coming from Buckyâs armor. Her face was solemn and serious. âœYou deserve better,â she murmured in a sad voice.

The great hall was full of ponies. Guards. Alicorns. Reporters. Former nobles of House Avarice. Bucky saw his herd and his tribe. He saw Keg Smasher and did a double take. Keg Smasher was standing on four legs and had both wings now, whole of body once again. Bucky was silently grateful for Keg Smasherâs restoration. He saw Lugus raise a wing in salute, Sentinel by his side saluting as well.

He followed Luna, walking just behind her, on her heels just as Sombra had once done. There were gasps as he entered the great hall, and many flashbulbs went off as reporters snapped photographs.

And then he saw her.

His heart in his throat, he wanted to run over and comfort her. Celestia didnât look well. She looked thin and pinched. Her eyes were glassy and bloodshot. She was missing patches of hair from her pelt and there were ragged still healing scars all over her body. She looked grief stricken and full of torment. He could see the anguish upon her face, and it broke his heart. He was glad his helmet hid his tears, and he did his best to cry silently, knowing his helmet would amplify his sobs. All that could be heard was a damp sounding wheeze.

Following Luna, Bucky was led to his family and instructed to stand guard.

âœAt this point, signing this treaty is a mere formality. You have no house. You have no standing. All of you are paupers and there is no war. This is a document for the history books to show that your power was broken and by signing this treaty, your demise will be documented,â Celestia announced in a loud clear voice.

Most of the gathered members of the House of Avarice hung their heads, but a few remained defiant. Bucky saw there was no magic inhibitors except upon a few. He saw shackles and hobbles around their legs. He saw that his mother was one of the few who held their heads high and proud.

The knowledge of how to cast a necromantic death spell lept into Buckyâs mind. He grinned a ghoulish grin that none could see.

âœThis sheet of paper is your end. Will the heads of your respective houses come forward please,â Celestia said.

Several ponies came forward, representing the various houses that made up House Avarice. Chains clanked as the unicorns stumbled forwards towards the table.

âœDoes anypony have anything meaningful to say before this is signed?â Celestia asked.

Bucky did not see Derpy nervously licking her lips or the sudden nervous hitching of her barrel. With her in his blind side, he did not see the nervous flutter of her wings. He did not see her until after she had stepped forward.

âœThis paper is full of words. Words that will not even be remembered by most ponies,â Derpy said nervously, looking around the room. Her wings fluttered and her steps were slow. âœThese words wonât fix anything. These words will not make the hurt go away. And if they are not remembered, what good do they do? What purpose do they serve?â

The room was silent except for the pop of a few flashbulbs as reporters snapped pictures of the grey pegasus who was now standing in the middle of the room near the table.

âœA hug can go a long way towards saying you are really truly sorryâ trust me, I know, I am a mom,â Derpy said as she sat down on her haunches, spread her wings slightly and extended one foreleg out in an inviting gesture. And then, she laughed. A warm genuine laugh that filled the room with life.

The room fell into a dumbfound silence that was absolutely deafening, and Derpy was still laughing, a soft faint laughter that was completely disarming.

A single stallion moved forward towards Derpy, an older stallion that Bucky recognised as Goldflake, the head of all the houses that made up House Avarice.

âœCome on, donât be shy, we can show them all how to make things better,â Derpy said with a chuckle and her eyes glittered with merriment.

âœStay away from her!â Bucky growled, his voice a terrifying mechanical whine from inside of his helmet. Black flames lept to life around his horn and ponies in the room began to scream. The temperature of the room dropped suddenly and everypony could see their breath.

âœYou touch her, you harm one golden hair in her mane, and I will kill you,â Bucky warned. âœI have one pure thing left in my life. I will not allow you to taint it with your touch. You corrupt everything you come into contact with.â

Buckyâs armor writhed with black tendrils of shadow creeping along the surface as it drew power from Buckyâs corrupted mana. It was a fear inducing sight and a stampede broke out, many ponies fleeing from the room. A few brave reporters remained, knowing they were going to get the story of their lives. Members of House Avarice screamed and panicked, shackled and unable to run, trapped in a room with what was clearly a murderous psychopath full of dark magic.

âœBucky, donât do anything foolish,â Rising Star begged.

âœGive the word father, and I will join you,â Sparkler said, getting a dark look from Rising Star for her words. She stepped forward and her horn flared. âœIâve been looking forward to this for a while,â she growled. Her whole body trembled and her face spasmed terribly.

Goldflake remained still, frozen in place.

âœBucky, your vow,â Bon Bon said, wishing she could touch Bucky to calm him. But he was encased in his armor and out of her reach. She moved close, moving into his field of vision, smiling but her face showed fear.

âœI should kill all of you for what you have done. And who could stop me? I could invoke my right as an armiger right now and send all of you to the death that you all so rightfully deserve,â Bucky snarled.

âœBuckminsterâ not like this, please, not like this,â Celestia said in a pleading voice. âœLet this end. I am begging you. Not in front of your foals.â

âœHeâs just angry, and rightfully so. A lot of bad things have happened. And you know what? I am still pretty angry tooâ but what is anger going to do for me? The fighting has to stop sometime,â Derpy said, still laughing, but now sounding a little nervous. She made a gesture with her foreleg, beckoning Goldflake to come closer.

The stallion moved forward, staring at Bucky as he did so, clearly terrified. He sat down upon the floor a few feet away from Derpy, closed his eyes, and summoned his courage. He stood back up and took the last few steps towards the giggling mare. He sat down in front of her and the pair embraced.

âœHe is very protective of you,â Goldflake said.

âœHe protects what is his,â Derpy said, all too aware of Bucky standing behind her, fuming in a murderous rage.

âœI betrayed my own house,â Goldflake confessed to the mare still hugging him. âœI sent out the ledgers and leaked all the papers that led to our downfall.â

âœDo you feel better about it?â Derpy asked in a motherly voice.

âœNo, I still feel pretty ashamed about everything,â Goldflake admitted.

âœAre you sorry?â Derpy asked as she squeezed the old stallion.

âœVery much so,â Goldflake confessed, a few tears now rolling down his cheeks.

âœAre you ashamed of what you have done?â Derpy asked, stroking the back of the stallions neck and trying to soothe him.

âœI am so terribly ashamedâ I even told Platinum I was ashamedâ she kept tormenting me,â Goldflake said as he began to sob pitifully, collapsing against Derpy completely.

Unable to bear another creature in pain, Derpy wrapped her wings around the crying pony and squeezed him warmly. âœYou really are sorry,â Derpy whispered.

âœHow can you tell? I tried to tell Celestia I was sorryââ Goldflake whimpered.

âœA mother knows,â Derpy said, patting the pony she was hugging on the back and trying to soothe him to make his hurt go away.

After several moments of odd quiet with Bucky looming over both of them, Goldflake lifted his head. âœI think I am ready to sign the paper now and take what is coming to me,â he said in a shuddering voice. He pulled away from Derpy slowly, rising up on wobbling rickety knees. He gazed at Bucky for a moment, staring into Buckyâs darkened glass visor. âœYou are the only one of us that ever amounted to anything good. Donât mess that up.â

âœWhat is to be done with them?â Bucky demanded.

âœThey are going to be banished to the Hinterlands. A lawless place. Many nobles have already been shipped there,â Celestia said in a ragged nervous voice.

âœI am suspending judgment upon this one,â Bucky announced. âœHe gets to live out the rest of his days in relative peace. I am invoking my right as armiger. Let him spend the rest of his days in a small cottage somewhere and make sure there is a painting of Princess Platinum hanging up inside of it.â

âœVery well, I shall grant clemency at your command,â Celestia said in a voice that was filled with relief. She watched as Goldflake moved towards the table and then signed the paper.

âœAs for the rest of youââ Bucky growled.

The room was filled with gasps. A few ponies from House Bitters actually pushed Buckyâs mother and father forward, hoping he would take his wrath out upon them. Primrose Propers and Buckminster Bitters Senior stared at their son in horror and shock, both of them clearly quite terrified and stunned that their own house would shove them out to expose them like this.

Dark energy crackled along Buckyâs horn and screams came from around the room. The temperature dropped even more and ice began to frost the windows. âœKNEEL!â Bucky commanded.

One by one, as if being pressed down by some invisible crushing force, the rest of the members of House Avarice dropped down to the front knees and groveled face down before Bucky. A few resisted, or tried, before some unseen force finally drove them down.

âœKing Sombra had a way of dealing with traitorous unicorns. Useless unicorns. As his son, so do I,â Bucky hissed.

A panicked cry went out among the kneeling unicorns and one by one they began to writhe in fear as a dark shadow entered their minds. Black crystals began to sprout from their horns, long black protruding spikes that glowed with dark energy. Several screamed in fright and a few fainted.

âœNever again will any of you know magic. This is your curse. You will live out your days in the Hinterlands with nothing to aid you. I suspect most of you will become food. I will see all of you in Tartarus!â Bucky said, his voice a demonic growl.

âœYouâve turned us into earth ponies!â Primrose shouted.

âœNO! YOU DONâT GET TO BE EARTH PONIES! EARTH PONIES SERVE A USEFUL PURPOSE! YOU ARE NOTHING! YOU HAVE NO USEFUL PURPOSE! YOU ARE MEAT UNFIT TO EAT!â Bucky shouted, his voice causing all of the windows in the room to shatter and the flashbulbs in the cameras to explode, and he wasnât even using the royal Voice.

The room flooded with the released urine of most of the House of Avarice, who suddenly lost control of their bladders, and a few lost control of their bowels. Humiliation as well as fear was now visible on their faces as they all kneeled before the terrible armored figure that held them in his thrall.

The dark energy slowly retreated from Buckyâs horn and he slowly backed away from the cowering mass of misery that was spread on the floor before him, left wallowing in their own filth.

âœSign the paper,â Bucky commanded. âœI have lived to see the end of my own house. None of you will ever know magic ever again, and none of you will ever have foals. Your treachery and deceit ends with you. I have ensured that.â

Whimpers and weeping began to take over the subdued masses as Buckyâs words settled into their fear addled minds.

Looking around, Berry Punch tried to locate any foals in the group, and came to a dreadful conclusion. Bucky was among the last foals born to his bloodline. As she studied the group, she saw a couple of younger stallions and mares that were about Buckyâs age, but she saw no colts or fillies. The whole house was being exiled, and if there were any colts or fillies, they would be sent off as well. As a member of Clan Pickled, she figured she should feel exalted about seeing the end of House Avarice, but instead she just felt empty inside.

âœSign the papers,â Luna commanded. âœAll of you have an airship to catch. It is the last touch of civilisation that any of you will likely experience. We want you gone. You are lucky that my devoted student has let you live.â

Keg Smasher watched as the paper was signed. Many ponies stood there stupidly trying to lift the pen in their magic until it dawned upon them that they had no magic, and then they had to go through the humiliation of signing by writing with their mouths, which was beneath them. Tears of humiliation and shame fell down their cheeks as they picked up the slobbery pen and accepted their fate.

When the last signature was signed, the room fell silent, save for the sound of weeping.

Celestia felt a rush of relief and while her face remained expressionless, she beamed inwardly, having finally saw the final sign that she had been waiting and hoping for since everything had started.

She looked upon Derpy, knew she had witnessed an act of laughter, and the briefest nod from her sister confirmed what she already knew to be true. She looked at Buckminster and hoped that he wasnât too far gone, and that he still had the strength to endure his trial. Her champion might have stumbled, but she believed that he could still be redeemed.

All of the signs she had hoped to see, all of the signs she was looking for had been found. An act of generousity during a birthday party that seemed so long ago. An act of kindness when Dinky had reached out to Diamond Tiara, an enemy by all accounts, trying to offer comfort after Diamond Tiara had been injured and Dinky had been the cause. An act of questionable honesty by Berry Punch, which had been the cause of this entire conflict and had caused all of the terrible truth to come out and many dark secrets to be dragged out into the light. An incredible act of loyalty, enduring through impossible odds to keep a foal safe after a spell gone horribly wrong, which ended with great suffering upon poor Buckminster who had to pay the price for his loyalty. The act of laughter, which she had just witnessed, the bubbly pegasus that Buckminster so loved being a true inspiration and role model for all, A motherâs simple love and laughter which had brought some love and light to a dark and terrible time. As for magic, all of the evidence Celestia needed for magic was plainly visible.

Equestria finally had its Guardian to pair up with its Scholar. The Knight and the Librarian.

Still showing no trace of emotion, Celestia rejoiced, and it gave her strength for the dark time that still lay ahead. She turned and studied Buckminster, wishing she could see his face. She wanted to run to him, to comfort him, but now was not the time. Not yet, she knew that he had to endure just a little while longer.

Chapter 197

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For a time, Bucky wasnât sure that the long night would end. He was exhausted, but couldnât sleep. The events of the day before played through his mind endlessly and he wondered if he did the right thing. At one point, Bucky seemed to know what the right thing was, but now, given everything that had happened, the right thing seemed elusive somehow, just out of reach, an impossible ideal.

As he lay in bed, he listened to Discordâs heavy and laboured breathing as the draconequus slept. Buckyâs own lungs felt soupy, the medication he was on was causing a great deal of mucus build up in his sinuses and lungs. All things considered, he was feeling much better and even had a tiny bit of strength.

For all the good it would do him.

There was a soft knock at the door and then a gentle voice said âœit is time.â

Bucky heard Shining Armor enter and there were two unicorn guards with him. He saw them come into his field of vision and he sighed, preparing himself for what was to come.

âœAre you ready?â Shining Armor asked.

âœDoes it matter?â Bucky said in a fatalistic reply.

âœBuckminster, if it is any consolation, both Night Light and Twilight Velvet are happyâ exceedingly so. My father told me that he is happier now than he has even been during his life. He and my mother have been working as school teachers with the refugee foals. They have meaning and purpose in their lives now. Ponies love them. My father told me he is glad that this happened, but the trial was the scary part. I hope that the council of alicorns find a punishment suitable for you. I donât actually know what is going to happen anymore. All four of them went into seclusion last night after the events of yesterday. Cadance and Celestia are talking again, and not as monarchs, but as familyâ I heard them speaking before they went into seclusion, both of them sharing a mutual concern for you,â Shining Armor said in a nervous wavering voice.

Bucky managed to give a faint nod. âœSo how am I to be presented on trial? I notice that there is no armor this time.â

âœYou will be propped up in a comfortable chair and wedged into place with pillows. You will be made comfortable for the events. If you need water or a drink, you have but to ask, and I will make sure that you get what you need. Are you ready?â Shining Armor inquired.

âœI am,â Bucky groaned.

âœBuckminsterââ Discord said in a half awake mumble. âœBuckminster, good luck. Celestia has always been surprisingly fair in her judgments. When I am better, Iâve heard rumours that she plans to sentence me to a life with Fluttershyâ and no possibility of parole.â

Realising there was no sarcasm, merely a clumsy attempt at comfort and kindness on the draconequusâ part, Bucky felt a moment of kinship with Discord. âœI hope we will talk again. I do not know what fate awaits me. If we do not speak again, I hope your time with Fluttershy goes well.â

âœAre we friends?â Discord asked.

The sudden question and the timing shocked Bucky and he didnât know what to say right away. He felt his tongue sitting uselessly in his mouth and he didnât know how to respond.

âœIâd like to think we are friends. We understand one another. That is what friends have in common right? Iâd like to think there is another pony besides Fluttershy that truly understands me,â Discord said in a soft whine. âœWhat we will endure for loveââ

âœWe are friends,â Bucky said as he felt his body lifted with magic. âœGoodbye.â

The small stone room had no windows. There were four thrones along one wall, a small wooden table, two chairs, and a little boxed in area filled with cushions. On the four thrones sat four alicorns, and in the boxed in area, Bucky saw some of his family. His foals were not present, save Sentinel, who was sitting there looking sorrowful. There was no sign of Ripple or Loch Skimmer. Moonbow was absent. Bon Bon and Thistle were not there, and that made Bucky sigh with relief, because it would make what he was about to do easier. Bon Bon would never approve of what was about to happen.

He felt himself placed into a high backed chair and several pillows were placed on either side of him to prop his head up with. His stump was carefully placed on an elevated surface, perched upon a pillow, so the blood wouldnât run down into the end of it and cause problems.

âœAre you satisfied with your legal representation? Do you feel he is biased against you in some way?â Twilight Sparkle inquired.

âœNo, I do not feel that he is biased against me,â Bucky replied.

âœGood, then this council of alicorns comes to order,â Celestia said in a soft voice. As she spoke a magic quill began to move over a scroll and record every word that was being spoken.

âœDo you understand the seriousness of the charges against you?â Luna asked.

âœI understand,â Bucky said in reply.

âœThe charges against you are grave. Dark magic. Corruption of a foal using dark magic. Over a thousand counts of creating magical weapons of mass destruction, some of which were created by your accomplices. The creation of a weapon that causes magically induced rape. The summoning of demons. Several counts of creation of artifacts of dark magic. Reckless experimentation upon your fellow ponies, also your accomplices. Using dark magic to sterilise and prevent the ability to procreate. Using dark magic to block the natural use of magic. Using your power as an armiger to overrule the punishment placed upon the head of a convicted criminal and abusing your authority for the gain of your house. The list goes on and on, so for brevityâs sake, I will cut this short,â Twilight Sparkle announced.

âœDo you wish to make a plea? Or invoke any inherent rights as a noble?â Celestia said, her lips pressed into a thin flat line.

There it was, the trap. Bucky knew this moment was coming and was waiting for it, and he lept for it willingly. He took a deep breath, shuddered, and then drew in another deep breath.

âœI invoke my right as a highborn noble to claim my family as property,â Bucky said in a raspy cry. âœAccording to the laws I am being tried under, as a noble whose family once raised the sun, I have the right to claim the lesser tribes as property and keep them for my leisure.â

âœDo you now?â Luna said, leaning forward, looking very serious and mildly angry.

âœYes, I am invoking my right to claim them as property. All of them. They cannot be held accountable for what theyâve done because theyâve lived in fear of what I would do to them if they resisted me,â Bucky said.

He started to hear an angry retort from Berry but then there was silence. Bucky could see the magical field around the boxed in area. He could see the look of anger and confusion upon his familyâs faces.

Shining Armor cleared his throat. âœWe have an whole room of witnesses who can testify that Derpy Doo Hooves said, and I quote, âœHe protects what is his.â This clearly implies a relationship of possession. This was said yesterday during the signing of the treaty.â

There was a soft sad sigh from Cadance, who could not hide her feelings as well as her aunts could hide theirs. Tears began to trickle down her cheeks.

âœDo you understand the seriousness of your confession?â Luna asked.

âœDo you truly see them as objects? As property? Is that all they are to you?â Celestia inquired, her voice an emotionless deadpan.

âœA collection of lesser unicorns, a few servile pegasi that I keep as guards, and a couple of filthy mud ponies I keep for my sexual amusement when I get bored,â Bucky said in a strangled voice. He couldnât even bear to look at his family, not now, and he couldnât see their reaction.

âœRising Star is not your family,â Cadance said, her voice hitching slightly.

âœI muddled his mind using my ability to commune. He is a weak minded simpleton with low self esteem and all of the needs of a horny teenage colt his age. I poisoned his mind and gave him Sparkler as a sexual gift to bind him to my will,â Bucky replied.

âœAnd Sparkler Doo Hooves just went along with this?â Luna asked.

âœSparkler wanted a father. I withheld my affections from her and toyed with her emotions to also bind her to my will. I made her do things to earn my affections. She so desperately wanted a father that she was willing to do anything to earn my doting attention. I also held her in check by keeping her mother subjugated and her younger sibling in my thrall. The younger sibling that I corrupted with dark magic so I could break Sparklerâs will and make her completely submissive to me. Sparkler was acting out of confusion and a need to protect her family and self interests,â Bucky explained. âœI had also undermined her will and her judgment through regular communing. I made sure that both of she and Rising Star were lovesick with one another and then threatened one to make the other do as I desired.â

âœThis is a very serious confession,â Twilight Sparkle said, scowling as she spoke.

Huddled together, Buckyâs family couldnât believe what they were hearing. They clung to one another, trying to make sense of what being said, except for Sentinel, who had buried his face into Derpyâs neck and clung to her, weeping bitterly.

âœAnd what of Lyra Heartstrings?â

âœAnother weak minded lesser unicorn that I bound to my will. I kept her in check through her mate Bon Bon, whom I held in my thrall. When Lyra began to resist me, I found the golden opportunity to cement my control over her when I tore Harper from her motherâs belly and gave her to Lyra as a gift. Lyra is confused, weak minded, and needy. When I gave her the foal, it broke her completely, she lived in fear what I might do to Bon Bon and Harper if she resisted me. She was easy to break, as she has already been broken,â Bucky answered, offering up an explanation. âœI had to work with someponyâs sloppy seconds.â

âœWhy is he doing this?â Lyra whimpered, now trembling violently and holding tight to Berry Punch. She wailed, clinging to Berry Punch and tried to make sense of everything being said.

âœHe loves us,â Derpy said, wrapping her forelegs tighter around Sentinel. âœHe loves us and he intends to make sure we can go free and have one another. He doesnât mean what he is saying. He would never say anything like that and mean it,â she cried as she buried her face into Sentinelâs mane. âœTheyâre just words. They donât mean anything. Donât listen to your father Sentinelâ donât listen! Heâs lying!â

Berry Punch struck the shimmering bubble around them, beating it with her hooves. Unable to do anything, she fell back into Lyraâs embrace and began to weep, unable to hold it in any longer.

Rising Star and Sparkler clung to one another, painfully aware that their potential freedom was going to come at a terrible price. Both of them collapsed against Derpy and Sentinel, and they felt Derpy trying to wrap her forelegs around all of them to draw them in.

âœSo you contend that you had victims, not accomplices. Do you understand what you are confessing to and the seriousness of these crimes?â Celestia asked. Her face was stern, serious, and her eyes blazed with barely contained intensity.

âœDo you have any regrets? Do you feel any remorse?â Twilight asked.

âœI regret nothing. And why should I feel any remorse for making lesser creatures useful to my purposes?â Bucky said in a snide bitter voice. He choked and began to struggle to breathe.

The four alicorns studied the unicorn propped up in the chair before them, all of them sitting silent for a moment and giving Bucky a moment to compose himself.

âœYour mastery of dark magic is damning. A little curious dabbling is one thing, and I intended to forgive you for your lapse into dark magic when you saved Dinky Doo Hooves after giving you a stern warning to never do it again. Now you sit before me as a master of the dark magical arts, marked with the Taint. You have delved into all manner of forbidden magic, the worst of which was corrupting a foal and making her conjure a swarm of demon insects from Tartarus to do your bidding. Summoning a single demon is enough to have your head removed from your neck, but you summoned an army of hundreds of thousands of demons, corrupting a foalâs harmonious magical talent to do so. Your crime is disgusting and vile. You also summoned a demon for the purpose of creating artifacts of unspeakable indescribable evil. Do you have anything to say for yourself?â Celestia said in an icy voice.

Bucky gave Celestia a defiant look, his nostrils flaring and his lip curling back to expose his fangs, and his remaining eye locked into place with hers. âœI regret nothing.â

âœYou are the last titled noble in Canterlot who has not yet faced punishment. Your crimes are many and you show no remorse or regret. This court cannot recommend mercy or leniency,â Luna announced.

âœThis is your last chance,â Twilight warned.

âœDo you wish to retract anything you have said or wish to plead for mercy before we pick apart your testimony and the arguments you have presented?â Celestia inquired. âœWe are well prepared to tear apart everything you have said and discern the truth. Once we have done that, we will begin to examine the others, Rising Star, Sparkler Doo Hooves, and Lyra Heartstrings.â

âœNoâ I would rather invoke one last right,â Bucky wheezed.

âœAnd that is?â Cadance asked.

âœMy right as highborn noble whose family once raised the sun that my word is divine, thus inviolate and irrefutable. I demand that this trial ends and that you cease your questioning of me at once, this very instant,â Bucky demanded.

Cadance slumped and began to sob, covering her face with her hooves.

âœDo you know what you are doing to yourself?â Luna said, a look of stunned shock upon her face. Her ears were folded back against her head and the corner of her lips quivered.

âœI will go to Tartarus in a manner of my own choosing!â Bucky snarled at Luna.

Twilight Sparkle, unable to keep her emotions in check any longer, fell apart and began to sob bitterly, leaving only two alicorns capable of meting out justice.

âœSince you show no remorse and continue to abuse the law to your benefit, we have no option to offer up the worst penalty we can offer short of death,â Celestia announced.

âœYou will suffer for your crimes, make no mistake,â Luna said in a voice utterly devoid of any emotion.

âœRather than banish you, we sentence you to a life of slavery. As of this moment, your status as an armiger is revoked, all of your privileges and inherent rights as a noble are withdrawn. You will pay restitution for the family you have traumatised and toyed with,â Celestia said, her eyes blazing. She turned to look at Buckyâs family, and the shimmering bubble around them vanished.

Bucky could hear the sounds of their weeping and more than anything else, he wanted to die rather than face this moment. The inner turmoil he felt was agonising. He felt sick to his stomach and nausea threatened to overtake him.

âœDerpy Doo Hooves. You showed a remarkable amount of charity and forgiveness yesterday during the signing of the treaty. Can you find it in your heart to forgive him for the crimes he has committed against you and your family?â Luna inquired.

Derpy sniffled, her family pressed in tight all around her, huddled together in grief. âœI donât understand what is going on,â she whined, still clutching tightly to Sentinel. âœI donât understand any of this.â

âœWe wish to make the punishment fit the crime. A slave needs masters. This stallion has wronged all of you. We wish to teach him humility and to make him bow his overly proud neck,â Luna explained. âœHe is unrepentant and proud. We intend to break him so that he might learn his lesson.â

âœOnce we have him properly subdued, we wish to know if you would like custody of him as compensation for all of the terrible things he has done to you, your foals, and your herd. The laws we gathered to place him on trial him make this issue very clear. Victims have a right to demand compensation,â Celestia said in a flat voice.

âœHe will be required to obey your every command and do all that you ask of him. If he is insolent, we will take steps to make him obedient, such as a geas,â Luna said, her gaze falling upon Derpy and her eyes glittered with repressed anger.

âœWhat do I do?â Derpy asked.

âœYou assume ownership of him. As the alpha of your herd, the Matriarch, we are offering to give him to you as property. Do you want him or does the very sight of him disgust you?â Celestia inquired.

âœI want him!â Derpy cried out in a strangled sob. âœIâ mean I want him to learn to from the wrong he has done,â she said in a confused whimper.

âœGuards, please prepare for the procedure,â Luna commanded.

Several guards approached Bucky as one guard exited the room. Bucky was lifted from the chair and placed upon the table and held in place by the guard.

âœIf you resist, if you struggle, you will only make this worse. If you use magic, the consequences will be dire. My advice is that you take your punishment willingly,â Celestia said in a dead icy voice.

Bucky heard his family cry out and begin shrieking.

âœWe prepared for this outcome, fearing that Buckminster would abuse the law and twist it to his whims, just as his family has done for a century of centuries. We have prepared a branding iron in the shape of your destiny mark, and now he will be marked as your property,â Luna said to Derpy as her gaze fell upon Bucky, was sprawled out over the table.

The branding iron was in the shape of several bubbles gathered in a cluster.

Derpy watched as Bucky squirmed upon the table and she felt the faces of her family being pressed in all around her, damp cheeks and muzzles pressing into her from all sides. She alone held her head up and watched. She felt her resolve slipping and Derpy started to close her eyes as she watched the hot iron drip sparks as the unicorn guard approached.

And then she saw Buckyâs tainted eye staring at her, looking at her pleadingly. She wanted to comfort him, to rush to his side, to hold him and somehow make this better. She squinted one eye closed and looked at Bucky with her good eye, bringing him into sharp focus, forcing herself to maintain eye contact. She owed him that and so much more.

âœThe law has failed us,â Celestia announced. âœThere is no justice. Now that the last noble has been tried and the noble houses are no more, I want every law erased from the books so that we may start over fresh. I want the books collected and kept as relics of a failed system. Twilight Sparkle, Shining Armor, your punishment as part of your parents house was never announced, but I am about to do so now. You are to lay the foundations of new laws so we may build our society anew.â

Celestia made a gesture and the guard readied himself, his face a stoic mask of grim resignation as he drew near Bucky to do what must be done.

âœI regret nothing,â Bucky whimpered, looking Derpy directly in the eye and his nostrils flaring. âœNothing at all!â

Derpy watched and felt her whole body tense. She felt sick, but she forced herself to keep her eye open and not blink, trying to be there for Bucky the only way she could as the branding iron was pressed into his leg, just below his own hops plant mark. There was a loud hissing sizzle, the stench of burning hair and flesh filled the room, and Buckyâs ragged scream echoed from the walls. Sentinelâs shill cry pierced her ears and made her head throb painfully. But she never broke eye contact, holding onto Bucky the only way she could, and she felt every moment of his pain as he was branded with her mark.

âœHave him removed from this room. The sight of him disgusts me,â Celestia commanded. âœI want him isolated in the hospital wing for a while so he can reflect upon his crimes. See that he is treated with the compassion he failed to offer others.â

âœThis trial is over. The last noble has been dealt with and the very law itself has been placed on trial here this day. Ultimately, our law has failed us. Let us throw it out and find a better way,â Luna said in a clear clarion voice. After she fell silent, the magical quill that had transcribed the trial went still and fell over.

âœI regret nothingââ

Bucky lay in a bed, alone, by himself in a small room. His side ached where he had been branded. A soothing ointment had been applied, which had dulled the pain slightly, but his flesh was still taut and full of agony from the branding iron that had been pressed deeply into his flesh.

He still had his family and his life. He regretted nothing. It was a small price to pay. He had struck down his house and he had forced all of the laws from the books, allowing the system to be reset. He sighed, thinking about what he had just done.

The door opened and Bucky heard hoofsteps approaching his bed. He could hear weeping, and he struggled to lift his head to see who it was in his blind spot.

Much to his surprise, he felt another pony crawling into the bed with him, and as he felt himself being picked up and nearly crushed, he realised it was Celestia as he was pressed against her barrel and cradled between her forelegs. He had always felt so small compared to her, and this was no different. He was like a foal again.

Her weeping turned into agonised wails of anguish and he could feel her hot breath above his ears. Her whole body spasmed with sobs as she let out one keening wail after another. Bucky, unable to deal with his own emotions any longer, began to weep with her, and the pair wallowed in misery with one another.

âœI hope you will forgive me.â

Celestiaâs voice was raw and could barely be heard. Bucky could not reply, he tried, but only a strangled sound came out as he choked on his own mucus.

âœI am so sorryâ I feel so terrible.â

Bucky wanted nothing more than to comfort the still weeping mare. It felt like they had been huddled together like this, pressed up against one another, for hours, and Celestia had not stopped sobbing. He didnât know what to say or do.

âœThat was every bit as bad as having to banish my own sisterââ

Bucky could hear the anguish in Celestiaâs voice and his crying turned once again into sobs. Overcome yet again, Bucky cried like a foal in his motherâs arms.

âœI am so proud of you. I love you so muchâ I feel so bad for what I was forced to do to you. I feel even worse that you understand why it had to be done,â Celestia said, almost hiccuping from her sobbing. âœI hope you will forgive meâ nephew.â

âœI forgive you. I trusted Luna and I trusted you,â Bucky whimpered, his voice a rasping scratchy sound that could barely be heard.

âœThe nightmare is finally over and now we can truly rebuild from Lunaâs fall.â

Chapter 198

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âœSo how much did you know?â Bucky asked as a damp wet cloth wiped off his muzzle.

Celestia, wiping Buckyâs muzzle clean from snot and dried tears, closed her eyes for a moment. âœThat is very difficult to answer. A little. A lot. When I started to get the notion that you were going to be the one, I mobilised everything I had. I knew you were touched by shadow from a young age, but I wasnât totally sure it was going to be you. And then certain events began to play out and I saw patterns. I understood that the isles would be your testing grounds, but there are other places that destiny might have pulled you towards. I knew there was darkness over the isles, but I had no idea just what was hiding there under the mountains. Buckminsterâ Iâ I donât know how much you are aware of yet, but I know you have become aware of your divine spark. I was told I couldnât interfere. There is so much I wish I could tell you, but I am not allowed.â

âœI understand,â Bucky whispered.

âœBe angry with me! Shout! Screamâ be madâ show some sign of emotion! At least Twilight Sparkle slapped meââ Celestia said in a pained voice as sat down in a chair beside Buckyâs bed.

âœYou called me âœnephewâ and I was wondering why you did,â Bucky questioned.

âœBecause you and Cadance are orphans,â Celestia answered.

âœIâm an orphan?â Bucky asked, sounding puzzled.

âœWhile you were gone, I legally severed your ties to your parents. I wasnât sure how this trip was going to turn out. If things went badly, I didnât want your parents or your house to have the right to claim any of your foals and keep them as possible heirs. I know that Derpy and Berry Punch both are pregnant with your foals. If you had diedââ Celestia choked, her words failing for a moment and she was forced to swallow and clear her throat. âœIf you had died, I wanted to make sure your foals were untouchable.â

âœBut nephew?â Bucky inquired.

âœWeâre royals. We must have contingencies. Cadance has no parents. She too is an orphan, if something was to happen to her, as her aunt, I would have access to her foals to protect them,â Celestia explained.

âœI am a slave,â Bucky muttered.

âœStill a prince,â Celestia stated.

âœI donât want to be,â Bucky protested.

âœWhich is why you will make a good one,â Celestia argued. âœBuckminster, why wonât you ascend? I know you know how. And if you do not not wish to do it yourself, let Luna or I do it for you. You should ascend. Heal your body. Restore yourself.â

âœI donât want to do that,â Bucky grumbled.

âœBut you were meant to be the alicorn of war,â Celestia said in a gentle reply.

âœThe alicorn of war is the end of all things,â Bucky said.

âœThe dreams youâve had. Those are dreams. You donât have to end the world, just protect Equestria,â Celestia said as she shook her head softly.

âœI have,â Bucky stated.

âœBuckminster, your bodyâ the damage done. This has shortened your life,â Celestia whispered, her voice a soft satin.

âœSo I say no and you immediately go for the emotional blackmail approach,â Bucky grumbled.

âœWhat? No! Not that, I am just worriedâ Buckminster, this has robbed you of years of your life. You deserve better,â Celestia said, more tears now starting to fall again.

âœIâm sorry,â Bucky offered.

âœSo am I,â Celestia responded.

âœSo what happens now?â Bucky asked.

âœShining Armor is with your wives and discussing your punishment. Their obligations for your care. He is going to make them all sign a contract,â Celestia replied.

âœBon Bon is going to kill me,â Bucky muttered.

âœWhy?â Celestia asked.

âœBecause I lied Celestia, I lied through my big pointy teeth! Do you know how earth ponies are about lying?â Bucky said in a slightly panicked voice.

âœThey can get a little carried away in their reaction, or so I have read in the papers. There might have been a little rioting,â Celestia said with a ghost of a smile.

âœWhat happened to you?â Bucky asked, unable to contain the question anymore.

âœThere was a war Buckminster,â Celestia said.

âœI know that, but youâ you look almost as bad as I do,â Bucky said in a raspy voice.

Celestia lifted up a glass of apple juice for Bucky to get a drink and slipped the straw between his lips. She watched as he drank the cold beverage slowly. âœThere was a war Buckminster. Ponies declared war on me,â Celestia said in a grief stricken voice.

âœWhat did you do?â Bucky asked, the straw slipping from between his lips.

âœNothing at first. I holed up here in Canterlot Castle and let them wear themselves out. I ignored them and it infuriated them. And then they got the bright idea to attack one of the refugee camps near Ponyville. The moment I got word, I took wing. Half of them were waiting here in Canterlot to ambush me.â

âœOh noââ Bucky gasped.

âœI canât use magic safely around my little poniesâ I was angry Buckminsterâ it doesnât justify what I did. Normally I only allow the smallest fraction of my magic to come out in a battle for fear of destroying everything around me. It is the reason why I lost to Chrysalis and ponies still make jokes about it. But when they attacked me in the skies over Canterlot, I was filled with so much anger after hearing that they had attacked a camp of refugees to lure me outâ I slipped Buckminster. It was an accident,â Celestia said, looking distant.

The white alicorn tucked the straw back into Buckyâs mouth and urged him to keep drinking before she would continue, smiling weakly and looking Bucky in the eye.

âœLuna came when she saw the fires in the sky over Canterlot. My anger was nothing compared to Lunaâs. She was at the point where she had reached her limits. I had killed a few, but Luna, she could not stop killing. She tore through their ranks and then she smote ruin upon their houses. She was blind with fury. And for the second time, I had to protect my little ponies from Lunaâs murderous wrath. She refused to understand why I was protecting them after they had hurt me. It took a while before she calmed, but now ponies think we are fighting again. And maybe we are. Weâve have a few disagreements, but in private we comfort one another,â Celestia explained. âœYou must understand Buckminsterâ Lunaâs loyalty. She took it personally that I was assaulted. It wasnât that the ponies had attacked their monarch, it was that they had attacked her sister. Luna has a fear of being alone. For the few ponies that let her in or she lets in and she calls family, she becomes rather murderous when a family member is threatened. You and my sister have much in common.â

âœSo Luna killed a few nobles that made a bad decision,â Bucky grumbled.

Clearing her throat, Celestia squirmed in her chair. âœIt wasnât just Luna. Buckminster, you are going to read some things in the paper, or hear some stories. It was a family quarrel… it was a mistake.â

âœA family quarrel?â Bucky asked.

âœWell, Cadance showed up and she was spoiling for a fight. She had a lot of pent up anger. You live with pegasi, so I know you know what I am talking about,â Celestia said in a sad voice.

âœSo three of you did what exactly?â Bucky questioned.

âœCadance and Luna felt I was wrong. Both of them were rearranging Canterlot. I had to stop them. And both of them were furious with me for protecting the ponies at war with meâ I had started the battle and it escalated all so quickly. I let too much magic slip out. And then those two showed up and everything just went wrong,â Celestia said, heaving a sigh.

âœAnd where was Twilight Sparkle during all of this?â Bucky asked.

âœOh Twilight was the responsible one. She was in the refugee camp and she had all of the unicorns spellbound. She rendered them harmless and locked them all away in protective custody. Twilight Sparkle has grown up so much,â Celestia said, sounding proud.

âœWe outnumber you,â Bucky said with a wry smile.

âœI do not follow,â Celestia said in puzzlement.

âœYou and Twilight seem to be the only voices of reason,â Bucky said in an exhausted voice.

âœOh dear,â Celestia gasped.

Bucky was half dozing when the door opened and he heard hooves on the tile floor. He barely had time to get his eye open when he was swarmed. There were muzzles pressed into his face from every direction and murmured words he could not make out over everything being said all at once.

And then, just as the crowd was backing off to give him some air, Bucky felt a sharp blow the side of his head. It whipped his head off to one side and made him see white stars in his vision.

âœBon Bon! What has gotten into you?â Lyra shouted.

Still seeing stars, Bucky heard the sound of hooves clattering over the tile floor as somepony ran out of the room, and he could hear sobbing.

âœBucky, are you alright?â Derpy asked. âœBon Bon hasnât been right since she heard.â

âœYeah Bucky, are you alright? How is your backside? Are you comfortable?â Berry inquired.

âœHurf ponies,â Bucky groaned. He could taste blood inside of his cheek.

âœWe have a legal writ that clears all of us from any wrongdoing,â Lyra said.

âœTheyâve already released a transcript of the trial into the newspaper,â Berry Punch said. âœA special edition was printed off.â

Thistle settled herself into the chair that Celestia had been sitting in earlier and sat panting for a while as she rubbed her tummy. âœIâve been so panicked.â

âœWe had to talk about our contract and our ownership of you,â Berry said as she stood beside the bed. âœWell, Derpyâs ownership of you. And what we are allowed to do and not allowed to do to you.â

âœWe had to talk about sex with a lawyer Buckyâ I keep getting traumatised because of you,â Derpy said with a scowl. She held her scowl for a moment and then her face broke into a smile. âœEverything is going to be okay.â

âœThe paper said you were a hero for what you did in court, taking the full brunt of the law upon your shoulders as an example for why it should be destroyed,â Berry said. âœWeâre going to have to protect our husband you knowâ a lot of mares might be attracted by this sort of thing.â

âœEverypony understands why you did what you didâ even if Bon Bon seems a little upset about it,â Lyra said.

âœSentinel isnât taking it well though,â Derpy said.

âœRipple discovered coffee,â Berry Punch announced, swishing her tail from side to side as she did so. âœWe may have a problem now.â

âœWe sure do,â Thistle said.

Bucky sighed and enjoyed listening to his wives chatter. He didnât feel the need to say anything, he was just glad to hear them talking. He was perfectly content to just keep listening.

âœAll of your pegasi guards miss you,â Derpy said.

âœDonâtâ donât make jokes about that,â Bucky begged.

Derpy paused and looked confused for a moment, and then felt bad after she saw the hurt on her husbandâs face. âœIâm sorryâ I didnât know. I was trying to make a joke so what you said wouldnât sting so much.â

âœI know,â Bucky said, looking miserable. He closed his eye for a moment and took a deep breath. âœI would rather be back under the mountain again walking down the endless line of steps.â

âœI will admit, for a moment, I wanted to strangle you Bucky. All your talk about facing things together as a family and then you go off and commit the ultimate act of hypocrisy when you go off to face the punishment all by yourself,â Berry said. She leaned onto the bed and planted a kiss on Buckyâs lips, a brief peck to let him know she wasnât too angry.

âœThey say I am going to deliver sometime around Hearthâs Warming Eve,â Thistle said. âœIâve never celebrated that before.â

âœOhâ Bucky, you should know. Freezerburn has a bounty on his head. He flooded the entrance hall and then froze the water. When Princess Luna went to address the crowd not long after the trial, she took quite a tumble, and Freezerburn was seen fleeing the scene of the crime, cawing as he flew away. Heâs been declared a public menace,â Lyra said with a broad grin.

Chapter 199

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âœBuckminster?â

Hearing his name, Bucky drifted in the chasm between sleep and the waking world. He began to cross the gap, leaving the blissful pain free place he was in and moving towards the agonising state of being known as waking reality. He forced his eye open.

âœWe didnât know you were sleeping, Iâm sorry, I whispered your name at the door, we can come back,â Cadance said apologetically.

âœStay,â Bucky mumbled in a raspy gurgle.

âœWould you like a drink?â Twilight Sparkle asked.

âœPlease,â Bucky said appreciatively.

A moment later, a cup of grape juice was set on the little table that reached over the bed and a straw popped into existence. The cup was held up to his lips and Bucky slurped through a straw, relishing the sweet liquid and its cold refreshing effect upon his throat.

âœWe didnât know Buckminster,â Cadance said.

âœWhat?â Bucky asked groggily, the straw slipping from his lips and grape juice dribbling down his chin, staining his pelt purple as it did so.

âœThe trial. We didnât know what was going to happen. We didnât know what Luna had planned out so carefully and told her sister, or that Shining Armor had directed you to do what you did. When we heard those words coming out of your mouth, the things you confessed to, how remorseless you seemed about all of it, it had a profound effect upon us both,â Cadance explained.

Twilight Sparkle nodded as she leaned in and began to study Buckyâs horn and eye.

âœYou were very brave to take a fall for your family like that,â Cadance said.

Buckyâs remaining locked onto Cadanceâs own sad eyes. âœAnything Cadance. I would do anything. So Luna planned this?â

âœI know,â Cadance said, acknowledging what Bucky would do for his family. âœAnd yes, she did,â she replied.

âœYour horn is really fascinating. Based on my brief analysis, youâve constructed one giant focusing crystal. The intensity of your spellcasting must be spectacular. Iâve been given a commission from the sisters to study you. Gently of course. We wish to investigate the possibilities of artificial horns and prosthetics for injured unicorns, but we donât want them having focusing crystals and becoming exceedingly overpowered. There are a lot of unicorns with cracked horns right now, the hospitals are crowded with more cases than the system can deal with given its current state of affairs. Overzealous earth ponies and pegasi are attacking innocent unicorns and intentionally cracking or even breaking their horns, not realising that they could kill a unicorn by doing that. So many have died and the survivorsâ It reallyâ

âœPerhaps another time would be best to discuss this issue, wouldnât you agree Twilight?â Cadance said, gently interrupting her sister in law.

âœOh, sorry,â Twilight said, grinning sheepishly as she fell silent.

âœHow long Cadance? The foal?â Bucky asked, his voice sounding much better after a long drink, his throat soothed and cleared by the grape juice.

âœAs you might have discovered, I gave you a little wedding gift,â Cadance said with a soft smile. âœThe spell affected me as well. My foal will be born in the spring. Probably right around the same time that Derpy and Berry Punchâs foals will be born. The doctor gave your wives a clean bill of health by the way. The foals are in fine condition. You are going to be a busy daddy.â

âœI am going to be an aunt,â Twilight said, her muzzle scrunching. âœI wonder if there is a book explaining how to be a good aunt,â she muttered to herself.

Cadance, rolling her eyes at Twilightâs words, smiled broadly at Bucky. âœYou need to pick out a godmother for your foals. I donât want to pressure you, but I know of a perfect candidate,â Cadance said with an effervescent giggle in her voice.

âœWho?â Bucky asked.

âœLuna has never once in her long life been asked to be a godmother,â Cadance answered.

âœWhat?â Bucky said in reply, his voice full of disbelief.

âœWell, you see, a thousand years ago, Luna was the Night Princess, and she scared ponies. She was the Sister of Thunder, The Electric Death Fury, the winged embodiment of war, death, and destruction. It made her unpopular with the nobles. Also, dark blue was considered a colour of ill omen, and ponies were superstitious back then,â Twilight muttered as she continued to peer at Buckyâs replacement eye. âœYou know, with my help, I think we can give you some vision in this eye of yours again, but it wouldnât be regular vision. This would be perfect to test my theory on light warping and photon field manipulation theories, giving you extraordinary extrasensory detection abilities and the ability to see things that do not want to be seen.â

âœTwilight, regular pony words if you please,â Cadance coaxed.

âœThe ability to see things with powerful aversion spells and to see past invisibility spells. To see all of the things hidden all around us in plain sight. I cast a really powerful spell in the library that allowed me to see like this for about thirty seconds and I found a whole bookshelf that had been secreted away. It was full of amazing books on how to detect invisible creatures and things that do not wish to be seen. All of those books have been hiding in plain sight this whole time. The world might be full of things just hidden right outside of our field of view,â Twilight explained. âœI also found a whole new library wing that exists only in fold space, it appears to be completely empty, but I am testing to see if that initial observation holds true.â

âœI feel stupid,â Bucky announced.

âœWe all do,â Cadance said as she smiled at Twilight.

âœSo what is going to happen to Berry Punch now that we are homeâ she started the war. I know there were going to be consequences we would have to face. How do I save her?â Bucky questioned.

âœWhat laws do we try her under? Currently, there are none. Berry Punch is a free pony and there are no plans to hold her accountable,â Twilight answered.

Bucky heaved a sigh of relief and went limp in bed, his exhalations coming out as a long pained groan. He took a few deep breaths, feebly raised his good foreleg to his barrel, and laid it over his breastbone.

âœI am creating the Bureau of Thaumaturgy,â Twilight announced rather suddenly.

âœOh?â Bucky grunted in a somewhat curious reply.

âœYes. And as of this moment, consider yourself drafted. Donât bother telling me no. As of just a few hours ago, when the laws were struck down, Celestia and Luna both gave me authority over all magic. Iâm taking over what is left of the agency known as the Black Cloaks and rebuilding it from the ground up. Celestia disagrees with me, but I intend to put your talent for dark magic to use and study you as I do so. Dark magic is dangerous, but I want to give it a scientific study. I donât believe it is inherently evil, but I do think that most of the ponies who exploited it were evil. Iâd like to study its usage by a pony that clearly has a good heart. You proved that today when you took the fall for your family,â Twilight replied.

âœSo I have no say in the matter,â Bucky grumbled.

âœNo,â Twilight said coldly. âœLet me make this clear. Luna and I have a lot of work to do. You either work with us, or we place a magic inhibitor on that ugly black lightning rod you call a horn.â

âœIf this is what my Mistress wants, I will do this,â Bucky agreed.

âœAnd what about what I want? Why is it always Celestia this and Luna that?â Twilight snapped in irritation. âœSo frustrating,â she grumbled as she ground her teeth together. âœAnd why do all of Lunaâs devoted servants call her âœMistressâ … the whole dark mistress thing is so cliché.â

âœTwilight, be gentle,â Cadance urged.

Drawing in a deep breath and flexing her foreleg, Twilight calmed herself. âœWe have cultists running around creating havoc and chaos. We have unicorn superiourity groups who want a return to the way things were. We know for certain there is a necromantic coven that has sprung up somewhere down in the badlands and they are experimenting on changelings. Equestria has enemies. All of our black cloak operatives have died fighting various threats and Tirek, save two, Witching Hour and Tiddlywinks. You will be meeting them soon Buckminster. Theyâre paranoid, crazy, and exceedingly dangerous. Just like you are dangerous. The fact that almost a thousand of their colleagues have died has left them a little bit unstable. Theyâre survivors though. Just like you are,â Twilight explained.

âœOnly two?â Bucky questioned.

âœThatâs it. They survived. Mostly due to their eccentric natures and extreme paranoia,â Twilight answered.

âœTwilight, you need to speak to my wifeâ Lyra Heartstrings would jump at an opportunity like this. Lyra is a better spellcaster than I am by far. She was second only to you in her specialisation when she was in school,â Bucky said to Twilight.

âœHmm, that is actually a good idea,â Twilight murmured absentmindedly.

âœLugus, do you have a moment?â

Lugus looked up from his book and saw Sentinel. The colt was weepy eyed and looked miserable. He shut his book and set it down upon a small ornate table beside the couch and patted the spot on the couch next to him, inviting Sentinel to come have a seat.

Seeing the invitation, Sentinel hopped up on the couch beside Lugus and settled in. He took a deep breath and then shook his head.

âœIâve read the transcript,â Lugus said in a low voice.

âœI was there,â Sentinel whimpered.

âœI know,â Lugus said, his beak snapping together and clacking once.

âœHow could this happen? I donât even understand what went onâ my father is a heroâ a knight. Was a knight. I donât even know what he is right now. Why did they do this to him?â Sentinel questioned.

Reaching out, Lugus gently stroked Sentinelâs mane, trying to comfort the foal. âœYour father had to perform one final task to be a hero. He brought down a very corrupt system by exposing all of its worst faults during his trial. He exposed the gross injustice. The fact that his word was considered divine and beyond reproach is an abhorrent concept in the times in which we live. Do you want for me to explain to you what has taken place?â

âœYes please,â Sentinel replied.

âœThe sisters rule by the divine right of their word because they control the celestial bodies. By condemning your father, they have condemned their own rule. It was the only way they could admit that their absolute power was faulty. Making your father guilty was the only way they could expose their own guilt in a way that would be meaningful. I suspect that your father was made aware of everything ahead of time. Your father proved that having a divine mandate was a terrible injustice. Such a mandate prevented the Princesses themselves from seeking justice against the alleged crimes being presented in court. If two ponies have divine mandates that hold that their word is absolute, what happens when they disagree with one another? The system cannot hold,â Lugus explained.

âœSo are the Princesses still in power?â Sentinel inquired.

âœThey are for now, but I have a suspicion that will change,â Lugus replied.

âœWho will replace them?â Sentinel asked in a worried voice. âœSomepony has to be in charge! Everything will fall apart and become even worse if nopony is in charge!â

âœSentinel, the papers keep talking about an old form of earth pony rule called democracy. It seems to be what the ponies want. I believe the sisters are positioning themselves to allow for such a system,â Lugus said, trying to comfort Sentinelâs worries.

âœSo my father had to say all of those terrible thingsâ he had to lieâ he had to admit to such awful things toâ toâ toââ

âœThe legal system had become a dragon, and your father was tasked to slay it,â Lugus said as he stroked Sentinelâs good ear. âœYour father bravely charged into battle and never once flinched in his duties. Already, there are editorials appearing in the newspapers explaining much of what I just said so the common pony can understand what has taken place this day. As the sun outside sets, so does the old empire.â

âœWill the new empire need knights?â Sentinel asked.

âœAn empire always has need of devoted defenders,â Lugus replied.

Chapter 200

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Opening up his eye, Bucky stared up at the ceiling in the dark. Arranged carefully all around him were his foals, the little ones anyway, and he was grateful. He had been moved into his familyâs quarters in the early evening, and there had been a tearful reunion. He shifted his body, trying to get comfortable, and then winced as the place where he had been branded sent a jolt of pain shooting through his leg.

It wasnât the worst pain he had endured.

He took a deep shuddering breath in the dark and tried not to cry. It was finally over. Bucky hoped that the worst was behind him. The wolves. Facing the darkness under the mountain. Seeing the end of his own house and the ruination of his own bloodline. The trial where nobility itself was held accountable and he had become the whipping colt for an entire nation.

It was finally over.

He listened to the sounds of his foals breathing, a sound most dear to him. He shifted his stump on the pillow it was propped up on. He could feel a dull stabbing ache in the end where the flesh was healing over the bone. No more hoof. No more manipulation shoe to perform minor tasks. No more fetlock to wrap around things and grasp them in the most simple and primitive way that ponies had to interact with the world. Pinching something in your fetlock was crude, but it had been the first big step in pony evolution most biologists argued. The hoof was basically a big toe or a thumb and folding it back against the leg allowed for simple grasping.

Bucky would never hold anything ever again in his left fetlock. He would never feel anything ever again with his left frog. But Bucky did not intend to leave himself with a useless stump. As always in times of trouble, Bucky began to plan.

âœBucky?â

Hearing Bon Bonâs voice, Bucky opened his eye. He was alone in the bed. He wasnât sure were everypony was. He yawned attempted to stretch, his body barely capable of the feeble effort it produced.

âœIt is time for you to take some pills Buckyâ and I wanted to talk to you,â Bon Bon said as she climbed up into the bed with Bucky. She set down a cup on the small table by the bedside, poured in the contents of a cold bottle of orange juice, and then opened up several bottles of pills, shaking out what was needed.

âœI forgive you,â Bucky grumbled in a dry voice. He heard the catch in Bon Bonâs breathing when he said the words and he wanted to pull her close to him and squeeze her.

Saying nothing, Bon Bon slipped a straw into the cup full of orange juice so Bucky could take a sip. When he was done, she lifted the small paper cup holding all of the pills up to his lips and tipped it into his mouth. She then lifted up the orange juice again so he could swallow the dozen or so pills he needed to take.

âœI said awful things about Lyra,â Bucky whispered after he had swallowed. After speaking, he took the straw in his lips and took another drink.

âœI donât know how I should feel,â Bon Bon murmured. âœYou lied. You lied. After everything I tried to teach you about the importance of honesty. I understand why you did it. Iâve read this morningâs paper. I understand why all of this had to be done. I donât know why Buckyâ it doesnât make sense to meâ I am fine with you and Lyra resorting to dark magic. I am okay with Lyra using necromancy. I am not overly bothered that you created a bomb that causes rape. But it is eating up my insides that you lied in court. Even though I know why you did it.â

âœI knew you would take this badly,â Bucky said. âœI was more afraid of your reaction than just about anything else.â

âœI donât know how to make peace with this. And I donât hate you. I love you. My problem is with the situation, not with you. It bothers me that the new system, whatever is going to replace everything being torn down, it troubles me that the catalyst was a lie,â Bon Bon said.

âœBut I was born with the right that my word is divine. I had the power of life and death. I had the right to kill other ponies for what I felt was just reasons. Just because I was born with it. How could I lie?â Bucky said with a wry grin.

âœI know Bucky. And it clearly wasnât fair,â Bon Bon said.

âœShining Armor told me that the last time that law was invoked it was when Equestria was founded. Princess Platinum used it to hand authority over to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. A unicorn named Sombra seconded the transfer of power. The law was printed in one book, and apparently the book was kept hidden away in an archive. The modern nobles never knew it existed. Otherwise things might have been much worse,â Bucky explained.

Bon Bon pressed her lips together and groaned.

âœKeep me honest Bon Bon,â Bucky said, turning his head slightly to bring Bon Bon into sharp focus. âœI love you.â

âœI know,â Bon Bon said as she began to fluff Buckyâs pillows that he was propped up on. âœAnd I love you backââ

There were four sets of eyes focused on Bucky, and four concerned faces with bittersweet smiles. Four sets of ears perked and waiting for a response. Two sets of wings with slightly ruffled feathers that fluttered at nervous sides.

âœWe wanted to thank you for what you did for us,â Loch Skimmer said.

âœYou are my foalsâ I could do no less,â Bucky said in reply.

âœIt was very difficult to hear those words,â Rising Star said.

âœIt was very painful,â Sparkler agreed.

âœEven though I was lying, I had to make it a believable lie,â Bucky said in a strained voice. âœWith every word I spoke I wanted to die.â

âœWe know,â Sparkler said.

âœNone of us hate you for anything you said,â Ripple stated.

âœIn happier news, there are no laws prohibiting our marriage,â Rising Star said. âœPrincess Luna spoke with us, she said our marriage will be legally recognised and that we have nothing to worry about. She also said my parents were going to be brought to Canterlot.â

âœOur noble titles are being preserved as well, recognised as foreign nobles for the time being. Shining Armor spoke with usâ there is going to be a new nobility, but there will no longer be inherited titles. The new nobles will be those who have done extraordinary things for the empire and recognised for their actions. Weâre going to be recognised for our efforts in the Shetlands and then our titles will be Equestrian titles,â Sparkler said.

âœI am still recognised as a Dragoon. That is all that matters to me,â Ripple stated.

âœThe newspaper I just read said you were the greatest liar who has ever lived,â Loch Skimmer announced, smiling sweetly as she did so. âœThe most important lie ever told.â

âœOh moon and stars, Bon Bon is not going to be happy about that,â Bucky grumbled.

âœThe earth ponies are demanding that you have your knighthood restored. They want somepony to protect them from the dark things that now roam Equestria at night. There are hundreds of letters to the editors in the newspapers,â Rising Star said.

âœThey are saying this is the golden era of journalism. Princess Celestia forcibly took over the newspapersâ all of them, and then determined which papers were owned by which houses. Now, all newspapers are free to tell the whole truth, not just a few small independent papers. The nobles can no longer censor the big important newspapers. Every paper company is under protection by Princess Celestia herself and any attempt to interfere with the distribution of the news will be seen as an act of war against the Princesses,â Sparkler announced.

âœTwilight, there are griffons scaring my little ponies. The Shetland Isles, the isles that Buckminster worked so hard to secure, are worried about griffon raiders. The Sea of Grass is having regular terror raids. This cannot stand,â Celestia said as she paced back and forth in her room in front of a set of shelves holding a collection of plaster hoof prints.

âœThe zebras have long been the common prey of griffons,â Twilight said. She looked down the ledger she was standing over and made a few corrections.

âœIt ends now. There are no longer laws holding back my influence on certain foreign matters for fear of how it might affect the importing and exporting businesses the nobles had. I have grown weary of the predatory actions of the griffons. I see a chance to bring about long lasting peace. A small chance. And it is a gambit I am willing to take sides on,â Celestia explained to her former student. The alicorn smiled and looked hopeful.

âœWhat are you planning?â Twilight asked as she scribbled down a few notes.

âœWhen Buckminster has recovered, it is my intention to send both you and him overseas to visit the griffons as diplomats. I want you to do what you do best. Work as a friendship ambassador. Spread a message of goodwill. Give them an example of unity. I want you to take your friends. Win the trust of the griffons and try to get them to come together,â Celestia replied.

âœAnd what of Buckminster?â Twilight inquired. She looked up at Celestia and scowled, clearly not liking how this was starting to sound. Her brows furrowed and her ears perked forward. There was an annoying warbling sound coming from Philomenaâs room and Twilight was in no mood for distractions.

âœBuckminster will be there to protect you and your friends. To keep all of you safe. He will be there for my peace of mind. And, if your efforts fail, Buckminster will be my trump card,â Celestia said as she shuddered and shivered violently. âœIf the negotiations fail, Buckminster can be counted upon to do what he was born to do. When the griffons have suffered enough ruin, they will come to me and grovel at my hooves, as they did once long ago when Sombra nearly brought them to extinction.â

âœIs this wise?â Twilight queried. She heard Philomena trilling and wished the phoenix would be quiet. As a species, phoenixes were incredibly annoying and Twilight rather disliked them.

âœIt is probably a rash thing to do,â Celestia admitted. âœThe griffons are no longer afraid of us. Our old enemies are testing their limits. We are surrounded on all sides by those who would devour us. We need to make a show of strength. Preserve your image Twilight. If things go badly, let Buckminster do what he does best. Let the griffons see you as the reasonable one. The good one. Let them live in fear of Buckminster so they will want to deal with you. If left to his own devices, Buckminster will make the griffons beg to deal with you.â

Both alicorns paused in their discussion, now aware of a soft cooing sound mingled with raucous squawking. It had started off as a faint noise, but was now impossible to ignore. Celestia cocked her head and tilted her ear towards the sound, trying to discern its cause.

âœPhilomena?â Celestia said in puzzlement.

The large alicorn moved swiftly towards the balcony, the smaller alicorn just behind her.

âœPhilomena, how did you get out of your cage?â Celestia asked as she started to pull open the balcony doors. After pulling the doors open, she stepped out onto the balcony.

Celestia froze, and Twilight gasped in embarassed shock.

âœPhilomena! You brazen harlot! How could you! You cradle robber!â Celestia shouted in disgust.

âœIs that Freezerburn?â Twilight said as her mouth fell open.

The pair watched the copulating birds for a moment and then Celestia stepped back inside, pulling Twilight Sparkle with her. She slammed the doors in anger and closed her eyes, squeezing them shut, trying to unsee what she had saw.

âœWow, they really looked like they were enjoying it. Youâd think that something hot and something cold wouldnât be attracted to one another. It was really quite fascinating actually. Would you please open the door so that I might observe? Iâd really like it if-â

âœTwilightââ

âœYes Celestia?â

âœNot another word. Not one more word.â

Chapter 201

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âœDo you want one of us with you?â Derpy asked, giving Rising Star a soft nuzzle.

Rising Star closed his eyes and let Derpy comfort him. He leaned into her touch and tried to clear his mind. He thought about himself, his wives, his parents, and the complication of everything that was about to happen.

âœIt is going to be overwhelming as it is. Maybe the fewer of us the better,â Rising Star said in an unsure voice. âœI still donât know what to say to my parents.â

âœDonât be a foal for your parents, be a husband for your wives,â Derpy suggested. âœYou are a good husband. Youâve made Sparkler very happy and I am proud to have you as my son. If your parents see you being a good husband, I know they will be proud of you.â

âœHow do you know?â Rising Star asked.

âœIâm a mom,â Derpy replied. She lifted her head and looked at the reflection of Rising Star in the mirror, and saw him looking back at himself. âœYouâve grown taller.â

Nodding, Rising Star silently agreed.

âœAnd you are very handsome. Keeping your mane a little long was a good idea,â Derpy said as she reached out with her wing and gently brushed the hair from Rising Starâs eyes.

âœThank you,â Rising Star said, blushing slightly.

âœNow go have a nice time with your wives and your parents,â Derpy said. âœI need to go check on my husband.â

Derpy entered the room where Bucky was laying and slowly approached the bed. She saw the steady rise and fall of his barrel and noticed he didnât sound so congested. He looked better too, a very general sense, even though Derpy couldnât put her hoof on what had changed exactly.

âœThe contract,â Bucky said in a low voice.

âœIs a very silly piece of paper,â Derpy said with a smile. âœShining Armor said it was his best piece of work ever. He is very proud of what he did.â

âœYou have to keep me happyâ otherwise I get to complain about my treatment,â Bucky said with a faint smile.

âœYeah I do,â Derpy said, her own muzzle splitting with a broad smile.

âœI have to be well fed. I have to be kept comfortable. And the sexual obligationsââ Bucky whispered in a voice that sounded like it was holding back a chuckle.

âœHeyâ you have some obligations to me as well,â Derpy said in a vaguely seductive voice.

âœI think I am feeling a bit of unhappiness right nowâ right here on my muzzle, just above the corner of my mouth and just below my good eye,â Bucky said.

âœOh? Let me get that for you,â Derpy said, jumping up into the bed beside Bucky. She kissed him on his muzzle, approximately where the unhappy spot was located.

âœAh, thatâs better,â Bucky said, relaxing into his pillows. âœSo about that penalty if you make me unhappyââ

âœOh dear,â Derpy said, laying down beside Bucky. She tried to ignore the crash and the yelling in the other room.

âœBerry Punch ends up owning both of us. Me, because I have to spend my life as a slave, and you, because you screwed up and failed to look after me,â Bucky said.

âœWe donât want that,â Derpy said with a soft giggle. âœImagine what Berry Punch would do to the both of us if she had ownership.â

âœAnd if Berry Punch fails, the three of us end up in Bon Bonâs care, then Lyra, and finally, Thistle provided she is of responsible age. And if Thistle fails, we go into Lunaâs custody,â Bucky said, shivering slightly as he could feel Derpy breathing on his neck. âœWhat happens if Luna fails us?â

âœThe contract does not say. At that point, Luna becomes one of us on the chain gang and we probably go to Celestia to get a stern talking to,â Derpy said, now laughing as she spoke, unable to contain herself.

There was a loud hissing sound followed by growling from the other room and the two ponies in the bed sighed together, sounding content. Neither of them did so much as flinch when there was another loud crash.

âœMoonbow is pouncing Sentinel again,â Derpy said.

âœYou horrible little monsters! All pegasi are brutes! You bloodthirsty little savages!â

Bucky heaved another contented sigh. âœPoor Berry Punch,â he murmured. âœYou know, I really like that part in the contract where I get one day off a week from being a slave and you have to behave as my servant.â

âœThat was actually my idea,â Derpy said. After the words left her mouth she began to plant little kisses along Buckyâs neck and delighted in making him squirm just a little bit. âœAnd I will do anything you ask of meââ she breathed seductively.

âœI canât think of anypony Iâd rather be owned by,â Bucky said, totally ignoring the sounds of shattering glass and Berry Punchâs frustrated swearing.

âœIâm scared,â Ripple said, her wings fluttering nervously.

âœRipple, honey, donât be scared,â Rising Star said as he stood nervously in the center of the room. He lifted one hoof and shook it nervously.

âœI get horny when I get nervous,â Loch Skimmer muttered. She looked around at the furnishings in the small sitting room. âœThis place is fancy.â

âœLoch Skimmer, is there anything that doesnât make you horny?â Sparkler asked.

âœLet me get back to you on that,â Loch Skimmer snarked.

They could hear faint voices outside the door and the two unicorns and two pegasi all huddled together nervously.

âœLord Rising Star and Lady Sparkler Doo Hooves will see you now.â

Rising Star felt a lump magically appear in his throat and he found it hard to breathe as the door handle began to move. The door opened and he saw his mother and father. He stared at them for a moment, holding himself together somehow, and then he lost it completely as he began weeping.

He ran to his mother and she hugged him, wrapping her forelegs around his neck.

Rising Starâs wives all watched as he was crushed by both of his parents, Shining Star and Galaxy Guide, and all three of them were crying. Loch Skimmer leaned on Sparkler and rested her head against Sparklerâs neck.

Still crying, Rising Star gently pulled away from his parents to introduce his wives. âœYou sort of know Sparkler alreadyâ you told me to go after her and I did. The pegasus with the straw coloured mane is Loch Skimmer. The pegasus with the blue mane is Ripple, who is very dear to me because she saved my life,â Rising Star said to his parents.

Ripple nearly found herself bowled over when Rising Starâs mother slammed into her, wrapped a leg around her neck, and began squeezing tightly. Ripple squeaked in nervous alarm, and then tried to relax and allow herself to be hugged.

âœWell, say something about yourselves,â Rising Star suggested

âœMy sister Ripple and I, we were about to be traded forââ Loch Skimmerâs words trailed off when she saw the blank stares of horror from Rising Starâs parents.

Ripple felt Rising Starâs mother squeeze her even tighter, a hug of almost pegasus proportions. She felt comforted by the crushing embrace and leaned into it.

âœLoch Skimmer and Ripple were going to be placed into a very bad situation that would have ended badly for them. Rising Star agreed to marry me and both of them to save them. Your son was very heroic. He says Ripple saved him, but he saved her from a fate worse than death,â Sparkler said rather bluntly.

Shining Star looked into Rippleâs eyes and then began to kiss her face repeatedly, pulling tighter and tighter with each kiss. Finally, she relented from her kisses and pressed her muzzle into the top of Rippleâs head, breathing in her scent. âœNopony better touch my little girl. Iâve always wanted a little girl. Now I have a little girl that I can spoil.â

âœYou did good,â Galaxy Guide said to Rising Star, his voice sounding a bit raspy.

Shining Star finally let go of Ripple and then moved towards Loch Skimmer, snatching the other pegasus and working her over with motherly affection.

âœSo what have both of you been up to?â Rising Star asked.

Galaxy Guide cleared his throat. âœWe joined up with the Ponyville Militia early on. We worked in the provisions brigade. Weâve never seen combat, but weâve battled hunger. Weâve used our magic to prepare and distribute food to lots of hungry ponies. Nothing quite as exciting as the action youâve seen.â

âœKilling is awful dadâ be thankful youâve never seen heavy combat. You wouldnât like what it does to you,â Rising Star said in a dull voice, his expression going vacant for a moment. âœIt hurts you on the inside and makes you change.â

Galaxy Guide looked taken aback, his eyes narrowing, and he leaned in close to his son. âœIâm sure it hasâ Iâd say something to make you feel better, but it would just sound trite. Is there anything that helps you get through it?â

âœWell, Bucky has given me the best advice so farâ get drunk and screw.â

PiÃa reclined back into a tub full of bubbles and giggled at Dinky, who was in the other end of the tub doing the same. The pair had been covered in all manner of sticky stuff yet again and Berry Punch had tossed both of them into the tub and told them to clean up.

âœIâm not sorry I slathered potato salad all over your head,â PiÃa said.

âœAnd I am not sorry I shook up a bottle of of lemon soda, pointed it at you, and popped the cap off with my magic,â Dinky said in return.

PiÃa giggled a bit more. âœMust be nice knowing that you will never need a bottle opener.â

Dinky farted, releasing a stream of bubbles into the bathwater and making rude resonant noises as her flatulence reverberated against the bottom of the tub.

âœHas the worm medication kicked in yet?â PiÃa asked.

âœYeah, it has. I pooped out a bunch of stuff that looked like spaghetti noodles and it was Bon Bon who helped me get cleaned up. She was really nice. I love Bonnie,â Dinky replied. âœWhat about you?â

âœNothing yet, Iâm going to get another dose soon,â PiÃa responded.

âœBonnie really is a good mama. I was crying and really embarrassed and still pooping and she came into the bathroom and gave me a hug while I was stuck on the toilet and she made me feel better,â Dinky said.

âœWe had cooties,â PiÃa said, somehow managing to giggle.

âœI hope the other fillies in school never find out that we had cooties,â Dinky said.

âœThe doctor said that this kind of thing happens when you have a whole bunch of ponies all living together without modern sanitation,â PiÃa commented. âœI really hope that the Princesses help fix up the isles now.â

âœSo now that we are home, what do you want to do first? Go to a movie?â Dinky questioned.

âœNoâ I wanna go to a grocery store,â PiÃa said.

âœI kinda want to do that too,â Dinky said.

âœAnd have a tea party with daddy. He deserves a nice time,â PiÃa stated.

âœIâm up for that,â Dinky said as she sank down into the water a little bit more and rubbed her belly with her hooves, scrubbing away any dirt that might be in her pelt.

âœAre you ready to be a big sister?â PiÃa asked.

Dinky did not respond right away. She thought about it for several moments, which lapsed into minutes, before she finally had a reply. âœYeah. I am. Everything Iâve learned from all my bigger siblings. Sparkler. Sentinel. Ripple, Loch, and Rising Star. Even Moonbow. I think Iâm ready. I just have to try and act like them.â

âœWeâre going to be the best big sisters ever,â PiÃa said.

âœGonna be your birthday soon,â Dinky said.

âœI know,â PiÃa said.

âœAlmost time for school to start. The end of the summer and the start of fall,â Dinky said wistfully. âœTime of the year when pancakes and maple syrup tastes really good. Everything turns orange. Wonât be long before it is time for the running of the leaves.â

The bathroom door opened and both fillies let out a squeal. Berry Punch staggered through the doorway, slammed the door, shuffled over the bathroom tiles, and then threw herself into the tub, displacing PiÃa and shoving her towards Dinky.

âœIâm having some second thoughts about motherhood,â Berry grumbled as she sank down into water. âœMoonbow is a terror. She just wants to play. But she doesnât understand that she canât play like that indoors. All of my foals are wild feral savage brutes!â

âœWeâre sorry we misbehavedâ please still have our siblings,â PiÃa begged, sloshing through the water to rub Berryâs belly. âœWeâll be good. Donât have second thoughts about motherhood!â

âœI wonât use my magic to paint on the ceiling with ketchup and mustard anymore, I promise!â Dinky said.

âœKeep begging, and you, PiÃa, you keep rubbing my bellyâ Iâm going to have to think about this for a while,â Berry mumbled.

Now worried, PiÃa placed all of her efforts into rubbing Berryâs belly to make her big sister feel better. PiÃa wanted to be a big sister more than anything else in the whole wide world.

Chapter 202

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Drawing in a deep breath, Bucky tried to ignite a bit of harmonious magic. He had managed a few successful attempts, but he wasnât sure how he had managed to it. He stared at the straw in front of him, willing it to move. Dark magic was easy now. It flared effortlessly. No emotion involved at all it seemed.

But harmony magic was now difficult. He needed to free his mana from the corruption, by using emotion. He closed his eye and ignored the straw for a moment, the way it silently seemed to mock him. He ignored the pain in his leg where he had been branded. He ignored the throbbing in his stump. He shut all of these things out. All of these things were distractions.

It was like being a foal all over again and having to learn to use magic. The grey pegasus sleeping beside him snorted and let out a little whinny in her sleep. Bucky loved the sounds she made when she was sleeping. Or screwing. Bucky simply loved the sounds she made.

Focusing on the things he loved, he thought about his family. Honour bound Sentinel. How much he loved Dinky and PiÃa. Little Harper and her insistence for female pronouns. He thought about how much he loved his herd and everything he had fought for. He thought of Luna and how she had kept him with his family, just as promised.

Bucky opened his eye and saw a familiar blue-green glow coming from his horn.

Trotting as fast as her legs would carry her, Dinky struggled to keep up with Princess Celestia. Her bath had left her feeling fresh and clean. Her pelt shone with a natural brilliance after being brushed by Lyra. She wondered why she had to go with Princess Celestia, but she wasnât worried.

Lagging somewhat behind, PiÃa Colada didnât try to keep up, she kept to her own pace as she followed after the pair. She was radiantly pink and her clean hooves clicked and clattered upon the tile as she trotted through the corridor.

âœI hope that both of you know just how special you are,â Princess Celestia said in a soft motherly voice.

âœYou arenât going to take Dinky away and make her go to your school are you?â PiÃa asked.

âœWhy would I do that?â Celestia replied in puzzled tones.

âœBecause of everything that happened,â PiÃa said.

âœI have no intention of taking Dinky from all of you. Your herd needs every member you have to heal after all that has taken place,â Celestia said, trying to soothe any fears that lingered in PiÃaâs mind. âœWe are here,â Celestia announced, pushing her way into a small room.

Dinky and PiÃa followed after Princess Celestia and entered the room. It looked like a cleaning closet, only much larger. In the middle of the room was a table, and upon the table was a collection of objects. Celestia moved gently in the room, her hooves making only the softest sounds upon the stone floor. The foals watched as she lifted two pie tins in her magic.

âœMaking pie?â PiÃa asked.

âœNo little PiÃa,â Celestia replied.

The foals watched Celestia curiously as she poured a white powder into the tins and then added a little water. The mixture was stirred with magic and then Celestia set the pie tins down upon the floor. She smiled.

âœPlease, both of you, press your hooves down into the plaster, quick now, before it becomes too hard to work with,â Celestia instructed.

Dinky and PiÃa both carefully placed one hoof each into their tins and pressed down, and then lifted when Celestia made a gesture to do so.

Lifting a pair of clean cloths, Celestia wiped plaster from Dinky and Pinaâs hooves. âœI collect hoof prints from little foals that I know are going to change the world. Special foals. Foals with talent. Foals with unlimited potential. I collected a hoof print from Buckminster when he was little, and I have another hoof print from Lyra Heartstrings. And both of you know how special those two turned out.â

Dinky sat down on the floor and looked at Celestia, her eyes wide.

âœWhy me?â PiÃa questioned.

âœBecause, you are an earth pony with magic. I have long suspected earth ponies had the potential to have strong magic. Pinkie Pie strikes me as being especially magical. But you, I have a feeling that you are going to learn how to control your magic directly so it is not as chaotic,â Celestia explained.

âœI know I could use my talent to spy on stuff,â Dinky said in a low voice, knowing full well her potential.

âœYes you could Dinky,â Celestia said to Dinky in a soft voice. âœAnd when you get a little older and have more control over your talent, you and I are going to have a talk about how you could help keep Equestria safe.â

âœI donât want to use my talent to hurt anything ever again,â Dinky stated, her eyes narrowing and her gaze dropping down to the floor.

âœI will not ask you to use your talent to hurt others, only to keep others safe. And maybe save a few lives,â Celestia said in a soft soothing voice.

âœI can do that,â Dinky said. âœBut I want to make one thing clear. I do not work alone. If you want me to use my talents to help other ponies, PiÃa works with me.â

âœThat actually makes me very happy to hear you say that,â Celestia replied.

Rising Star looked around the table nervously at the light lunch spread out for them all. He wasnât particularly hungry and he still felt rather nervous in the presence of his parents. Loch Skimmer was already chowing down, doing what Loch Skimmer did best. Living life with gusto.

âœSoâ um, I guess all of you are, uh, familiar with one another and are all grown up now, since, uh, you get drunkâ andâ uhâ screw,â Shining Star stammered nervously.

âœRising Star is really good at screwing!â Loch Skimmer said around a mouth full of salad greens. âœHeâs a fantastic shagger!â

Rising Star wanted to dribble out of his chair and form a puddle of embarrassment upon the floor. Hearing Loch Skimmer announce that to his mother made him wish that he was dead. He took a deep breath, held it for a moment, and then reminded himself that Loch was a pegasus. She couldnât help how she was, and he loved her dearly. He heard Sparkler giggling behind a hoof she had held up to her mouth.

âœI see,â Shining Star said in a low squeak.

Galaxy Guide grunted and loaded some salad on his plate and then added a few croutons.

âœHeâs left Ripple alone though. Ripple is into fillies, and this is why we didnât want to be traded into marriage. They donât care about stuff like that on the isles. No respect,â Loch said as she scarfed down a huge bite of cantaloup. âœMmmm, I like melons!â

Ripple choked and sank down into her chair, her face, which was a dark charcoal grey, began to turn a blotchy purple. âœLoch!â she cried as she hid her face behind her hooves.

âœYouâre gay. So what?â Loch Skimmer mumbled, her mouth full of cantaloup.

âœLochââ Sparkler whispered in warning.

âœThere is nothing wrong with being gay, and I am very proud of my son for taking you as his wife to save you from those who would not respect you,â Shining Star said in a wavering voice. She reached out and stroked Ripple, who was sitting beside her. She felt a little better when she felt Ripple respond to her touch.

âœI raised my son right,â Galaxy Guide grunted. He looked around the table, clearly overcome with emotion, and he looked very proud.

âœSo, um, how will Ripple be happy later on when she grows up?â Shining Star inquired gently, her nervousness fading away and being replaced with motherly concern.

âœOhâ she and Sparky here plan to shag like rabbits when Ripple feels she is ready,â Loch said just before she jammed her muzzle down into a bowl of berries and cream.

âœOhâ I seeâ so everything works out okay then, Ripple will have her needs looked after,â Shining Star said in a slightly strained voice.

âœRising, son, you have to be living every teenage coltâs dream,â Galaxy Guide said as he wiped his muzzle with a napkin.

âœLaxy!â Shining Star scolded.

Rising Star squirmed uncomfortably in his chair. âœYeahâ survive a warâ get drunkâ screwââ he muttered.

âœI didnât mean it like that,â Galaxy Guide said, looking apologetic.

âœI had to watch somepony I love dearly get ripped apart inside and outâ get consumed by darknessâ I had to watch him die a little more each day. It wasnât a dream. It was a nightmare. And the only comfort I had was with my wives and my extended family,â Rising Star spat.

âœIâm sorry,â Galaxy Guide said to his son.

âœI am sorry tooâ I stay sorry. I stay angry. You have no idea how angry I stay. And just like Bucky, the only thing that keeps me from burning down the entire world around me are my wives, who keep me sane. Weâre all screwed up and broken ponies and all we have is one another,â Rising Star grumbled.

âœSon, the war is over. The fight ended. I know it will be difficult, but now is the time to put that behind you and move on,â Shining Star said, setting her fork down as her horn dimmed.

âœRising, you okay?â Loch Skimmer asked.

âœRising, do you need a few moments to yourself?â Sparkler inquired, her voice full of worry.

âœIâm fine,â Rising Star whispered as he let out a deep breath.

Moonbow waited patiently, stalking her prey. She didnât move, not one muscle twitched. To most observers, she appeared to be asleep, her eyes closed. Her eyelids only opened the tiniest bit for her to observe her prey. An occasional whistling snore came out, which was actually her echolocation system keeping an active lock upon her target.

Her target was busy drawing upon a sheet of paper using some charcoal pencils which had been provided for him.

Concentrating, she increased her heartbeat, preparing herself. She had an instinctive feeling that the moment to strike would come soon. Sentinel was yawning, and his guard was slipping as he grew tired. She could feel the blood rushing to her extremities, preparing her body for the hunt. Her prey was small and appeared to be helpless, but she had learned that he was fearless in combat and was in fact, quite wily. He was excellent breeding stock and would give her fine foals one day.

She saw his head nodding, drooping slightly and she saw him put down his pencil. He flexed his wing, which seemed to be cramped after the time spent drawing, and then, he yawned again, exposing his fangs as well as his long orange tongue.

It was the right moment. Moonbow launched herself from her spot upon the sofa, soared through the air with her wings still folded tightly to her sides, and she pounced. It was the oldest and most instinctual pair bonding and mating behaviour her species had. Females pounced males in play when younger, and then would hold them down to breed with them when they were older.

She heard an angry yowl from Sentinel as they collided, and the force of the impact knocked him from the chair. Their entwined bodies tumbled through the air and then crashed into the floor. They rolled for quite some distance, Moonbow gently grabbing while Sentinel kicked and wiggled, trying to free himself. The wooden chair beside the table fell over and clattered to the floor.

Bursting free from her clutches, Sentinel tumbled away and then bounced up onto all fours, springing away stiff legged, wings out, and hissing loudly in challenge. Moonbow felt her heart flutter and there were moths in her stomach. Something about her future mate made her have funny feelings when he was so defiant and brazen. He was never submissive. He continued to bounce away, his legs acting like springs, and his stiff legged gamboling excited her. She let out her own somewhat lusty yowl in response to his. He wasnât ready for more affectionate gestures or activities yet, so her pouncing remained innocent for now.

She watched, her heartbeat increasing rapidly, as Sentinelâs lips curled back completely from his teeth, exposing a mouth full of deadly weapons. His hisses were getting better and she wondered if they would soon bear the magical effect of fear that their kind possessed. She pounced again, launching herself from her position upon the floor.

She collided with the floor, hitting nothing, Sentinel bouncing out of the way with a stiff legged springy leap. She rolled, tumbled, and then launched herself again, this time with a false start in one direction before changing directions, and this time, she was rewarded for her cunning as she came crashing down upon Sentinel once more. She carefully pinned him down and rendered him helpless. Puckering up, she kissed him gently upon the cheek and sang a little song of victory using her echolocation. She grinned a wicked grin and stared into Sentinelâs eyes.

Sentinel kicked and squirmed beneath her and she felt her body warm slightly. She felt a strange blush build up in her cheeks as she became aware of the fact that every pony in the room was watching her. Bon Bon. Lyra. Berry Punch. Thistle. Even Harper was staring at her wide eyed.

âœAll pegasi are brutes,â Berry Punch grumbled as she rolled her eyes.

Chapter 203

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Raven clearly worried too much, and Celestia knew this. Her assistant was beside herself with worry, saying that there was an angry mob here to have some words. They didnât wish to address her in an orderly fashion one at a time in her throne room. No, they wanted to keep their angry mob status and make demands as a group.

It was something Celestia was okay with. In fact, she desired it a great deal. They were angry foals who were now rebelling against their parents. Celestia hoped that some gentle words would help them find their way and guide them as they took their first foal steps towards a little bit of self rule.

The guard threw open the massive doors as she approached and Celestia saw hundreds of ponies gathered in the central courtyard. They looked shocked to see her in the doorway, most had been staring up at the balcony where she usually addressed her subjects. She moved into their midst and many fell down and bowed. A few dropped their heads. Some held their heads high in defiance, and Celestia was just a little bit proud of those that did.

âœMy subjects, you wanted to see me?â Celestia said as she looked all around her. The guards looked concerned.

âœGive us what we want or we will riot!â a pony bravely shouted. The voice came from behind Celestia and she couldnât see who it was. She smiled gently, cleared her throat, and then lifted her head up high.

âœRiot is such an ugly word,â Celestia said in a calm voice. âœI find that when the word âœriotâ is used in the newspapers, it is because somepony has an agenda, or the writer responsible did not know how to spell âœdemonstration.â Angry ponies riot. Reasonable ponies demonstrate. What sort of ponies am I dealing with today?â she inquired of the crowd.

The crowd began to murmur and the sounds of worried voices could be heard all around her. Celestia waited patiently. She stood with the breeze upon her face and the sounds of her beloved little ponies in her ears.

âœWe have some requests to make of you. If you fail to give us what we ask for, we will hold a demonstration!â a pony shouted. âœA very well behaved demonstration. Because we are reasonable poniesââ

âœI like reasonable ponies,â Celestia said. She beamed and looked all around her. Most of the crowd was sitting down now, almost all of them looking at her inquisitively. âœReasonable ponies will be listened to. And might even get what they have asked for, provided it is in my power to give.â

âœWe have a few requests,â a stallion said.

âœI would like to hear them,â Celestia responded. âœMight I have your name first?â

âœMy name is Silver Shill, and I came here on behalf of the Farmerâs Union of Ponyville,â Silver Shill answered.

âœWell then, Silver Shill, I would like to hear your reasonable requests,â Celestia said in a soft voice that somehow carried over the sound of the crowd.

âœThe trial was a shamâ we all understand that. Keg Smasher, Laird of the Shetland Isles, gave a detailed account of everything that took place there. We feel that Buckminster Bitters was treated poorly. We understand why it had to be done, so the system could be struck down, but we request that Buckminster Bitters be reinstated as a knight. There are bad things roaming Equestria now. With the destruction that took place in the Hollow Shades and the Foal Mountains, many monsters were displaced from their lairs. We need a pony that knows how to fight monsters and win,â Silver Shill said in a loud clear voice.

An earth pony mare nervously approached Celestia, bowed her head slightly, and then sat down. She looked at the crowd all around her, blinked a few times, and then focused her gaze upon Celestia.

âœWe the ponies would like a say in this issue,â the mare announced. âœMy name is Cherry Berry and I head the Airborne Watch Union of Ponyville.â

âœThis is turning out to be quite interesting.â

Celestia turned her head upwards at the sound of Lunaâs voice. Her sister was up on the balcony, looking down upon the crowd. Celestia felt the first feeling of actual worry. Her little ponies were still scared of Luna, and rightfully so after what happened over Canterlot. The papers were still calling her âœthe electric alicorn of deathâ and other horrible terms which made her out as a monster.

âœSo you want Buckminster Bitters reinstated as a knight, even though I am sure all of you know what he has done?â Luna asked of the crowd.

There was a nervous murmur but the crowd stayed calm. A few now watched Luna warily, hoping the temperamental blue alicorn would not unleash electric death once again. Vast sections of Canterlot were now bare of buildings.

âœWe know what he did,â Silver Shill said, daring to look up at Luna and raise his voice just a little bit. âœWe also know that if you truly believed that he was a bad pony who had a desire to hurt others, you would have never placed him back into society where he might do us harm. We have asylums for the truly dangerous. You sentenced him to life with his family, so he could be happy. We humbly request that his talents for death, destruction, and mayhem be put to good use, keeping all of us safe. We know of his vow to never bring harm to another pony. Keg Smasher spoke a great deal about it in the interview.â

âœHe is well experienced in killing monsters. And there are reports of undead in the badlands and Los Pegasus,â Cherry Berry interjected. âœWe need an experienced undead slayer. What are your pegasus guards going to do exactly? Keg Smasher spoke at length about his battle with the undead and the horror of trying to take them down. They donât die!â

There was a sudden rush of noise from the crowd and Celestia could feel the panic in the air. As a group, the entire crowd scooted inwards a bit, packing in a little tighter and a little closer all around her. She could see ponies shivering with fear in the warm late summer sun.

âœPlease give us what we want. Weâre tired. There has been a lot of fighting and scary times. I think all of us are tired of living in fear. Please donât make us go through the trouble of having to organise a demonstration,â a pegasus begged.

âœWe want his knighthood restored!â a mare shouted.

âœAnd maybe just a little promotion?â a stallion added.

âœAnd what should we promote him to?â Luna inquired, her loud booming voice falling out over the crowd.

âœA corporal?â somepony suggested.

A lone guard standing near the double doors shook his head sadly but said nothing, he resumed standing attention and went still as a statue.

âœMaking him a corporal is not a promotion,â Luna said, raising her eyebrow slightly.

âœMy little ponies, if you want self rule, you will be required to educate yourself on these sorts of issues so you can have a say in them. How can you have an informed opinion of what to ask for if you do not know anything about what it is that you are requesting?â Celestia inquired in a soft gentle voice.

âœMaybe weâre not ready for self rule just yet,â Cherry Berry said. âœBut we can learn as we go. Weâll just have to take control of little things that we do know about and trust that you will give us more authority over ourselves after we learn.â

âœYeah, like us farmers! We farmers know what is best for us farmers! Which is why Princess Twilight Sparkle demanded that we form the Farmers Union so we could look after our own needs and stay out of her mane. What do Canterlot Unicorns know about growing apples or carrots?â Silver Shill announced. âœWeâre going to need somepony to look after us and protect us while we make mistakes so we can learn!â

Smiling a delighted smile, Celestia felt a burning sense of pride for her little ponies.

âœWhat about a sergeant?â somepony asked, suggesting a rank.

Again, the lone guard shook his head and the crowd began to watch his reaction.

âœMost of us are farmers and we know nothing about the guard and their ranks,â a mare shouted. âœThis is a problem. If we voted on an issue, would we be doing more harm than good?â

There was a loud murmur that went through the crowd as the ponies began to chat amicably with the pony sitting next to them, trying to find some consensus. Several ponies gathered around Silver Shill and there were some loud voices who tried to speak over the crowd. Finally, some sort of agreement seemed to be reached, because the crowd quieted down.

Clearing his throat, Silver Shill looked Princess Celestia in the eye. âœWe the ponies request that Buckminster Bitters be given a promotion to one step above whatever he was previously. We admit our ignorance in this issue and we beg that you will forgive us. We will strive to better ourselves if we can.â

âœA major,â Luna announced. âœKnight Major Bitters. Is this what you want?â

The lone guard nodded his head while making a gesture of encouragement and the crowd quickly began to agree, all of them shouting.

âœVery well then. Let us all take a step in the right direction together, shall we?â Celestia said in a proud but gentle voice. âœI would like to see a show of hooves then. How many ponies would like a restoration of Buckminster Bitterâs knighthood and a promotion?â she inquired.

The crowd raised their hooves, looking somewhat confused and befuddled. A few ponies were smart enough to realise that history was being made this day in the courtyard. Sadly, there was no reporters to record this momentous event.

âœWell, that looks to be unanimous,â Luna announced. âœYour Night Princess would like to make a suggestion. The griffon known as Lugus, he is Buckminsterâs personal griffon at arms. In his homeland, he was a knight. Shall we restore a second knighthood this day to celebrate this momentous occasion?â

âœYes?â Cherry Berry said, her voice echoing from the courtyard walls. The crowd roared after she spoke and she grinned sheepishly.

âœWell then, my good quiet ponies,â Celestia said, which shushed the crowd, all of them instantly fell silent for her. âœHow about a show of hooves?â

Again the crowd raised their hooves.

âœOnce more, I think that was everypony saying yes,â Luna announced. âœNow, there is another issue to discussâ being a knight is a full time job. Monster slaying takes a lot of a body. They do not have a lot of time to work for gainful employment. If they did, they would not be warriors. You do not send a farmer to fight a monster, and you do not send a warrior to plow a field. How will Lugus provide for his family? He has a wife, a pegasus named Yew Wood, and pegasus foal that he rescued named Peekaboo.â

âœI will talk to the Farmerâs Union about donating a portion of food to Lugus and his family to help them. Once the financial institutions are using money again, I will personally ask each and every farmer for dues so we can provide Lugus a salary, provided that the crown matches us bit for bit,â Silver Shill offered.

âœDone,â Celestia said briskly.

Silver Shill blinked, looking surprised. âœOkay,â he said nervously. âœIâm gonna have a lot to tell Applejack when I get home,â the stallion whispered to himself.

âœSo are there any other polite and well worded requests that we can deal with today?â Celestia questioned as she looked around the crowd, her wings fluttering slightly.

âœWell yes actuallyâ my name is Chocolate Morsel, and I have a solution to the communication problem we seem to have since the mail system fell apart. Iâve figured out a way to send electric pulses over wires with a simple machine that even earth ponies and pegasi can use. It makes little clicks and beeps and I call the beeps and boops Morsel code after myself. You can talk with another pony instantly at any distance without having to use magic or wait on a letter to arrive,â an brown earth pony stallion said.

âœI am intrigued,â Celestia responded.

Chapter 204

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Princess Luna seemed exceptionally pleased when she came bursting through the door with Lugus right behind her. She moved with grace and dignity, her wings spreading slightly in a display of dominance and being pleased. Even with her joyful demeanour, her face looked tired and pinched. Bucky was forced to wonder when Luna had slept last. Alicorns, even immortal alicorns, needed sleep.

Beside him, Derpy awoke with a snort and a sharp peal of flatulence, which made the corner of Lunaâs mouth curl upwards for the briefest second. Bucky felt a moment of relief when he thought about Luna being the Element of Laughter.

âœPrincess,â Derpy said in an embarrassed tone while trying to pull herself together. She smacked her lips together a few times and then pulled herself into a modest position, rolling over on the bed and then sitting up.

Bucky sighed. He had been enjoying the view of the sprawled out pegasus sleeping on her back with her teats pointed up at the ceiling. Derpy was starting to show in her pregnancy, but only slightly. She had been exquisitely beautiful slumbering beside him, her straw coloured mane spilling over her face and all around her neck.

He could hear other ponies gathering around the door, the sounds of many hooves clicking all in one place as the herd drew together at the door but did not enter.

âœI come bearing news. The ponies have spoken, they want their knight back. As of this moment, your knighthood has been reinstated, along with a small promotion to Knight Major,â Luna announced. She beamed, looking immensely pleased. âœAnd you are not to serve these ponies alone. Lugus, the ponies have spoken. You are to join Buckminster in his duties. I am recognising your knighthood and giving you all of the duties and privileges of being an Equestrian knight,â the princess added as she turned and spoke to Lugus.

Lugus looked stunned for a moment, and then bowed his head. âœI will do as you bid,â he said in a low soft voice.

âœYou will do as the ponies bid. They are going to sponsor you. The farmers will feed your family and will soon be providing a stipend so you will have a few bits for spending. I fear you will never become wealthy doing this job,â Luna said in a solemn voice.

âœThis is not a job you do for coin,â Lugus replied, bowing his head further. âœThis is a job you do because it must be done, and the reward is honour.â

âœThe nobles and their many armigers seemed to have forgotten that. Save one,â Luna said, turning her head towards Bucky. âœBuckminster, I know you have a squireâ Lugus, you will need to find a squire. A knight must have a squire.â

âœActually, I have been meaning to talk to Lugus about that,â Sentinel said, shoving his way through the crowd of larger ponies and making his way to Lunaâs side. âœIâve been wanting to talk to Lugus about this, but then everything happened and I wasnât even sure if I was a squire anymore after what happened to father so I never said anything. Everything got so dark for a timeâ Ripple would make a fine squire.â

âœA female?â Luna said in surprise.

The room fell silent for a moment, and every eye in the room turned towards Luna. The room was filled with the many sounds that accompany uncomfortable silences. Breathing. The sounds of tails swishing. The wet sound of somepony smacking their lips or licking them nervously.

âœI am not against the idea of a female squire,â Luna said, trying to dispel everyponyâs concern. âœIt is just that, to my knowledge, there has never been a female squire or knight in Equestriaâs long history. The Myrmidons are probably the closest thing that we have to knights anymoreâ and having both genders has worked out surprisingly well.â

âœRipple is a Dragoon and she is combat tested. She is young and still needs training. I need training. Rippleâs destiny mark shows that her future is going to be filled with all sorts of glorious violence and honourable combat. Or maybe less than honourable combat. Iâve heard a few unfounded rumours that Ripple has been known to engage in less than acceptable places to land her strikes,â Sentinel said, his face darkening as he neared the end of his words.

âœWhere is Ripple?â Luna inquired.

âœMy sweet little Ripple is off with Rising Star and his other wives, meeting with his parents,â Bon Bon replied, standing just outside the door.

âœLugus, would you be willing to talk to her?â Luna asked.

âœI would be honoured to speak with her. Ripple is a noble soul. She understands sacrifice,â Lugus replied.

âœFinally, I did something important!â Sentinel shouted. âœAbout bloody time.â He stood in place for a moment, his eyes closed, and his face scrunched up in a moment of jumbled emotions. His eyes opened and he bolted for Moonbow, upon reaching her, he planted a kiss on her cheek. Realising what he had just done, he backed away, looking somewhat embarrassed, his wings fluttering nervously. âœI donât know what came over me. I suppose I have learned things from my father.â

âœOh, I donât mind,â Moonbow said in a low voice.

âœAlright, if you could, everypony out. I need to speak with Buckminster alone,â Luna announced. She gave an apologetic half smile to every pony as they began to file out the door. Derpy, after jumping off of the bed, was the last pony to leave.

Luna shut the door and then turned to look at Bucky.

âœLuna, I donât think I can handle anything overly traumatic,â Bucky said, turning his head slightly to focus on Luna.

Luna crossed the room, moving gracefully, effortlessly, and made her way to a chair that was in Buckyâs field of vision. She climbed into the chair and spread out comfortably, not looking at all like a dignified princess. âœNo worries nephew. And no calling me âœMistressâ for now. This is a small private magic lesson between family,â she announced, settling into the chair.

Heaving a sigh of relief, Bucky settled back into his pillows, relaxing and making himself comfortable once more. âœI can focus harmony magic again. Sort of. I am still having trouble. I have to think about my family and what I love to get it to happen,â he explained.

Luna nodded in reply and then began her lesson as she turned to look directly at Bucky. âœThere are several schools of magic, all of them very different from one another. Harmony magic, common to most unicorns, is the most common source of channeled magic. The power of the cosmos channeled through the body and the horn,â Luna began. âœBut you already know that.â

âœYes, I do,â Bucky acknowledged.

âœAnd there is dark magic. Which we do not actually know very much about. My sister knows a fair bit about it, she studied it for a time, but she did not like how it made her feel. Personally, I have a great deal of trouble making dark magic work. If I had a weakness in magic, it is my inability to cast dark magic. Oh I can squeeze off a few spells, but it drains me and leaves me feeling very unsettled,â Luna said, making a gesture with her hoof to emphasise her words.

âœAs I recall, you mastered shadow magic,â Bucky said.

âœUmbramancy,â Luna said in reply. âœIt is how I patrol the dreamscape. Shadow magic, where light and dark magic work together in harmony. It is neither dark or light. It is the fine balance of the two opposites and it is what I do best. It is how I heal minds, gently correct the wicked to make them regret their evil ways, and how I spook ponies back into the light. Very few unicorns ever have shadow magic. Sombra did. Mostly, the practitioners are lunar pegasi. Like little Sentinel. He is bursting with potential. I havenât met his like in ages. Probably before I was banished. You are going to have to learn how to use umbramancy and when I teach you, I will be teaching Sentinel as well. I am claiming both of you as my students.â

âœSentinel stopped Sombraâs shadow from taking over my mind,â Bucky said.

âœI am well aware of what Sentinel did. He stopped a monster far worse than what you faced in the darkness under the mountain. Sombraâs fell shadow would have claimed your body and your destiny, he would have ascended, and he would have become the alicorn of war. Draw your own conclusion from there,â Luna replied.

âœI am all too aware of what Sentinel prevented,â Bucky said in a pained whisper.

âœBack to the subject at hoof, you have a monumental task ahead of you. Celestia was a gentle teacher. I am not,â Luna stated plainly. âœI get results.â

âœI understand,â Bucky acknowledged.

âœAnd there still more types of magic. Do you know what they are?â Luna inquired.

âœThe only ones I can think about right now that are major types are chaos, healing, and necromancy,â Bucky answered.

âœYes,â Luna replied. âœHealing and necromancy, the two opposing forces of balance. What do you know of healing magic Buckminster?â

âœVery little. I know it is something you must be born with and it is incredibly rare,â Bucky replied. He shifted his stump on the pillow beside him and his lip twitched from an itch he could feel under the skin.

âœActually, if I might enlighten you, healing magic is more common than most ponies realise,â Luna said in a low voice. âœBut the practitioners are so incredibly rare.â

âœWhy?â Bucky asked.

âœPain Buckminster. When healing magic is performed, the healer has to experience the pain of what caused the injury. So when they close up a cut or heal a broken leg, they get to experience the sensations of pain that caused those injuries. Very few ponies develop their gifts and those that do charge an obscene amount of coin for it,â Luna explained.

âœThat sounds awful,â Bucky grumbled.

âœYou would make a good healer if you had the gift. You have this casual disregard for your body that stupifies me,â Luna stated.

âœWhat about necromancy?â Bucky asked.

âœAh, necromancy,â Luna mused. âœIt looks identical to dark magic when it is being cast, but it is actually very different. Almost any unicorn can do it. It can heal, but it can also harm. It can be used to regrow limbs and heal the bodyâ but as it is being used, it leaves open a magical rift between this realm and Tartarus. As the caster continues to focus the magic, dark things slip out, released into this world to run free. When very powerful spells are cast, very dangerous entities tend to slip out and escape. And then my sister and I are forced to round them up and drag them back to Tartarus. Some of them cannot be killed. Others can. Their evil never truly goes away, you can kill the body and slay the lesser demons, but the evil itself oozes back into Tartarus and eventually something absorbs it and becomes a little stronger. The demons are constantly at war with one another down there, each trying to absorb one another and all of them vying to be the strongest.â

âœI had no idea,â Bucky breathed.

âœThat every time you channel necromancy you allow demons to slip into the world?â Luna replied, raising an eyebrow as she spoke. âœThis is why we are so harsh on necromancy. It is the unforgivable sin of magic.â

âœUnder the mountainâ heâ his ascensionâ heââ Bucky stammered, trying to find the right words.

âœMany of the demons in Tartarus used to be ponies,â Luna said in a pained voice, understanding what Bucky was trying to express. âœThere are other forms of ascension Buckminster. Not all of them are good. Not all become alicorns. Some become other things.â

âœSo he would have become some horrible shadow demon,â Bucky said.

âœYes, in time. He was close. And there would have been no stopping him by the usual mortal agencies. My sister and I would have had to subdue him and place him in the prison constructed for his kind. My sister became the gatekeeper of that place after slaying the previous gatekeeper who had become corrupt and wicked. It is one of the many duties she is tasked with. She is the warden, and she has the power to incarcerate those who are sufficiently wicked,â Luna explained.

âœBut Celestia is not the master of Tartarus,â Bucky said.

âœNot exactly. She just has power over the gate,â Luna replied.

âœHow did she get this power?â Bucky inquired.

âœA time will come when one demon or some horrible entity will consume all of the other evils to be found, both on earth and in Tartarus. Celestia has been tasked with slaying that evil when it finally comes to power. She is weakened now after the thousand years she has endured aloneâ I cannot speak of certain thingsâ but my sister has been left weakened and there is a lot more at stake than most mortals will ever begin to understand. These were a thousand years she should have been drawing strength and preparing for the inevitable conflict,â Luna said in a worried voice. âœBut my downfall placed everything out of balance.â

âœSo every act of necromancy allows demons to escape from Tartarus, come out here to feed upon the fears and hatreds of the sapient races, eventually they get returned to Tartarus, now stronger, and then the denizens of Tartarus squabble and fight with one another, consuming that power and getting stronger and stronger. The demons are really nothing more than shadow wolves, out to collect energy and bring it home. It is exactly what I have just endured, only on a cosmic scale,â Bucky said in a slow measured voice. âœAnd ponies who resort to necromancy might just want simple things like healing without the cost of pain.â

âœYour ability to assess your enemy is amazingâ you do realise that is part of your divine natureââ

Chapter 205

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Buckyâs mind reeled with everything he had learned. It was a lot to take in all at once. He thought about the necromantic spells that had popped up several times in his mind. The knowledge of the death spell that had sprung into memory during the signing of the treaty. Bucky realised that things had been whispering in his ear already, knowing that he was a powerful conduit of magic. He silently resolved to never use the foul magic and to have a long talk with Lyra about her curiousity.

His mind drifted and he thought of Lyraâs repressed memories. He thought about the words she had said that day when they had hunted the undead. He shuddered, suddenly understanding what necromantic death cults were really doing. Releasing demons into the world.

He stared at the now empty chair where Luna had been sprawled out, and wished that she hadnât needed to leave so soon. He had questions.

The door opened and he heard the sound of little hooves on the stone floor. Dinky and PiÃa came into his field of vision and hopped up on the bed with him. Behind them was Derpy, returning to her spot on the bed.

âœCelestia made us stick our hooves in plaster,â Dinky announced.

âœShe has your hoof print in plaster,â PiÃa said to Bucky as she flopped over near Derpy.

âœShe has hoofy prints of ponies she knows are going to change the world,â Dinky said as she crawled over her mother and then settled on her motherâs back, resting her head upon her motherâs withers.

âœThis is gonna sound stupid, but having my hoof dunked in plaster actually made me feel a little better about everything that happened on the isles,â PiÃa said.

âœThat doesnât sound stupid,â Derpy said as she pulled PiÃa closer and drew the foal into her forelegs. âœYou want something to show for what you had to go through.â

âœYeah. Maybe I do,â PiÃa said as Derpy stroked her tummy.

âœPiÃa and I are going to keep Equestria safeâ Celestia is going to hire us for some big important job later when I am older,â Dinky announced.

âœOh my,â Derpy said, her voice a little nervous.

âœShe promised me that I would never have to hurt a pony. Just keep them safe and save a few lives,â Dinky said reassuringly to her mother.

âœAnd we get to work as a pair. I am happy about that. I get to be Dinkyâs researcher,â PiÃa quipped, her tone excited. âœCelestia is going to give me books about library science so I can learn how to be a better scholar and archivist. She wants me to be the best researcher I can to help Dinky.â

âœI am proud of both of you,â Bucky said.

âœSo what did Luna want?â Derpy asked.

âœI had myself a little magic lesson,â Bucky replied.

âœStay in school daddy,â Dinky said, reaching out and gently prodding her father on the neck. âœYou study hard or you will get such a scoldingââ

âœYes Dinky, I understand,â Bucky answered with an amused grin.

âœYou better get good grades mister,â PiÃa warned.

âœSpeaking of good grades, are you girls going to be ready for school?â Bucky questioned.

âœUm, maybe?â Dinky said hesitantly. âœMy feelings go back and forth. I dunno how I feel.â

âœIf I go back to school I am going to be forced to learn boring stuff that they think earth ponies need to know. I wonât be reading magic primers,â PiÃa said petulantly. âœIâll be taking stuff like âœagriculture and why you belong in the dirtâ and all the stuff that has no meaning for me.â The earth pony foal scowled and folded her forelegs over her barrel.

âœYou stay in school PiÃa. You make friends. It isnât wasted time. I will make sure that you are taught what you need to know, but you need to trust me and stay in school. At least for now,â Bucky commanded.

âœI will do as you ask, but I donât have to like it,â PiÃa grumbled.

âœNo. The system is unfair and biased. But that old system is now torn down. A new system is going to be made. And you need to endure and be patient,â Bucky said in gentle tones.

âœYes father,â PiÃa said, accepting her fate.

âœBerry Punch worked hard to educate herself. She endured through all of the useless drivel in primary and secondary school. She probably had to learn a lot of the boring things that earth ponies are required to know. She stuck it out and then went to university,â Bucky said soothingly. He watched as PiÃaâs scowl softened.

âœBerry Punch is a smart pony,â Derpy said to PiÃa. âœAnd so are you my little foal. But you are going to have to work for what it is that you want.â

Shining Star looked upon the ponies sitting on the couch with a motherâs eyes, trying to understand them all. She saw her son, who was sitting tall and proud, and three fillies that she now called her daughters. She realised that her son was now a stranger to her. Her son had left, and somepony else had come back in his stead. Her son had been soft spoken and a little shy, what the school counselor had called a cautious extrovert. Her son was gentle. Careful. Her son had been the sort who had never hurt a thing.

Her son was now a hardened killer and a living weapon. The long talk with Raven, Princess Celestiaâs personal assistant, had been a real eye opener. Her son could destroy the entire town of Ponyville in the blink of an eye. Her son would forever have to watch his temper.

Yet for all of her fears, she had hope. Her son was a good husband, attentive and devoted. She had noticed when her son had helped Loch Skimmer up on the couch. She was still limping on a leg that had been broken and was now weak. The way her son reached out and tried to soothe Sparkler when she succumbed to terrible spasming she was now afflicted with. The soft and gentle way he touched Ripple, trying to be affectionate to her even though there was an insurmountable gap that existed between the two of them.

Her son had left home as a colt, and in his stead, a stallion she did not know had returned.

âœYou kissed me.â

Sentinel cringed, knowing this moment would come. Moonbowâs words almost sounded like an accusation. He waited, not knowing if he would be pounced or not. He braced himself in his chair and looked at Lyra pleadingly.

Lyra, who ignored him and went back to rocking Harper, who had finally stopped crying.

âœThat was very sweet of you,â Moonbow whispered, standing next to his chair.

âœI donât know what came over me. I was overcome with emotion,â Sentinel said as his ears ignited. His still healing ear burned painfully. He looked at Moonbow. The filly had reared up on her hind legs, braced her forelegs on the table, and now looked him in the eye.

âœI like knowing that you are pleased with me,â Moonbow said.

Sentinel waited, now worried. Moonbow was being entirely too submissive all of a sudden. They had a well defined predator versus prey relationship. She was the predator, and Sentinel understood that he was the prey. He could feel her breathing on his neck. She had no concept of personal space. He could hear Bon Bon and Yew playing with Peekaboo, but he couldnât afford to be distracted at the moment.

âœI am not going to pounce you, I promise,â Moonbow whispered. âœWell, not this moment. I will do so later. But there is something I want from you my noble squire.â

Uh oh Sentinel thought to himself.

âœWill you please sit on the couch with me? Together? I just want some of your time,â Moonbow asked.

Sentinel took a deep breath and relaxed. He thought for certain that Moonbow was going to ask for something else. All she wanted was some time with him. He could do that. He took another deep breath and turned his head to face her. âœI can spen-nnnnnfmph!â

Sentinel was caught quite off guard when Moonbow pressed her muzzle against his. She wrapped one foreleg around Sentinelâs neck and squeezed gently. Sentinel started to fall over off of his chair and Moonbow pulled him back, drawing him closer. It was a soft gentle kiss, nothing more than two pairs of lips pressed together, and it remained quite innocent. Finally, she pulled away.

âœCome sit on the couch with me and read to me,â Moonbow requested as she pulled away.

âœSon, you wonât need to worry about a place to live. I donât want to spoil the surprise, but you have one less thing to worry about. Besides, your room at home is small. And your bed is meant for a single pony,â Galaxy Guide said to his son.

âœOh small beds are no problem! We like sleeping in a pile. Well, Sparkler and I do, Ripple still gets a little icked out when Rising Star rises to greet the morning,â Loch Skimmer said with a broad grin.

Sparkler tittered softly when she heard Rising Starâs embarrassed groan.

âœI cause him to have uncontrollable boners. It is a pegasus thing I think,â Loch explained.

âœBoners happen dear. Probably the best part of being marriedâ waking up and knowing that you husband loves you and desires youâ and having the proof poking you,â Shining Star said, now quite relaxed and talking openly, much to Rising Star and Galaxy Guideâs dismay.

Rising Star covered his face and wondered if it was embarrassment or magic that was causing his skin to burn feverishly. He didnât know what to do with Loch Skimmer, but some kind of revenge was in order. More than anything, right now at this moment, he wanted to be back in Crushâs forge, carefully tapping away on metal in slow careful strikes.

âœBoners are like the greatest thing ever,â Loch Skimmer chirped. âœI used to be really scared of sexâ Berry Punch helped set me straight and Rising Star has been such a good husband.â

âœI worked very hard to raise my son well,â Shining Star said. âœAnd I understand why you were so afraid. After speaking with you, it is easy to see why you were afraid. No filly should ever have to go through what you to two had to go though.â

âœI was so scared and relieved when Bucky came to rescue us,â Ripple said.

âœDonât go into the details again,â Shining Star said soothingly. âœIt left you so troubled to tell us the first time.â

âœBoth of you are so kind to usâ I donât know what I expected,â Ripple said.

âœTo be honest, I wasnât sure how you two would take it. Iâve been worried about this for a long time,â Rising Star admitted.

âœI am just happy to have daughters! And one that is still just little enough that I can spoil her just a tiny bit,â Shining Star said.

âœWeâre going to have to go soon,â Galaxy Guide said. âœAs much as we want to stay, we have a job to do and there are a lot of hungry ponies to feed. Weâre needed.â

âœDadâ fatherâ if there is one thing I understand, it is duty,â Rising Star said.

âœI know son,â Galaxy Guide responded.

âœWhen we get back to Ponyville, maybe we could help you,â Sparkler offered.

Bon Bon leaned over closer to Lyra and gave her mate a nudge. She made a careful gesture towards Sentinel and Moonbow, who were on the couch together. Sentinel was reading her a newspaper. After making her gesture, Bon Bon stroked Harper, who was sound asleep in Lyraâs embrace.

âœOur little colt is growing up,â Bon Bon said.

âœNoââ Lyra moaned. âœI am not ready for this stage of motherhood Bonnie.â

âœLook at them, sheâs stopped being such a brute for a while. Theyâre necking,â Bon Bon said.

âœMy little colt is not neckingâ heâsâ Moonbow is justâ theyâre justâ nutsââ Lyra stammered. âœYou know they can hear us, right?â

âœOh, of that, I am certain,â Bon Bon whispered.

Chapter 206

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It had seemed so simple at first. One simple command with a straightforward reward. Capture the cold blue phoenix and get a promotion. He had been at this almost all day, and the long string of disasters was getting worse.

Private Summer Alfalfa wasnât even sure if he would still be a guard when the sun set.

Being a guard was good work for a type two like himself. His talent was voice projection, as evidenced by his bullhorn cutie mark. Normally, all he had to do was stand in one spot for a few hours and announce when so and so was coming or going. Occasionally, Raven would use him to make announcements.

That horrible bird had frozen the water in all of the toilets in all of the public bathrooms and quite a few private bathrooms as well. It had created snowponies in the public gardens that were doing very perverse acts upon one another and had caused Princess Celestia herself to shout âœThat carrot does not belong there on a snowpony!â within earshot of a group of delegates from Saddle Arabia. It had flown by and frozen the ink in Ravenâs inkwell. It had flown into the kitchens and frozen Princess Celestiaâs cake solid, turning the icing into something resembling reinforced concrete. It had perched upon a chandelier and had dropped something frozen that was not an ice cube into Princess Twilight Sparkleâs coffee, which had not been noticed by Twilight Sparkle until it was too late. In her half awake - half asleep state, she had not noticed the frozen lump until it had clinked against her teeth. In a furious rage, Twilight Sparkle had fled the castle and had returned to Ponyville. It had flown through the medical wing and left many of the medical instruments highly chilled, causing a lot of shouting, shrieking, and general trauma when the Gamma Brigade had come in for their bi-annual prostate exams and STI checks.

The phoenix known as Freezerburn had been deemed public enemy number oneâ or pubic enemy number one by many of the Gamma Brigade.

Summer Alfalfa had no idea how to catch the dreaded corrupted phoenix.

Bucky watched as Freezerburn preened himself and made himself comfortable, perched upon the ornate headboard of the bed above him. The phoenix seemed worn out and a little tired.

âœHavenât seen you in a while Freezerburn,â Bucky commented.

Found mate. Much shagging. Tried to teach ponies not to take themselves so seriously. Made the big burny pony angry, Freezerburn replied inside of Buckyâs mind.

âœBurny pony?â Bucky asked.

Big. White. Horn and wings. Much burning and fire. Big burny pony.

âœCelestia?â Bucky questioned. âœWait, where did you find a mate?â

Big burny pony has a pheonix friend.

âœOh shite! You shagged Philomena!â

"Ripple, I know it has been a long day, but I was wondering if you had a moment,â Sentinel said, looking up at his big sister pleadingly.

âœI always have a moment for my little brother,â Ripple said as she hopped up on the couch and settled in beside Sentinel.

âœFather and Lugus have had their knighthoods reinstated. Lugus is in need of a squire. I told everypony including Princess Luna that it should be you. I think you would make a fantastic knight,â Sentinel said in a low solemn voice.

Not knowing how to respond, Ripple fell silent. Her wings fluttered nervously. âœCan females become knights?â she said after many moments of silence.

âœPrincess Luna said that you might be the first,â Sentinel said in low proud whisper. âœYou have to be the youngest Dragoon there is. Look how the guards react when they hear that. Ripple, that means something really important.â

âœI donât know what to say,â Ripple said in a stunned voice.

âœWell, I was tasked to talk to you about it to warm you up to the idea and get you to think about it. This is a really big deal. This is potentially history in the making. At some point, Lugus is going to formally ask you to be his squire and you need to be prepared to answer,â Sentinel stated.

âœHow could I refuse?â Ripple blurted out in a rather loud voice, causing several ponies in the room to turn and look at her. âœI like fighting. It is what I do best. What else am I going to do? Become a schoolmarm? Push clouds? I know I canât join the guard here. No females.â

Wiggling in place, Sentinelâs seriousness fell apart and his face split into a wide toothy grin.

Suddenly, there was a series of heavy thumps upon the door and everypony in the room jumped from the sound. Getting up from the couch where she was sitting with Thistle and Yew, Berry Punch got up to answer the door.

She pulled open the door to reveal Shadowguard and several other heavily armored figures. Shadowguard bowed her head slightly to Berry Punch upon seeing her.

âœMaâam, I have come to collect the lunar pegasus known as Moonbow,â Shadowguard announced in a loud commanding voice.

âœWhat?â Berry Punch asked. She heard hooves behind her and knew Derpy was now in the room and moving rapidly towards the door. She hoped that Derpy was in a friendly mood.

âœDo I get to say goodbye?â Moonbow begged in a quiet submissive voice.

âœOf course you do. But time grows short. We have to have you secured in the Chapel of Night before the moon rises,â Shadowguard replied.

âœYouâre leaving?â Sentinel asked.

âœYou knew this was coming,â Moonbow said in a quiet voice.

âœI thought we would have more time,â Sentinel said, his eyes now beginning to shimmer with wetness. He jumped from the couch and moved to stand near Moonbow.

âœThis is why I wanted to spend some time with you today and why I wanted to play with you,â Moonbow said. âœThink well of me Sentinel. I am doing this for us. Our tribe needs a protector.â

Not knowing what else to do, Sentinel raised his wing slowly and sadly in a forlorn salute.

âœWhen I return to you I will be both a worthy mate and guardian,â Moonbow promised.

âœIn your absence I shall do all I can to prove worthy of your efforts,â Sentinel vowed.

âœYou canât just take her,â Berry said angrily.

âœI choose to go,â Moonbow said in a sad voice. âœBerry, please, you have been very kind to me. I am doing this so I can protect you and your foals.â

âœCome little one. Time grows ever shorter,â Shadowguard said in a low voice.

One of the Myrmidons came forward and set a set of shackles down upon the floor before Moonbow. He stood over her, a fierce expression his face. A low growl resonated in his throat.

âœSubmit to him willingly female. It is time to begin your humiliation. These are your first chains. Later, there will be others. From this point onwards, you will address all of us as Mistress or Master. You no longer have a name little female,â Shadowguard said. âœNow roll over and show throat.â

âœYesâ Mistress,â Moonbow said. She slowly eased herself down to the floor and rolled over, her legs now up in the air.

The big male Myrmidon lifted the chains using his grasping digits upon his wing knuckles. With well practiced movements, he quickly hobbled Moonbow.

Sentinel and his family looked on in silent shock. He stumbled over to Berry Punch and wrapped one foreleg around hers, seeking some kind of reassurance. He felt Derpy move beside him and her wing brush over his back.

With a harsh jerk, Moonbow was pulled up to her hooves. She yelped in pain as she kicked out to keep her balance and the hobbles bit into her fetlocks.

âœWait!â Sentinel cried.

âœHold!â Shadowguard barked.

Not knowing what else to do, Sentinel rushed forward to Moonbow and kissed her, the sort of big wet kiss she always seemed to want from him. He had no idea what he was doing, but it didnât stop him from trying. He could feel one of her fangs trail over his lip slightly as he clumsily pressed his muzzle against hers, and his mouth filled with the taste of his own blood.

He pulled away and looked Moonbow in the eye. âœWill we be able to see each other?â Sentinel asked in a fearful frightened voice that was entirely unlike his usual demeanour.

âœOnly if she earns it,â Shadowguard said. âœAnd for one year, you will be able to see her, but she will not be able to see you. It is called the year of blindness. Prepare yourself young Sentinel. Outsiders are forbidden to know our ways, but I feel that you should know. I would feel dishonest answering your question otherwise.â

âœThank you,â Sentinel said to Shadowguard. âœMoonbow, I know you will prevail.â

âœI do this for you,â Moonbow said solemnly. âœA knight needs a suitable mate.â

âœA Myrmidon deserves a worthwhile partner,â Sentinel replied.

Saying nothing else, Moonbow began to hobble towards the door, her chains preventing her from moving in a dignified manner. Instead, she had to shuffle and nearly tripped over her own hooves several times. She yelped and whimpered with each step. Her face burned with shame as she was unable to hold in her cries of pain.

âœMoonbowâ good luck,â Derpy said, raising her own wing slowly and offering a clumsy salute.

âœLook after my mateâ mother,â Moonbow said as she stumbled through the door.

âœWe must be going. Goodbye,â Shadowguard said as she backed out of the door and then shut it behind her.

The room fell silent and the faint clink of chains could be heard in the hall outside of the door. In a few moments, the clinking faded and there was no sound. All who had witnessed Moonbowâs departure remained stunned, and nopony knew what to say exactly.

Lyra felt sick to her stomach. She couldnât bear to see Sentinel the way he was. He was stoic as always, and had only cried for a little while, but somehow, seeing him not crying and sitting in a chair looking morose was worse. It was the look of resignation on his face that made Lyra ache on the inside. He had been sitting in that chair for hours after Moonbowâs departure and the other foals had gone to bed. Not reading, not writing, just sitting here staring blankly ahead.

Stroking Bon Bon for a moment to make herself feel better, she slipped from the couch, crossed the room, lifted Sentinel in her magic, crawled into his chair, and then eased him down into her embrace. She knew something was terribly wrong when he didnât squirm or try to kick free. He merely remained limp in her forelegs, his head resting in the crook of her neck.

âœThis herd knows how to deal with tragedy,â Lyra whispered.

âœWeâve seen so much,â Sentinel agreed.

âœYou were starting to bond with herâ a meaningful bond. Friends,â Lyra said into Sentinelâs ear as she ran one of her forelegs down along his spine. âœHow is your lip? I saw that you cut it.â

âœMy lip is fine,â said Sentinel, sounding horribly dejected as he lifted one foreleg and wrapped it around Lyraâs neck. âœWould you play me some music mother?â

âœSure,â Lyra whispered as her horn glowed in a soft golden light. Her lyre appeared overhead and soft sad melody began to play.

After a while, Lyra felt Sentinel calm and go completely still, his breathing soft and steady. With a sad smile, she realised that her colt had fallen asleep. Leaning back into chair, Lyra cast a glance at Bon Bon and continued to hold Sentinel, not wanting to move for fear of waking him up.

Alone and bound, Moonbow struggled to keep her balance. She was secured in the Chapel of Night, whatever that was, bound in heavy chains. A tight collar was around her neck and a chain was secured to the wall high up above her. To keep from strangling, she had to stand and stay balanced upon the very edges of her hooves. Her legs burned as though they were on fire. A tight clamp had been placed upon her dock, and it worked like the collar around her neck. So long as she kept her hindquarters held high, she could keep herself almost free from pain. If she lost her balance and slipped from the edges of her hooves, the sudden pain in her dock was blinding and made her bawl with agony as she had discovered. The pain was debilitating and the puddle of urine around her hind hooves was evidence of her failures.

Heavy weights had been secured to her collar and it made it very difficult to hold her head up and keep her balance. Chains had been wrapped around her body and no matter how she wiggled her wings, there was no comfortable position to be found. She struggled to breathe, struggled to swallow, and focused all of her efforts on balancing on the edge-tips of her hooves.

Her thoughts drifted to Sentinel and she resolved that she would make it through the night.

Chapter 207

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Being a shadow creature, Moonbow felt the dawn break. She was delirious with pain. She had been hearing things in the dark. Voices of those long dead from her old colony. Laughter. Soft hisses and growls. Her fevered mind barely registered the sensation of the sun coming over the horizon. She did not hear the click of the door behind her or the soft tap of hooves.

Her bonds were released and she fell suddenly, as there was no longer anything to hold her up. She had been dangling by her collar and dock clamp for hours. Her body never hit the floor though, she was caught and held by some invisible force that cradled her gently.

She made a strangled wordless cry, kicking and struggling, her body reacting with fevered panic. She hissed feebly and gnashed her teeth, biting at the air all around her, trying to be intimidating.

âœHush now my sweet little foalâ away with me to your restâ come and rest your weary headâ upon my tender breastââ

The voice was soothing. It burrowed through her now awakened feral nature. The voice quieted all of the other sounds of madness Moonbow kept hearing. Her slavering jaws stopped snapping and her grunting cries ceased.

âœListen to my lullabyeâ find shelter from the bitter coldâ I will cradle your aching neckâ upon my fetlockâs foldââ

The song was mesmerising and Moonbow felt herself drifting over the ground, flying without flapping her wings. She hissed one last time and then fell silent completely. The lullabye was now a soft hum. She could feel her agonised muscles being gently rubbed by something invisible and Moonbow wondered if she was dreaming.

After floating away she was brought back to the world again when she was dunked into warm water. It was soothing all around her. She tried to focus her eyes and all she could see was something blue with silver sparkles, like stars glittering in the distant night.

âœWho?â Moonbow moaned, her first somewhat coherent word.

âœI am your mother,â the voice said in a smooth satin whisper.

âœMama?â Moonbow asked.

âœYes my foalâ now hush my beloved foal and let me tend to you,â the voice commanded.

Moonbow tried to see, tried to make sense of what was happening, but could not. She sank back into water, now limp, her head resting upon the edge of the tub she had been placed in.

âœYour mother loves youââ

Moonbow struggled to determine if she was dreaming or awake. She could no longer tell. The dreadful voices were gone. All she could hear was her motherâs humming and the soft feeling of something gently bathing her body and making all of her aches go away. She felt warm and blissful. Her pain was now gone and she felt as though she was floating away again.

âœYour mother loves youââ

âœYes mama,â Moonbow mumbled.

âœGood foalââ

Moonbow felt cool water at her lips. She opened her mouth and drank greedily. She choked for a moment and she felt her head lifted. She coughed and sputtered and then began to drink the water again.

âœDo you want some food?â

âœYes mama,â Moonbow moaned.

âœThere is something your mother wantsââ

âœW-w-what?â Moonbow stammered. She licked her lips. Food sounded good. Food sounded very good. She felt her belly growl. Somewhere, off far away, she could smell fresh blood and it made her belly ache with hunger.

âœYour mother needs help protecting all of your little brothers and sisters. Very bad things want to hurt them. Did you hear them in the dark? They will come for your brothers and sisters if you do not help meââ

âœYes mama,â Moonbow whispered.

âœGood foalâ your mother loves youâ just like she loves all of her little foalsâ but your mother loves you just a little bit more because you are going to protect all of your little brothers and sistersââ

Princess Luna smiled. The rebirth of a new foal always filled her with hope for a better future. Now that she was back, her Myrmidons had their mother again. Celestia had done all that she could, but Celestia did not have dominion over the creatures of the night and was never able to truly bond with the lunar pegasi in the way that Luna could.

Rising Star moved through the private gardens, following a stone path. It wasnât long after dawn. He had been told that Princess Celestia herself had requested a meeting with him, and now he was hurrying off to find her. He moved along the cobblestone path with purpose.

Sure enough, as he had been told, there was a massive stone spire with steps spiraling up along the sides. He mounted the steps and took them several at a time, the vigor of his youth allowing for reckless exertion and abandon.

He rounded the final steps near the top and he paused for a moment when he saw her. She was beautiful, standing face first towards the sun. From up here, he could see all of Canterlot and even the surrounding countryside far below.

âœDo not be shy,â Celestia greeted warmly. âœI wanted to talk to you.â

Rising Star took the last few steps and joined Celestia upon the platform.

âœNo titles, no formality, let us speak to one another as we are,â Celestia said. âœDo you know what we are?â she inquired.

âœPonies?â Rising Star replied.

âœYes, we are ponies, but that is not the answer I wanted from you,â Celestia said, her voice filled with a soft faint laughter.

âœI donât know,â Rising Star said.

As he watched, Celestia transformed before him. Fire burned from her eyes. Her delicate pastel rainbow mane and tail turned into a blazing curtain of plasma. Her whole body became engulfed in flame. The heat caused the rock to sizzle all around them, and Rising Star realised he was on fire as well.

âœWe are living flame. Few are as dangerous as we are,â Celestia said, her voice a roaring furnace. âœIt feels good letting it out, does it not?â she asked.

Rising Star nodded. It did feel good. He was on fire again and all of his repressed rage was burning away from him. He allowed himself to blaze a little brighter. âœBucky was able to subdue me,â Rising Star said. âœI donât know how dangerous I am,â he added.

âœBuckminsterâs real magic is a special type of entropy. The cold he brings is caused by how he leaches heat from everything around him. If he understood what he was truly capable of, he could go on to do even greater things,â Celestia said, her voice sounding like a forest fire. âœHe could draw heat and energy from all around him and convert it to his own energy. You and I burn energy. Buckminster leaches energy. He is our anathema. I suspect that when he subdued you, he extinguished your fires.â

âœIt was like he sucked me dry,â Rising Star said.

The burning alicorn nodded. âœBuckminster has the sort of magic that makes stars burn out and stop blazing. It is what causes things to cease their movements and go still. It is the force that tries to make the universe grind to a halt. Do you understand?â

âœI am not sure that I do,â Rising Star said, shrugging his shoulders.

Celestia studied the young colt standing beside her. Very few could stand by her side when she was ignited. It was nice to have another pyromancer to spend time with.

âœAm I an abomination?â Rising Star asked.

Cocking her head, Celestia regarded Rising Star carefully, trying to read his expression and guess his emotions based upon the state of his flames. âœNo,â she said in a soft crackling voice that sounded like blazing kindling. âœNo you are not. You are living up to your potential. Buckminster has undone whatever quirk of fate that was holding you back. In time, I hope he will be able to do the same for others.â

The blazing pair both stared off into the direction of the sun, silence settling over the two of them for a moment. Rising Star shifted his stance, settling his weight over to his left hooves. It felt good to burn and let it all out.

âœOur rage is a danger to all those around us. A while ago, I let my rage get the better of me. Too much of it overpowered me and my control slipped for just a mere moment. I vapourised the fortified compound of those who dared to attack me and incinerated my attackers. I intended to subdue them. I made a terrible mistake and many died. Even more died when Luna and Cadance showed up and thought my mistake was an example,â Celestia said to Rising Star.

âœThatâs awful,â Rising Star said.

âœIt is. It was. They were misbehaving, but I still love my little ponies even when they are being a little naughty,â Celestia replied.

âœBut they hurt youââ Rising Star said.

âœDoes that excuse me?â Celestia asked.

âœWell, no, I guess notâ I donât understand,â Rising Star muttered.

âœYou have the power to reduce a pony that hurts you to cinders in the blink of an eye. Do I need to worry about you hurting one of my little ponies if they misbehave?â Celestia inquired.

âœNo!â Rising Star said quickly. âœIf you recall during the treaty signing I was trying to keep everything calm.â

âœI do recall. Which is why we are here talking now. I know how angry you are. I want to see if I can help you,â Celestia said.

âœI just need time to heal,â Rising Star said.

âœThat is not enough,â Celestia responded. âœDoes anything make you feel better?â

âœWell, I feel better when I am working with metal. It calms everything down and keeping the steel in a liquid state allows me to burn off my anger,â Rising Star said, trying to guess what Celestia wanted to hear.

âœThis is good. I will see that you are set up with a forge that is well stocked and well supplied. You will make me things. You will tame those fires and keep them in check because you are a good pony and you love your family,â Celestia said, her mouth a roaring blast furnace.

âœIf I am making you things, I expect to be paid. I have three wives and you wouldnât believe what two pegasi and a unicorn can eat in a single meal. After standing on her front hooves for a few hours, Ripple can clear a table in no time. Loch Skimmer eats like she does everything else in life. She holds nothing back. Sparkyâs magic bleeds her dry. So yes, I will tame these fires, but first, I need to have my worries relieved so I can breathe a little easier and not be so stressed out,â Rising Star replied in a surprisingly strong and authoritative tone of voice.

âœYou will be paid fairly for your services. Buckminster is a prince. He is entitled to a royal stipend, some of which will be distributed to you as a member of his family. You see to it that my little ponies safe, well protected, and your skill as a smith continuously improves. I will see to it that you are provided for,â Celestia offered.

âœDeal,â Rising Star said.

Derpy yawned and gently pulled Sentinel close. She kissed him softly and stroked his side as she cuddled him in the bed. It had been a rough night for him and Derpy hoped that she could console him somehow.

âœMother, I think I understand you better now,â Sentinel said in a soft whisper, hoping to not wake his father, who was still sound asleep.

âœHmm?â Derpy murmured, making an inquisitive noise in response.

âœWhen father went off to battleâ when he had to endure what we went throughâ I think I understand the worry you felt,â Sentinel said.

âœAwââ Derpy gasped. She hugged her foal a little tighter and watched as Berry Punch opened her eyes.

âœWorried about Moonbow?â Berry said just before breaking into a yawn.

âœYes,â Sentinel said in a pained whimper.

Wiggling her head closer and flopping her body around, Berry maneuvered herself to plant a kiss on Sentinelâs nose. She lay there snoot to snoot with Sentinel, looking him in the eye, occasionally glancing into Derpyâs eyes.

With her chin pressed to the top of Sentinelâs head, Derpy looked at Berry Punchâs worried face. âœThey are going to teach her everything she needs to know to help keep all of us safe. They are going to teach her how to read and write. She might become a doctor like Grimglammer or something wonderful. She is going to learn how to fly and do amazing things. She is going to learn how to wear heavy armor. Do you remember how heavy that helmet was?â

Sentinel made a small whimper of agreement but said nothing.

âœWhen you begin your lessons with Luna and the other lunar pegasi, I want you to think about everything that Moonbow is giving up so she can learn how to protect us. She probably wonât be getting things like ice cream or cookies or rootbeer. You love rootbeer Sentinelâ now that you have had it, imagine not getting it. So every time your lessons get tough, you think about what Moonbow is having to endure and you stick it out,â Berry Punch said in a soft whisper.

âœI will,ââ Sentinel promised.

Chapter 208

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âœFather? I needed to talk to youâ alone if possible,â Sparkler said, looking at her mother. She stood at the foot of the bed, looking a bit out of sorts. Her tremors werenât as bad this morning, at least not yet. She waited patiently.

âœYour father just ate. Try not to upset him too much,â Derpy said. She slid from the bed, stretched out her legs, walked to Sparkler, planted a kiss on Sparklerâs cheek, and then trotted out the door, flicking her tail around as she left, leaving behind a cloud of citrusy soap scent.

Sparkler had to admit, it was nice to smell like something other than hot sweaty ponies once again. She hopped up onto the bed with her father and lay down near him.

âœWhatâs up Sparky?â Bucky asked.

Sparkler looked into his eye. He had his head held up, lifted away from the pillows, at least for now. He was looking stronger, and already a little fatter. She looked at the tub of ice cream still sitting on the little table that was at the bedside. âœBananaberry Swirl with Crunchy Honey Oat Clustersâ the label said. Finally, her eyes fell upon her fatherâs severed stump, sitting on a pillow and propped up for his comfort.

âœWe made it home,â Sparkler said.

âœYes we did,â Bucky agreed.

âœAnd we got everypony that we love home safely with us. Not one of us lost along the way,â Sparkler stated. Her eyes darted upwards to look into her fatherâs Taint filled eye.

âœThat is important,â Bucky said, his head falling back onto the pillows and his body going limp. He sighed with relief.

âœI was worried there for a time. When the wolves were on the ship. They were inside of the ship. Iâ theyâ weâ there was so much fighting. I donât know how many I killed. But when I was belowdecks, all I could think about was Rising Star and Ripple abovedecks and hoping I would see them again when I got back up there. Going into the bowels of the ship to root out wolves was terrifying. I very nearly lost control of myself. I knew it had to be done and I was the only one who could do it safely,â Sparkler said, her gaze never leaving her fatherâs eye.

âœWe understand one another,â Bucky groaned.

âœYes, I think we do,â Sparkler remarked as she nodded in agreement.

âœI never once thought about what might happen to me, I just wanted to get them home safe and have them survive the battle,â Sparkler said. âœBeing made of stone makes you feel kinda invincible. I think I understand how you feel inside of your armor.â

âœI wasnât invincible,â Bucky said in a strained voice. He lifted his stump slowly, his leg shaking unsteadily as he did so. âœI paid for my hubris. Donât ever think of yourself as invincible.â

âœI know fatherâ I went down into the dark to find youâ There was one more pony I had to bring home safe or I wouldnât have been able to live with myself,â Sparkler said. She looked down and watched one of her legs quiver and her face turned into a scowl.

âœSparkler, love, Iâm sorry about the shakes. I gave you power at such a price,â Bucky said apologetically.

âœLike you, I regret nothing. I was able to keep ponies I love safe. I was able to rescue Harperâ I love Harper like nothing else I know. The Shivers are a small price to pay,â Sparkler said reassuringly to her father. She smiled a halfhearted smile as her face jerked and spasmed.

âœWhat about the pills?â Bucky asked.

âœWe havenât decided yet about those. Rippleâ Ripple offered to carry my fertilised eggs to term should I want foals. She wants to give Rising Star foals someday, and she loves meâ she wants to prove her place and her value in the herd. Sheâs learned a lot from Bon Bon and Lyra,â Sparkler replied.

âœI am glad we are talking,â Bucky said.

âœSo am I,â Sparkler said. âœWe are the protectors of our herds. I understand you nowâ I find I donât relate so well to other ponies any longer. Grimglammer said I might have something called post traumatic stress disorder. Might cause me some problems and irritate my Shivers condition. I look at other ponies and I just donât get them. But you, you and I, I think we understand one another.â

âœI think youâre right,â Bucky said. âœA terrible burden has been placed upon us. Weâve endured. Weâll both bear scars. Rising Star tooâ this has been awful on him.â

âœOh, I know. He doesnât see how strong he is now. He doesnât understand that he is what is holding me together right now. He doesnât understand how all of the little things he does keeps me sane and happy,â Sparkler said, her eyes falling down to her fatherâs severed limb. âœJust like my motherâ and all she does for you. Where would you be without your grey pegasus?â she mused.

Bucky desperately wanted to tell Sparkler how proud he was of her at this moment. He wanted to say some meaningful words that would make everything better. He wanted to say some sentence that would truly express his emotion. But the words did not come, and he had no sentence full of meaningful platitudes to say. All he could do was look at her sadly. Above him, on the headboard of the bed, there was a sad sounding squawk.

âœI donât think I say it enough, but I love you, daddy,â Sparkler said sweetly.

âœThings are moving quickly,â Berry Punch said as she folded up the paper and set it down upon the table. She stared at a dish of pastries and thought about eating one. Her plot was going to become enormous if this kept up.

Then again, Bucky liked her plot to be a little squishy. She grabbed a pastry and took a bite.

âœI donât follow,â Bon Bon said. âœI havenât read the paper yet.â

âœTwilight Sparkle and Shining Armor have released a press announcement. I think theyâve had this planned for a while,â Berry said around a mouthful of food.

âœWhat does it say?â Thistle inquired.

âœThey are going to form the Stable of Representatives,â Berry said after she swallowed. âœThirty earth ponies, thirty pegasi, and thirty unicorns will begin the process of creating representation. No Canterlot unicorns currently alive will be able to hold office. There are going to be places were you can nominate ponies you believe would be good in the new government.â

âœThis is exciting!â Bon Bon said, trotting over the table, sitting down, and picking up the paper to read.

âœVanhoover and Ponyville are going to hold discussions with Princess Celestia about reunification. We have a chance at rebuilding the nation,â Berry Punch said.

âœNominated ponies will go through a screening process and background checks,â Bon Bon muttered as she read. âœElections will be held and the nominees will be voted into officeââ she continued in a murmur. âœThose who hold office will receive no pay for the job and will be required to accept a geas of office?!â Bon Bon shouted as she stared wide eyed at the paper.

âœInspired by Twilight Sparkle and Shining Armorâs parents and the many other nobles who begged for mercy,â Berry Punch said as she grabbed another pastry. âœPublic office will not be held for personal gain and you will be required to live off of the goodwill of those you serve.â

âœNopony would ever willingly take this job!â Bon Bon cried as she threw down the paper. âœThat isnât giving us what we want, that is a way to make sure it will never happen.â

âœI wouldnât be so sure about that Bonnieâ if somepony was to nominate me, Iâd run for office. I donât give two shites and a tinkerponyâs damn about getting paid for it. It is a job that needs to be done. As for having a magical geas placed upon me? Iâd want to know the specifics, but if I had to swear to never harm the interests of the ponies I served, you bet your sweet soft squeezable plot that Iâd let Twilight Sparkle lay down the magical whammy jammy down upon me. I have no ulteriour motives or hidden agendas. A geas canât hurt you if you are honest, straightforward, and true,â Berry Punch retorted.

âœYouâre crazyââ Bon Bon muttered.

âœAs a sump-hole rat,â Berry agreed, now grinning.

âœIs my plot really sweet and squeezable looking?â Bon Bon said, craning her head around and looking at her backside, which was spread out a bit from sitting in the chair.

âœYes Bonnie,â Lyra said from over on the sofa where she was watching Harper wobble around on the floor.

âœThis smacks of untested idealism,â Bon Bon muttered.

âœWeâre going to make mistakes Bonnie,â Berry Punch said, waving a hoof around wildly. âœOur first effort at government is probably going to fall flat. And so will the next one. And maybe the one after that. But with each attempt, we will get better.â

âœStill better than the old system. Who wants a return of the noble houses?â Lyra said as she watched Harper attempt to kick out her hind legs and buck.

âœUgh,â Bon Bon grunted. âœAt least there is talk of reunification.â

Harper sneezed suddenly, and with the sneeze came a crackle of energy, a whiff of ozone, and a brand new smoking crater on the sofa a few spots down from Lyra.

âœBless you Harper!â Lyra said in a singsong voice. âœGood girl! You pointed your horn away from mommy when you sneezed! Always point your horn away from other ponies when you sneeze!â

âœYou got that Lyra?â Berry asked in concern.

âœYeah, Iâve been fixing all the other broken stuff around here. Iâm getting good at it,â Lyra muttered. Her horn ignited and she went to work using a simple repair spell.

âœHarper is getting dangerous. I hope we survive if she ever gets a cold,â Bon Bon said, turning around in her chair to watch Lyraâs foal.

âœI wonder how many non unicorn parents know to teach their unicorn foals to keep their horns pointed away from other ponies when they sneeze?â Berry questioned.

âœUnicorns with allergies must be terrifying come spring,â Thistle quipped.

âœWell, adult unicorns are mostly okay. Bucky sneezes and doesnât cause a fusion reaction,â Berry said. âœAnd Lyra sneezes all the time and doesnât blow us all up. But little unicorns are terrors until they get some training to hold back their magic. Little unicorns require magic training as well as potty training.â

Harper bounced on her tiny legs and wobbled for the table, her nose dribbling and a little snot bubble that had formed was inflating and deflating as she breathed.

Bending down, Bon Bon dutifully scooped up Harper, held her close, and wiped her nose with a napkin. She kissed the foal on the head and then gently set her down upon the floor so she could run around. Peekaboo was hiding somewhere, probably under sofa or a chair. Bon Bon scanned the room and saw a tail poking out from under an overstuffed chair. She sighed and turned back around in time to see Berry Punch stuffing a whole pastry into her maw.

A door opened and Yew came staggering out, looking like she had just woke up. Her mane was mussed and she smacked her lips as she walked. She wordlessly approached the table and sat down, staring bleary eyed at her companions. She gave a little wave with her hoof and offered a smile.

âœLong night?â Berry asked.

Yew nodded.

âœPeekaboo still having bad dreams?â Berry inquired.

Yew nodded again and then she yawned.

âœLugus still up all night pacing around and worrying about Bucky?â Berry questioned.

Yew nodded yet again and looked at Berry Punch. âœLugus is finally asleep. It isnât just Buckyâ he has to check on Peekaboo to see if she is breathing in the middle of the night. He says he has to be awake and ready to tend to her if she wakes up crying from a nightmare. He just sits there beside her little cradle all night long rocking it back and forthâ and I am stuck in the bed all alone,â Yew grumbled. She yawned again, slipped out of her chair, and then wandered off in a daze towards the bathroom door.

âœSomebirdy is a devoted papa,â Berry Punch quipped.

Chapter 209

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The two stallions looked at one another, neither of them quite sure what to say. It was an awkward moment, filled with an uncomfortable silence, and Keg Smasher kept clearing his throat. Finally, taking control of the moment, Keg Smasher sat down upon the floor by the bed and leaned in closer to Bucky.

âœIt is a right shame they canât heal you and make you whole. Iâ I thought Iâd never fly or run again and it damn near killed me. You deserve a better fate,â Keg Smasher said in a strained voice that clung in his throat. âœI canât thank you enough for what you have done.â

âœAre you leaving?â Derpy asked.

âœAye. I am. Celestia is sending me home. And two modern airships are coming home with me, loaded down with all manner of terrible weapons. Fully crewed as well. Celestia said she plans to build a military academy out on my isles. She is using the seized assets and wealth of House Avarice to do it too. I didnât know what to say to the big dame,â Keg Smasher replied.

âœIf you ever need help for any reason, contact me,â Bucky said, turning his head to look at his friend. âœIf you need me, I will come. I mean that. Iâ I want to come back to the isles and see that they are doing well.â

âœAyeâ I do need ya. But so does Equestria. So I am leaving you and Berry Punch here as the official representatives of Clan Pickled. No, I am not joking, stop looking at me like that. You both are here to represent our better interests for now. You know our struggle. I am trusting your judgement. Celestia and Luna both, the big dame and the little dame, they are going to come to you when they have questions or need advice about what to do on the isles. Iâm trusting you,â Keg Smasher said in a low voice.

âœIf you need us, we will come to help,â Derpy said as she wiped her eye with her foreleg.

âœMy ship leaves at noon. Iâve said my goodbyes to Thistle. Last I saw, she was in the bathroom crying her eyes out. Look after her,â Keg Smasher said. âœSaid my goodbye to Sentinel too. He seems unwell. And I know why.â

âœI hope we see each other again sooner rather than later,â Bucky said.

âœIâll be sending Wheatberry to stay with all of you when she gets a little older. I want her to get to know you and call you her chief, just like I do Buckminsterâ keep your idea about being a tribe alive. Donât let it die. Now is a perfect time to spread those ideas of yours,â Keg Smasher said, leaning closer to the bed. He placed his hoof onto Buckyâs remaining front hoof.

âœGoodbye Keg Smasher. Have a good journey,â Bucky said in a voice choked with emotion.

Pacing nervously, Thistle crossed the room yet again. She was miserable. There was no place to swim. No place to fish. She wasnât nearly as omnivorous as Sentinel or Bucky, and some of the foods she had tried had left her feeling just awful. She enjoyed sweets, but now she had digestion issues. There was fish provided for her, but it was cooked and it wasnât the same. She was starting to hate these rooms. She liked being outside. First it was being trapped on the airship with no place to swim, and now here. Soaking in the tub was nice, but it wasnât big enough for her to really stretch her tail out. Some of the bubble bath soap irritated her skin and some didnât, and she didnât understand why. She was getting tired of being a pony. She was a merpony. She needed water. She needed to swim.

She needed to be out catching fresh live fish. She felt hungry and irritated, and she wasnât sure she was getting enough food.

âœI need to be outside!â Thistle shouted suddenly, startling her herdmates.

Princess Luna softly stroked the lunar pegasus she was looking after as her time permitted. Moonbow was now awake, still a bit groggy, but drinking water and recovering. Luna was fiercely proud of the recently rebirthed foal, even though she did not show it.

âœYou could have made it end at any time by simply asking for it to stop,â Luna said, her wings fluttering at her sides. She stood waiting and Moonbow did not reply. Instead, the filly laid her head down in the straw and truth be told, Luna wanted to settle down into the straw with her. âœYou have endured your first ordeal. Many fail this first test. Most cry out in the first half of an hour and beg for release. You have done well my foal.â

âœYes Mistress,â Moonbow replied.

âœNoâ for now, I am your mother. When you are injured, when you are hurt, I am your mother. When you are fit, when you are well, I am your Mistress. Do you understand?â Luna said, correcting the filly for her mistake.

âœYes mother,â Moonbow answered, her eyelids fluttering slightly.

âœIf you are ever terribly injured, you cry out for your mother,â Luna instructed.

âœYes mother,â Moonbow replied, her voice still somewhat raspy and her throat still sore.

âœWhy are you here filly?â Luna inquired, her voice warm and soothing.

âœFor Sentinel. My future mate,â Moonbow answered.

âœAnd what is it that you want from life? What do you want to be best at? If you do not know yet, you do not have to answer meâ how can I have you trained to prepare for life?â Luna said as she lowered her head and came nose to nose with Moonbow.

âœI want to be a motherâ I want to start a new colony and protect my new tribe,â Moonbow replied in a wavering voice.

âœIt is very difficult to serve your Mistress if you are fat with foal,â Luna said in a low voice.

âœI plan to serve my Mistress by being fat with foals. I will birth the strongest young and they will serve Equestria,â Moonbow said, daring to look Luna in the eyes.

âœSo you want to be trained for motherhood?â Luna inquired.

âœYes!â Moonbow gasped, her voice pleading. âœIt isnât enough to simply be a motherâ I want to protect my tribe and teach my foals the ways of warâ I want to be a Myrmidon who births future Myrmidons!â

âœYou are ambitiousââ Luna whispered.

As Luna watched, Moonbowâs eyes fluttered shut. She opened them a moment later, looking up in worry, but her heavy eyelids began to shut once again. Luna smiled. She watched as her foal drifted off into slumber.

Princess Luna liked Moonbowâs sense of vision.

Wincing, Bucky gritted his teeth and hissed a bit when the doctor peeled away the bandage covering the gash in his left side just behind his shoulder. The sudden feeling of air on the wound stung. He heard the clink of metal and then felt a cold feeling on the wound. Something wet was dribbled into the laceration and it burned like fire on contact, making Bucky growl.

âœSorry about that,â the doctor said. âœYour lung is healing nicely, the wound is closing, and you are healing much faster than expected. Most ponies would die from such a wound. Your lab work is coming back and you have shown a remarkable improvement. You need more iron in your diet I think, but the anemia is getting better. Your breathing sounds much better. Youâve suffered profound physiological changes during yourâ uhâ transformation. Your digestive tract can barely be recognised as equine now. Weâre not quite sure what it is. Weâre equine doctors, equine digestive tracts are all we know.â

Bucky nodded but said nothing as the doctor continued to work.

âœYour thaumaturgical glands have been greatly enlarged. We donât know the full effects of this yet. To be honest, there is a lot about you that we donât know. We donât have a comparison. Weâve studied other extremely magical beings, certain high magic equines, we, uh, cannot name names, but you seem to be entirely unique in a number of ways. Such as, your, um, Taint. There is also the fulgurite horn you have created for yourselfâ it has fused most of your skull with highly magical glass which has encased your brain. We donât know the full effects of this yet, or even if it is beneficial or harmful,â the doctor continued.

âœAny useful observations?â Bucky inquired.

âœWell, the magically infused glass that has bonded with your skull has made your skull almost unbreakable we think. You will be very resistant to head injuries. Get hit in the head hard enough and your brain will still bounce around though. We are finding traces of the fulgurite magically infused glass all over your body actuallyâ in your bones. Places not your head. A colleague of mine theorised that every time you wink, you distribute a little bit of the magically infused glass throughout your bone structure. You have a lot of excess material in your horn. Your body might be redistributing it. We donât know,â the doctor answered.

âœWhat about my hind legs?â Bucky asked.

âœStill learning about those,â the doctor answered. âœBut the damage was extensive. Your tendons and ligaments suffered some damage when your legs were injured. Princess Luna will be speaking to you on ways to deal with the problem.â

âœThere is a way to fix it?â Bucky questioned.

âœWell, I only know a little bit,â the doctor replied. âœPractical augmentation. Powerful enchantment magic. Princess Luna will know more. Sorry Buckminster, big stickââ

Snarling, Bucky felt something pierce his side and go deep inside of his body. He could feel the cold and the stabbing pain left him feeling breathless. He could feel something sliding around deep within his insides.

âœI am drawing off fluid from around your heart, a procedure called a pericardial tap, or pericardiocentesis. Yes, I am aware it hurts, even with the local anesthetic,â the doctor said in his most professional voice. âœYou are suffering from cardiac tamponade, or a severe buildup of fluid around the heart. It has weakened your heartâs pumping ability. It is one of the reasons why you are as weak as newborn foal right now.â

âœOh that is unpleasant!â Bucky growled.

âœYes it is,â the doctor replied. âœMost ponies scream when the procedure is being done. The good news is, in a few hours, you will feel a lot stronger. In fact, if I was a betting pony, Iâd place a wager on you getting up on your hooves for a while tomorrow.â

âœI can feel a sucking feeling inside of me,â Bucky groaned. âœUgh, I feel nauseous.â

âœAlmost done,â the doctor announced. âœTry to take a few deep breaths. Breathing should be much easier now.â

Bucky did as he was told, breathing in and breathing out slowly. It was much easier to breathe and the pain in his barrel was getting better. âœOooooooOOOOH FECK!â Bucky swore as he felt a sudden sharp stabbing pain go tearing through his heart. âœWhat was that?â he demanded.

âœYou might experience a few more big spikes of pain like that. The fluid is now gone and your body needs to adjust and allow your organs to return to their original positions. Everything was being pushed away from your heart, creating incredible strain on your insides,â the doctor explained as he finished up his work.

âœI heard shouting!â Derpy shouted as she came bursting through the door. âœYou okay Bucky?â she asked, her voice full of worry.

âœIâm fine,â Bucky said.

âœYou be gentle,â Derpy warned as she scowled at the unicorn doctor.

âœI am done maâam,â the doctor said. âœJust wrapping up. Putting on a fresh bandage. In a few hours, your husband is going to feel a lot better. Try to have him move around in the bed just a little bit. Not too much. Make him eat as much of this special ice cream as he can stomach. A little light exercise is in order. Nothing strenuous though. Get his heart beating.â

âœOhâ I know how to get his heart beating,â Derpy said with a smile.

Chapter 210

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Embarrassing moment or no, Bucky was glad to see Luna. He squirmed and shifted, trying to hide the fact that the blanket had an unsettling rise in it. When Luna had arrived for her late afternoon visit, Berry Punch and Derpy had been giving him a quite a show. It had been enough to leave him a little excited and get his blood pumping. Berry Punch had fled the room giggling while Derpy was holding her ground.

Luna looked tired as she settled into the chair beside the bed.

âœHow is Moonbow?â Derpy asked.

âœShe is well. She dealt with her first ordeal, the one that weeds out the weak. She is now one of my foals, no matter what happens next, she has earned the right to call me mother,â Luna answered in a mournful drawn out voice.

âœIf you really want me to go I will,â Derpy offered. âœI just wanted to find out about my missing foal. Iâm worried. I am glad she has endured.â

âœStay. Keep Buckminster happy,â Luna said with a hoof gesture.

âœI have to look after what I am responsible for,â Derpy said in a very serious voice.

âœIndeed,â Luna said, turning her head to look at Derpy directly. âœThere are very few ponies I would trust to keep the life of another.â

âœSo what am I learning about today?â Bucky questioned. âœPractical augmentation?â

âœYes,â Luna replied. âœSomething that should be effortless for you. How to enchant your body. I will be giving you some very powerful spell books for you to study. You will make your body functional again.â

âœThat will be nice,â Bucky said.

âœBuckminster, do you remember just after you replaced your horn and you took PiÃa to the beach with you? The long walk? You did so on your bad legs and it never slowed you down,â Luna said. âœIâve studied this in your mindâ youâve cast spells without even knowing that you have done so. Or something has cast spells for you.â

âœI do remember that. And yes, the thought has crossed my mind. I went off for a long walk that day and my legs never seemed to bother me,â Bucky said, his face contorting with concentration.

âœIt is possible to cast a type of featherlight spell upon your own body. It is very difficult to do, something only the most skilled of enchanters have a chance of pulling off, but practical augmentations do exist. Making your body light to allow for long distance walking without effort. Making your skin as hard as steel. Making your body work with impossible strength. Augmentation spells improve the self and allow for all kinds of useful abilities,â Luna explained.

âœI suppose a lot of these are combat oriented,â Bucky observed.

âœWell of course. If, for example, my sister, who is wont to do something like this, was fighting some big hairy smelly demon that was immune to harmonious magic, she would have to go hoof to claw with it. She would make her skin as hard as steel. She would increase her strength. She would increase her body mass considerably. Using the right spells upon herself, she could attack the infernal horror. She could slam into it moving twenty times the speed of sound while her body weighed fifty thousand tons. The collision would be terrific. The demon would never survive the initial impact. After that, it would be a matter of making sure the heart was destroyed. If it was the nearly immortal type, there would be the task of gathering its essence and hauling it off to Tartarus. This is how my sister and I win fights against powerful harmonious magic immune monsters,â Luna instructed.

âœWhat about Tirek?â Bucky asked.

âœDiscord required a means to redeem himself I suppose,â Luna replied. âœTirek was made off limits. Do not ask me the reasons why.â

âœSo Bucky could use magic to make his body move again,â Derpy said, her face now looking hopeful, a soft smile spreading over her lips.

âœYour husband is probably the greatest enchanter and transmuter of our era. I have no doubt that he could use these body enchantments and self transmutations,â Luna responded.

âœSo I make myself feather light and then I donât need to worry about the strain upon my legs. What if a strong wind comes along?â Bucky asked.

âœYou make sure you have a sticky hooves cantrip active,â Luna sighed. âœBuckminster, I worry about you. That is a first year cantripââ

âœI never claimed to be smart,â Bucky grumbled.

âœYou dipped your hooves in ink and then walked along the ceiling during your first year. My sister loves telling this story,â Luna said, rolling her eyes as she spoke.

âœI came around the corner and there she was. Standing on the ceiling right in front of me. She looked angry. I knew I was in trouble,â Bucky said.

âœIt didnât stop you from booping my sisterâs nose with an inky hoof, you defiant little miscreant,â Luna said with the faintest hint of laughter in her voice.

âœBad foal!â Derpy scolded. She shot Bucky a meaningful glare. âœThere had never be little inky hoof prints on our ceiling!â

âœPopcorn,â Bucky said, smiling as he recalled a fond memory.

The sensation of fear was almost overwhelming. Moonbow followed along behind the big male that she did not know. She was not hobbled and was free to walk without restriction. She was still sore from her night in the chapel. She was confused, not knowing her place in the new world. And she was terrified because she did not know what was about to happen.

The moon was high in the sky as they drew near some hidden grove, and she could see lights up ahead of her. It had to be near midnight. Her belly growled, now painfully empty once again. The big male was silent, offering no comfort or helpful words to her, and she wished he would say something.

More than anything, Moonbow wished that she could see and hear Sentinel.

She stepped through the trees and saw an open expanse before her. There were a large number of lunar pegasi. None were wearing armor, they were all wearing heavy black cloaks. They looked shapeless, and this somehow made the whole situation far more terrifying.

Ahead of her was a wooden platform, a raised dais lit with torches that burned with sickly looking green flames. She followed the wordless instruction to go up the stairs and she stood in the middle of the dais where a copy of the Mistressâ destiny mark was etched upon the floor. She trembled. There were three lunar pegasi sitting at a table before her, all of them cloaked. Their eyes glittered in the green light, almost luminescent within their hoods.

âœSit,â one commanded, a female with a raspy voice.

âœNow we determine your measure,â the second said, this one male.

âœTell us, little female, are you a good pony?â the third one asked, this one female.

Sitting down, Moonbow thought about her answer carefully. She was honourable. She did not flee from battle. She had endured the long night in the chapel. She was careful around foals, never stepping on them or kicking them by accident. She was always true to her word. She was dutiful, devoted, and dedicated. She was honest and spoke her mind. She had pledged her entire existence to Sentinel and his fatherâs tribe.

âœNo, I am not a good pony,â Moonbow said in a low voice that cracked with emotion.

She became aware of many eyes looking at her now. The three ponies at the table. She could feel eyes looking at her from all sides, she could feel them staring, their gaze burning into her back. She began to wonder if she was worthy of even being a Myrmidon.

âœIf you are not a good pony, then why would you endure a night in the chapel?â the raspy voiced female snapped. âœWhat motivates you towards our ranks? Pride? Vanity perhaps?â

âœI wish to hold myself accountable. I desire to live in service of others,â Moonbow said plainly. Her eyes remained downcast and she stared at the inky blackness around the moon etched into wooden planks.

âœYou have answered wisely little female. Many make their first mistake upon the spot where you are sitting. It never goes well for them. By your own admission this council finds you guilty. You have been tried in a court of your betters, and you are lacking. We sentence you to a life of servitude, so that you might be made better,â the male announced.

âœNow tell us, which is better to strive for? Muscle or wisdom?â the second female inquired.

âœWisdom,â Moonbow said without hesitation. âœLiving by muscle destroyed my colony. Weâre all dead. I am one of the last of my colony.â

The raspy voiced female made a sad sound and leaned forward. âœThe path of wisdom can only be found through great suffering. Are you willing to suffer little one?â

Moonbow raised her head and looked at the trio defiantly. âœDo your worst,â she spat, thinking of how fearless Sentinel could be.

âœVery well. At your command, we shall do our worst. Prepare the gauntlet!â the male shouted as he lifted his head high.

âœThe walk of trust lies ahead little female. Many never reach its end,â the second female warned, shaking her head within her hood.

Gulping, Moonbow struggled to find her courage. She turned her head and saw two long lines of lunar pegasi, and a narrow path between them. Each pegasus was holding a cane in their grasping digit. It took a moment, but she realised that she was going to walk down that narrow path. She began to tremble as she rose to her hooves.

âœYou can quit now,â the female with the raspy voice said.

Shaking her head no, Moonbow slowly trotted over to the gauntlet, ready to accept her fate. This would probably hurt, but she could endure pain. Or so she hoped. She gritted her teeth and approached. She saw Grimglammer and Shadowguard. They were the first pair she would encounter, and she recognised their faces in their hoods.

âœBegin the walk of trust!â a voice shouted.

Taking a deep breath, Moonbow took her first few steps into the gauntlet. She heard a swishing sound and braced herself. There was a light tap upon her backside, followed by another. The second one had a bit more force to it and she jerked a bit from fear. She wondered if Grimglammer and Shadowguard were going easy on her. She heard more swishing and felt blows raining down upon her. Some stung just a little bit, but it wasnât serious pain.

Her nerves were getting the better of her though. She was waiting for it to become painful. With each swish, she clinched up and jerked. Her movements became more and more unsteady.

And then finally, there was a single painful blow upon her croup just as she visibly flinched. She lost control of herself. Another painful lash came down upon her spine and she nearly bolted. As she lost control, the blows hurt more and more.

Moonbow came to the sudden realisation that she was the cause of the blows.

She froze in place, trying to gather her willpower and her thoughts. As she stood there, unmoving, a single blow came down right upon the tender place where her dock connected to her croup, a place still tender from the clamp and the abuse she had endured in the chapel.

Moonbow screamed out and nearly took off running. Her mind warned her that if she did bolt, she would never make it to the end of the gauntlet. The pain in her backside was blinding as she forced herself to walk forward slowly with slow careful steps. A second blow came down in the same spot as the first, which made her scream bloody murder once again, and now her dock felt as though it had its own heartbeat. Fire burned down her tail and up her spine. She felt nauseous from pain. She wasnât sure if she would be able to lift her tail to defecate ever again.

As she walked forward with slow measured steps, the painful blows subsided, finally becoming light swats again, little taps that barely stung. She controlled her fear and her nervous responses. She didnât allow herself to jerk or flinch. She remained still and she focused on placing one hoof in front of the other. She came to the understanding that she could trust them not to hurt her just so long as she did what was expected of her.

Finally, after what felt like an hourâs march, she exited the gauntlet. Ahead of her she saw Luna, and off in the distance was another alicorn that she had seen before but she could not remember the name of, she was a dark dusky purple in the silver moonlight.

âœHave you gained wisdom?â Luna inquired in a solemn voice.

âœYes mother,â Moonbow replied in a trembling voice.

âœYou remembered our previous lesson. I am pleased with you,â Luna announced.

âœThank you mother,â Moonbow said.

âœYou can quit now,â Luna said. âœFailure of the next trial means your death. Most never survive the next trial. You can leave now, we will return you to Sentinel, and you can live a life of easy comfort.â

âœI would rather die,â Moonbow said defiantly.

âœVery well then my foal. Come with me and I shall take you to what might very well be your death,â Luna commanded.

The dark blue alicorn took off at a steady pace and Moonbow followed. Ahead, she could see a large pool of water in a vast stone basin. As they approached, her breath was caught in her throat. The pool was full of stars and the moon was reflected upon its surface.

As she drew near though and stood at its edge, her rapture turned to horror. She could see down into starry water and see white bones just a few steps in. She saw even more several yards in. There were bones strewn all over the bottom of the reflective pool.

âœThis water is special. It will know your heart. It will know your resolve. If you falter for even a second, you will sink below the surface and you will never draw another breath ever again. Most are not worthy. Keep your eyes focused on what is most important to you,â Luna instructed.

Moonbow stood at the edge of the pool and peered down at the bones. She poked the water with her hoof and then watched the ripples. âœHow do I walk upon water?â she asked.

Luna let out a patient sigh. âœThis pool was created by a unicorn named Sombra, my most devoted and loyal friend before he fell into shadow. This pool is one of his many great enchantments. He created it with his brother Star Swirl. To cross the water, one must simply focus on what is important to them.â

Moonbow swallowed. She took a long look at the many skeletons in the water. Most were lunar pegasi, but she saw a few unicorn skulls in there as well. The water clearly had a story to tell and the bones were mute witnesses. She took a deep breath, poked the water once more with her hoof, and then studied the ripples. She looked up at the moon above her and thought about Sentinel. He prayed to the moon. She had sat with him while he had done it. She took her first step and felt her hoof strike something hard as stone.

She wanted to look down and see herself standing upon the water, but a voice inside of her head screamed at her to keep her eyes focused on the moon. She did not look down, but kept her eyes skywards as she trotted out over the water. She tried not to think about the beauty of the water below her, how it was filled with stars and the moon. And bones. So many bones.

âœMother moon, guide my heart,â she whispered, repeating the words she had heard Sentinel once say. She swallowed. She didnât know if she was almost done or not. She thought about checking… certainly one little glance to see how far she had come couldnât hurt anything.

She snorted. That sort of thinking would get her killed. She ignored the nagging need to look down. To look away. She could almost feel something tugging on her head now. Her throbbing dock thudded painfully and oddly enough, the pain helped her focus.

She let out a cry of alarm as she stumbled, sheer terror flooded through her being as she pitched forward. She regretted only one thing as she plummeted to her deathâ that she had not pounced Sentinel one last time.

Her face smashed into the grass and she shrieked as her emotions overcame her. She crawled forward upon her belly to be away from the mirror pool full of bones. She began to sob uncontrollably as she sucked in painful breath after painful breath. She lay in the cool slightly damp grass and was thankful to be alive.

âœYou lived,â Luna stated.

Moonbow looked up at Luna. She sniffled as she continued to sob.

âœYou remained focused. Had you looked down or taken your eyes off of the moon even once, you would have died, pulled down into depths. Your flesh would have burned away most painfully and your bones would have joined the others,â Luna explained.

âœMother!â Moonbow wailed, still filled with terror.

âœGood foalââ

Chapter 211

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The door opened and Bucky saw a familiar face. Princess Celestiaâs personal assistant Raven. She was carrying several clipboards in her magic and several ledgers floated in her telekinetic field as well. She was smiling, she was always smiling, and she was humming to herself as she entered the room.

âœBucky,â Raven greeted.

Smiling, Bucky felt a little better. At least Raven understood which name he prefered. âœHi Raven. How goes life?â he responded.

âœAlways busy. Iâve had to resort to minor time travel just to stay on top of everything,â Raven replied with a cheerful grin. âœCelestia has threatened to give me wings and make me the alicorn of organisation.â

Bucky couldnât tell if she was joking. âœWhat brings you here?â he inquired.

âœYou,â Raven answered. âœToday, you have several more tests and procedures scheduled. All of your consorts need to be fitted. We need measurements from you as well. Princess Celestia should be by to speak with youâ maybe. Things are really crazy right now and she might not make it today.â

âœFitted?â Bucky asked.

âœFor your coronation,â Raven explained.

âœOh no! No, thatâs not happening. No way is that happening!â Bucky said as he squirmed helplessly in the bed.

âœOh believe me, I am utterly shocked about the whole thing as well you little malcontent,â Raven said in sunny tones, her face still beaming.

âœYou canât talk to him like that,â Derpy warned, raising her head and flaring her wings out.

âœWhy not?â Bucky grumbled. âœShe of all ponies has earned it.â

Derpy scowled and stared at Raven. She pulled her wings in and snorted threateningly.

âœYour husband has collected the largest disciplinary file ever on record. Most students have a folder, maybe two. A few special students can claim to have a drawer. Your husband has several filing cabinets devoted to his exploits,â Raven said in impossibly chipper and cheerful tones.

âœOkay, to be fair, I did get in trouble, but there is no need to exaggerate,â Bucky said and then heaved a dismissive sigh.

âœBecause of my obsessive compulsive disorder, I do not engage in hyperbole. Would you like to see the cabinets?â Raven said in a warm inviting voice as she leaned in closer to Bucky.

âœOh botherâ sheâs telling the truth,â Bucky whispered. âœI still became a prefect and protected the students when Nightmare Moon returned.â

âœCelestia wanted any potential attackers to know our pain suffering in having to deal with you! YOU ARE A MENACE!â Raven retorted, her voice loud but still rather cheerful. âœI begged Celestia to be merciful to any potential threats to the school. But no, she just smiled that smile of hers and said that anypony attacking the school would get what they deserved.â

âœOh my,â Derpy gasped.

âœAnd your husband became a prefect, not as a reward, but as a punishment. Bucky understood duty. It was the only way to keep him somewhat contained,â Raven said to Derpy.

âœBuckyââ Derpy said. âœTsk tsk, you are a bad pony.â

âœYou havenât changed Raven. I donât know how you do it, but you are still the young looking mare that used to scold me one moment and give me milk and cookies when I was sad the next moment. When I first came to the school you were Celestiaâs assistant and you have been at her side this entire time,â Bucky said in a wistful voice.

âœI had just graduated when you arrived,â Raven said, sitting down in a chair beside the bed. She settled in and gazed at Bucky. âœYou were so little and small. The other foals teased you. Bullied you. I felt bad for you.â

âœYou gave me a scarf on Hearthâs Warming Eveâ nopony else had given me anything. You also left me cookies in my room. I know it was you. I would recognise your script in an instantââ

Derpy reached out and touched Bucky, she could hear the sadness in his voice, the pain. His head was turned and he was looking at Raven. She could see his ears and how they drooped. She stroked his neck and wished that she had Bon Bonâs touch.

âœNopony should be alone on Hearthâs Warming Eve,â Raven replied. âœIt is awful for the students stuck at the school during the holidaysâ those whose parents donât want them.â

âœI just stayed in my room and refused to come out,â Bucky said, his features becoming downcast. âœI just didnât see the point.â

âœDonât ever tell Celestia, but I was always just a little bit proud of the trouble you caused,â Raven admitted.

âœReally?â Bucky asked.

âœTruly,â Raven answered.

âœEven when I flooded the school with spiders on Nightmare Night?â Bucky questioned in a faint whisper.

Raven shuddered visibly. Her mouth opened and her tongue lolled out as she gagged. She squirmed with revulsion. âœIâ urgh… âœ

âœYou did what?â Derpy asked.

âœI donât wish to speak about it!â Raven cried as she waved a forehoof in front of her face.

âœHow?â Derpy asked.

âœI created the spider orb,â Bucky said, falling back into his pillows and smiling at the memory. He sighed a contented sigh.

âœNoâ no more!â Raven begged.

âœSpider orb?â Derpy questioned.

âœA glass orb that attracted spiders. Itâs a funny storyâ see, there are some simple enchantments to bring pests out of hiding so you can squish them with your hoof. Bugs and spiders and such. I worked up a very powerful version of that spell and enchanted a glass orb as a sort of spider beacon. I then rolled the glass orb down an air duct so it couldnât be found. In no time at all, the school was swarming with spiders of all kinds. The walls were covered with little eight legged horrors. Rivers of spiders flowed down the halls,â Bucky explained.

âœEnough!â Raven begged. âœCelestia had to send me on vacation!â

âœBucky, how could you? Bad foal!â Derpy scolded.

âœYes! Bad foal!â Raven repeated, pointing her hoof at Bucky.

Grinning sheepishly, Bucky allowed a smug look of satisfaction to settle over his face.

The grass was still covered in the morning dew. Thistle was grateful to be outside, but there was no place to swim. She rolled in the grass and enjoyed herself immensely, kicking her legs up into the air and snorting.

Others were with her. Sparkler, Rising Star, Loch Skimmer, and Ripple were all enjoying the early morning outside in the small private garden. Sparkler had her head in the flowers, examining each delicate blossom. Ripple was beside her doing the same. Rising Star was sitting in the middle of the garden with his eyes closed, just enjoying himself.

Loch Skimmer was plotting.

Her husband was completely oblivious. His guard was completely down. She stretched out her body and flexed her muscles. Moonbow had given her wonderful ideas. She flexed her wings and gave a tiny snort. Remembering she had to protect her weak leg, Loch Skimmer launched herself, throwing her bulk at the clueless unicorn minding his own business in the grass.

POW!

âœOOOF!â Rising Star grunted as he tumbled into the grass, now winded. He struggled to make sense of what was going on. He felt a brief spike of arousal as a lithe body compressed against his. He felt himself being wrestled into submission.

Rising Star fought back.

âœBig brute pegasus!â Rising Star shouted. âœIâll make you learn your place!â

Sparkler felt a twinge of panic. She turned and watched the pair. She feared that Loch Skimmer would have a moment of panic at the words. She knew that Loch Skimmer had fragile trust. Sparkler held her breath and she heard Rippleâs panicked breathing right beside her.

âœOh really? I want you to put me in my place!â Loch Skimmer giggled.

Sparkler exhaled sharply in relief, and the beginnings of a smile appeared on her muzzle.

Rising Star wrangled the pegasus and rolled her over. For a moment, he had her pinned beneath him. She was giggling and parts of her jiggled enticingly with each movement she made. He was all too aware of her bad leg and he tried to be careful. He suddenly found himself airborne and a second later, he was in the grass flat on his back.

Loch Skimmer threw herself onto Rising Star and straddled him. Sitting on his barrel, she used her wings to tickle his ribs. âœIâm a bad fillyâ but you already knew that. And you are too sweet to put me in my place. Youâd never hurt me-unf!â

Rising Star rolled Loch Skimmer over and she kicked and wiggled beneath him. He managed to get her on her belly and then climbed over her back, sitting on her. âœYou tickled me!â he accused. He reached back and gave her a light swat over her cutie mark.

âœSpank me will you!â Loch Skimmer shouted as she bucked Rising Star from her back. As he tumbled into the grass, she tackled him again. She jammed her muzzle into his neck and blew a raspberry. She then clamped down on an ear with her lips and gave a tug.

Sparkler smiled and watched as the pair continued. Both were covered in grass stains. Both were happy. And Loch Skimmer clearly trusted Rising Star, which made Sparkler feel better. They were really going at it now, Loch was doing everything she could to gain dominance.

âœYou raspberried my foal hole!â

âœWell, you wiggled, I was going for your teats!â

âœDo it again!â

Sparkler felt Ripple nuzzle her side and Sparkler turned to the filly at her side and smiled. The pair exchanged a knowing look and watched as Loch Skimmer and Rising Star wrestled one another, struggling for dominance. Sparkler couldnât help but notice that Rising Star wasnât trying very hard.

âœI remember how skittish Loch was.â

Sparkler looked over at Thistle who was now sitting down beside her. Thistle was covered in grass stains and her coat was damp with dew. The plants that made up her mane and tail looked vibrant in the morning sun and Sparkler noticed several new blooms in her mane.

âœAre you happy Thistle?â Sparkler asked.

âœI will be once I get to go for a swim. My husband is alive and recovering. I am finally living the life Iâve always wanted. I still donât like toilets though,â Thistle replied.

âœYou know Thistle, I think I actually understand you. Iâd imagine that as a kelpie, they weird you out. As for Loch and her fixation with electric lightsâ pegasi have a special relationship with electricity because of storms. To have total mastery over it is probably magical for her,â Sparkler said to Thistle.

âœHey donât pull on THOSE! I need those to pump you full of foal batter!â

Sparkler heard Ripple giggling as she continued to study Thistle. The kelpie was already as large as most ponies get when they become fully pregnant. âœYou know Thistle, youâre big. Really big.â

âœHey! No! No licking my wingpits! Ugh! Stop stop stop!â

âœI know Sparkler. I am hoping that I am as big as I am because there is a little kelpie inside of me and she needs the extra room for her tail,â Thistle said in a low voice. She watched the pegasus and the unicorn in the grass and her heart felt glad.

âœHey! You two! Go hide in the bushes or something! Loch Skimmer, you caused it, you fix it!â Sparkler shouted.

âœBoner!â Loch Skimmer crowed triumphantly.

Thistle watched as the pair disappeared into the nearby shrubbery, giggling every step of the way. âœYou know, if there are any ponies around, they are going to hear those two,â she commented.

âœI can only hope,â Sparkler said with a grin.

Sentinel hated the blindfold but understood its purpose. He huddled in the bottom of the chariot and waited for the ride to be over. He was told that it would be a short trip. He was getting a chance to see Moonbow, and he had jumped at the opportunity. He didnât know the guard in the chariot, and he didnât care. He just wanted to see Moonbow, even if it was only for a little while.

He felt the chariot slow down and his ears popped as the altitude decreased.

The landing was smooth and Sentinel felt himself pulled from the chariot. The blindfold was pulled free and Sentinel blinked in the bright sunlight. He saw a flash of blue.

âœPrincess Luna?â Sentinel inquired as he struggled to see.

âœShe is eager to see you. Come,â Luna instructed.

Sentinel shuffled after Luna as his eyes struggled to adjust. They were somewhere with a high altitude, perhaps upon some mountain plateau. He flexed his wings and yawned. It had been a long night for him. Ahead of him was a small grassy area and on the edge of the grassy area was a forest. In the distance, there were some buildings and what appeared to be a tall tower.

And then, he saw her. Sentinel bolted, leaving Lunaâs side to run to her.

âœMoonbowâ youââ Sentinel said haltingly.

Moonbow was hobbled in chains and heavy weights. Around her neck was a heavy iron collar that forced her head down. She looked exhausted and Sentinel suddenly felt like crying. He held in his tears as he drew nearer.

âœYou are boundâ the chainsâ and big iron weights,â Sentinel stammered. He looked around and saw a few other lunar pegasi foals, all of them bound as Moonbow was. He tried to make sense of what he was seeing.

âœMy bonds weigh as much as I do. As I grow, so will they,â Moonbow said, struggling to hold her head up. She smiled weakly.

âœHow long must you wear them?â Sentinel asked.

âœUntil I can fly again,â Moonbow replied.

Sentinel studied her bonds and the heavy iron weights clamped around her legs. The only thing not shackled was her wings. On her back was a small stuffed doll. Sentinel felt puzzled. The doll confused him more than anything else.

âœYou have a doll,â Sentinel said in befuddled tones.

âœI have a foal,â Moonbow corrected. âœI chose motherhood as my path. I must look after our foal. I must keep him clean and out of the dirt. I must keep it comforted. I must keep it happy. If I fail, it will cry and I will be punished.â

âœIt is enchanted?â Sentinel questioned.

âœYes,â Moonbow replied. âœI named him Sentinel.â

Sentinel felt a lump in his throat. âœYou look exhausted.â

âœIt was a long night for me. I waited for you. I was told I had earned a reward. I chose to see you. Iâm tired Sentinel,â Moonbow said.

Sentinel laid down in the grass and made a gesture to Moonbow. âœRest your head.â

Moonbow looked up at Luna, who was standing nearby. She saw a faint nod and then moved to Sentinelâs side. She eased herself down and rested her head upon Sentinelâs back. It felt good to lay down and rest after the long night she had endured.

The cold iron collar pressed into Sentinelâs side and Sentinel squirmed slightly, feeling the hard iron edge pressing into his ribs. He made himself go still. Moonbowâs discomfort was surely worse than his own. He gently pulled the doll from Moonbowâs back and cradled it in his forelegs. âœSleep for a while,â Sentinel said. âœIâll look after our foal and see that it doesnât cry and wake you.â

Luna drew near and stood over the pair. âœShe did very well Sentinel. She endured her trial and survived her initiation. She is strong. She will make a good mate for you.â

âœSurvive? Is her life in danger?â Sentinel asked, looking up at Luna, blinking fearfully.

âœNot any longer. Now she is an asset. She will be guarded. Protected. She will be looked after and nurtured so that she might grow strong. She will be educated,â Luna stated in a soft voice as she looked down upon the pair.

âœI hope she flies soon,â Sentinel said.

âœI donât want to fly soonâ I want to bear these weights as long as I can. They will make me stronger. How else will I move in heavy armor and fly with grace?â Moonbow said in a sleepy voice.

âœIâ I understand,â Sentinel said, coming to a painful realisation.

âœHonour has its own weight Squire Sentinel. The chains you bear are every bit as heavy as those she wears. In time, you will learn to move with fluid grace under the burden that you choose to bear,â Luna said, offering up gentle instruction and wisdom.

Sentinel hugged the doll in his forelegs and pressed his face into it, smelling Moonbowâs scent in the dollâs fabric. He felt a single tear fall free from his eye and it stained the fabric, making it dark. He tried to ignore the cold iron pressing into his side and focused instead upon the weight of Moonbowâs head upon his back.

âœWhen she is finally freed from her bonds, she will be strongâ strong enough to protect others. Strong enough to stand in defense of all those smaller and weaker than she is. Mark my words, she is going to be a big one. She will be a walking and flying fortress of might,â Luna explained in a proud voice.

âœI understand,â Sentinel whispered. âœAll of the weakness has to be cut away.â

âœFive years Sentinel. Five short years. Surely you can wait for five years,â Luna said. âœI have total confidence in her ability to succeed. She will not fail me.â

âœI will wait,â Sentinel said in return.

âœDonât be idle Sentinel. Grow strong. Become educated. Hunt for other fillies worthy of our herd,â Moonbow said, her words ending in a loud yawn.

Sentinel felt his face burn and his ears grew uncomfortably warm. He clutched the doll ever closer. âœI will do as you ask,â he squeaked nervously.

âœStay strong Sentinel. The path you have chosen is just as difficult as the one she now walks, but for different reasons. One day, my sister and I will make you earn your knighthood. Do not expect for it to be easy,â Luna warned.

âœI will prepare,â Sentinel said.

âœSo you can assist your father better, I am reviving the rank of Cornet and bestowing it upon you. I will be giving you books to read so that you might understand your duties. Cornet is the lowest ranking officer position available. I demand that you hold yourself to the behaviour befitting an officer at all times. Do you understand me?â Luna said in a serious voice.

âœYes maâam,â Sentinel replied.

âœVery good Squire Cornet Sentinel. This is not an honourific to placate you. I expect much from you in exchange for this privilege I am giving you. Your prayers have touched me. Your sense of duty has impressed me,â Luna said.

âœI await your orders,â Sentinel said, looking up at Luna.

âœComfort this filly of mine. She is weary and has endured a great deal. Stay with her until my return, I will be collecting you in a few hours to return you to your father,â Luna commanded.

âœI will serve,â Sentinel said, bowing his head slightly.

Chapter 212

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Lugus settled his bulky haunches down to the ground and stared at Ripple. The filly was looking up at him, her expression one of fearless curiousity. She had an expressive face. One ear drooped off to the side, the other remained perked. Her wings were perfectly preened and her sleek body rippled with fine muscles.

âœI suppose you know what I want from you,â Lugus said, cocking his head to one side, and then the other, getting a good visual lock upon Ripple.

âœI do,â Ripple replied nonchalantly.

âœI would like to take you on as my squire,â Lugus stated.

âœAnd I would like to be your squire,â Ripple answered. She smiled broadly, holding nothing back. She was a creature of oft expressed emotion.

âœI have a condition,â Lugus said, hunkering down and leaning closer to Ripple. His talons flexed and his claws sank into the lawn, pressing softly into the dirt.

âœAnd that is?â Ripple questioned, her drooping ear standing straight now that her attention had been engaged.

Lugusâ crest rose and his feathers fluffed out. âœYou must not be such a stick in the mud as little Sentinel,â Lugus said in a quiet voice. âœTo have such an expressive face and then never use it to make silly facesâ I cannot bear it.â

âœThat is your only condition?â Ripple asked, her face contorting into a quizzical expression.

âœYes, I am finding the expression upon your face right now quite enjoyable,â Lugus said, his head turning around completely until the underside of his beak was pointing skywards and his crest pointed towards the earth, his eyes never leaving Ripple.

âœYou are doing that creepy bird thing again. Heads shouldnât twist that way, at least not without me twisting them around and making turn that way,â Ripple said. âœI will be your squire. And I will make silly faces for you.â

âœThank you, my little squire pony,â Lugus responded. âœWe must work hard and find glory. Bucky and Sentinel are ahead of us. Bucky slew a god while it incubated in its womb. Somehow, our enemies must learn to live in fear of our very shadows.â

âœI will need to find other mastersâ other teachers of the fine art of hooficuffs if I am to stand a chance of picking a fight with an emerging god and winning,â Ripple said, mostly to herself and looking thoughtful. âœI know there are others out there who seek a worthy student. I hope you donât mind me taking time to better myself and prepare myself for combat.â

âœI am counting on it,â Lugus said. âœPlus, I intend to teach you the way of the Cunning Claw, the martial arts of the griffons. You do not have claws, but the concept is the same. It is all about swift debilitating strikes that cripple your enemy, each blow visiting ruin upon their body.â

âœFather could make me clawsâ they took away my shoes. I am still a bit angry about that,â Ripple said, her face darkening.

âœThey took Chieftain's Fury from me. I do not know if I will ever see it again,â Lugus said, his eyes narrowing.

âœIâm looking forward to those combat lessons,â Ripple said, smiling up at the griffon as she spoke, her wings fluttering with barely contained excitement.

âœGood, let us begin,â Lugus said as he launched himself at the filly with a loud squawk.

Sparkler watched Ripple and Lugus sparring. Quite a crowd had arrived, and guard pegasi were standing around the fighting pair watching with curiousity. Lugus had curled his talons into fists and he wasnât pulling his punches to make them harmless blows. A couple of his strikes had connected solidly with Ripple, who took them quite well. She gave as good as she got, thumping Lugus soundly when she had the chance. The griffon was at least four times the size of Ripple but moved as an equal to her speed and grace.

Sparkler couldnât help but notice that Ripple was beautiful. Her sweat streaked pelt glistened in the sun and droplets of moisture flew from her contours as she moved. She cried out with every blow, making guttural sounds that forced her to breathe and were intended to intimidate her enemies. Her light blue mane clung to her neck, the fine blue strands clumped together to form tendrils that wrapped along her graceful curves.

Ripple stood easily on two legs, either her hind legs or her front legs. She moved with a fluidity and grace that Sparkler envied. She could cartwheel and do standing flips. She was a young filly who was perfecting her physique.

And Sparkler found Ripple quite desirable to look at.

Yew Wood wasnât quite sure what to make of her living situation. She knew she was a tribe member, a part of a tribe founded upon a new set of ideals, but she had trouble defining the relationship as a whole. She felt more like she was in an extended family. She was sitting on a couch waiting for Lugusâ return. Berry Punch was beside her, reading a newspaper, and Bon Bon was on the other side, leaving her tightly squished between the two of them. Bon Bon was watching Peekaboo and Harper nap together on the floor in a large patch of sunlight, occasionally making satisfied sighs.

Yew Wood wanted to learn how to read. In time, she would learn, but she couldnât help but feel a little bored now as they all sat around in this large room doing nothing. Living like a princess wasnât all that interesting. Yew wanted to be off doing other things. Anything really.

Berry Punch farted beside her, and Yew could feel the creeping warmth spreading through their pressed together flesh. Yew smiled. This is what it meant to be a well bonded herd. Her mind wandered a bit, she wasnât married into this herd, but she was certainly a part of it. She had fought and bled for it. She had suffered for it. Her foal, and there was no mistaking that Peekaboo was her foal now, was cared for and looked after as one of the herdâs foals, and there was nothing singling Peekaboo out as an outsider. She heard the slurping sounds of Lyra sucking on a straw, her drink now empty.

âœPonyville democracy is spreading like wildfire,â Berry Punch commented. âœIt no longer has the nobles opposing it. The Ponyville town hall model of government is going to be adapted and expanded upon. Twilight Sparkle has officially surrendered Ponyville and has ended her war with Princess Celestia. As of noon today, Ponyville is going to be part of Equestria as a whole again. Vanhoover is in talks for reunification. This is fascinating stuff.â

âœI donât know enough about it to comment,â Yew said in reply, looking over Berryâs shoulder at a photo in the newspaper. âœThe pictures in the paper are so pretty. I wish I understood how they did that.â

Berry Punch tapped the paper with her hoof. âœThis picture is history. Thatâs Bucky, scaring the meadow muffins right out of his family. You know, with as terrifying as he looks, I honestly thought public opinion would be against him, demonising him. Instead, most opinion seems surprisingly positive and popular. This article here below the picture is a writerâs rant that we need stronger protective figures in these dark times. There are still roving gangs of bandits, hordes of monsters, and ponies keep talking about weird creepy cults running around and doing spooky stuff.â

âœPonies are scared right now,â Yew replied. âœWhen ponies get spooked, they sometimes do bad things. Fear affects our judgment.â

âœEven with everything that has happened, support for Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are at an all time high. Funny how the ponies lost faith in the noble houses, but not in the princesses,â Bon Bon said, leaning over a bit more on Yew to look at the newspaper.

âœThere is overwhelming support for the Stable of Representatives,â Berry said as she read another op-ed piece. âœWow, the newspapers are really good now. There is actual news in here, not fluff pieces and useless advice on how to remove stains from a cocktail dress.â

âœThe pegasi are causing a bit of a problem though. Cloudsdale is demanding that the only ponies who should be able to vote are those who have served in the guard,â Lyra remarked. âœBack page story, bottom left corner.â

âœCloudsdale scares me sometimes. The old military clans are too focused on service and special privileges for those that have served,â Bon Bon said, shaking her head.

âœFascism is not something we need creeping into our new government like a weed in the garden,â Berry said as she made a sour face of distaste. âœMilitary this, and military that, and we need more authorityâ blah blah blahâ only those who have served truly have the right to have an opinionâ ponies who havenât served are ignorant peasantsâ more pegasi politics. Derpyâs family were autocratic fundamentalists. They made me sick!â

âœWhat makes earth pony politics any better?â Yew asked in a small quiet voice.

âœEquality. The idea that we are all ponies and that we are all equal. Those of us who have lived on the bottom for so long just want to be recognised as equals. With the fascist military pegasi clans of Cloudsdale, they believe the only ponies who belong in the guard are pegasiâ because they can fly. If they had their way, guess who the only ponies who could vote would be? They tolerate unicorns in the guard because they can be hauled around in sky chariots and used as field mortars, but there is no real love there. The pegasi have long memories and the term âœservile pegasiâ makes their ears burn,â Berry explained.

âœThat doesnât sound very fair,â Yew agreed.

âœGeneral Iron Sky says that we are draft animals and we canât be trusted to vote,â Bon Bon muttered. âœHe is threatening to resign his position if earth ponies are given the right to vote.â

âœBastard,â Berry swore. She threw down the paper down on the floor in disgust.

âœLife seems so much more complicated here,â Yew said in a low uncertain voice.

âœYew, life is complicated everywhere,â Berry said in reply.

âœFather, Princess Luna regrets that she will not have time to speak with you today,â Sentinel said as he pushed his way into the room. With a leap, he flew up into the bed and then settled in near his mother, falling over onto Derpyâs side with a grunt. âœThere is a huge stack of spell books left in the other room. Mother Lyra is arranging them and she will be bringing them in shortly.â

âœOh good,â Bucky said, yawning after he spoke. âœHow is Moonbow?â

âœBound in chains. I donât wish to talk about it,â Sentinel said, as he pressed his head against Derpyâs side. âœHow soon till they start to wiggle around in there?â he asked his mother.

âœItâll be a while,â Derpy replied.

âœKnight Major Bitters, you now have a junior officer at your command. Princess Luna gave me the rank of Cornet, an old rank that doesnât exist anymore, but has been revived. She told me on the way home that she is going to restore this rank back into the military code for all squires,â Sentinel reported.

âœOoh an officer to do my bidding,â Bucky said proudly.

âœMy little colt is an officer,â Derpy said in gushing tones. Her head darted back over her shoulder and she planted a kiss on Sentinel, and then another, and then a third. Derpy made a pleased sounding whicker and then she raised her head up high.

âœSomepony is a proud mama pegasus,â Bucky said as he watched the pair.

âœI am proud of all of my foals,â Derpy said. She sniffed and lifted her muzzle upwards a bit.

âœWith responsibility comes service,â Sentinel said, curling up against his mothers side. He yawned. âœIâm worn out. I had to deal with a fussy foal and keep it from crying so it wouldnât wake Moonbow.â

âœWhat?â Derpy asked. There was no reply and Derpy turned her head to look back at Sentinel. His eyes were closed and his barrel rose and fell steadily. She nuzzled him one final time and Sentinel grunted in his sleep.

âœHeâs worn out,â Bucky said in a soft voice.

âœHe was foalsitting?â Derpy whispered.

âœSeems that way,â Bucky replied.

Chapter 213

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The late afternoon sun shone into the window and the blinds were left open. The sunlight bothered Bucky. He could still be in the sunlight, but it left him feeling weak and kind of disoriented. On top of everything else, Bucky had to worry about getting enough vitamin D. He silently cursed his new physiology. The doctor had explained that the lunar pegasi, whom Bucky now resembled, got their vitamin D through the consumption of herbivores who collected vitamin D for them, meaning they did not need sun. Their thick shaggy pelts didnât allow much sunlight to reach their skin. They were truly nocturnal carnivores with omnivorous capabilities. Bucky, formerly a diurnal herbivore, had an odd mishmash of the two systems now, and weaknesses from both.

He watched as Lyra moved around the room, placing books upon various available surfaces. Her coat gleamed and her mane had been cut into the style she favoured. Bucky could tell that she felt beautiful again, she strutted now, the way she had moved had changed. She moved with a certain confidence, poise, and grace. Bucky had not even noticed just how dull looking some of their pelts had begun to look upon the isles. He watched Lyraâs tail swish around, revealing little glimpses that left Bucky feeling intrigued.

âœEnjoying the show?â Lyra asked.

âœIâll admit to looking, but I understand there is to be no touching,â Bucky replied, a grin spreading over his face.

Lyra moved close to the bed, her task done. She came to Buckyâs side and nuzzled him, and after a moment of bonding, gave him a swift peck upon his cheek. âœNeed anything?â she asked as she lifted her head.

âœActually, yes. I need to talk to you,â Bucky said, his grin slipping away and a nervous expression settling over his face. He reached out with an unsteady foreleg and touched Lyraâs face with his folded fetlock.

Derpy was gone, she had carried Sentinel to bed and had not returned. Bucky could hear her talking in the other room, the soft baby talk she used with Harper and Peekaboo. It made what he needed to do a little easier.

âœSit with me Lyra,â Bucky invited.

Lyra looked around, her eyes settling upon a chair, but then she changed her mind and hopped up into bed. She eased herself down beside Bucky and positioned herself so she could look him in the eye. Her tail thumped against the bed a few times as she shook it to spread it out. She knew full well that Bucky really enjoyed looking and she didnât mind showing.

âœLyra, we need to talk. About some of our mutual interests,â Bucky began.

âœYeah?â Lyra said in a curious tone.

âœLyra, no more necromancy. Now look, donât get upset just yet, give me a chance, necromancy isnât dark magic even though it appears to be. It is actually something else entirely and I only just recently learned this,â Bucky said, enduring the stinkeye that Lyra was giving him.

âœWell then, what is it really, Mister Warlock?â Lyra said with only a faint hint of sarcasm.

âœEvery time necromancy magic is used it allows demons to escape from Tartarus. Which is why it is such an easy magic to use. It aids the demons in their escape,â Bucky briefly explained. âœThis is why the spells just show up in your mind and why even type twos can become exceptionally powerful spell casters if they use necromancy.â

âœOh,â Lyra said dully as she looked like she was deflating. âœBut the potential to grow back limbs without having to suffer from healing magic,â she murmured, her eyes falling upon Buckyâs stump.

âœIsnât worth the price,â Bucky stated.

âœNo, I suppose it isnât,â Lyra agreed, her eyes still lingering on Buckyâs stump. âœStill tempting to think about. I must confess, the knowledge of how to do it has crossed through my mind several times.â

âœDuring the trial I had the knowledge of a necromantic death spell pop into my head. It made me feel so happyâ I wanted to use it upon my family,â Bucky confessed.

âœWeâve both been changed by the darkness that has been our lives,â Lyra said, shaking her head sadly.

âœWhich is something I want to talk to you about. We need to work on those memories you have tucked away deep down and find out what has happened to you. I am going to speak with Princess Luna about it,â Bucky said.

âœI canât face it Bucky,â Lyra whimpered in reply. Her face contorted as though she was in pain. âœYou donât understandâ I donât want to rememberââ

âœLyra it is hurting you. Luna needs to be made aware of it,â Bucky said.

âœWhat if she is already aware of it and is leaving me alone?â Lyra said as she closed her eyes and rested her head down upon the bed. âœI am fairly certain that Luna had to have been poking around in my head after I was found at the train station. Maybe I was too damaged to deal with. Maybe she figured I was better off not knowing.â

âœWe still need to talk to her. Whomever did what was done to you needs to be dealt with,â Bucky whispered.

âœI canât talk about this anymoreâ where is Freezerburn? I need Bon Bonâ I gotta go,â Lyra said in a panicked voice. She lept from the bed and hurried out the door, her hooves clicking upon the floor.

Bucky sighed and hoped he hadnât done more harm than good. He wondered where Freezerburn was. The phoenix had slipped off once more. Bucky hoped that he wasnât going to have to grant a royal pardon once again.

The sun retreated from the window as Bucky continued to read. The book was propped up on the bedside table that could be suspended over his stomach. He was able to turn the pages with magic, but it took a moment of concentration to do so, which bothered him.

The book was all about dark magic. In particular, dark enchantments. Fear spells of different varieties. Mind magic of different sorts. Dark command spells that were indeed dark, and not just in the sense they were dark magic, but were dark in purpose, including a spell that filled the target with an overwhelming need for suicide.

Had anypony else looked at the book, they would have wondered why Bucky was reading a blank tome. The book was written with ink that could only be seen when under the influence of dark magic, and Buckyâs Taint filled orb allowed him to easily read the spidery letters that were found upon the pages.

He ignored the spells that could potentially harm or kill other ponies and instead focused on spells that were debilitating, like the one that filled the target with an overpowering feeling of hopelessness. More advanced versions of the Horror spell that he had once used, fear spells capable of working on even the strongest of minds. Bucky understood that he was going to have to be careful. Ponies could die of fright. The book was full of dark abjuration spells as well, powerful magical defense spells, including one that would make the caster immune to necromancy based attacks. He found several notes from Luna appended to these pages, written on fine stationery in her smooth script and tucked into the book, commanding Bucky to study these spells in depth. Magic resistance. Magical immunity. Magical vampirism, the ability to draw magic from a target and recharge oneâs own mana reserves to keep fighting during prolonged battles.

Bucky suspected that many of these spells had been created by Sombra because as he read them, he had vague recollections and memories come to the surface of his mind about their uses. These books were powerful and dangerous, and he realised that Luna was trusting him with a level of power that was beyond anything he had even dreamed existed. Bucky resolved not to let his Mistress downâ the deal was that he got to be with his family. All he had to do was serve willingly and protect the empire, something he was willing to do anyway.

There were no depths that Bucky would not traverse to keep his family and the ponies that he loved safe.

Not long after slipping into slumber, Bucky found himself in a now all too familiar grey plane and he saw two faces lined with worry waiting for him. He barely had time to get himself oriented when he was tackled in a fierce hug and then his face smothered in kisses. His small foal sized body was easy prey for Princess Platinumâs affections. He quietly endured until Princess Platinum wore herself out and settled down to sit beside him.

âœWe get to watch you almost all of the time now,â Sombra said.

âœWere you punished?â Bucky asked.

Platinum squirmed. âœWe shanât talk about that.â

âœVery well,â Bucky said. âœBut I want it said, whomever is hurting you had better leave you alone. I have no compunction about coming to Tartarus and holding them accountable for hurting you. Nothing harms my family,â he hissed.

Sombra looked terrified for a moment and his eyes darted all around him. He wrapped a foreleg around Platinum and pulled her closer.

âœBe careful what you say, dear,â Platinum warned. âœI know you mean well.â

âœYou were quite merciful with Goldflake,â Sombra said, changing the subject.

âœThat was more for Derpyâs sake. I followed my wifeâs example. He seemedâ regretful,â Bucky stated in slow measured words.

âœDear, you keep following the examples of your wives,â Platinum commanded in a gentle loving voice. âœI have spoken with himâ Goldflakeâ I have tried soothing him and telling him that he has done well.â

âœHe is consumed by guilt. He came to it late in life, but the regret he is experiencing will make things easier on him when he passes and comes here to this place,â Sombra said in a solemn stately voice. âœHe does not have long.â

âœWe absolutely adore watching your foalsâ weâve come to love them all. Watching them makes the time spent here bearable. Iâ I actually do not wish to leave. To cross over I mean. I want to watch them grow. I want to see them face life,â Platinum said as she studied Buckyâs new body. âœSeeing you as you areâ an alicorn foal. It makes my heart feel hopeful.â

âœThis is only what I am on the insideâ I hope you understand, but I will never ascend,â Bucky said in a pained voice.

âœDonât worry about us and do not feel guilty. Buckminster, Bucky, you live the life you feel you need to live. I am having second thoughts. I am not so sure that your ascension is what will set us free,â Sombra said.

âœYou say that as though you almost have made yourself believe it,â Bucky replied, looking at Sombra and studying his face.

Sombraâs expression sank. âœI donât know what to believe. I want to believe that what you were meant to do still lies ahead and you just have not done it yet. And once you have, we will go free.â

âœIn the end, it isnât about us. We will endure. It is about you. And we are proud of you. You are my son. I am willing to scrub away a thousand years of bad history and say that you are my foal. You are the son of Sombra and of myself. I have spoken with Celestia about giving you the Platinum Crown. You have ideas in your mind that I find myself enamoured with. Follow your dream. Found a new tribe. Bring ponies together. Make them believe again. Many are hurt after everything that has happened. The tribes are divided. Equestria cannot survive with the tribes not trusting one another. Be an example to them,â Platinum said as she leaned upon her husband.

âœI will never wear a crown,â Bucky grumbled.

âœYou are a prince,â Sombra stated.

âœI am a slave,â Bucky retorted.

âœYou canât run from your destiny forever,â Sombra said in a patient voice. âœIt will catch you.â

âœIâd like to see it try,â Bucky said defiantly. âœCelestia said I could out stubborn an earth pony. Iâll never stop running. Never. Iâm happier being a slave. Isnât that what a good father is? A devoted servant to his family? I will never wear a crown. I will never ascend. I will do my other duties, I will protect the ponies that are now my responsibility to protect, but my only obligation is to my family. Thatâs it. No more, no less. I chose slavery and servitude. I do not choose wings or a crown.â

âœCome here, let me hold you. It has been so long since I have held a foalâ my heart aches,â Platinum pleaded.

Bucky willingly walked over and allowed himself to be held. Platinum laid down and cradled him in her forelegs, smoothing out his wings carefully and then stroking his mane. He thought of Luna holding him in much the same way, defending him from those that sought to do him harm.

âœSeeing your eyes the way they areâ it fills me with sadness,â Platinum said as she pressed her snoot into Buckyâs neck and breathed in his scent.

âœBucky, if it is any consolationâ your great grandfather is here in this place. He will know suffering like few will ever know suffering. Had he ascended, he might have been one of the prisoners here one day, but since he failed, well, I understand they are creating new punishments to make him atone for his evil as a mortal. Those that have recently died are getting to listen to his wailing as a form of punishment. His cries areâ unpleasant and I say this after enduring here for a thousand years,â Sombra said in a wavering unsteady voice.

Bucky felt Platinum shiver and shudder as she cuddled him, her mane tickling the side of his face as she shook. Her eyes closed for a moment, and when they opened, they were glassy with tears. He reached up and gently stroked the side of her muzzle, hoping to bring some small measure of comfort. He felt her head lean into the touch and a soft hum could be heard in the back of her throat.

Sombra watched as Platinum cuddled Bucky, and stood silently over the pair, a silent guardian now happy that he had something to guard once again.

It was several hours until dawn and the head editor for the Canterlot Trumpet opened an envelope bearing the royal seal. Inside there was a collection of papers secured with a red ribbon, and another smaller envelope also stamped with the royal seal. He opened the smaller envelope.

âœSquire Sentinel, son of Buckminster Bitters,â the editor read to himself. His face turned thoughtful. âœWow, the kid is a natural born writer,â the editor quipped. âœI should offer him a job.â

He pulled out the papers and began reading, his brow furrowing. âœEnclosed is a copy of the original document, the original is of course something I treasure too much to give away,â the editor read to himself. His lips moved as he read and the big burly stallionâs face softened.

âœI am an equine. Specifically, I am a pony. I was a citizen of Equestria, a loyal subject of the Royal Pony Sisters, but now I am no longer certain I am either of these things. I have things to answer for and my future is uncertain. I am a member of Clan Pickled. Of this, I have no doubt. I am welcomed and loved by my clanmates. I am the new Founder. I am the Father of my tribe. I lead a tribe of ponies. We will identify as ponies. We are all ponies. Ponies with horns or wings or even fins, but we are ponies first and foremostââ the editor read out loud to himself. He continued reading, now silent, clearly overcome with emotion, his eyes beginning to water as he read, blurring his vision. âœWe are one tribeââ the editor finally said as he neared the end of the document. He set down the paper and rubbed his eyes. âœI am a pony with a horn,â he muttered to himself as he tried to compose himself.

He sat in his office, silent, aware that the paper needed a good story to place upon the front page. He picked up the other papers and started looking them over.

âœMy fatherâs words have affected me greatly. He wrote them out only a little while ago, but I have already been thinking upon their meaning. There is truth in his half awake ravings. I have never understood my place, but I think I do now. I am a pony with leathery wings. I am called a lunar pegasus by type, but my tribe is my fatherâs tribe. And in this tribe, we are ponies. Some of us fly, some of us walk, all of us have some kind of magic, some of us are grass eaters, a few of us are flesh eaters. Some are adult, some are youngââ the editor read through the copy of the journal entry, rubbing his eyes fiercely as he did so.

He flipped over to a new page of carefully written script.

âœMy father, whatever his fate might be, has done one thing worth noting already. He has brought us all together and we do not squabble. We are as he said, one tribe. Iâve been learning history from Lyra and Bon Bon. Lyra told me how the unicorns used the pegasi to bully the earth ponies into growing food. Bon Bon and Lyra both told me that many unicorns still have this belief, that the other tribes should be beneath them. I have learned about horrible words like âœmud ponyâ and even writing them down or thinking about those words makes me feel sickâ Should those words ever be uttered around me, I will feed somepony their own teeth. I will not be little foreverââ the editor read. He glanced nervously at the clock upon his desk. He continued to read, a lump in his throat, and tears stinging his eyes. He fell silent for a time.

âœThe words of my mother Bon Bon still bother me. She told me how she was taken from her home as a foal, snatched away and stolen from her family, how she was taken away on a ship filled with other foals, and brought to a city called Fillydelphia. She told me how they shaved her bald all over, shaving off her mane, her tail, and even her pelt, and how she was sprayed with something to kill lice and bugs, how they got it in her eyes, how it burned her eyes and her skin, and how she was blind for a month afterwards. She was kept in a freezing cold orphanage with no pelt as winter approachedâ Father is not the only one with a painful burden now upon his shouldersââ the editor read in a strangled voice. He glanced at his clock again.

There was still time. He could put all of this out in type in time for the morning printing. Even if the paper had to be a little late. He gulped down his coffee and scrambled out of his office, the sheaf of papers in tow.

He had a story to that needed to be on the front page, perhaps the most important story of his career.

Chapter 214

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The entire herd and its extended members were in shock after seeing the morning paper. A stunned silence had fallen over the table, not much was being eaten and nothing was being said. Sentinel sat at the end of the table wondering if perhaps he had done something wrong. Berry Punch was quietly staring at her buttered toast. Thistle was hunched over her poached fish. Bon Bon gently stroked Lyra and Lyra held Harper. Loch Skimmer ate, but did so in silence. Sparkler was carefully spooning hot mush into Peekaboo. Rising Star was scratching his chin. Ripple was slowly eating her bowl of granola and milk, her muzzle dipped into the bowl. Lugus was sitting with his crest perked straight up, and Yew was beside him staring at the newspaper even though she couldnât read it. Dinky and PiÃa kept exchanging glances with one another then looking at Sentinel. Derpy smacked her lips a few times and rapped her hoof against the table. Bucky was propped up in a high backed chair at the other end of the table, staring at the fruit bowl rather vacantly.

âœDid I do something wrong?â Sentinel inquired in a faint squeaky voice, breaking the silence after it had endured for a small eternity.

âœNo,â Derpy said right away, looking a little startled.

âœIt is very quiet and it feels like I am the cause,â Sentinel said.

âœYou did a good thing,â Bon Bon said in a strained voice. âœBut you did reveal a lot of our more private moments when you sent in copies of your journal entriesâ things that could make us look very good or very bad.â

âœI wanted poniesâ to see fatherâs visionâ and to see us for what we areâ ponies,â Sentinel explained in a halting voice.

âœWe understand that,â Lyra said.

âœI wanted ponies to know about things that happened on the isles. Good and bad. They had to see us at our worst and at our best. Including some of the awkward things that makes us ponies,â Sentinel said, trying to make his family understand why he had done what he did.

âœSentinel, there is no need to defend what you have done,â Bucky said.

âœHe talked about the teat feeding,â Berry Punch said to Bucky in a somewhat stunned voice.

âœI wanted them to know the crushing weight he carried and the things that comforted him,â Sentinel said, his voice now hitching. âœHe came to his vision after he drank of your milkââ

There was a clunk as Derpy dropped her spoon. Her ears drooped, falling down to the sides of her face. She sighed, looked at Sentinel, and then looked at Bucky. âœHe included a journal entry about how other ponies treat me and how much it hurts meâ that was private.â

âœThere were a lot of ponies who didnât actually know I was gay,â Bon Bon said as she slumped down into her chair. âœI kept things like that to myself so it wouldnât hurt my business.â

âœHe exposed our weirdness. So what,â Ripple said as milk dribbled from her muzzle. âœYouâre gay. Iâm gay. Some of us are bi-sexual. Berry Punch has a fetish about being milked by her husband and will forever be known as Buckyâs Milkmare, not to mention the completely non sexual aspects of trying to comfort her husband as his body approached death from his continued efforts. Even the doctors said that Berryâs teat milk is probably the reason why father is alive. Sentinel talked about my sisterâs growth and change from a repressed frightened filly to the glorious pervert she is now. SO WHAT?â Ripple snorted, spraying a fine mist of milk from her nostrils, and then jammed her muzzle back into her bowl.

âœTh-th-thank you sister,â Sentinel stammered, slumping down even further into his chair.

Ripple did not reply, but kept her muzzle snoot deep in milk and granola.

âœRising Starâs uncontrollable boners,â Loch Skimmer said, now smiling slightly. âœIâm proud to be a pervert. Shagging feels good. It isnât anything to be ashamed of. It isnât dirty or wrong. And if we stopped doing it, there wouldnât be any more little ponies.â

âœSentinel looks really miserable,â PiÃa said, now also looking quite miserable.

âœHe didnât write anything embarrassing about you or Dinky,â Sparkler said.

âœHe didnât? Well what about kicking us out of his bed because heâs suddenly springing boners himself?â Dinky retorted. âœSure, thatâs embarrassing for him, but what about PiÃa and I you big doofus!â

âœHey! No name calling!â Derpy scolded.

âœBut Sparkler is a big doofus!â Dinky argued. âœSheâs a tail fluffing fart sniffer!â

âœENOUGH!â Bucky shouted, his voice causing the silverware to rattle. He wasnât using the Voice, but it was loud enough to command attention.

The table fell silent again and every head looked at Bucky. Even Harper and Peekaboo stopped what they were doing to turn and look at the unicorn who struggled to sit up straight in his chair. Peekaboo covered up her face with her wings and hid behind them.

âœIâm proud of Sentinel and what he did. He painted an honest picture of us with words. Warts and all. And as a family, we have warts. So what! Now not one more word!â Bucky commanded.

âœWhat Sentinel did took courage,â Lugus said.

âœThe sordid details about our lives are going to come out now anyway. Weâre royals. The press is going to dig out every nugget of dirt they can find and print it. At least this information came from somepony we love and it wasnât some heartless cruel exposition piece taken out of context meant to do us harm,â Bucky explained.

âœSenty,â Harper announced.

âœYes, Senty,â Bucky said. âœThe honour pony.â

âœThank you father,â Sentinel said.

âœWhy canât you call me daddy or dad or something not quite so stick up the plot formal?â Bucky said, falling over in his chair and slumping down.

âœIâ Iâ erâ wellââ Sentinel stammered.

âœOh bugger it,â Bucky grumbled.

âœMama,â Harper quipped.

âœHeck, you could even call me mama if you wanted to Sentinel,â Bucky said, lifting his good right hoof and gesturing at Harper.

âœCan we call you princess?â Ripple asked as she lifted her head from her bowl. She felt every eye now turned upon her. âœWell, he might need a little cleaning upâ one of you could maybe braid his mane and put a few ribbons in itââ

Bucky roared with laughter which quickly turned into a wheeze. He started to pitch forward in his chair and Derpy had to catch him. She gently pushed him back into the chair and held him in place as he hacked, horked, and recovered.

âœWhy am I the only one laughing?â Bucky wheezed.

âœWell, currently everypony is giving me the stinkeye,â Ripple stated. âœAnd Sentinel is still too worried about what the family thinks of him. Donât worry Little Brother, Big Sister has your back.â

Sentinel took a deep shuddering breath and let it out slowly.

âœThe Gleesome Threesome has come together upon this issue and we stand in defense of our brother,â PiÃa said as Dinky nodded in agreement. The two foals began the process of staring down the adults and glared fiercely at any would would meet their gaze.

âœWhat Sentinel did must have took some serious guts. Iâm not sure I have that kind of bravery,â Rising Star muttered.

âœNow quit moping. There is a lot to do today. Thistle, you have an ultrasound and I am coming with you,â Bucky said as he slowly looked around the table.

Slumped in his wheelchair, Bucky tried to find some way to pass the time while they waited. Thistle was sitting on the table and rubbing her belly as she waited. Derpy was sitting in a nearby chair and occasionally stroking Thistleâs side.

âœFrom this angle of view, I have a fantastic eyeful of Thistleâs teats,â Bucky announced.

Blushing, Thistle shifted slightly.

âœWell hello there,â Bucky said in a low breathy voice. He lifted his stump from the armrest and flexed his joint, grimacing as he did so.

âœThistle, close your legs,â Derpy said in a hushed whisper.

Tittering, Thistle closed her legs and behaved herself. âœIâll let you sniff all of my blossoms later,â Thistle promised.

âœHey, I wanna sniff your blossoms,â Derpy announced.

âœYou can sniff my blossoms any time, but I want Bucky better so he can sniff my blossoms,â Thistle stated. âœAnd maybe I could squeeze him between my thighs again. I want to feel him tease my… Why are you staring at me like that Derpy? You are staring at me arenât you? Hard to tell sometimes…â

âœDoctor,â Bucky greeted.

âœOh noes,â Thistle gasped. She covered her mouth with her hooves.

âœReady for your ultrasound?â the doctor inquired, blushing furiously as she stood in the door. Her white pelt was beet red all around her face and neck.

âœHow long has the doctor been there?â Thistle asked.

âœBlossoms,â The doctor said in a strained voice.

âœOh dear,â Thistle groaned.

âœHer blossoms really do smell amazing,â Bucky said to the doctor.

âœMy name is Doctor Whippoorwillâ and I am going to attempt to remain professional and do my job,â the pegasus doctor announced.

âœAnd what pony doesnât enjoy eating a nice tender blossomââ Bucky said as he looked at some poster on the wall announcing the dangers of feather flu.

âœBucky!â Derpy scolded.

The pegasusâs wings fluttered as she stood in the doorway. âœCan we please restore some decorum?â Whippoorwill begged.

âœSorry, my husband hasnât been looked after in a while if you know what I mean,â Derpy said. âœI think it causes him brain damage. Severe brain damage.â

The doctor nodded and moved forward slowly. She approached Thistle, reared up on her hind legs, and leaned on the examination table. She poked and prodded with her hoof, and then rolled Thistle over onto her back, gently letting her down. She continued to poke and prod, pressing all over. âœWow, upon first glance, Iâd say you were ready to give birth in just a few days.â

Thistle blushed and then looked over at Derpy.

âœSheâs gained a lot of size suddenly. Over the last month, it was like she doubled in size,â Derpy said to the doctor.

âœReally?â the doctor asked.

Thistle nodded and the doctor did more prodding.

âœExperiencing any pain?â Whippoorwill asked.

âœI have a lot of back pain,â Thistle admitted. âœI keep telling the doctors this. Doesnât anypony write this down?â

âœIâve read your file. I like to hear for myself directly. Iâve been told to look for a tail today,â Whippoorwill responded. âœThis might hurt a little bit,â she warned as she pressed down.

Thistle let out a cry and Buckyâs horn spouted black flames.

Derpy tensed and watched Bucky. She saw him take a deep breath and the magic went away. She took her own deep breath and eyed the doctor, who looked terrified. âœHe doesnât mean anything by it,â Derpy said apologetically. âœAnd he would never hurt another pony. He canât help it after what heâs endured.â

âœIâve read your husbandâs fileâ Iâm sorryâ it is very unnerving,â the doctor said as she looked at Thistle.

Bucky sat in sullen silence, saying nothing and trying to calm his frazzled nerves.

âœBucky is a good pony,â Thistle said. âœHe just gets a little jumpy when ponies cry out or sound like they might be in pain. He would never hurt youâ heâs just a little over prepared for threats, thatâs all.â

The doctor stepped away from the table, grabbed a machine, and rolled it over. She tapped a switch and there was a hum from the machine. With her wing, she grabbed a tube of lubricant from a heated vat of water, shaking away the excess liquid.

âœThis is going to leave you feeling slick and goopy. I recommend a bubble bath,â the doctor suggested. âœAre you ready?â

âœThis wonât hurt?â Thistle asked.

âœThere might be some moments of discomfort, but it wonât hurt, I promise,â Whippoorwill replied in a reassuring voice. She reared up onto her hind legs again, took the tube in hoof, and the squeezed out a dollop of lubricant onto Thistleâs belly.

âœThatâs warm,â Thistle said as the doctor began to rub her stomach with an applicator. Thistle understood the importance of the object. A lubed hoof would lead to slips and falls.

âœOnly a cruel doctor would squirt cold lube onto a pregnant mareâs belly,â the doctor said.

âœHmm, I bet Thistle would be a lot of fun while sheâs slick like that,â Bucky said as he watched with peaked interest.

âœYou know, it is very difficult for me to do my job when you're behaving this wayâ doubly so when I have to think of a stallion your age being married to a female that is still legally a filly and the harm you must be doing to her,â the doctor said in clipped tones.

Derpy bristled. âœNow look here!â she snarled. âœYou canât talk to him like that!â

âœI am obligated to treat my patient. I am under no obligation to like statutory rape,â the doctor snapped. âœJust like a noble. Special exceptions for sexual perversions.â

Derpy was out of her chair in an blink, moving like a grey blur, standing at the tableside in an instant, suddenly reared up and snoot to snoot with the doctor, her wings spread out and her nostrils flaring. âœSay one more thing about my family and I put you through the wall.â

Whippoorwill said nothing. She dropped the applicator on the table, dropped down on all fours, and walked out of the room, leaving behind three very angry ponies.

Chapter 215

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âœYou know, I am a big girl nowâ I donât need you fighting my battles for me or hovering over me like I am some silly little filly,â Thistle snapped. She snorted once, twice, and then thrice, each time sounding just a little angrier.

âœI wasnât trying to treat you like a filly,â Derpy retorted. âœI would do the same for any of my fellow-wives.â

âœI dunno, you sound pretty angry, like youâve been caught in the act,â Thistle said in guarded tones, glaring at Derpy.

âœOf course I sound angry!â Derpy shouted. âœI am angry! Somepony said something awful about us!â

âœSHUT UP!â Bucky commanded.

Both mares fell silent and slowly turned to look at Bucky.

âœWe cannot afford to fall apart right now and start bickering among each other. I wonât stand for it! Derpy mothers everything she touches. In all honestly it was probably half and half. She is going to be extra protective of you because of your age Thistle, she canât help her instincts, they make her what she is. Derpy, Thistle is a big girl. Now no more quarreling,â Bucky demanded.

Thistle and Derpy remained silent, cowed into submission.

âœNow kiss and make up,â Bucky said in a tone that was not a suggestion.

âœWeâd better do as he says,â Thistle said in a small voice. âœI was behaving like a foal.â

âœIt would be wise,â Derpy said. She looked at Thistle. âœIâm sorryâ I might have responded with just a little bit of motherly instinct.â

âœItâs okay,â Thistle said, looking at Derpy.

Both of them shot a glance at Bucky, turned back to one another, gave each other a quick kiss, and then Derpy pulled away to cool off. The grey pegasus stood stiff legged, her wings out in a dominant pose.

âœShe is sexy when sheâs angry,â Bucky muttered.

âœYeah, she kinda is,â Thistle said. âœBut I like her more when she is smiling.â

âœShush,â Derpy said, not bothering to make clear whom she was shushing.

âœSo what do we do now?â Thistle asked, trying to get comfortable upon the examination table. She squirmed and kicked around a bit, unintentionally giving Bucky quite a show.

âœI guess we wait,â Derpy said, now pacing back and forth in the small examination room. She was still stiff legged, but she folded her wings against her sides.

âœMy balls itch and I canât reach them,â Bucky said. âœAnd I donât trust my magic yet with something that delicate. I might tear them off. Still trying to learn how to focus again.â He squirmed around in the wheelchair and very nearly fell out.

Derpy was at his side in an instant, pushing him back into position and propping him up. She reached up and offered a helping hoof, scratching an itch that just had to be scratched.

âœAm I interrupting something?â

Derpy froze and then saw the look of stunned horror upon Buckyâs face. A moment later, she recognised the voice. She froze, her hoof still in a very compromising position.

âœIt is very kind of you to try and make your husband feel better after something so upsetting. You are a very devoted wife. I knew I could trust his life in your care.â

âœPrincess Celestia,â Bucky said in a strained squeaky voice that cracked from nervousness.

âœUm, this isnât what it looks like,â Derpy said, not daring to turn around. She pulled her hoof away slowly and her ears drooped down to the sides of her face.

âœYou were scratching his itch. I heard everything. I was coming by to see if there was a new kelpie in my kingdom. I am very concerned over this issue. I ran into Doctor Whippoorwill. She has been relieved of her job,â Celestia said in a cool collected voice.

âœShe shouldnât be fired,â Bucky said.

âœBuckminster, what am I to do with youâ protecting ponies who wrong you,â Celestia said in a calm gentle tone. She clucked her tongue a few times and stared at Bucky, her ethereal mane whipping around aimlessly.

âœThis is bound to be upsetting to some ponies,â Bucky argued in a very subdued voice.

âœShe has been warned several times about her judgmental behaviours. When the guards come in with a case of the Drips, she is supposed to treat them. Not cast judgment. She committed her final offense,â Celestia explained patiently.

âœI see,â Bucky said in a miserable sounding voice.

Celestia strode into the room purposefully, came to Thistleâs side, and then smiled down at the kelpie. âœI know that Bucky loves you. I can see it in his eyes when he looks at you. Cadance feels stronger when she is around youâ you are filled with love. Now we shall determine if you are filled with a future kelpie.â

Celestia studied the machine for a moment, scowled, prodded a button with her magic, waited, scowled a bit more, and then gave the machine a swift kick. The machine thrummed to life. âœPercussion engineering,â Celestia muttered to herself. âœMakes me glad I am part earth pony.â

Lifting the ultrasound wand in her magic, she squirted a glob of lubricant over the end and pressed it to Thistleâs stomach. She maneuvered it around for a while, frowned, moved it a little more, smiled, and then continued to move it around at different angles and positions. âœBeen over a year since I used one of these last,â she said apologetically. âœOh there we goââ

âœWell?â Bucky said impatiently.

âœOh I just found Thistleâs bladder. Looks almost full, Iâd better hurry,â Celestia said, beaming a celestial grin. She looked at the machineâs arcano-tech projection screen. âœThis machine was made to mimic the echolocation of lunar pegasi. A gifted lunar pegasus can tell the gender of their foals before they are born. From long time ago, marriages were arranged between them while the foals were still in the womb, and for some, the tradition persists.â

âœFascinating,â Bucky stated.

âœLunar pegasi midwives would occasionally work for the nobles and tell them what gender their foals were. We only recently figured out how to mimic their abilities and this machine was the result,â Celestia explained as she rubbed the wand over Thistleâs belly.

âœI canât take it anymore!â Derpy cried.

âœOhâ there we goââ Celestia said, her grin broadening ever wider. âœThistle, I see a tail.â

Thistle made no response. She lay there for a moment, quiet, stunned, and then she began to weep. Her cries started off small, but quickly became overpowering sobs. She covered her face with her forelegs and her whole body shook as she wailed.

Derpy sat down suddenly upon the floor, unable to say anything, unable to respond. She took several deep breaths and then, she too began to cry.

Bucky slumped over in his wheelchair and took a few deep gulping breaths. He said nothing, but stared at Thistle.

âœThereâ I think that little bit of news will make everything better. I am going to step out for a moment and speak to another patient. Discord is having a few problems and I do hope I can make him feel better,â Celestia said, excusing herself and stepping outside the door.

âœWe have another kelpie,â Bucky wheezed.

Sentinel stood by and proudly watched as Ripple was informed about her rank of Cornet by Grimglammer. The filly could barely contain herself, her wings fluttering as she pranced around in excitement. He watched as Grimglammer saluted, and then Ripple returned the salute.

âœTwo squires,â Grimglammer said. âœBoth in the same family. What a marvelous age we live in,â she stated. The big lunar mare looked around the room and saw a lot of proud eyes. âœAlas, I must be going. This is my last day of duty, and I requested the privilege of this mission.â

âœLast day?â Sentinel questioned, blinking as he looked up at the big mare.

âœFurious and I both are going to settle down and raise a family. Weâre also going to try and talk Shadowguard into forming a herd with us. If both of us are fat with foal together, nopony has to lose our wager,â Grimglammer replied.

Saluting, Sentinel snapped to attention. âœI wish all of you the best of luck,â Sentinel said.

âœThank you,â Grimglammer said. âœWe will be seeing each other again. We are retiring to Ponyville, Princess Twilight Sparkle has personally invited us. There is a large cave on the edge of the White Tail woods. It is large and comfortable, and we are going to convert it into a home.â

âœWill you visit us when we arrive in Ponyville?â Ripple asked.

âœOf course,â Grimglammer said. âœOne of my retirement directives is to look after the Knight and the Librarian. In an unofficial capacity of course. Which means we will be neighbors.â

âœWill you teach me some moves?â Ripple inquired.

âœOn the condition that you teach Sentinel how to fight,â Grimglammer answered.

âœI intend to. Heâs a tough little scrapper,â Ripple said.

âœI know, heâs flashed those cute little fangs at me,â Grimglammer stated.

Blushing, Sentinel kicked his right front hoof into his left front hoof and grunted in embarrassment. He then kicked the floor a few times, but he said nothing.

âœI must be going,â Grimglammer announced.

âœGoodbye,â Sentinel said in parting.

âœSo we have a kelpie,â Berry said to Bon Bon.

âœI know,â Bon Bon replied.

âœSo will she sprout legs after she is born?â Lyra asked.

Bon Bon shrugged and said nothing.

âœSo I have a kelpie sister,â Loch Skimmer said.

âœWe have a kelpie sister,â Sparkler corrected.

âœWell, yeah, but you get what I mean,â Loch Skimmer said, rolling her eyes at Sparkler.

âœWhile I am happy about the kelpie, I must say, I am worried about the lack of males in this family,â Rising Star said as he levitated over a hundred crayons, trying to work on his fine magical control. âœNuts, this is harder than it looks.â

âœCrayons are for colouring, not for magicking,â PiÃa protested.

Dinky, flustered by Rising Star hogging most of the crayons, levitated Rising Star up off of the floor and held him near the ceiling. âœYou took all of the Thistle colours you jerk,â she accused.

âœHey, woah there Dinks, the floor is a long way down,â Rising Star said nervously. He squirmed midair and his tail swished in fear. âœSeriously, Dinky, I like having my hooves on something solid.â

âœDinky, put Rising Star down,â Lyra said.

âœHarrumph,â Dinky grunted. She let Rising Star down slowly and Rising Star, thankful to have his hooves on the ground, returned all of the crayons with a sheepish grin.

Thistle settled deeper into the tub and took a deep breath. She was still in pony form, which made her kind of uncomfortable in the water, but she really didnât have enough room to stretch out her tail. She let out a low moan as Derpy scrubbed her belly with a brush. She felt the brush moving in slow careful circles, never once striking her more tender places.

âœI feel so much better,â Thistle said in a drawn out voice.

Derpy did not reply, but kept scrubbing, trying to get the goop worked out of Thistleâs pelt. She smiled though as she leaned over the tub.

Without giving a warning, Thistle wrapped her forelegs around Derpyâs neck and hauled her into the tub. She locked lips over Derpyâs own, and kissed Derpy with an almost pegasus level of ferocity. She felt Derpy squirming on top of her, trying to not squish her or her belly. She felt Derpyâs wings snap outwards and she felt the pegasusâ body stiffening. She wiggled her tongue in past Derpyâs lips and then felt Derpy melt into her embrace. She felt the pegasus begin to kiss her back. After a moment, Thistle pulled away, leaving Derpy breathless and heaving.

âœI want you to think about what I just did before you think of me as a foal again,â Thistle said in a gasping voice. âœI am all the mare you can handle. Iâve earned my place in his herd. I carry my fair share of the load. And Iâve cried more tears than I can count for Bucky and I mmmMMMMmmmph!â

Derpy shut Thistle up with a kiss and squeezed a fetlock full of tender Thistle flesh. The two mares struggled for dominance for a moment and then Derpy pulled away. âœJust remember. You have my love. I am not a perfect pegasus. I make mistakes. Iâd rather make a mistake protecting you then do nothing at all.â

âœProtect my foal,â Thistle begged.

âœYou have a whole herd looking after you,â Derpy whispered reassuringly.

Chapter 216

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Everything was chaos. The past few days were all one chaotic jumble. The last thing that Bucky remembered clearly was finding out that Thistle had a kelpie foal coming. There were fittings for formal clothing, trips to the dentist, hoof polishing, a rehearsal that Bucky had managed to talk his way out of by playing sick, and Bucky had ignored almost everything by keeping his nose buried in books.

Also, in the mess, Bucky had taken his first few steps unassisted, the day before last.

He watched as his family swirled around him, each one trying to figure out what to do next. Ripple refused to wear a dress, saying sheâd rather show up in armor instead. Somehow, Ripple still looked girly. Her mane had been turned into three long braids and tied off with royal purple ribbons. Ripple insisted she didnât mind looking girly, she just refused to wear a formal gown or a dress.

Loch Skimmer refused to wear a dress at all, protesting for all to hear that such a thing blocked off Rising Starâs access to her filly bits, and that clothing was unfair to husbands and wives. Derpy, Berry, and Bon Bon were still trying to herd Loch into a corner so they could get a gown on her and Bucky could hear them in the common room pleading with Loch to cooperate.

Sentinel didnât seem to mind dressing up once the act was finally done, and was strutting around in a black wool officerâs coat with silver trim. The insignias of his rank were pinned to his lapels. The colt strutted, moving around with easy confidence and grace in his uniform. His tail had been bound, wrapped around the dock with black grosgrain ribbon in military style.

PiÃa and Dinky wore simple gowns that were almost floor length and they tried to not step on the hems. They had to move slowly and carefully so they wouldnât tumble. PiÃa took to it much better than Dinky did, slinking around in a manner that mimicked Berry Punchâs slinky movements in her form fitting gown.

Derpy wore a grey gown that was a few shades lighter than her pelt. It had a swooping backline that split along her neck and remained open down to her wing joints, exposing a delicious expanse of pony flesh for all to see. Bon Bon had warned that such a revealing cut was sure to cause a scandal, but Derpy didnât care. She enjoyed parading herself around for Bucky to view.

Lyra wore an extra frilly formal gown that made her the frilliest mare in the herd. She had even touched up her face with a bit of makeup and now pranced around fishing for compliments. She moved with surprising grace and beauty.

Bon Bon wore a simple modest gown, one might even call it plain, and simply stated that anything too frilly offended her earth pony sensibilities. She wore it well though, and parading herself in front of Bucky had left him breathless.

Berry wore a gown that accented her every curve as an earth pony. It somehow made her hips look wider and plumped out her plush figure. It was also open beneath so Harper could be fed easily, due to Buckyâs outright refusal for bottles and formula, or what Berry called the first of many of Buckyâs royal decrees. Berry didnât mind at all and was glad that Bucky had put his hoof down.

Rising Star wore a tuxedo cut jacket that was dark bottle glass green rather than black. He was a dashing figure, his jacket contrasting sharply with his light blue pelt. He had to keep away from Loch Skimmer, who threatened to undress him forcibly and âœravageâ him repeatedly.

Sparkler, much to everyponyâs shock, wore a military uniform that had been fitted for her. It had been Luna who had come through for Sparkler, providing a jacket that would fit with a few modifications. Her Buck Sergeant status was proudly worn on her lapels and the charcoal grey wool looked stunning in contrast to her purple-pink coat. Sparkler chose to make a political statement with her clothing. She believed that mares were fit to serve in combat roles, not just as field medics, doctors, nurses, and entertainment. (As was the case with the Wonderbolts) She even wore a service cover, the glengarry set at a rakish angle upon her head. Luna was certain that the uniform would set off a firestorm of political controversy. Thankfully, Sparkler was known for having thick skin.

Thistle wore a gown with heavy floral accents that complimented the living greenery of her mane and tail. She was in full bloom now, her mane and tail filled with pink blossoms. She was impossible to ignore. Whenever she drew near to one of the other mares in the herd, sniffing could be heard as Thistleâs magic took full effect and her effect upon Bucky was in fact, actually magical.

Lugus wore nothing, as there was nothing that would fit him, but he was quite intrigued by the gown that Yew was wearing.

The hustle and bustle was interrupted by a knock at the door, which turned out to be a messenger stating that the whole family was needed for a photograph session scheduled beforehand. As everypony panicked and tried to collect themselves so they could go, Bucky begged that Sentinel stay behind and keep him company, to which Sentinel agreed.

It wasnât long before the herd stampeded out the door, leaving Bucky and Sentinel alone in the suite together, and Bucky smiled a wicked smile.

âœCome on Sentinel, time is short,â Bucky said.

Sentinel looked up at his father in confusion, his face rather blank.

âœThere is no photograph scheduled. Mental magic. Just a tiny bit of mind control. I had to get everypony out of here so I could escape. We donât have long before my treachery is discovered so we need to skedaddle now,â Bucky explained.

âœFather! This smacks of dishonesty!â Sentinel cried out in protest.

âœYes it does,â Bucky agreed. âœBut there is no way I am letting them crown me,â he said.

âœFather, this is wrong,â Sentinel said with pleading urgency.

âœI no longer have a healthy sense of right or wrong. I fear Iâve become a pragmatist. Write that down in your journal and feel free to tell the papers. I feel that it is only fair for other ponies to know what they are in for,â Bucky said.

âœFatherââ Sentinel said in exasperation, the closest he would come to sassing his parent.

Buckyâs face grimaced with concentration, his horn flashed with a bright blue-green flare, and then he slowly slid out of bed. He stood shaking on three legs. âœPractical augmentation is my ticket to freedom,â he muttered, mostly to himself.

âœYou no longer look like a skeleton,â Sentinel observed.

âœThank you,â Bucky said. He wobbled around on three legs. âœFeels weird being this light. Oh, right, sticky hooves,â he muttered. His face scrunched and after several moments, his hooves and Sentinelâs hooves glowed in a blue-green aura.

âœFather, this is not behaviour befitting an officer,â Sentinel said fearfully.

âœSentinel, you are a colt. You are entitled to play and have fun. Now you listen to me, today, weâre going to play hide and go seek. Weâre going to hide, and probably the entirety of the Equestrian Royal Guard is going to seek us,â Bucky stated.

Sentinel groaned and his facial expression was one of actual pain. âœIâm going to be court martialed,â he moaned.

Bucky took off with surprising speed on three legs, hopping around and getting a feel for his new three legged gait. He cleared the door, peered around the common room, and then bolted for the door leading out, Sentinel hot on his heels.

He stuck his head out the main door and peered down the hall. Sure enough, at the end of the hall, there were two guards. Bucky grinned.

Without saying a word, he placed his hoof on the wall and then boosted himself up. He scurried up the wall and then made his way along the high ceiling. Sentinel followed, a panicked look on the coltâs face. Their hooves were silent and made no sound.

âœSentinel, ponies hardly ever look up. It is our major failing as a species,â Bucky said philosophically to his son as he scooted along the high vaulted ceiling. His mane hung down towards the floor and he looked rather wild.

Moving swiftly and silently, the pair scooted past the guards, passing overhead. Bucky continued, looking around him, trying to get his bearings. After moving up the hall, he turned to look at Sentinel.

âœWeâre not too far from the school wing. Follow me, Iâll show you around,â Bucky said in a low voice.

âœThis castle is far too large,â Sentinel said in a panicked whisper.

âœExtradimensional space,â Bucky whispered back.

âœWizardy stuff,â Sentinel grumped.

The pair made their way along the ceiling, and Buckyâs pace picked up as he became accustomed to moving on three legs. He looked all around him, mostly down below him, hoping he and Sentinel would not be caught.

âœIâve been putting on a little,â Bucky confessed. âœI had to make ponies believe I was too weak and helpless to escape.â

âœFather, I fail to see the point. They will find us. And they will crown you,â Sentinel said.

âœAnd I will keep running,â Bucky replied. âœIf they are going to do it, it is going to be without any pomp and circumstance. And they are going to have to drag me there in chains.â

âœFather, not to be pedantic-â

âœYouâve been spending too much time with PiÃa and your writing,â Bucky interrupted.

âœFather, you are a slave, I have no doubts at all that they will in fact drag you to your coronation in chains,â Sentinel hissed.

âœSentinel, stop pointing out the obvious,â Bucky said.

âœYes father,â Sentinel agreed.

âœToken resistance,â Bucky stated.

âœWhat?â Sentinel inquired.

âœToken resistance,â Bucky repeated as he hobbled along the vaulted ceiling of the hallway. âœWhat is important is the fact I am resisting. It doesnât matter if I win or lose, Iâm going to lose, but I am going to lose while I am fighting. I will go down with my ship,â he explained.

âœThe Scorned Mare is sinking?â Sentinel asked in confusion.

âœNo,â Bucky said, somehow still holding on to his patience. âœIt means I will never give up. I will fight a losing battle because I am a stubborn jackass.â

âœOhâ I already knew that father,â Sentinel whispered as he scurried after his father.

Bucky halted, turned his head, and looked at Sentinel, raising his eyebrow as he did so. Sentinel whimpered, fearing his fatherâs displeasure. Bucky grinned and Sentinelâs face contorted in confusion. They were standing where two hallways crossed and Bucky moved off once again, this time down a side wing. A brass sign down below said âœschool dormitoriesâ in ornate letters.

They passed another pair of guards and Sentinelâs face writhed with panic. Bucky moved with the cool easy grace of a skilled troublemaker who was now forced to hobble on three legs.

The guards looked up and Sentinel freaked out completely. Letting out a screech, he glared at the guards, scowling fiercely. He paced back and forth in place upon the ceiling, trying to figure out what to do. Finally, an idea struck him.

âœI am Squire Cornet Sentinel,â Sentinel announced. âœNeither one of you saw anything, do you understand me?â

âœSir, yes sir,â one of the guards said, snapping off a salute as he looked up with a dumbfounded expression upon his face.

âœWe are on a very important mission and I must escort my father to safety,â Sentinel reported. âœIf anypony comes along asking, we went in the other direction.â

âœUnderstood, sir,â the other guard said. âœPrince Bitters has not been seen in this wing.â

âœThatâs right!â Sentinel said. The colt began chewing on his lower lip nervously and then took off once again after his father who had never once stopped or even slowed down.

The guards, watching the pair depart, said nothing to one another until the pair were quite some distance away. They watched with bemused interest as the prince and his son departed.

âœI like him. As far as officers go, heâs a good one,â one guard said to the other.

âœCanât get in trouble for following orders,â the other guard muttered.

Bucky neared an old familiar place. As he drew near, he felt his emotions spike and for a moment, he felt like crying. Ahead was his old familiar hiding place, where he went to get away from life in general.

âœSentinel, here is where I spent most of my time in school,â Bucky said.

Sentinel walked forward along the ceiling and looked down towards the floor. Ahead of them was a gap, an opening in the wall ahead, invisible if you were standing on the floor. It could only be seen if you were standing upon the ceiling and looking downwards. As he watched, Bucky carefully eased his way in, and Sentinel followed. There was a hidden room and Sentinel peered around in the faint dim light.

âœWhat is this place?â Sentinel asked.

âœA long time ago, this cubby was filled with a massive stone block. If the castle was under siege, the block would be dropped into the hallway below, squishing the attackers and plugging up the hallway to stop further intrusions,â Bucky explained in reply.

âœFascinating,â Sentinel responded.

âœMy old aversion spell on the opening still works. Nopony has found this place. Even my old books are still here. This place has gone completely untouched. I thought for certain that somepony would have found it by now,â Bucky said in a melancholy voice. âœDoes nopony ever get into trouble and run around on the ceilings?â

Sentinel looked around the room and saw a few old dusty cushions, several books, an old candle, and several glass orbs. âœWhat do the orbs do?â

âœI always kept a few around for experimenting,â Bucky said. âœBut one of them should vibrate if the guard comes near.â

âœThis is a side of you I never expected,â Sentinel whispered to his father.

âœI came here to study. To get away from bullies. I came here to cry. I came here so I could be left alone and not be bothered. I laced this room with enchantments so it would not be easily detected. This was my fortress. This is where I grew up and developed my solitary nature that would have been my undoing. This is the room where I decided that I didnât need other ponies and I convinced myself that it would be better if I lived by myself, never married, never had foals, and died alone, taking my family name with me,â Bucky said.

âœThatâs awful,â Sentinel replied in a pained voice.

âœYes, it is,â Bucky responded. âœYou know I love you a great deal, right?â

âœYes father, I know,â Sentinel answered.

âœI am glad I changed my mind. I am happy that I bumped into a special grey pegasusâ it seems like it was a lifetime ago,â Bucky whispered.

âœI am glad you did too,â Sentinel said.

âœSentinel, I have a job for you as my squire. I need for you to take a message to Princess Celestia. It isnât fair of me to keep you here with me where you might get in trouble and make ponies worry about you. I need for you to slip out of this room, make your way to the great hall, ask the guards for help if you get lost, and I want you to tell Princess Celestia a very simple message,â Bucky said in a low but commanding voice. âœAnd do not betray my positionâ loyalty my squire, loyaltyââ

âœWhat should I tell her?â Sentinel replied.

âœCatch me if you can,â Bucky replied.

Chapter 217

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Sentinel squirmed and felt itchy all over as he approached the double doors of the great hall. This was where the treaty had been signed. It was packed full of ponies and Sentinel felt as though he had trouble breathing. The doors had been opened for him as he approached. He saw his mothers and his siblings nearby. He saw the Princesses, all four of them, Princess Cadance now back from the Crystal Empire after she had returned home for several days to take care of affairs there.

âœHello Squire Cornet Sentinel. You look very handsome,â Princess Celestia greeted.

âœWould you happen to know the whereabouts of your father?â Princess Cadance asked in gentle tones, cautiously approaching Sentinel.

âœI will not betray his locationâ but I come bearing a message,â Sentinel said, daring to look up at Princess Celestia as he spoke.

âœWhere is your father?â Princess Cadance said sweetly.

Sentinel licked his lips nervously and his eyes darted between Princess Celestia and Princess Cadance. His wings fluttered against his side and he blinked a few times.

âœSquire, do not betray your fatherâs trust,â Princess Luna instructed, her tone harsh.

âœPrincess Luna!â Princess Celestia said in scathing tones. She turned and glared at her sister, her eyebrow raised sharply. A flashbulb went off, capturing her expression for the newspaper.

âœHe was sent as a messenger. One does not coerce the messenger or kill them,â Princess Luna said, moving near Sentinel. âœNow tell me, what is your fatherâs message?â

âœFather says to catch him if you can,â Sentinel said in a strained voice. He was upset about the idea of killing the messenger, which he did not like, not at all. He drew closer to Princess Luna until he was actually pressed up against her side.

There was giggling from the platform where Buckyâs herd was gathered and a few exasperated sighs. Murmuring could be heard from the group, and it quickly spread over through the hall. Finally, the murmuring became a dull roar as the entire hall began to talk about the missing prince.

âœI want him found. Spare no effort. I want him brought here. Search the castle. Focus on the school wing. Expect prankish resistance,â Princess Celestia said to her Solar Guard. âœAnd make sure my office as Headmistress is well guarded!â

Bucky carefully made his way around the school, visiting his old haunts. With him he had his orb of warning, and the act of holding something was a good test of his concentration. The school was empty, all of the foals packed off to attend the coronation no doubt. Bucky stuck to the ceilings, occasionally the walls, and he prowled the deserted corridors thinking about all of the years of his life he had spent here in this place. He had stayed here for almost twenty years of his life. He had come here as a tiny foal, and he had left here as an adult. Not all that long after graduation, he had met Derpy, and everything had changed.

His nose wrinkled as he passed the alchemy labs. He had done well enough there, but he was not skilled by any stretch of the imagination. He had passing grades. Alchemy was completely optional as far as classes went, and he had attended out of curiousity. The stink of old potions, salves, and brews tingled in his sinuses.

There were no guards posted in the school and he made his way further in. He thought about heading to the astronomy tower, he had another secret nook that he frequently hid inside of there, but instead he continued towards the enchantment and illusion classrooms.

As he approached, he heard the sound of crying. He wondered if there was a lost student, or a troubled student. It was a sound that couldnât be ignored and Bucky moved along to investigate, hobbling along the ceiling on three legs.

The sobbing was coming from one of the illusion classrooms.

He made his way down the wall, stepped onto the floor, and cautiously approached the door. His orb did not vibrate, so there were no guards near. He carefully pulled the door open and looked inside.

In the classroom, sitting at a studentâs desk, there was a blue mare with a pale blue streaked mane. She looked terribly familiar, but Bucky could not recall her name.

The two unicorns stared at one another for a while, the blue one still sniffling and trying to compose herself. She wiped at her eyes and rubbed her nose on her foreleg. She hiccuped a few times as she struggled to get her emotions under control.

âœAre you alright?â Bucky said again now that the blue mare seemed to be in a better position to answer. âœYou seem familiar.â

âœTrixie remembers youâ Trixie used to bully you in school Trixieâ Iâ I donât know who I am any longer,â Trixie replied, falling silent and more tears now trickling from her eyes.

âœI remember you now,â Bucky said. âœYou made my existence miserable. You did terrible things to me. You were so heartless and cruelâ You turned me into a gerbil and left me inside of a maze.â

âœIâM SORRY!â Trixie wailed as she slumped over the desk and began to sob again.

Not knowing what else to do, Bucky reached out and gently patted the inconsolable mare upon the back. She froze up completely at his touch, becoming rather statuesque, and Bucky pulled his hoof away, leaning upon a desk to keep his balance.

âœWhatâ areâ youâ doing?â Trixie asked in a shuddering voice.

âœTrying to comfort you,â Bucky replied.

âœBut I was unspeakably cruel to you,â Trixie sniffled as she lifted her head. She wiped her eyes again and looked at Bucky, her lips quivering and her eyes shimmering with tears.

âœWhat happened to you? I thought you were famous,â Bucky said, his voice full of genuine warmth and concern.

âœTrixie thoughtâ I thought I was famous too,â Trixie said in a miserable voice.

Bucky looked around and peered at the door for a moment. He checked his orb. He then looked up at Trixie. âœWhat happened?â he questioned.

âœBad things,â Trixie answered. âœA lot of ponies started to hate unicorns. Something was running around sucking unicorns dry. It was Tirek. It was a scary time to be a unicorn for a while. Ponies were running around and cracking or breaking off unicorn hornsâ I donât have the best reputationââ

âœYeah, you were a heartless bully and a real show off,â Bucky agreed.

The blue unicorn mare flinched as though struck. âœTrixie deserves that,â she muttered as she looked at Bucky. âœA group of pegasi and earth ponies burned my wagon. With me still inside of it. I had to wink away and then use my talents for illusion to get away from them. I came here. This was the only place that ever felt like home. I begged Princess Celestia and Princess Twilight Sparkle for a place to stay safe. Princess Celestia allowed me to stay here with the agreement that I work as a teacherâs assistant. None of the students respect me. They all laugh at me and make fun of me. Iâm miserable.â Trixieâs expression became morose and she wiped her face yet again, her forelegs now sticky and damp with mucus and tears.

âœIâm sorry,â Bucky stated.

âœWhy are you sorry?â Trixie asked in total befuddlement.

âœBecause you sound sorryâ and it looks like you need a friend,â Bucky replied.

âœTwilight Sparkle is the closest thing I have to a friend. Sheâs been very kind to me,â Trixie stated in a strangled sounding voice. âœLook, Trixie knows who you are nowâ why are you here with me?â

âœBecause they want to stick a crown on my head and I canât let that happen,â Bucky replied.

âœWhy not?!â Trixie exclaimed. âœI mean, you are a prince. You killed a crystal lichâ youâ youâ youâve become great and powerful.â

Not knowing what to say, Bucky shrugged.

âœI donât understand,â Trixie whispered, her nostrils flaring.

âœI donât either,â Bucky said. âœOne minute, Iâm totally okay with life, I finally accepted my solitude, and then out of the blue, I bump snoot first into a pegasus and she runs me down. I thought she was trying to kill me or something. I had no clue what was going on. Next thing I know, I am no longer happy being alone. I couldnât sit in solitude and sulk, hating the world. So I went to see Celestia and I was told to make friends. So I made friends with the grey pegasus, and then this earth pony came along, and oh boy, earth ponies are a whole different critter. We became friends. Stuff happened. Other stuff happened. I got swept away by everything that was happening and I didnât seem to have a say in anything. Eventually I ended up on some isles infested by shadow wolves and to top that off, I had to deal with a thousand year old curse caused by Star Swirl the Bearded and Sombra. I had a terrible dream where I murdered my whole family. I learned something very important from that dream though. I endured. Eventually, with a lot of help, I destroyed the wolves and killed my great grandfather who had become a crystal lich.â

âœWhat did you learn?â Trixie asked, her eyes wide with interest and curiousity.

âœI learned that I am not great nor powerful. I just made friends and they pulled me through. Everything I am is either because of my family or the friends Iâve made,â Bucky stated. âœI couldnât have done this on my own. Everything Iâve become, everything Iâve accomplished, it was because somepony else helped me do it.â

Trixie stared at Bucky, her eyes narrowing as she tried to take in everything he had said. She opened her mouth and started to say something, but then she fell silent and her mouth snapped shut. She closed her eyes and a pained look crept over her face. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

âœI have one friend, and I donât deserve her,â Trixie confessed.

âœWell, now you have two,â Bucky said.

âœBut I wronged you…. I did awful things to youâ I bullied youââ Trixie sputtered.

âœWhy?â Bucky asked bluntly.

Trixie covered her face with her front hooves and slammed herself into the desk. She moaned wordlessly and rocked back and forth in her seat.

âœWhy?â Bucky asked again.

âœBecause Trixieâ because I had a crush on you,â Trixie admitted in a strangled sob.

âœOh,â Bucky said.

âœI spill my guts and all you can say is âœOhâ in reply?â Trixie said as she continued clutching her face and rocking, still trying to comfort herself.

âœWell, I donât know what else to say,â Bucky responded. âœWait, you still donât-â

âœMaybe just a little,â Trixie interrupted.

Sighing through his nostrils, Bucky tried to figure out something nice to say, but failed miserably. He looked at Trixie, focusing his remaining eye upon her.

âœYou were this brilliant enchanter and your skill as a transmuter wasnât bad either. The entire school talked about you. You were as good of an enchanter as I was at illusion. You robbed my limelight. You stole away all of my glory. I plotted and had revenge fantasies. Eventually, those revenge fantasies became something elseâ oh, I was still getting revenge, but in a very sexy way. Well, the very sexy way in the mind of a fifteen year old fillyâ this is very embarrassing,â Trixie confessed.

Bucky looked down with alarm at the vibrating globe on the desk. He panicked. âœOh bugger,â he swore.

âœWhat is it?â Trixie asked.

âœThe guard are near,â Bucky replied. âœTheyâve come for me,â he added.

âœWe canât let them catch you!â Trixie cried.

âœYou donât need to get involved in this,â Bucky answered in a low voice.

âœButâ butâ you said Trixie was your friendââ Trixie whispered, her lower lip quivering.

âœI canât have you in trouble with Princess Celestia and jeopardise your standing here,â Bucky responded. He concentrated and lifted up the orb in his magic, and then shakily got up on his hooves.

âœIâm coming with you,â Trixie whispered. âœI can make us invisible.â

Bucky reconsidered. That was something he had a lot of trouble doing. Aversion was the next best thing. He looked at Trixie. âœYou do understand that I am off limits, right?â

âœWe can still be friends,â Trixie said. âœAny idea where to hide? I know you had hiding places all over the school.â

âœThe astronomy tower. I had a hidden nook there. There should still be a powerful aversion spell lingering on the entrance,â Bucky said.

âœWell, Trixie will get you there, and then Trixie will lead them away with many distractions,â Trixie offered.

âœLetâs go,â Bucky commanded. âœWorst comes to worst, I will write you out a royal pardon.â

Chapter 218

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Princess Luna could not help but feel a little proud as she looked at Sentinel. He was holding up under the pressure rather well. Her sister had continued to try and question him, Princess Cadance had tried to make a few gentle inquiries into Buckminsterâs possible whereabouts, and Sentinel was now playing a word association game with Princess Twilight Sparkle and PiÃa Colada to pass the time. Any further attempts at questioning would be interrupting Princess Twilight Sparkleâs game, which would be rather rude and breach of etiquette.

The great hall was still packed with ponies who waited and there was quite a bit of laughter as guards came in from time to time to report that Buckminster Bitters could not be found. When Princess Celestia had requested that the unicorn guard lock in on Buckminsterâs magical signature, his location was pinged as being in thirty seven different locations all at once, including Princess Celestiaâs office as the school Headmistress.

The guard remained flummoxed.

Princess Luna watched Buckminsterâs wives, all of whom were tittering and giggling, making quiet jokes among themselves. His older foals, Sparklerâs herd, were off standing with one another and the pegasus known as Loch Skimmer occasionally brayed with laughter.

Eventually, Princess Celestia admitted that there might be a few issues getting the Prince to his own coronation and she had food and refreshments served to the guests who had arrived to attend this momentous occasion.

Princess Luna smiled a serene smile. She knew exactly where Buckminster was. He was safely secured in his hidden nook beneath the stairs of the astronomy tower according to one of her shadow stalkers, a mostly invisible servant made of shadowstuff that roamed the castle and kept her informed of everything that went on within these walls. She hoped that Buckminster had a nice conversation with Trixie Lulamoon and she hoped that Trixie would make a much needed friend. Trixie needed friends. She had been inside of Trixieâs mind many times now and Trixie lingered upon the very edge of suicidal despair.

âœThatâs impossible PiÃa! There is no way that floccinaucinihilipilification is a real word!â

Now watching the word game being played, Princess Luna saw Princess Twilight Sparkle conjure up a massive dictionary of obscure words. The book was opened and Twilight began searching, quickly flipping though pages. Princess Lunaâs smile turned into a wide toothy grin as she watched Princess Twilight Sparkle scowl.

âœHow in Equestria did you know about that word?â Princess Twilight Sparkle demanded.

âœOh I have no idea what floccinaucinihilipilification means,â PiÃa replied politely. âœBut Starjammer was fond of using it. I encountered this word at least a dozen times in one of his books.â

âœUgh!â Princess Twilight Sparkle grunted as she stared down at the paper.

âœThere is also floccinaucinihilipilificateâ whatever that means,â PiÃa added. âœHe used that word quite often as well. And floccinaucinihilipilificating too.â

âœStarjammer was a bit verbose,â Princess Twilight Sparkle agreed. âœWell, PiÃa Colada, you win. Congratulations. There is no way I could top that.â

Perhaps delighting just a little too much in Princess Twilight Sparkleâs defeat, Princess Luna felt a great deal of satisfaction in watching the Princess of Friendship being taken down a notch by a foal. Princess Luna sighed. There was going to be nightmares over this. Surely Princess Twilight Sparkleâs neurosis would be triggered by such a loss.

âœYou have food and a few drinks. That cushion is dusty but comfortable. Are you sure that you will be okay in here?â Trixie asked.

âœIâll be fine,â Bucky said. âœThank you Trixie.â

âœThere are guards everywhere. The unicorn guards are out in force. I had to walk right through the middle of a group of them. I wasnât sure if my spell would hold,â Trixie said.

âœTrixie, mind if I give you a magic lesson?â Bucky whispered.

âœBut I must go and lure them away from here,â Trixie said.

âœTrixieâ Iâve learned something very important. Magic is always stronger when it is being cast for somepony elseâs gain rather than your own. I would be willing to bet bits or donuts that your spell held out because you were helping me. This is the big secret to having powerful magic.â

Inhaling sharply, Trixie looked stunned from Buckyâs words. âœThank youâ stay safe my friend. I will lure the guards away and keep them busy.â

As the mare walked away, Bucky smiled a self satisfied smile. When Trixie slipped through the well hidden opening, his smile broadened into a wide grin. He had no idea if what he said was true, but it had seemed true enough for Trixie and that is all that mattered. He hoped that he had set her upon a better path.

His hidey hole was pretty much exactly as he had left it. A hidden nook that could be found under the stairs, the door would open when you pressed upon a hidden stone button that was heavily protected by aversion spells. Bucky had first found it by accident, when he noticed there was a place he couldnât seem to look at no matter how hard he tried. He was busy trying to count all of the stone blocks that made up the retaining wall along the side of the stairs and his count kept failing.

Some other student from long ago has made themselves a secure place to hide away and Bucky had taken it over. Several of Buckyâs old books were still secured in the room, Bucky had left them hoping that some other student would find the room. His notes, his cheat sheets on various types of spell casting were still right where he had left them.

He cracked open a bottle of watermelon-lime soda and took a long swallow. He stuck his muzzle down inside of the basket of food Trixie had rummaged from somewhere. He didnât know where she had found the basket, but the food probably came from the kitchen. In the basket was a wedge of cheese, a loaf of crusty bread, a whole pie of some kind but Bucky wasnât sure what sort, a dozen hard boiled eggs, a small jar of blackcurrant preserves, a pile of peanut butter cookies, and a big container of raspberries that had cream to go with them.

Smacking his lips, Bucky went to work on the eggs, which were already free of their shells. He chewed thoughtfully and noticed that the egg was perfect. Not over boiled with the yolk turned green. Bucky was famished. He tore into the rest of the food and enjoyed the cozy feeling of being back in his hidden nook.

Finally, when he was finished, he settled in for a much needed nap. He was too full.

Princess Celestia watched as the ponies filed out of the great hall, trying to ignore the many snickers and fits of laughter as the crowd exited the room. The coronation had been a dud. She looked over at the small modest circlet still sitting upon the cushion. Buckminster was entitled to the Platinum Crown, but she knew that he would never wear such a gaudy tacky thing.

The circlet was plain, made of silver, and had a fine silver snowflake in the center of the front. It was plain and otherwise unadorned. It had the stark austerity that somehow seemed suitable for the Lord of Winter. Beside it was a torque, a gift commissioned by Keg Smasher. The torque was a relic of a forgotten time, a symbol of a proven warrior in the old traditions, and this torque was carved in old script from the old dead tongue with the word âœchieftainâ written in a language that nopony had spoken in over thousand years.

Princess Celestia still spoke the old words though and the meaning of what they stood for blazed within her breast. She understood now why Keg Smasher had commissioned the torque. It was only after she had read the newspaper article about Buckminsterâs newfound ideals that the real meaning of Keg Smasherâs gift had come crashing down upon her like an avalanche from a mountain.

The room was nearly empty now and Princess Celestia watched as the last few ponies filed out. She came the understanding that she and Buckminster truly wanted very different things. She didnât know how to feel about this revelation. She wanted Buckminster to celebrate his accomplishments. After all he had endured, especially after his painful trial, she wanted a moment where he was seen in a positive light. She wanted him to be happy. But Buckminster had hidden himself away, and Princess Celestia was not entirely certain why. She could not figure out what he was running from.

After awaking from a long nap, Bucky was now roaming the halls, walking out in the open. He had no concerns about being caught. The sun had set and he had a feeling that the coronation had been called off by now. He passed several guards who saluted. Lunar Guards. The Solar Guard has vanished with the setting of the sun. He was now walking among guards loyal to him and his interests, and had no fear of being caught.

Most of the guards were chortling as he passed, and he smiled a self satisfied and rather smug smile as he hobbled along. The augmentation spell was marvelous. His frail body and legs moved easily and he was adjusting well enough to his three legged gait.

He came to the Hall of Glass and noticed that there was a new window, just as he suspected there would be. It was cordoned off by velvet ropes. He approached slowly and looked up the stained glass window and sat down to have himself a long look.

He didnât like the window at all. He scowled. He stood triumphant, striking a heroic pose over an enormous pile of dead wolves, cute looking dead wolves with comically dead faces. He was not wearing his armor. His fulgurite horn was missing, the unicorn in the window was unblemished and perfect in every way. A radiant beam of sunlight shone down upon him. No crystal lich. No terrifying darkness that had nearly robbed him of his sanity. The unicorn standing upon the wolves had all four legs.

âœAfter everything Iâve endured, I have to deal with this insult?â Bucky snarled.

It was almost too much to bear. Reaching out with a careful thump of telekinesis, Bucky shattered the window. It took all of his effort to control, but Bucky held every shard in place. He had long worked with glass, and it was now his prefered medium. He struggled with the focus required for the harmony magic he was using.

The glass was rearranged slowly, a few pieces at a time, and reassembled. It was painful work and it gave Bucky a headache from the level of concentration required. He moved slowly, carefully, making the glass conform to his will.

In no time at all, he was sweating from his concentration, but this was the price of having to learn how to use his magic again. Slowly, the new window took shape. Bucky liked what he was seeing in the new window. This was closer to the truth.

After what felt like hours of effort, Bucky sat back and studied his work.

There was a little tan unicorn with a long black jagged horn. He was missing a hoof. The unicorn was happily shagging a grey pegasus from behind, her hindquarters up in the air and her wings spread. The grey pegasusâ face could not be seen because it was jammed between the legs of a plum coloured earth pony who was lying on her back. Sitting on the earth ponyâs face was a pale blue kelpie pony with a green mane and tail. Beside the foursome was a beige earth pony and a mint green unicorn engaged in mutual cunnilingus, just as Bucky imagined they would do. He included the careful detail of the beige earth pony being on top. He didnât want to make Bon Bon angry again any time soon. He owed her after the lying he had done.

In the distance, there were a few foals playing with one another, and off to the other side was another group of ponies. A purple-pink mare, a sky blue stallion, and two charcoal grey pegasi, one with a straw coloured mane and the other with blue. They were chasing after one another in a circle. In bottom corner was a pile of dead wolves. Horrifying ugly things. Nothing cute about them. Flames rose from the pile of bodies. In the other bottom corner, a room full of different coloured crystals could be seen, and a black armored figure standing defiantly before them.

Bucky liked this version of the window much better. Especially the happy grin on the pale blue kelpie ponyâs face as she was being gobbled three ways to Sunday by the earth pony beneath her. Now the window was truthful, or so Bucky felt.

âœYou know, your artistry with glass is spectacular. Your wife Derpy showed me the marvelous glass pegasus you made for her.â

Bucky cringed.

âœI have been alive for a very long time, and I have never seen any glasswork quite as perfect as that pegasus. You captured every detail of her perfectly. And now, you have created a masterpiece of stained glass.â

His muscles all clenching, Bucky waited for the mother of all scoldings. He was caught in the act, and he had stood Celestia up today. He could hear her approaching. After a moment, she stood beside him, leaning forward to study the new stained glass window Bucky had worked so hard to create.

âœThistle looks very happy,â Celestia remarked.

Bucky said nothing, he knew a trap when he was caught in one.

âœYou are the Lord of Winter. Upon the first day of winter, I will surrender my control of the seasons to you. You will be responsible for creating the first snows of the season. I know that you know the spell to do so. It will be your job to heal the land during the cold season of death. Come spring, you will surrender control of the seasons back to me. Sombra once did this job. It was a duty that he truly loved, and it was how I knew that he was lost to me foreverâ when he refused to end the winter.â

Bucky didnât know what to say. Celestia was crying again and he had no idea how to make her feel better. He remained silent as he sat by her side. She towered over him, he could stand completely beneath her and not even touch her belly. He felt like a foal again.

âœSince you seem to have an aversion to the word âœprinceâ I am giving you the title you feel most comfortable with. Chieftain. I feel that it is somehow most appropriate for you. You are already gathering a tribe. Cadance has the north, Twilight has her kingdom, you will have your tribe. Somehow, this all feels right.â

âœCadance sits upon the throne that is rightfully mine,â Bucky stated in a low solemn voice.

âœDo you want it? She has offered to abdicate her position for you,â Celestia replied.

âœNo,â Bucky responded. âœLet Love rule in Warâs stead. I will lead a tribe of warriors, defenders, and dutiful servants.â

âœI am so very proud of you. You should ascend-â

âœNot this again,â Bucky said, daring to interrupt the monarch he knew he was in hot water with. âœNo. Every time you ask, every time you mention, my answer will be no. It will never change. I refuse to release war upon the world. I will remain the unicorn of lusty buggery,â he stated, gesturing at the window with his bandaged stump.

âœBuckminster, you cannot run from your destiny forever. Look what happened to Twilight Sparkle. She died. Eventually, the same will happen to you,â Celestia said in a sad voice.

âœAnd if you love me you will let me stay dead,â Bucky retorted.

âœBuckminster, please, do not ask me to pick between the love of one pony and the lives of millions,â Celestia pleaded.

âœYou donât understandâ the alicorn of war is the end of all things. Even you. I love you. But if you walk away from this conversation with me believing that you will raise me once I go, I will go out and commit deeds so black that Tartarus will secure my soul in the deepest darkest prison they have available just to keep it from ever reaching my body again,â Bucky promised.

âœSo this is how it is going to be between us?â Celestia asked in a heartbroken voice.

âœThat depends on you. I donât want things like this between us. I would rather be your servant. I would rather be your devoted slave, just as I now am to my wives and family. But I donât want to ascend, and I donât want to live in fear of you raising me when I am in no position to stop you,â Bucky replied.

Celestia bowed her head. âœI give you my word. I will not resurrect your divine essence. However, I will occasionally try to convince you to do the right thing,â Celestia promised.

âœI can live with that I suppose. It will be annoying, but I can live with that. I will serve you. I suppose you already know about my special oath of fealty to Luna,â Bucky said.

âœI do,â Celestia answered. âœIt has made my sister very happy. We have talked about it in private at some length.â

âœIâm glad you like the window,â Bucky commented, desperate to change the subject.

âœI plan to leave it exactly how it is,â Celestia said with a sniffle. âœI know how my little ponies stay warm through the winter. It is somehow fitting.â

âœToday, Trixie learned the secret to power that you and the others have kept so carefully hidden from me,â Trixie said to Twilight Sparkle.

The pair were sprawled out and comfortable in Twilightâs private quarters, both flopped out on the enormous bed, and Twilight was pleased that Trixie had managed to make a friend. She was curious about Trixieâs knowledge about the secret of power. Trixie often came up with all kinds of interesting things in her quest for power and glory.

âœBuckminster revealed the secret to strong magicâ how he is capable of such powerful feats of magic and you as wellâ and I have seen the proof for myself!â Trixie exclaimed.

Twilight smiled. Trixie kept slipping in and out of the third pony, but she was getting better. Her neurosis wasnât as bad as it once was. âœWell, what did Buckminster reveal exactly?â

âœHe told me the secret to having powerful wizardry is to not cast spells for yourself, but for othersâ and I have witnessed the proof of this today as I eluded the guards and brought him lunch. I did nothing for personal gain today and my feats of magic were most impressive,â Trixie replied.

âœYou know Trixie, he is absolutely rightâ I am a little shocked that he shared our little secret to being great and powerful. You must have really touched him today for him to reveal that,â Twilight answered.

Trixie blushed. âœI confessed to him that I only picked on him in school because I had a crush on him,â she said as she tapped her forehooves together. âœAnd I was very honest with him today. He was kind to me.â

Twilight sighed and felt happy for her friend. It was obvious to anypony who looked that Trixie was definitely turning over a new leaf. She made a mental note to have a word with Buckminster about his cleverness in dealing with Trixie.

Chapter 219

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The woods were dark and kind of scary. Bucky moved around cautiously, his small foal body easily slipping through trees. His wings fluttered at his sides. He could not help but wonder what sort of horror was going to come and ambush him next. He was getting pretty good at recognising when he was having one of those sorts of dreams, and this had all the signs of being a bad one. The woods looked just like the Everfree Forest. Black vines were everywhere and he could see scary glowing eyes in the distance.

Owls hooted in the darkness and bats flew overhead. Unseen things chittered in the deep dark, unpleasant gurgles and growls reached his ears. Bucky cowered, the small stunted alicorn foal of war was a rather pathetic sight all things considered. Bucky heard a rustling in the bushes. He turned his head, his Taint filled eyes trying to focus on whatever was there.

He saw a zebra and cocked his head to the side, now puzzled. What was a zebra doing here, he wondered. He studied the zebra for a moment and was curious about what he could to do defend himself if this turned into something horrible, and he was sure that it would.

âœYou have no need to fear us, we love you, little one,â the zebra said kindly.

An earth pony stepped out from the thicket and looked at Bucky with a gentle face. âœWe thought weâd drop in on you now that you are one of us. See how you are settling in to this new life and all that comes with it.â

âœWe are glad to know that you are better. For a time, we were worried,â a unicorn said as she stepped out behind the earth pony.

âœWe worried for our brother,â the zebra said, her voice gentle and sweet.

Suddenly, Bucky remembered everything. âœI know you. I made a deal with youâ and I know your fatherââ

âœFather,â the earth pony said.

âœMother,â the unicorn stated.

âœCreator,â the zebra added. âœIt is all the same, brother.â

âœDonât bother asking for our names,â the earth pony said as she saw Bucky opening his mouth. âœYou have suffered enough without knowing those.â

An owl flew overhead and Bucky jumped. A second later, he found himself embraced by the earth pony, who was sitting with him and holding him close, one leg around him squeezing him to her barrel. He felt her lips kiss the top of his head.

âœAre you Celestia and Lunaâs sisters?â Bucky asked.

âœYes,â the zebra answered.

âœNo,â the unicorn replied.

âœHalf,â the earth pony explained as she gave Bucky a loving squeeze.

âœI donât understand,â Bucky said, shaking his head as he did so.

âœThey were born. In time, when they had proven worthy, they were given the divine sparks of Light and Darkness, who had already been born long before Celestia and Luna. The Royal Pony Sisters became avatars, bodies for Light and Darkness. We sprang directly from our creatorâs mind and we took on bodies over time,â the unicorn explained.

âœWe are the Fates,â the zebra stated.

âœAnd we are at war with our father,â the earth pony said.

âœWe have gone against her will,â the unicorn added. âœShe wishes to bring about the end of all things. It amuses him that we strive against him. Our mother does little to stop our intrusions. He does not believe that we are powerful enough to thwart her plans,â the unicorn mare explained.

Bucky felt dizzy. The gender pronouns were as confusing as Harperâs insistence of all things female.

âœYou are the end of all things,â the zebra said rather accusingly.

âœI donât want to be,â Bucky whined in a squeaky foal voice.

âœWe donât want you to be either,â the earth pony said. She gave Bucky another motherly squeeze and kissed him once more. âœOh my you are adorable you little alicorn foal of war you,â she gushed in between kisses. She showered Bucky with every ounce of earth pony foal affection she could muster.

âœSoâ I guess my reward for our bargain was me living through the death spell,â Bucky said as he tried to put the pieces together as he endured the earth pony mareâs endless affections and physical adoration.

âœNo,â the unicorn replied. âœYour reward is forthcoming. Soon.â

âœWe know that you will be happy with it,â the zebra said in a cheerful voice.

âœI guess you canât tell me what it isâ since you canât do that, tell me, why does Celestia believe my ascension is a good idea?â Bucky inquired.

âœShe can see some of the bigger picture, but not all of the bigger picture, and father has whispered into her ear,â the earth pony replied. âœMother told only half truths to our half sister. Celestia is too virtuous to question the divine will of our creator. She would blindly obey and bring about the end of all things because she is a devoted foal to our parent. It is her best and worst quality, her strength and her weakness. She loves. Sometimes blindly.â

âœCanât you tell her?â Bucky asked.

âœShe is not on speaking terms with us. We have rebelled against our motherâs will,â the zebra said in a sad voice. âœWe cannot convince her to see reason. Weâve tried so hard.â

âœWe still love our half sister a great deal,â the unicorn said. âœBut she is too assured of her own goodness and the idea that she is inherently right. She does make mistakes. When father stops speaking to her for a while, she begins to flounder from a lack of direction. She looks for signs, portents, messages in the stars and occasionally, she sees something that is not there. She becomes frantic when mother goes silent.â

âœSo where do I fit in with all of this? I mean, what now? What can I do to help? How can I help make things better and try to make sure that life goes on?â Bucky questioned.

âœYou would help us? Even after everything you have already done? All you have endured?â the earth pony replied, squeezing Bucky yet again.

âœOf course. Not only do I love my wives, but I love my foals. And I will love their foals. And those foals that will come after. I would do anything for them,â Bucky vowed.

âœIf you will help us willingly, we will owe you one favour,â the zebra said, scratching her side with her one brown hoof. âœA favour between family members.â

The unicornâs horn flashed brightly and the dark woods faded away.

The group stood in a crystal cave and it was full of light. Bucky saw a tree, and it was unlike any other tree he had seen. It was made of crystal, or appeared to be, and parts of it twinkled. He gasped from its beauty and he slipped free from the earth ponyâs fond embrace to move closer. He saw the cutie marks of Celestia and Luna upon on the trunk, he saw Twilight Sparkleâs cutie mark a little higher up, and he saw the elements of harmony.

âœWe planted this tree,â the unicorn announced.

âœThis was the beginning of our rebellion,â the zebra said.

âœThis is where we defied our creator and started to take our stand,â the earth pony explained in a solemn voice. âœWe robbed a smidge of our creatorâs divine essence. We stole a single speck of star dust from her mane and we brought it here as this planet was dying.â

âœWe planted it, and like a seed, it grew over time,â the unicorn said as she drew near Bucky. âœFor a time, the harmony it brings was used to resolve conflicts. Now, the elements have been restored to the tree to aid our half sisters in balancing the cosmos. It has made their task a little easier. It was Twilight Sparkle who reunited the sisters and restored the elements.â

âœSo what is my part in all of this?â Bucky inquired.

âœAside from destroying everything?â the zebra replied.

âœComeâ see,â the unicorn said. She pointed at the tree with her hoof. âœDo you see?â

Bucky looked at the tree and the ground around it. He studied everything carefully, trying to look for whatever it was he was supposed to be seeing. He searched the trunk. He searched the ground. He reached out and touched Celestiaâs mark and Lunaâs mark. âœI donât see anything related to me,â he finally admitted. He stared at his three big sisters and waited for some kind of help from them.

âœLook closer,â the unicorn urged.

Feeling frustrated, Bucky circled the tree a few times and tried to figure out what he was supposed to see. There was nothing. He stepped in and out of the light and the darkness as he circled the tree and could find nothing. Finally, he sat down and flapped his wings in frustration. âœNo hops plant anywhere.â

The zebra and the unicorn laughed while the earth pony looked on with gentle affection. She approached Bucky slowly, touched him gently, and then sat down beside him. Kissing him softly once more, she remained close after the kiss and whispered into his ear. âœThe tree casts a shadow. The shadow is just as much a part of harmony as the light. One defines the other. The treeâs shadow has many meanings. For some, it is dismissed as darkness. For others, it is a shaded place of comfort out of the sun for them to rest. But the shadow of the tree serves a purpose, just as much as the tree does. You exist within the shadow.â

Bucky sat in dumbfounded silence and could not form the words to make a response. He leaned against the tree and felt it thrum against his skin. Something about the faint vibration was soothing. He closed his eyes and pressed his ear against the tree. He found that he could hear things, the vibration forming sounds as it pulsed into his head. The sounds of a crying foal. Laughter. The swearing of an oath of duty, the details quickly slipping away as Bucky heard them. Kind generous words of encouragement. The heady crackle of strong magic. He heard Lunaâs voice singing a soft lullaby. He heard his own words to his great grandfather, his last defiant shout as he let go with all the dark magic he could muster. He heard the lewd squishy sounds of two ponies enjoying the act of making foals a great deal, including vows of true love spoken in the heat of the moment, perhaps the most honest of all words between two ponies madly in love, the heavy breathing, and the soft giggles as they approached natureâs reward for continuing the species, the orgasm.

He heard Celestia saying that she loved him.

He pulled his head away from the tree, feeling dizzy. He had trouble sitting up. He felt as though he had entirely too much to drink. He started to fall over and he felt a leg catch him. The cave whirled around him, and there was nothing he could do to regain his senses. He saw strange lights and their brightness dazzled his eyes as they danced all around him. He was blinded by their flashes as they pulsed. They were cutie marks, destiny marks, but he could not make out what they were. There were many, and they all flashed as they swirled around his head.

He felt himself being lowered down and his head resting on something warm and soft, but he couldnât see well enough to figure out what it was. The sounds of the cosmos were echoing in his head now, a steady vibration inside of his skull. Something protruded at his mouth, pressing in on his lips. He felt his mouth open and something slipped in, pressing against his tongue.

A moment later, his mouth was flooded with milk and he was forced to swallow to keep from choking. The milk was both bitter and sweet. Salty and sour. It was everything and nothing all at once and he felt his heart thudding inside of his barrel as more and more of it flooded down his throat. He had trouble keeping up with the torrent raging from the teat. He could feel his heart beating inside of his ears. He struggled for air but there was none to be had. There was only the milk, and it was life giving. So long as he kept swallowing, the need for air remained a painful need and not a necessity.

Somehow, he knew that he was sucking at the teats of the earth pony. There was a dull roaring in his ears, but it grew louder and louder. Soon, it was all he could hear. His mind slowly went blank, all conscious thought slowly slipping away from him. There was only warmth and comfort.

Suddenly, the roaring in his ears went silent and the world went still. The milk continued to flow into his mouth and down this throat. There was no longer any frantic need to breathe. He was content now, happy, not worried about death at all.

âœGo forth brotherâ and know we love you,â three voices said in unison.

Chapter 220

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Bucky slowly awoke and became aware of the world around him. His brain still swirled with the things he knew, memories, knowledge, he remembered everything from his dream. As he slowly came to the waking world, he became aware of the soft indirect light of day streaming through the window. He felt the warmth of the pegasus sleeping beside him.

But something was wrong.

He raised his stump and gave it a shake. He couldnât feel anything. He was aware that he should feel something. It should hurt. It should itch. There should have been some indicator that something was wrong. With a soft wordless cry of worry, he grabbed the bandages in his teeth and tore them free. The sticky tape pulled some of the fine hairs of his pelt out, and he felt that, a faint sting more than anything else. He stared at his stump.

It was completely healed over. The flesh was pink and healthy looking. It was covered with a latticework of fine scars, but it was healed. He prodded the end of his stump into his chin, bracing for the pain as he did so. There was soft twinge for a moment, but no spike of blinding pain. He took a quick mental inventory of himself. Reaching down, scraped away the bandage covering his brand with his remaining front hoof. Right away he was aware of something different. No pain. Even as he pawed at the bandage, rubbing himself should have hurt.

The bandage half on and half off, Bucky turned his attention to other places. Fidgeting around, he went to work on the bandage on his side, near his shoulder, where he had the laceration. He touched it gingerly. No screaming agony. He prodded himself again. He could feel the lump of scar tissue under the bandage.

It slowly dawned on Bucky that not only was he healed, but he had his strength back.

He bounced out of bed and skittered on three legs. Derpy awoke in the bed and started to look at him through half opened eyes. Bucky suffered from a sudden urge to grab her and shag her senseless, but he had something else he needed to do.

âœI love you. Iâm fine. Iâll be back real soon,â Bucky said as he took off at a three legged trot for the door. âœReally, see, Iâm fine, Iâll explain later.â

âœBucky, get back in this bed,â Derpy mumbled as she started to lift herself.

Focusing his concentration, Bucky called forth his magic and exploded into a cloud of snowflakes, exiting the room in his usual dramatic fashion.

It was difficult to wait patiently. Celestia needed to know everything. She needed to know the truth. He had reappeared near the entrance to the royal wing, the section of the castle where the two sisters had their private quarters. The guards had been a little surprised to see him, and had shown him to a small sofa where he could sit and wait to see Celestia.

He heard low voices talking, and then he heard her voice. He took a deep breath. He wasnât sure how he was going to convince her of the truth, what it was that she needed to hear. He had to tell her about the Fates. He had to tell Celestia about her mistakes.

And then, he saw her. Celestia and Raven came around the corner together, both of them looking at Bucky, and Raven had a bemused look upon her face. Celestia was smiling, her usual soft gentle smile. Bucky felt his heart racing as he prepared himself for what needed to be done.

He took another deep breath, collected his thoughts. and began to sort out how to tell the guardian of the cosmos that she was making a terrible mistake and she needed to hear what her half sisters, the Fates, had to say and the truth of the matter. He opened his mouthâ

âœYou look especially fine today ladies.â

Bucky blinked a few times, trying to understand what had just happened. The words he had wanted to say hadnât come out at all. Something else had taken their place. This was not expected.

âœBuckminster?â Celestia said gently, sounding slightly concerned. She could see a confused look on Buckyâs face and wasnât sure what was happening.

Bucky pressed on, determined to try again, to stubborn to give up. âœYou know, Raven, if I may be so bold, you have aged like a fine wine. A very drinkable wine I might add.â

Inside of his mind, Bucky began screaming as he saw Raven turn beet red. Celestia was also blushing, turning a faint shade of pink. He stared at the two mares in stunned horror. He had tried to tell Celestia that he was aware of the cosmic alicorn and the Fates. Instead, he had just made a pass at Celestiaâs personal assistant. And from the looks of things, Raven was all to happy to accept that pass and run with it.

âœIâm worried… Buckminster, are you feeling okay?â Celestia inquired as she patted the stammering unicorn mare at her side. Celestiaâs brows furrowed.

âœIâm fine. Really. I had this weird dream last night and I wanted to tell you about PICKLE BARREL KUMQUATS-â Bucky clamped his remaining front fetlock over his muzzle and his surviving eye opened wide. âœCHIMICHERRYCHANGA!â The word slipped out from his mouth unbidden as he was trying think of a way to say what needed to be said without actually saying it, and the brilliant idea of writing it down had crossed his mind. He abandoned the idea.

âœBuckminster?â Celestia inquired again in an concerned voice.

âœI had some weird dreams and I woke up healed,â Bucky said as he held up his stump. He didnât dare say anything else. Raven was giving him flirty looks and Bucky squirmed uncomfortably.

Coming forward quickly, Celestia peered at Buckyâs stump, her eyes narrowing as she studied the now healed over end. Her eyes widened, then narrowed, and she made a peculiar equine sound of confusion, a sort of whinny-nickering-bellow-grunt of perplexed emotion. âœIt does look betterâ but I worry that your brain might be a bit scrambled.â

âœOh my brain was scrambled a long time ago,â Bucky said dismissively.

âœNo, Buckminster, I am concerned. You faced a crystal lich. The aura of fear they generate is damaging to the mind. Your behaviour has beenâ erratic lately to say the very least,â Celestia said as she continued to study the healed over skin.

âœCelestia, I threw myself off of The Scorned Mare and dropped over a mile, plunging towards the earth. I only survived because of my armor. The sane part of my brain that causes me to feel fear has been malfunctioning for quite some time,â Bucky responded.

âœI see,â Celestia said. She shot Raven a sour look and the unicorn mare began to compose herself under Celestiaâs withering gaze.

With a loud squawk, Freezerburn went shooting off down the hall with Philomena in hot pursuit. Bucky watched the pair of phoenixes go streaking off. He scratched the scarred side of his face with his right front hoof.

âœThose two,â Raven sighed.

âœSo is that where Freezerburn has been hiding?â Bucky asked.

âœMuch to my dismay, Philomena has chosen Freezerburn as her mate. Phoenixes mate for life you know. And they are functionally immortal,â Celestia replied.

âœWell, Iâm glad heâs happy,â Bucky said as he listened to the shrill cries and squawks from the down the hall.

âœI am just glad that the worst of the pranks are over. What a horrible way to attract a mate,â Celestia said as she lifted her head up high. âœYou know Buckminster, corrupted phoenixes are very rare and quite dangerous. I am genuinely surprised that Freezerburn is so kind and well behaved. He is a lot like you. He has endured something terrible but has somehow kept himself from becoming a monster.â

Bucky nodded. He had come here to tell Celestia the truth but now was getting a brief lecture about the behaviours of phoenixes. He sighed. He felt the warm tingle of magic upon his side and then he was pushed over slightly. He felt the bandage over his gash being pulled away gently and then he heard a gasp from Celestia. He turned his head to look at her and saw her stunned expression.

âœIt is healed,â Celestia said. âœBut there is no evidence of healing magic. There should be a magical signature. Healing magic would trigger your ascensionâ this is difficult to understand. Is there anything else you wanted to tell me?â

âœWell, there is something OATMEAL? ARE YOU CRAZY?â Bucky replied. Once again, he covered his mouth with his fetlock. He wanted to tell Celestia about his problem, that every time he tried to tell her about what was going on, he had strange words come blurting out of his mouth, but even that caused him to blurt out a crazy jumble of nonsensical words. He realised that Celestia was deep inside of his personal space now. He could feel her breathing on his snoot. She was an inch away, nose to nose, snoot to snoot, and she was studying him.

âœI am worried Buckminster. I am very, very concerned,â Celestia stated.

âœDoctor said I need to eat more. I, uh, er, well, he said, um, well the earth pony doctor you have looking after me said I might suffer from fugue like states if I donât eat enough,â Bucky stammered. âœSomething to do with my messed up thaumaturgical gland mana conversion system. Lots of medical mumbo-jumbo.â

âœI would go have breakfast if I were you,â Celestia suggested.

âœI think Iâll go screw my breakfast and eat all my wives,â Bucky murmured. His eye shot wide open and his pupil shrank down to a pinprick. âœIâ ohâ eat my breakfastââ he stammered, not bothering to finish his sentence.

âœBuckminster,â Celestia said in concern.

Not knowing how else to deal with the situation, Bucky teleported, leaving behind a flurry of snowflakes and a layer of frost all over the walls.

Celestia shivered and shook the snow from her pelt. âœIt was bad enough when Sombra did that,â she muttered. âœLeaving ice and snow everywhere. Brrrr!â

âœI dunno, Iâm feeling kinda warm,â Raven said, her eyes narrowed as she smiled a pleasant smile. âœHave I really aged like fine wine?â

Sitting at the table, hunched over some paper, and surrounded by a pile of books, dictionaries, and thesauruses, Sentinel concentrated upon the task at hoof. It was difficult to focus. His father was acting peculiar, more so than usual. He was worried about Moonbow. Harper kept sneezing and occasionally her magical blasts ricocheted. Lyra kept hollering at Dinky to put something down, couches, the refrigerator, ponies, and Dinky kept trying to figure out just how much she could lift with her magic.

Nopony seemed to appreciate that Sentinel had an important job to do and nopony would be quiet so he could focus. He was about to unleash the first volley in his assault against General Iron Sky, a pegasus that Sentinel simply could not stand. Sentinel wanted his words to be a slap across the muzzle to the obnoxious general.

He looked at the crumpled balls of paper that were his first attempts. He needed to write something spectacular, something witty, something worthy of the paper. He wanted ponies to talk.

Clutching his pencil in between his grasping thumb and the central knuckle of his right wing, Sentinel stuck out his tongue in concentration and began to write once again.

Bucky leaned his head back against the edge of the tub and sighed. He didnât care that the tub was a little crowded. He closed his eye and allowed himself to mindlessly drift away as he felt Berry Punch scrubbing his stomachâ and everything else down there. A hot cup of coffee was sitting on the counter near the tub. The hot water made the tight skin on his stump relax. Lifting the coffee carefully in his magic, he took a sip of the hot liquid, shuddered from the pleasant feeling of it trickling down his throat, and then levitated it back to the counter.

It was nice being able to sit in a hot bath again.

âœTrue love means never having to scrub your own back,â Berry said as she teasingly scrubbed around a very sensitive area. âœThank you for scrubbing my backâ Iâm glad you are feeling better,â she added in sultry tones.

Bucky wished that he could tell Berry what had happened, but he was terrified of what might come out of his mouth. He remained silent and simply enjoyed the moment. The tub was just wide enough for Berry to be squeezed in beside him, but only if they were pressed tightly together, and the feeling of her touch as she scrubbed everything that needed scrubbingâ Bucky shivered.

It was good to be up and moving once again.

Chapter 221

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An open letter to General Iron Sky

Today, I hope to have my say about several issues. First, Iâd like to call you out about your idea that only those who have served having the right to vote. It sickens me. I see it for what it is. It isnât even about just serving, but sexism as well, a word my mother Berry Punch has taught me a great deal about. The majority of the guard are males since only males can serve in combat roles. According to Princess Luna, males make up roughly one seventh to one sixth of our population. A minority by all accounts. Under your policy, around six sevenths of the population would have no right to vote, and those that do vote would likely be pressured to vote in the interests of those higher up in command. This would give a minority overwhelming power over a majority. You sir, are a pompous buffoon. This is not even taking into consideration that of that one seventh, only a fraction of those are serving in the military, the rest are civilians.

This is the rule of the noble houses all over again, a small minority having absolute power over the majority. Is this what we, the ponies of Equestria, want a return to?

Second, the ability of females to perform in combat. Some of the most powerful combatants I know are female. My sister Ripple is a Dragoon and has a destiny mark because of her combat prowess. The Shetland Isles, where I come from, is now transitioning over and allowing females in active combat roles. Should I mention Princess Luna herself, perhaps the greatest melee combatant who has ever lived if certain historical notes are to be believed? And what of Princess Lunaâs rumoured Myrmidons, the majority of which are rumoured to be female because the males have trouble completing the training?

I am sick of hearing how fragile mares are and how they need to be protected. I am sick of hearing that mares are the weaker sex. I have grown tired of the notion that only males are fit for combat, and by extension, the right to vote.

I am tired of hearing how something takes balls to do. I am sick of male genitalia being used as euphemisms for power, toughness, and endurance. There is no truth in these statements. As evidence of my own statement, I offer up the following: Once, in play, my sister PiÃa Colada stepped upon my testicles. The pain was blinding. It was all I could do not to cry. Testicles, balls, the potato sack, there is nothing tough about them. They are fragile. Weak. Soft. One swift strike is all it takes to disable a foe, something my sister Ripple repeatedly points out in conversations about combat.

No, if you want toughness, you have to look at filly bits. Those things were made to take a pounding. Look at the size of a foal and compare it to the hole from which it exits, and then imagine passing that foal out through your colt bits. There is far too much evidence suggesting that mares are tougher than stallions.

My name is Sentinel, and this is my plea to the public. Females, demand your right to serve. Protect our budding right to vote. If you are a female and you wish to serve, please, send a letter to your local paper and let your fellow ponies know. Give good reasons as to why you wish to serve. We now have a public voice, let us use it responsibly.

Squire Cornet Sentinel, son of Knight Major Buckminster Bitters.

Sentinel stared at his letter for several minutes. He wasnât sure if it was a very good letter, he hadnât really done something like this before, but taking that first step was important. He had to stumble a few times if he was ever going to run. He trembled as he reread his words. He wasnât sure if the dictionaries and the thesauruses had helped him or not. The letter seemed awful and he was tempted to crumple it up with the others. He snatched it in his grasping digits, folded it carefully, and placed it inside of the envelope. He held a bar of sealing wax over a lit candle, allowed it to soften, shook it to make it dribble upon the envelope, sealing the envelope with wax and then pressed Princess Lunaâs royal stamp to the wax leaving her mark imprinted in it. He carefully wrote down that the letter was to go to the Canterlot Trumpet. He blew out the candle and pressed his lips together in stoic resignation.

For a moment, Sentinel was worried that he was going to throw up. He had himself a bad case of nerves. He fought back the queasy feeling in his guts, slipped out of his chair, made his way to the door, exited the door, made his way down the hall, and then delivered his letter to a guard with instructions for delivery.

Feeling even worse, Sentinel made his way back to the room, shut the door behind him, made his way to a sofa, sat down, clutched his stomach, and wondered what to do with the twenty bits promised to him if he wrote something that generated public interest. He had very little concept of money, and Equestriaâs economy was only just now recovering. Bits were just starting to be used again. He had no idea if twenty bits was a lot of money or not, nor did he care.

Much to his relief, he felt himself being pulled into Sparklerâs embrace, and he went willingly, without fuss or protest. He felt her kiss the top of his head and he felt comforted. He said nothing as he continued to think about what he had done.

Bucky was sitting on the sofa enjoying family time when the door opened. There was no knock, no warning, no nothing. Luna strode through with a heavy wooden case held in her magic. Behind her were several unicorn guards.

The wooden case was set down upon the floor with a thud and Bucky recognised it right away. It was the case that held his armor. A familiar looking axe was set down upon the case, and then a set of war shoes.

âœThese artifacts of dubious origins are being returned to you,â Luna announced. âœThey are to be used in service of the empire. They are too well made, too useful, and too practical to be destroyed, in this my sister and I are in agreement. Buckminster, once you have constructed an appropriate vault, the orb with the still beating demon heart will be returned to you. You are to be its custodian. It isâ useful and after much debate, my sister and I have decided to take advantage of it. Rising Star, it is my understanding that you are getting a royal commission to work steel for my sister. You are to have access to this orb for certain projects. Once your skill has improved, I may commission you to make Myrmidon armor.â

The room was filled with stunned silence.

After several moments of just sitting there, Rising Star finally spoke up. âœIâd be honoured,â he said in a quiet voice. He took a deep breath and looked at Bucky.

âœMy shoes,â Ripple said as she cautiously crept forward. âœAnd my Masterâs axe.â

âœThank you Luna,â Bucky said.

âœYou are most welcome,â Luna replied.

âœLuna, while I have you here, Iâd like to bend your ear,â Bucky said.

âœI have a small amount of time. Before you bend my ear, you have a meeting with two ponies in just a little while. You will be escorted to meet with them. You and Lyra Heartstrings both,â Luna said in return.

Nodding, Bucky looked around at his wives and saw each of them give a faint nod. He cleared his throat, coughed, more out of habit than need, his lungs hadnât bothered him all morning, and then looked at Luna. âœWeâ all of us, humbly request your service as a godmother for our foals,â he said at he looked Luna in the eye.

âœWhat?â Luna said, her teal eyes going wide. Her wings fluttered softly at her sides.

âœWe want you to be the godmother to our foals,â Derpy said.

âœNopony has ever requested thisâ We doth not know how to respond,â Luna said, falling into old speech patterns as her emotions took over. She took a few steps backwards and her nostrils flared. After a few moments of heavy breathing, her ears drooped down to the sides of her face.

âœMaybe there is some formal method we missed out on, but we thought that we would just ask directly," Berry Punch stated.

Thistle nodded. âœWant a kelpie foal?â she offered.

âœWe doth accept thine offerââ Luna said in a strained cracking voice. There was a crackle of magic from her horn and then she was gone, vanishing in a bright flash of blue.

âœIs she okay?â Derpy asked as the unicorn guard filed out the door.

âœI think she was overcome with emotion. She probably wanted a moment alone to compose herself,â Bon Bon said as the door was pulled shut.

âœThe only thing left to do now is to get Sentinel legally recognised as my heir and son,â Bucky said as he leaned against Derpy and took deep breath. âœI hope we get to go home to Ponyville soon.â

Bucky stared at the circlet that symbolised his authority and the torque that marked him as a chieftan. He looked at the note left in the small wooden box containing the two items. He sighed, thankful that his royal title was not âœprinceâ and was something he could live with. He ignored the circlet and instead placed the torque around his neck. It was small, made of braided silver cables, and the two end caps were wolf heads with open roaring mouths. Their eyes were little onyx flecks. The torque was strangely warm to the touch and Bucky suspected it was magical. He would figure out what it did later.

He looked at himself in the mirror, lifting his head high for a moment, and then dropped it back down to his more usual slouching position. He bared his fangs, looking at them, stuck out his tongue and licked them, and then he closed his mouth after pulling his tongue back in. He got a good look at his artificial eye. The black fulgurite in his eye socket was shockingly smooth in contrast to his horn. The tiny emerald in the dead center of the black fulgurite flickered briefly as his mind commanded it to light. He examined his Taint filled eye and briefly wondered how many mana calories he burned from the continuous magical emission. Perhaps a doctor might know. He leaned in close to the mirror and looked at his horn. It was every bit as long as Celestiaâs. Black, jagged, with a few places having sharp bladed edges. At a certain angle, he thought he almost looked like a changeling. His long shaggy pelt was shiny and healthy looking now. His sideburns framed his face and they were long and full.

He turned around and stared at his own backside. His hind legs were withered and malformed now. The doctors told him his tendons and ligaments had suffered terrible damage, some of them had been bitten right through. He flicked his tail, which was almost floor length. Such length was unheard of on a stallion and he expected that he would have to endure a few laughs.

Ponies laughing about his tail length were the least of his worries though.

His ribs were still visible but getting better. He had nearly killed himself with continuous magic use the doctors said. His spree of never-ending spell casting had taken a toll upon his body and the consequences were unknown. Constant use of deep magic. The endless nights of creating spells jars and filling them with spells. Creating artifacts. Unicorns were never meant to cast spells for so long with such poor food and so little rest. It was generally accepted by all of his doctors that it had been Berry Punchâs exceedingly rich and nutrient dense teat milk that had kept him going during the final days when he burned through everything he had trying to prepare. Harper had indirectly saved his life.

Without Harper, Berry Punch would have never started nursing. Without Berry Punch, Bucky understood that he would have died at some point, probably slipping off in his sleep or having some sort of magical aneurysmâ the possibilities of how he might have died were endless. Such a small thing had made such a difference.

He shook his head slightly and his mane spilled down around his torque. He decided he would wear the torque. He felt as though he had earned it. He would only wear the circlet when he absolutely had to. He liked the torque. The two wolf heads were powerful reminders of what he had faced, what he had endured, and what made him the pony with a horn that he was now.

He smiled at himself. He had to go. He had a meeting with two ponies.

Chapter 222

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âœIâm nervous Bucky, I canât do this without Bon Bon,â Lyra said in a low whimpering voice. âœHow can I be away from Bonnie? Iâll have a break down. Iâll fail and leave us all in a bad spotâ Iâll make mistakes and it will cost everypony their livesâ Iâll hmmmph-â

Cutting Lyra off with a soft kiss, Bucky leaned in and make sure he did a proper job. When he pulled away, Lyra was breathless and didnât look so nervous. âœLyra, Iâll make sure that Freezerburn is with us. If I concentrate, he shows up. Now steady yourself.â

âœYes Buckyâ thanks,â Lyra replied, her eyes narrowing into a shy expression. Lyra took a deep breath. âœThose kisses of yours are something else.â

âœIâve had a lot of practice. Thinking back to my old life, never thought Iâd say that,â Bucky said as he looked around the small room he and Lyra were waiting in. âœDo my kisses bother you at all? I worry about it sometimes and I never want to hurt you for any reason.â

âœNo Bucky, Iâve grown quite fond of them. You know, I wouldnât hate you if your kisses became a little more intimate. Sometimes. Occasionally. As a once in a blue moon special sort of thing just as surprise. I think I could handle it. I donât know. Iâd like to know if I was okay with it,â Lyra said in a nervous half whisper. âœI know Bon Bon keeps thinking about it. We talk a bit.â

âœI miss you and Bon Bon in the bed with us,â Bucky said.

âœYou needed the extra room because youâve been recovering. We havenât been sleeping well apart from you and the others,â Lyra admitted as she reached out and gently touched Buckyâs face with her folded fetlock. She reached up, grabbed an ear in her fetlock, and gave a tug.

She lowered her foreleg when she heard the shuffling of hooves just outside the door. She turned, watched the door, and waited, aware that Bucky was doing the same. This was something of a realisation of a dream for her. She had only heard stories about this sort of thing, but to find out they actually existed, that made the dream real. And now she was being asked to join them. What was left of them anyway.

The door opened and two figures slowly entered together, touching one another as they moved, brushing up against each other. One was dark blue, almost the same shade as Luna, and she had a clock cutie mark that was visible for a moment. Her mane and tail was a dark purple-black. The other, a stallion, was orange-yellow in colour, and his mane and tail was cream coloured. The stallionâs blinking was out of synch. One eye blinked, and then a second later, the other blinked. Both had frantic manic looks upon their faces. Fear burned in their eyes. As they moved through the door, the stallions cutie mark became visible for a moment, seven stars, trailing in a line, going from smallest to largest.

Both of them stared at Bucky, their faces serious as they studied him.

The stallion went to work, prowling around the room, his horn glowing as he peered into every corner, checked over the ceiling, and studied every inch of the furniture.

âœYou can never be too careful,â the mare said. She waited, watching the stallion work. Finally, when he gave a nod, she sighed in relief.

âœI am Witching Hour. This is my husband Tiddlywinks. Marriage was forbidden in the black cloaks, especially to a fellow black cloak. But weâre alive and THEY'RE ALL DEAD!â she said in a frantic wavering voice. She shook and trembled in place and seemed to calm slightly when Tiddlywinks returned to her side. âœAlive. Alive. Somehow alive. I watch him and he watches me and we are still alive.â

Tiddlywinks nodded.

âœYou have to forgive my husband. He never speaks where other ponies might hear him. Justifiable paranoia. Somebody might steal his voice and do terrible things with his words,â Witching hour explained. âœThe last group of assassins we killed called out to us in our friendâs voices to try and get us to lower our guard. And they said my husband was crazy for not speakingââ

The door slammed shut behind them and then glowed with a bright aura of magic.

âœWarlock,â Witching Hour stated as she turned her gaze upon Bucky.

âœI suppose I am,â Bucky said.

âœLuna said you can be trusted. I only trust Luna. I use dark magic too if I have to. Hope I never end up Tainted. Taint is lethal poison for most, or so I hear. But you, you are special,â Witching Hour said with manic zest. She fell silent for a moment, studied Bucky, and then cackled.

âœIt isnât good for our kind to cackle,â Lyra said softly.

âœI know!â Witching Hour replied. âœBut I lived. I lived. I lived. And cackling is all I can do now. Cackle or cry. Cry. Cry.â

Bucky exchanged a glance with Lyra and he leaned over, pressing into Lyraâs side. He continued to study the pair of unicorns. After taking a deep breath, he started to think of the right words to say and how to deal with the obviously damaged pair.

âœSo, uh, what do you specialise in?â Lyra asked.

âœAbjuration,â Witching Hour replied right away. She looked thoughtful for a moment. âœAlso in hexes and curses,â she whispered. âœBad things. Black arts. Only when I have toâ Luna said it was okay. It was okay. It was all okay. I wasnât a bad pony for LOOKING IN ALL THOSE BOOKS!â

Witching Hour calmed a bit as she sat down upon the sofa and Tiddlywinks sat down near her. The stallion wrapped a leg around the mareâs withers and she smiled a half sane smile. She shivered for a moment and closed her eyes, her face clenching up as she was probably reliving some horror. Then, she opened her eyes and looked at Bucky.

âœWinky specialises in spellbreaking. He can peel through any sort defenses. He can strip away augmentations. He survived the Ritual of Sight and he is immune to most illusion, but it forever messed up his blinking. Poor Winky doesnât actually do well with offensive magic. Heâs a savant with spell stripping though,â Witching Hour explained.

âœBetween the four of us, I think Bucky has the offensive spellcasting covered. Heâs lousy with defensive spells and canât tear down defenses,â Lyra said bluntly.

âœWeâve read his detailed file. To say he is good at offensive spellcasting is like saying LUNA LIKES LOOKING AT THE MOON!â Witching Hour said as her face spasmed from nervous energy.

Lyra blinked. Witching Hour seemed completely unaware of her shouting outbursts. Lyra took a deep breath and wondered what she was getting into. The pair had clearly endured trauma like few ponies could understand. Except for maybe Bucky and herself.

âœWeâve read his file. Your husband is an enchanter and a transmuter. Makes magical toys to do his dirty work. Exceedingly dangerous, as all enchanters usually are, but Bucky is a special kind of âœsick in the headâ dangerous. The first pony ever on record to make a âœrape bombâ to subdue his enemies. His potential for transmutation is still unknown, but his school records include a carnivorous potato. Needs training in offensive transmutation. Known equine pacifist. Entropic cold elementalist with unexplored âœvampiricâ abilities that Celestia is loathe to use but Luna is impatient to explore. Likes working with glass. Generated the largest disciplinary file ever in Princess Celestiaâs School for Gifted Unicorns. Most of that disciplinary file is eyes only top secret. Under normal circumstances, Bucky is the sort of unicorn we would normally be hunting down to make him âœvanishâ so we could keep society safe,â Witching Hour recited in a dull monotone, as though she was reading off some invisible sheet of paper.

Tiddlywinks gave his wife a nudge and then snorted.

Bucky squirmed, raised his stump, made a dismissive gesture as he waved it around, and then he looked at Witching Hour. âœI donât know if I should be insulted or flattered. I donât know how to feel about everything that was just said. Iâll be the first one to admit Iâve done some questionable things, but Iâve done them for the right reasons. Crystal liches donât fight fair, and I donât either.â

Witching Hour blinked a few times, her ears splayed out sideways, and her eyes darted from Lyra to Bucky. âœWeâve all done questionable things. Iâve used dark magic to completely mindwipe a foal molester. There was nothing left of his mind to recover. I cleaned him out completely. Left him a vegetable. I had to be removed from active duty and placed on observation status. Luna went peeking around inside my head. In the end, it was determined that I was overcome with emotion and I was disciplined, receiving an official reprimand from the Crown for my actions. In private, Luna thanked me for doing what needed to be done. The pony I wiped had a sickness for which there is no cure. Luna said what I did was merciful,â Witching Hour said in a strained voice that wavered and cracked as she spoke.

Tiddlywinks nodded but remained silent.

âœTiddlywinks lost his marbles when we uncovered a slave labour mining operation down in the badlands. They had ponies of all ages chained up and forced to work. Many died. Winky lost his mind for a moment. He levitated a chain and beat the mining camp operator to death. Winky was disciplined. Funnyâ somehow, we lived through the extinction of our order, but those that mocked us for the bad things we did are now all dead. None of them were willing to fight dirty to stay alive,â Witching Hour said as she stared Bucky in the eye.

âœDare I even ask who owned the mine?â Bucky asked in an icy voice.

âœDo I even need to answer?â Witching Hour replied.

Bucky let out a wordless snarl but said nothing.

Not liking her husbandâs suffering, Lyra reached out to stroke Bucky, patting him softly, and then adjusting the torque around his neck, straightening it so the two wolf heads faced forwards. Somehow, they had moved off to one side. She smoothed out his mane and noticed a few more silver hairs had found their way into his long flowing locks. She reached out and smoothed out the swirling chest scruffle that Bucky had, since his pelt had changed he had a rather unruly spot that always managed to stick out.

âœShe loves you,â Witching Hour announced, ending the quiet that had settled over the room. Witching Hour cocked her head to one side. âœAs a unicorn, as a type three, it was very difficult for me to learn how to love, if I may be so open and honest.â

Tiddlywinks nodded enthusiastically.

âœWinky here is a type three as well, even though his common magic never shows it. Like I said, heâs a savant. Love is the only reason we are still alive. Well, love and having no qualms about fighting dirty. Because of us, Twilight Sparkle and her new Bureau of Thaumaturgy, there is going to be an entire elite branch of cloaks that are married. Magic of friendshipâ and marriage. Twilight has a lot of changes planned,â Witching Hour said. The unicorn mare seemed much calmer now and her spastic outbursts had ceased.

âœChanges?â Lyra inquired.

âœWell, magical licensing for one. Twilight Sparkle believes that magic is a privilege, not a right. Sheâs got some plan for a different colour of cloak to enforce this new wing of magic control. Sheâs said that earth ponies and pegasi get by just fine without fancy unicorn style magic and unicorns can learn to get by as well. She wants some accountability and responsibility after everything that has happened,â Witching Hour answered.

âœOh that is not going to go over well,â Bucky muttered.

âœTwilight Sparkle doesnât care. If unicorns want to cast, they can get a license and then face consequences for irresponsible casting. Equestria has been gutted. There are cults running around. We have reports of the undead all along the southern expanses, like Dodge City. Las Pegasus was pretty much abandoned when the water went dry. Strange lights have been seen in the city and urban looters who have been plundering Las Pegasus have made all kinds of bizarre and scary reports after heading back north. Unicorns have formed covens and many have gone rogue. There is nothing holding back the darkness right now. The black cloaks are all gone. Lunaâs Lunar Guard have taken heavy losses in trying to secure the south. The Myrmidons recently lost over a dozen of their ranks. They flew south and not a one has returned. No trace of them either. A search party was sent out and they were attacked by unicorns in the San Palomino Desert. The Myrmidons were forced to flee. Do you know what it takes to make the Myrmidons flee?â Witching Hour said to to Lyra and Bucky, making gestures with her hoof as she spoke to bring focus to certain words and key points.

âœSo what you are saying is, we are in some trouble,â Bucky summarised.

âœNo. Not saying that at all. I am saying that we are completely horned. Twilight Sparkle estimates that there might be a hundred to maybe two hundred known adult type threes. She has no estimate currently available as to how many of those might be suitable for combat roles or worthy of service. We donât have the means to even begin rebuilding our magical defenses. There are a lot of foals though. Thereâs been a boom on little type threes being born in the past few years. Several hundred in Celestiaâs school,â Witching Hour explained.

âœOh… shite,â Bucky groaned.

Chapter 223

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Pushing open the door, Bucky and Lyra returned to the Royal Suite after their meeting with Witching Hour and Tiddlywinks. Much to Buckyâs surprise, Twilight Sparkle was sitting on a sofa and playing with Peekaboo. He paused just inside the door and wondered what was going on, and his eye went around the room looking for clues.

âœHi there, I was just dropping off some manipulation shoes,â Twilight said when she saw Bucky. She smiled and began to rock Peekaboo.

âœThey're not actually shoes,â Ripple said with a very confused look upon her face.

âœWell, they used to be iron horseshoes, but really, what else can you call them?â Twilight responded with a grin.

âœTheyâre stickers,â PiÃa said matter-of-factly.

âœI stepped in goop,â Loch Skimmer said.

âœIt is a thin bio-thaumaturgical film that is artificial in nature. It gets absorbed into the hoof and remains there for a year to eighteen months, and provides a minor near field magic that allows for manipulation,â Twilight droned, reciting these facts from memory.

âœI keep feeling like I am sticking to the floor,â Ripple grumbled.

âœWell, let go of the floor,â Twilight Sparkle said helpfully.

âœThank you Twilight, I am sure it was difficult to procure these during these troubled times,â Bucky said graciously.

âœOh, I had to make these myself. I did it late at night when I couldnât sleep. The factories that make these are no longer functioning. Manipulation shoes are in short supply. There are quite a few of the really bad ones around. The ones that barely even work,â Twilight replied. âœCheap knockoffs that sometimes mess up your hooves and make them rot. Stupid Flim Flam Industriesââ

âœHow are these made?â PiÃa inquired.

âœWell, there are factories in the big cities, like Baltimare, and unicorns go to these factories and they sit down in a government regulated comfortable chair. Then something is slipped over their horn and all they have to do is sit there for three hours. Then, there is the government mandated lunch break, they are fed at the expense of the Crown, and then it is back to work for three more hours, sitting in the chair wearing something on their horn. Theyâre free to talk to one another or even play games with the unicorn sitting next to them,â Twilight answered.

âœTheyâre milked like cows?â PiÃa responded in a startled voice.

âœWell, noâ uh, well, yes actually, I suppose they are. The device goes over their horns and their magic is harnessed and used to make the shoes. And a number of other items, some of them arcano-tech in nature. For many type one unicorns, it is how they make a living. Theyâre not particularly magical, but what little magic they do have can be harnessed. Quite a few type twos do this for a living as well because it really is a good way to make bits, especially if you are not educated because you never finished school. It doesnât hurt them and many of them find the experience quite pleasurable. Plus, they know that what little bit of magic they have is being used to help others,â Twilight explained.

âœThere are some shoes on an activator pad for both of you,â Bon Bon said helpfully to Bucky and Lyra.

Bucky finally moved away from the door, eased himself into a chair, and then leaned upon the table. Lyra went and sat on the sofa with Bon Bon, and the pair exchanged a quick kiss.

âœHow did your meeting go?â Twilight asked.

âœIs this something we should talk about around everypony else?â Bucky replied.

Shrugging, Twilight focused on Bucky and set Peekaboo down. âœI just wanted to know how the meeting went, thatâs all. No need for details,â Twilight stated.

âœI am a bit bothered by the idea of magical licensing,â Bucky said, turning his head towards Twilight. âœSeems like unicorn backlash.â

Sighing, Twilightâs wings fluttered as she began to formulate a response. âœThis isnât as bad as it sounds. Type ones will not even need a license. Not enough magic to be of concern. Type twos will require a permit. Type threes and above will require a license. Letâs be honest, magic is too dangerous. It needs some regulation. My plan, as it currently, stands, is to let all of the current adult unicorns go unlicenced. The license will be optional, but not required. If they commit an offense, they will be punished to the fullest extent that the new laws will allow. So it will be in their best interests to get a license and comply. Minor spellcasting and cantrips are allowed, it is only deep magic and dangerous magic that I wish to regulate. To this end, all unicorns when they graduate magic school, they will have a license upon graduation, just like all pegasi who attend flight camp. No flying without a license,â Twilight explained. âœSo the current generation of unicorns will be grandfathered. Sort of. Life will go on as usual, but if they do something destructive or harmful, they will receive no mercy or leniency if they are unlicensed. The next generation will grow up knowing the laws and the regulations, and it will not be a problem.â

âœThat seems fair,â Lyra said, her face thoughtful.

âœYou mean I canât fly?â Loch asked incredulously.

âœNot without a license, no,â Twilight replied.

âœWe will need to get you a learnerâs permit,â Derpy said.

âœBut I can fly just fine,â Loch Skimmer argued.

âœIf another pegasus is in your flight path, and both of you are heading right for one another, which way do you bank to turn to get out of the way?â Twilight asked.

âœI suppose Iâd go left,â Loch answered.

âœWhat if that pegasus goes left too?â Twilight questioned.

âœOhââ Loch said slowly, coming to a realisation after a few moments of thinking.

âœRight?â Ripple said helpfully, trying to come to her sisterâs rescue.

âœActually, both pegasi are required to bank right so there is no confusion. I had to learn this after I got my wings,â Twilight said.

âœI actually lost my flight license for a while,â Derpy admitted. âœI was only allowed to fly while I was working so I could do my job. Six months of walking except for when I was at work.â

âœSo unicorns need licenses, pegasi need licences, what about earth ponies?â Loch Skimmer inquired, looking around the room.

âœWagon and cart licenses,â Berry said. âœI have mine. Class four. Extra heavy load bearing class. I can pull the big ones. I can do so safely and without risk to others. It actually takes a lot of skill to pull a heavy wagon. You have to stop sooner, you have to be careful about corners, going up hills, going down hills, lots of ponies could be hurt with a runaway wagon. Pull a wagon without a license and you will get fined.â

âœPegasi need chariot and sky wagon licenses,â Derpy said.

âœUnicorns need a licence to pull a wagon as well,â Twilight said.

âœHmm,â Loch Skimmer said to herself as she became thoughtful.

âœWill I need a magic license?â PiÃa inquired as she trotted near Twilight Sparkle and looked up. The earth pony foal lifted a hoof and looked at it curiously, her brow furrowing as she continued to wonder how to make her magic activate.

âœYes PiÃa, you will. Iâve heard about your magic. I am very curious about you. There are some ponies I want for you to meet, I think they have magic as well. There is a lot of testing that needs to be doneâ The Pie sisters, Pinkie Pie and Maud Pie, I strongly suspect that like you, they have a working thaumaturgical nervous system and the means to generate mana. I have long wondered about Pinkie Pieâs powers, and I think we are close to finding an answer,â Twilight replied.

âœI suppose pegasi need a license for weather work as well?â Loch Skimmer asked.

âœYes,â Twilight answered. âœThey get that when they finish flight camp. It is optional.â

âœSo you mean to tell me, earth ponies and pegasi needed licenses for the common everyday sorts of things they did, but unicorns had no restrictions?â Thistle asked.

âœCorrect. I intend to try and level out the system so it is fair,â Twilight stated.

âœWhat about my water shaping?â Thistle asked.

âœBefore I can answer that, Iâd need to study you and how your magic works,â Twilight replied. âœI am actually very curious about you Thistle. You have strong magic without having a horn. Fascinating stuff.â

âœI just want to go for a swim,â Thistle said in a heartbroken voice.

âœBe patient Thistle, you have a surprise coming,â Twilight responded, hoping to make the depressed kelpie feel a little better.

Keeping a wary eye upon his hunter, Bucky watched as Peekaboo stalked him. Every time he looked at her, she would freeze in place. Bucky was quite amused at the sight. She kept her face covered with her forelegs and used her back legs to push her over the stone floor, her hindquarters shoved up high in the air and her chin resting upon the ground as she kicked forward. Bucky was sprawled out on the floor and the cool stone tiles felt good against his skin. His pelt kept him warm. Maybe too warm.

âœNo see me,â Peekaboo announced as she moved closer, her face covered by her forelegs and her little wings were flapping.

Smiling, Bucky understood. Peekaboo could not be seen if she could not see you. It was a perfectly logical assumption on Peekabooâs part. He looked up at Derpy and saw she was busy brushing Dinky.

âœNopony knows who I are,â Peekaboo whispered as she continued to creep up on Bucky.

âœI could have swore I heard something,â Bucky said as he looked off in a different direction away from Peekaboo.

The foal froze and sucked in a deep breath in panic, realising she could be heard even though she could not be seen. Peekaboo peered out at her prey from between her forelegs and waited for him to look someplace else.

Bucky glanced out of the corner of his eye. Peekaboo was close now. Just close enough for him to snatch. He waited just a moment longer, hoping she would edge just a little closer. He flexed his fetlock and made himself ready.

Moving swiftly and suddenly, Bucky snatched the foal who was creeping up on him. Peekaboo squealed, a piercing cry, and Bucky panicked. He pulled her close and immediately tried to comfort her.

âœI didnât mean to scare you, Iâm sorry baby,â Bucky cooed. âœOh please donât cry.â

âœNot scared,â Peekaboo said.

âœYouâre not?â Bucky asked. He looked around him, aware of so many eyes. He heard the rustle of newspapers being folded and set down. For a moment, he looked at Lugus, who was trying to teach the many intricacies of chess to Ripple. Derpy was smiling at him as she continued to brush Dinky.

âœWas playing,â Peekaboo said as she relaxed into Buckyâs embrace.

âœI was worried that I scared you,â Bucky said. âœI did snatch you suddenly and I am kinda scary lookingâ you screamed. I get nervous when foals scream.â

Peekaboo looked up with adoration in her eyes. âœNot scary,â she murmured. âœMama told me story. Booty and Beast.â

âœBooty and the Beast?â Bucky gently inquired as he nuzzled the foal he was holding. He didnât bother trying to correct Peekaboo. He understood what she was really trying to say.

âœYeah. Booty and Beast. Beast scary. Scared Booty. But she love him. Kiss him. Make Beast not scary. Happy ever after,â Peekaboo explained in a lispy foalish voice. She reached up with her head and kissed Bucky softly on the cheek. âœSee, no scary no more.â

Bucky felt a lump rapidly growing in his throat. He squeezed Peekaboo gently. âœWhich mama told you this story?â Bucky asked, the question forming in his mind when he realised that Yew Wood couldnât read yet.

Pointing at Berry Punch, Peekaboo smiled. âœThat mama,â she answered.

Looking Berry Punch in the eye, Bucky smiled. He didnât know what to say, but he knew that some thanks were in order. He felt another slobbery kiss on his cheek and tears began to sting at his eye.

Chapter 224

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Derpy looked around the room at her herd and wondered what came next. This was their last night here. Tomorrow, they would return to Ponyville. Bucky was on the floor, mobbed by foals, and quietly reading them a book about a mouse that was a knight and had a needle for a sword. Ripple was becoming increasingly heated as she continued to lose to Lugus. Loch Skimmer was busy trying to figure out how to use a spoon with her hooves. Sentinel was studiously peering into a dictionary as he worked on a crossword puzzle. Sparkler was busy writing something, but Derpy didnât know what it might be. Rising Star was meditating, hovering inches off of the floor and a large wisp of fire burned above his horn, contained in a magical aura to trap the heat. Thistle was trying to find some comfortable position to lay down in on the couch. She flipped, she flopped, and no matter what she did, she couldnât get comfortable. Yew Wood and Lyra were discussing motherhood and exchanging helpful tips. Bon Bon and Berry Punch were quietly discussing something in the newspaper and looking at Bucky as they talked.

Every pony was accounted for.

Derpy was exactly two decades old, and only barely out of her own teenage years. She had a lot of responsibilities for a mare her age. She thought about her mistakes, her triumphs, her failures, and the things she needed to work on to be the sort of mare her family deserved. She understood she was far from perfect. She had done her best so far, up to this point in her life. She had sacrificed everything she had for Dinky and Sparkler. She thought of a Nightmare Night, her last Nightmare Night as a teenager, and how she had dressed up in paper bags so there would be enough money to get Sparkler and Dinky good costumes. Now, there were others. So many others. Harper and Peekaboo were the smallest foals in their tribe. Little Peekaboo was not her foal, not directly, but it was agreed that the whole tribe would raise her. Derpy was quietly ready to give up anything to provide for her family. Her herd. Her tribe.

There was an angry cry from Ripple as she lost and a loud squawk of triumph from Lugus. Derpy smiled. Ripple was competitive, even for a pegasus. Derpy thought of Rainbow Dash and wondered how she was. Derpy wondered if Ripple and Loch would get along with the pegasi of Ponyville. She had fears for Sentinel and how he would fit in.

There was a faint knock at the door. Derpy slipped from the couch and made her way to the door, smiled her best smile, and pulled the door open. A unicorn was holding a scroll in his magic. Reaching out her wing, Derpy took the scroll, nodded, and gently shut the door. She looked at the scroll. It was addressed to Lord Rising Star.

âœRising Star,â Derpy called.

With a snort, Rising Star snapped out of his meditation and his flame vanished in a poof. He looked up at Derpy, blinking, trying to clear the white mana residue from his eyes. He had been in deep focus, following Celestiaâs advice about communing with fire. Fire had a voice.

âœYou have a letter,â Derpy announced. She held out her wing and the scroll.

Grasping the scroll with his magic, Rising Star levitated it over to himself, popped the seal, and opened the scroll. He began reading. The script was fine, flowing, and very official looking.

Derpy watched as Rising Starâs face scrunched up and a worried look appeared on his face. She moved through the room swiftly, worried that it could be bad news. She went to his side and was ready to comfort him. âœWhat is it?â she inquired gently.

Rising Star looked up from the scroll and his eyes darted around the room. Everypony was watching him now. His magic fizzled and the scroll drifted down to the floor. âœIâve been nominated,â he said.

âœWhat?â Sparkler asked. âœNominated for what?â

âœIâve received over one hundred nominations so farâ for the Stable of Representatives,â Rising Star answered in a stunned voice. âœIn a week, after more nominations have been collected, I will be formally asked if I have a desire to run and have ponies vote for me.â

âœWhat about school?â Derpy asked.

âœWe can get tutoring,â Bucky said in a very serious voice. âœPrivate education. Geared towards politics.â

âœAre you going to accept?â Loch Skimmer asked.

âœHow could I say no?â Rising Star said, blinking slowly and trying to take everything in. âœI mean, serving others. Somepony has to do the job. This is a test of idealism. To see if ponies will do this job without pay for the good of the public. If I say noâ if I said noâ wellâ Iâ somepony has to say yes and set an example,â he stammered.

âœBut you know nothing about politics,â Bon Bon said.

âœPerfect,â Berry said.

âœPerfect?â Bon Bon asked.

âœWell, heâs going in honest. And youâd better come out honest too, or Bon Bon and I will kick your sorry little star covered plot all over Ponyville,â Berry replied, her gaze narrowing and settling upon Rising Star. âœDonât think that we wonât. Ask Bucky what happens to ponies that lie.â

âœThey get slapped. And rightfully so,â Bucky said as he rubbed his cheek.

âœYou are going to be a busy pony,â Sparkler said. âœMetalworking, school, working as a representative, and you have three wives that need your attention.â

âœI need to know how to beat Lugus,â Ripple said with a snort.

âœA warrior is only as good as their mind,â Lugus said patiently.

âœAre you even old enough to run?â Lyra asked.

âœI must be. Iâm nominated. Iâm considered a legal adult because of my marriage,â Rising Star replied. He looked down at the scroll on the floor. He took a deep breath and then looked at everypony around him. âœI need to be alone,â he announced. Not saying anything else, he stood, trotted off towards the room that he and his wives were staying in, and then shut the door behind him.

âœI wonder what his parents are going to say,â Sparkler said after her husband had vanished. She heaved a sigh and stared at the bedroom door, tempted to go in after him.

âœI donât understand how he has so many nominations,â Sparkler said in a quiet voice to Berry Punch. She was sitting on the sofa now, worried for her husband, who was still secured in their room.

âœHeâs been in the paper so much already. He was the quiet voice of reason during the treaty signing. How that made it into the papers and became so prominent, Iâll never know. Sentinelâs letter to the paper. Rising Star isâ well, a rising star,â Berry replied, looking Berry serious.

âœHe is a young voice that many of the troubled younger generation can relate to. Theyâve all been held down by the system. Rising Star is a pony they believe will share their points of view,â Bon Bon said, her brow furrowing.

âœEverything is moving so quickly. I feel so overwhelmed. Stuff just keeps happening. I need time away from everything. Iâm not doing well,â Sparkler admitted to the mares sitting on either side of her.

âœBrace yourself Sparky. Tomorrow, weâre heading home to Ponyville. I imagine that things are going to become even more overwhelming for a while,â Berry Punch said, wrapping her foreleg around Sparkler and giving a squeeze.

Peekaboo watched her daddyâs tail. It was interesting. It wasnât like her tail at all. It was long, skinny, fuzzy, furry, and had whole bunch of feathers at the end of it that he used to tickle her. She liked to hold on to it while she was sleeping. Daddy wasnât quite a pony. She missed her mommy, but she had a whole bunch of new mommies now and that made things a little better. She remembered water, she remembered everypony crying, and she remembered flying away with her new daddy, along with a bunch of other foals.

She wished she knew where her mommy went, but it didnât bother her much anymore. She only thought about it sometimes. There were too many interesting things to explore to be sad.

Peekaboo the foal was in an unusual position. She was at the peak of her imprinting stage, the stage where she would learn the most about the world around her. She had a whole herd of ponies to learn different behaviours from, and there was a griffon as her central paternal figure. Most foals at her stage of development had two parents and possibly a few siblings to aid in their development and help to formulate their budding behavioural patterns. Having such a diverse social structure around her was going to make her psychology as a herd animal unique to say the very least.

She watched as her daddyâs tail swished, turned her head around to look at her own tail, and then tried to move her own tail in a similar manner. Her tail had too much hair. She scowled, her little face contorting with foalish frustration, and then gave up trying to make her tail move in the manner she desired.

âœNo,â Peekaboo muttered.

She turned her attention on Harper. Harper was wobbling around on her little legs and slowly exploring the world around her. Harper was too little to play with very much. The other foals were too big to play with, they had their own fun, and Peekaboo had trouble joining in.

Peekaboo grunted. Boredom was a terrible thing for a foal of any age.

I am still having trouble understanding everything my father had to endure after we arrived in the mainland. His trial does not sit well with me. I still have nightmares about it. Only instead of branding him, they cut off his head and everypony is laughing about it. I hope I am never tasked to slay a dragon like my father was. I donât know if I have the same sort of courage as he does.

I have seen a side of my father that I was not aware of. His total lack of respect for authority. He is an authority figure, I mean there is no doubting this, but he acted like a foal on the day of his coronation. I am still having trouble putting all of my thoughts and feelings about that day into words. Watching him as he ran from his responsibility has affected me in ways I do not understand. He was so gleeful. It was all a game to him. He ran and he expected them to give chase. I donât understand. He faced his trial fearlessly, repeatedly saying he regretted nothing. He was defiant. He never ran from his trial. He endured his branding. My mother Derpy tells me that he made no move to stop what was happening. But he ran away when it was time to claim his rightful reward after everything he had endured. I just donât understand my father at times.

I miss Moonbow a great deal. Once again, I am the only lunar pegasus around. I understand the choice she has made. I accept it. I can only hope that I make choices to make myself worthy of everything she is sacrificing. I get to sleep in a comfortable bed and eat sweets. She has to try to find a way to sleep covered in iron weights and shackles. One day she will be an unstoppable juggernaut of motherhood. (I like my new thesauruses - I hope I use brackets right)

I donât know what sort of knight I will be. Will I be a knight in shining armor? Will I fight with hoof, fang, and muscle? Will I fight with words? My mother Lyra says that wars can be fought with words. Words have power. My father has his armor and his unbreakable will. Lugus has an axe. A really big axe. I am not sure what I have yet.

I need time to get away from everything and have quiet moments again. I canât think in all of this chaos. I think everypony is starting to go crazy. Tomorrow, we depart for Ponyville. I donât know what to expect.

I am actually quite afraid.

I must go. Peekaboo has pounced on Lugusâ tail and there is quite a commotion.

Chapter 225 (Ponyville)

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Something was terribly wrong with his family. Sentinel felt his ears burning yet again. Breakfast had been completely disrupted. Berry Punch and Loch Skimmer were on the floor, clutching one another, braying and crying with laughter, Derpy had fallen over onto the table and was pounding it with one hoof, his father struggled to remain in his chair. Thistle had ran into the bathroom announcing her need to pee as she fled. Bon Bon and Lyra remained seated but clung to one another as though their lives depended on it. Rising Star finally lost his seat and fell to the floor with a thump, laughing as he fell. Sparkler was snorting with every laugh she made. Ripple looked embarrassed and tried to ignore the insanity around her.

Even Lugus had lost it completely and made strange avian noises as he clutched at Yew.

âœFilly bitsâ take a pounding!â Berry shouted as she pulled Loch Skimmer even closer.

At the sound of Berryâs words, Sentinel watched as his father lost it completely and his head hit the table with a thump, his barrel heaving. Sentinel wished that he understood what was so funny. Dinky and PiÃa werenât laughing, and looked just as confused as he did.

With a shriek, Derpy fell from her chair and slipped from the table. She hit the floor with a thud, her laughter never stopping. She reached up towards Bucky with her forelegs, her eyes clenched shut as she guffawed.

âœMy filly bits can take a pounding,â Loch Skimmer giggled as tears streamed out of her eyes. She buried her face into Berryâs neck and wheezed as she chortled.

âœI canât beeeeeeeeeeeeelieve they printed this,â Berry Punch heaved.

âœI donât know what is so funny,â Sentinel snapped.

His words fell upon the group like oil upon a fire. Giggles turned to chortles and then turned to guffaws. Sentinel scowled. He had completely incapacitated all of the adults in his family and he didnât understand how he had done it.

âœAccidental innuendo is the best kind,â Bon Bon said as she wiped her eyes. She leaned over and kissed Sentinel, whose scowl intensified. âœMy little colt is so innocent and sweet. He doesnât even know why this is funny.â

Sentinel crammed a bite of fried fish into his mouth and chewed sullenly. He wasnât sure how he felt about cooked fish. He knew that Thistle didnât like it. He sort of liked the golden fried crispy bits.

âœMy sweet big brother Sentinel told that General Dunderhead he was full of poop,â PiÃa said, not understanding what the big deal was. She wanted to say something other than âœpoopâ but Berry had already pulled her aside and warned her about swearing around foals now that they were back home.

âœHe sure didâSentinel called him on his crapâ Sentinel had a vowel movement,â Berry chortled, barely able to contain herself as she spoke. After she was done speaking, she exploded with more laughter.

There was a thump as Bucky slipped from the table and then there was the clatter of a spoon that fell to the floor. He landed on Derpy and the pair clutched one another, with Derpy rolling over and pulling Bucky on top of her.

âœIâm gonna die,â Lyra heaved, sucking to suck in air.

âœNo puns! NO!â Derpy begged, holding Bucky close.

âœWhat is so funny?â Sentinel snapped, finally out of patience.

âœIn a few yearsâ not long at allâ youâll be pounding Moonbowâs filly bits,â Berry chortled.

Sentinel choked. The thesaurus said that pounding was another word for abuse and comminute. The slow painful realisation of what he wrote sank into Sentinelâs mind. He felt his cheeks blaze. He thought about the night he had climbed onto Moonbowâs back. He felt a strange heat in his belly. And then, he felt something else. He thought about how soft she was. How she smelled. Her warmth. The way she pounced him and sat on top of him. The heat of her body as she was sitting on him. Certain parts were hotter than others. Sentinel grunted and realised he now shared a problem with his older brother Rising Star.

He was out of his chair in a moment, on his hooves, and galloping for the nearest bathroom door. He ran inside and slammed the door shut, and then quietly hoped that he could die from embarrassment. Worst of all, they were still laughing.

Bucky followed after Luna on three legs. Luna looked a little better, as though she had finally rested recently. In the distance, The Scorned Mare was tethered and moored. Bucky was glad to see her again, and he worried this might be the last time.

âœWhat of my ship? What becomes of The Scorned Mare?â Bucky inquired.

âœShe is still yours. She is being upgraded. She is getting the latest in arcano-tech engines. She is being fitted with a new gasbag with a cloud scoop and a compressor. A weapons system is being installed. The interior is being modernised with things like a kitchen and modern plumbing. She is small but charming. Iâm paying for this from my own private treasury. Sheâll be needed soon,â Luna replied.

âœNeeded soon?â Bucky asked.

âœCelestia and I will speak with you when it is time,â Luna answered.

âœVery well then,â Bucky responded.

âœThank you by the way. For making me the godmother of your foals,â Luna whispered.

âœYou saved me. I get to be with those foals because of you. It is only right that I share them,â Bucky said to Luna as she came to a stop. He stood beside her.

âœYou will be the registered commander of this vessel. Your rank and command will extend to the Royal Equestrian Navy. This ship will bear a diplomatic flag and any attack upon it will be an act of war upon Equestria. The deck counts as sovereign Equestrian territory anywhere she flies. If need be, treaties, agreements, and articles of surrender can be signed upon the deck and be legally binding. Apart from the diplomatic flag, this ship will be registered within the Lunar Court. Apart from declaring war upon Equestria, an attack upon this vessel will be declaring war upon me directly,â Luna said in a commanding voice.

âœWill I be able to moor her in Ponyville?â Bucky asked.

âœPerhaps,â Luna replied. âœTricky docking a ship this size.â

âœThis ship is small. I chose the hull because of that,â Bucky said.

âœStill larger than your average rowboat with a gasbag that is common with the more adventurous aviators,â Luna said in return.

âœSomething will have to be figured out,â Bucky said.

âœAre you ready to return home?â Luna asked.

âœYes and no. I want to head home to Ponyvilleâ I donât want to be mobbed when I go there. I donât think I can take it right now,â Bucky answered.

âœBarley will be very happy that you are returning home. He has been worried sick,â Luna said to Bucky as they both stood looking at the shipyard. The wind blew and Luna watched Buckyâs long mane and tail billow out off to one side.

âœHow are you and Barley?â Bucky inquired in a low voice.

âœWe are close. We are friends. I do not know what will become of us,â Luna answered carefully. âœHe is very dear to me. He held everything together in Ponyville working as the coordinator between the different refugee camps. He kept ponies calm. Twilight Sparkle finds him indispensable and she values him as a friend I believe, even if they donât always see eye to eye,â Luna replied.

âœI bet Ponyville has changed,â Bucky stated.

âœMore than you knowâ Buckminsterâ there is a delicate issue I must discuss with you. There is a changeling living in Ponyville. You are bound to find out because you are that sort of pony. It is a very important social experiment. His name is Slate and he lives with Lily Valley, Roseluck, and Daisy. He believes he is a pony and he has no idea that he is actually a changeling,â Luna said, watching Bucky carefully as she spoke.

âœDoes he truly believe he is a pony?â Bucky asked in a strained voice.

âœYes. He does. With all of his heart and mind. More importantly, he loves those three mares a great deal. And they love him,â Luna replied.

âœI will keep him safe. He has nothing to fear from me. I will not bring harm to another pony,â Bucky said as he looked down at the ground. âœI suppose he feeds on them.â

âœYes. He does. He has been there for a while now. He has grown healthy and very happy. He is still a little feral because he showed up completely mindless. He is our means of study. Weâve learned so much from observing him. My sisterâ Celestia, she has a plan Buckminster, to bring peace with the changelings. She plans to use Dinkyâs magic some day to see if the connection to the hive mind can be severed. She also wishes to see if Dinky can give them free will like Slate has free will,â Luna explained.

Bucky sat down rather suddenly as his brain tried to take in everything Luna had just told him. He took a deep breath, held it, and then blew it out with a flatulent sound as his lips flapped together in an equine sound of stunned shock.

âœDinky is powerful beyond what most ponies could comprehend. She is a telepath Buckminster. That part of her gift hasnât developed completely, but it will. Right now, she can connect to insects. She can command swarms. She is not elementally aligned though. Her focus lies elsewhere. You did her a favour exposing her to dark magic. Iâve been inside of her mind. She has had her taste of it, and she never wants to experience it ever again. This puts my sisterâs mind at ease. Powerful telepathsâ mentalistsâ they can be problematic. Dinky has been scared straight so to speak. She will never wander from a righteous path. You have done for her what I do for others through dreams. You have scared her into complete submission and dedication to virtue,â Luna said as she watched some pegasi lifting up a large section of kitchen counter.

âœShould I be proud of that?â Bucky asked.

âœIt is better that such a lesson comes from a father who loves her,â Luna replied.

âœI donât think I feel good about this,â Bucky stated.

âœBuckminster, the sort of harm she could have caused if she strayed from the path of gentle goodness would be immeasurable,â Luna said in a soothing voice.

âœMaybe you are right,â Bucky muttered. âœDoesnât mean I have to like it. I did something terrible to her.â

âœWe shall take you home under the cover of nightfall. There will be guards posted around your home to allow you to settle in undisturbed. The crowds will come. Sooner or later, you will have to face them,â Luna said. âœFor now, you should return to your family. Are you studying those books I gave you?â

Realising the nature of her last question, Bucky turned to look at her. âœYes Mistress. I am,â he replied.

âœMy most faithful studentâ Your Mistress is pleased,â Luna said in a warm voice. âœSoon, I will begin Sentinelâs training. Much of it I will be doing myself.â

Luna watched as Bucky rose up on three legs and together, they headed back to the castle in a slow leisurely walk, the Mistress and her student, Luna slightly ahead and Bucky just behind her upon her heels.

Everything was packed. Evening approached. A somber mood had fallen over the herd. Some were hopeful about returning home, others were terrified of yet more changes. It was a quiet time, and not much was being said. Harper and Peekaboo napped, cuddled up together upon a small quilt laid over a sofa.

Bucky was reading a spell book about offensive transmutation, deeply engrossed in his studies. Sentinel was beside him, reading an officerâs manual. Beside Sentinel sat Rising Star, and Rising Star was busy staring at his letter of nomination with a look of worry upon his face.

Loch Skimmer busied herself with attempting to use a curry comb upon her sister using her hooves and her new manipulation shoes. Ripple sat serenely receiving her sisterâs ministrations, occasionally turning to look at Rising Star.

Sparkler was reading one of Sentinelâs officer manuals, her lips moving as she read, trying to commit it to memory. Her eyes were narrowed with concentration and she was wearing the glengarry she had worn to the coronation.

Derpy, Berry, Thistle, Bon Bon, and Lyra were all crowded onto one couch together, bonding and holding one another in a quiet moment, coming together as fellow-wives.

Lugus was sprawled out upon the floor and Yew Wood walked along his back, cracking and popping his spine. The much smaller pegasus looked as though she had felled the much larger griffon and was standing upon him in triumph.

PiÃa and Dinky were colouring together, both of them laying on the floor and working on the same picture.

A soft knock came tapping upon the door and then it opened. Twilight Sparkle appeared, and there was a whole host of unicorn guards behind her. She smiled warmly as she saw the tribe all together.

âœCome, it is time. The unicorns will carry everything. Leave it to them. We must go,â Twilight commanded. âœIt is time for you to receive the reward that you so richly deserve.â

An excited murmur broke out and the entire tribe began to moveâ

The fleet of chariots and the sky wagon moved swiftly through the dark, and the lights of Ponyville were below them. Derpy knew right away that something was off. Her home was near the middle of town and the group was heading past the town. She felt a little worried but said nothing. Maybe something had happened to her homeâ

Bucky, sharp eyed as he was in the dark, could make out the refugee camps on the outskirts of Ponyville. The campfires blazed and tents could be seen. There was a lot of new construction all over town. He saw the library tree as they passed overhead.

Finally, the group slowed and began their descent. It was Berry that slowly began to recognise where they were. Her old farmhouse. It had changed. Lights blazed from the windows. It had been expanded upon and completely restored. The old distillery looked different. It had several wings extending from it, a greenhouse, and it had been completely renovated to the point where it was almost unrecognisable. Berry Punch did a double take. She saw the moon behind the farmhouse. She blinked a few times and realised that there was a small lake where there had once been fallow fields. She could see a long dock extending from the back of the house.

In short time, they landed, and the dumbfounded group all crowded together.

âœThatâs the new school. Weâve made a few changes. Weâre still working on the dormitory towers. Princess Celestia ordered the construction of a kelpie preservation environment. The lake is pony made, becomes quite deep in some places, is fed through underground springs weâve tapped into, and has been stocked with fish. The farmhouse has been completely rebuilt and has been greatly expanded to fit your family,â Twilight explained in a loud voice for everypony to hear.

Berry Punch barely heard a word Twilight was saying. There was an ivory coloured stallion coming down the steps slowly, his gait slow and pained looking. Berry began to cry when she saw him. For a moment, she remained frozen.

And then, she ran to him.

Chapter 226

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Barley OâBlivion had fallen down into the grass from Berryâs affections. The pair held one another, both of them crying. Bucky felt a little better knowing that Berry had her uncle again. He felt something brush up beside him on his blind side. He turned his head around and saw Bon Bon pressed against his side. He turned back around to face Barley but said nothing, allowing Berry to have her much needed moment.

âœWhat about my house?â Derpy asked Twilight in a shy soft voice.

âœStill your house. You can do whatever you want with it. If Rising Star and his herd are not happy here with you, it would make a good home for them,â Twilight replied.

âœOh,â Derpy said in a subdued voice.

âœI want us to stay together,â Rising Star said. âœI canât function without the rest of you.â

PiÃa slipped away from Dinkyâs side and went to join Berry and Barley. Barley pulled her in and she found herself squished between them. PiÃa made little sniffly-snort noises as she reunited with her uncle once again.

The guards began to disperse around the farmhouse and set up a defensive perimeter. Twilight Sparkle paced back and forth. She watched the trio embracing in the grass and her wings fluttered at her sides.

âœI am actually really glad we are neighbors. I am still learning about our connection. I only recently found out that I am Star Swirlâs distant relative. We were meant to work together in our prospective functions. Once you get your wings, we could do great things together,â Twilight said in voice thick with barely contained excitement.

Bucky thought about saying something but remained silent. He bowed his head slightly to Twilight and acknowledged her by looking her in the eye. He could see it in her expression. She looked hopeful.

Barley pulled himself free from Berry and PiÃa, rose up on wobbly knees, and slowly approached Bucky. He peered at Bucky, looking him up and down slowly, and his eyes took in every detail. âœAye ladâ ye look like shite,â Barley stated.

Laughter burst from Buckyâs mouth and came forth in a flood. Bucky could not contain himself. Finally, he had to lean on Derpy to keep standing up. To say that he looked poorly was the understatement of a lifetime.

Barley, satisfied with his assessment, moved on. He approached Loch Skimmer and Ripple, one knee popping loudly as he went, and then began to study them, giving them both a good looking over. âœAyeâ what do we have here? Two prood daughters of Shetland? What a sight to make eyes soreâ the blue maned one has a right murderous look about her. I like her. Hello nieces Iâll love to pieces.â Having spoken his piece, he moved on and continued his inspection.

Loch Skimmer exchanged a glance with Ripple, and Ripple shrugged.

The acerbic old stallion stopped and stared at Thistle. One eye narrowed and he leaned in close. âœA kelpie. Aye, that settles it, yer my favourite. Oh howdy ye are fat with foal ye pretty lassâ Ifân you have need of anything, ye have but to ask,â Barley said as he raised one hoof and gently patted Thistle upon the shoulder.

He ambled along until he came to Bon Bon and Lyra. He peered at Bon Bon, raised his eyebrow, and nodded. âœAye lass. I knew yeâd be running off after Bucky. Ye loved him and his wives. Ye took this sweet little bard off on some great adventure, and now yer back home with a story to tell,â he said as he leaned in close to Bon Bon. His gaze fell upon Harper and the old stallion sucked in his breath sharply. âœAyeâ a fire hair like meself when I was younger. And sheâs poofyâ Nopony better make fun of this one or Iâll kick you right where yer already split!â he threatened. He leaned in and gave Harper a kiss, which made the foal giggle.

Barley stood back and studied the whole group with a weathered eye. âœGood thing I renovated the farmhouse. There is a lot of ye,â he muttered. âœAnd a griffon too. A big griffon.â

âœWell, are you going to show us inside?â Bucky asked.

âœThat chair, over by the fireplace, that chair is me own,â Barley stated as he lead them through the front door and the living room. âœOld stallions and kelpies only. Nopony else!â he grunted grumpily. âœAnd wipe yer hooves you bloody savages, youâd think youâve been off in some horrible place with no manners or something.â

Thistle tittered as she looked at the chair and then at Barley. She saw him wink at her and immediately she began to like the old unicorn. She looked around the living room. There were a few bookshelves and several couches. There was a log burning in the fireplace.

âœKitchen!â Barley barked as he moved through a wide archway. âœOver yonder is the dining room. Weâll need a bigger table or some of us can eat in the kitchen at the smaller table,â he explained as he tottered forward with the group behind him. âœLibrary is just through those doors at the end of the dining room.â

He moved through the wide arch in the back of the kitchen and halted by some stairs. âœPast the stairs is the nursery. There is also a few bathrooms down this hall. At the end of the hall is the master bedroom. Thereâs a big bed in thereâ dinnae worry, itâs fit for shagging,â Barley explained. âœEmpty headed numpty wanted to put the master bedroom upstairs away from the nursery. Moron!â he grumbled irritably.

He slowly went up the stairs with a whole herd of ponies behind him. He stood in the hallway at the top of the stairs. There was another set of stairs here, doubling back over the first set and going upwards. âœSeveral bedrooms and bathrooms up and down the hallway here. There is also a small comfortable gathering room with a few games and such in it. Up the stairs is a few more bedrooms and another flight of stairs. At the top of those stairs is the attic, which is partially finished. The attic is a large space with hardly any walls. Wasnât sure what to do with it. Might be a good spot for yon great big bird of prey we have among us. Give him room to spread out and be comfortable.â

PiÃa trotted over to a pink door and pushed it open. Her eyes went wide. âœIs this my room?â she asked, her voice a strained whisper. She saw two beds in the room, a desk, and other stuff.

âœAye my little sweet thing. For you and Dinky,â Barley answered. âœI figured you two would want to be together.â

PiÃa went through the door and Dinky followed after her. A moment later, the door was shut and there were giggles. Barley sighed and moved back down the stairs, the large group following after him. He went down the hall towards the master bedroom and stopped at a wide door.

âœThis leads outside,â he announced. He pushed open the door and stepped through, revealing a large back porch and the dock. There were chairs and tables. Soft electric lighting lit up the whole area.

Thistle shoved her way through the crowd, made her way to the dock, waddled as fast as her pregnant body would allow, and then dove off of the end of it. She disappeared and did not resurface right away. There were bubbles coming up out of the water.

âœWill we eâer see her again?â Barley asked in a worried voice. âœI rather liked her,â he added. âœDo come back pretty lass!â he called.

âœSheâs been waiting for the water. We might not see her for a while,â Bucky said.

Barley sighed a sad sigh and looked around. âœMy legs hurt. Iâm gonna go sit down.â He made his way through the crowd, picked up Harper from her sling using his magic, and held her in front of his face as she giggled, made his way indoors, and vanished from view.

âœHe took Harper!â Lyra whined.

âœProbably to spoil her, no doubt,â Bon Bon said, trying to soothe Lyra.

Lyra took off in a hurry, following after Barley, leaving the group a little smaller.

âœI wonder if there is a room for us,â Rising Star said as he made his way to the door. Loch Skimmer, Sparkler, and Ripple took off after him.

Bucky eased himself into a chair and took a seat, enjoying the night. He could hear frogs and crickets. He saw ripples in the water. There was an owl someplace, and it hooted forlornly. He had no intention of leaving his chair for a while. The night was peaceful, cool, and calm.

He looked over and saw Sentinel settling into the chair beside him, his small face looking skyward at the moon.

âœIâm raiding the kitchen,â Berry Punch said. She departed right away, heading off through the door, and after a moment, Bon Bon and Yew, who was holding Peekaboo on her back, went after her. Only a small group was left on the back porch now.

âœThe Everfree is a little closeâ you should keep a watchful eye off in that direction,â Twilight Sparkle warned as she made a gesture with her hoof. âœThe school is almost finished. Princess Celestia still wants for you to head the school Buckminster, even after everything that has happened. Or maybe because of everything that has happened. Weâre still trying to hire and secure teachers. There arenât enough teachers. Celestiaâs own school is having a shortage as well,â she admitted.

âœI have my own plans for the school,â Bucky responded.

âœWe will talk about those at another time. Settle in. Get comfortable. I will return tomorrow. Welcome home Buckminster,â Twilight said. She spread her wings, gave a few flaps, and then took off, shooting off like a streak into the darkness.

Bucky watched her go, able to see her faint outline against the stars.

Sparkler looked around the room that was certainly meant for them. It had a large bed. There was a little sofa in the corner, a big bay window that overlooked the lake, shelves, a big mirror upon the wall, a large desk, and the room itself was surprisingly large.

Loch Skimmer flopped on the bed and bounced a few times.

âœYou know, before you three, uh, begin your inevitable shagging, Iâm gonna go bunk with Dinky and PiÃa. There is a second bed in their room and I know they will both be in the same bed. There is no way I want to be in bed with my sister during or just after you all get done doing what I know it is that you are about to do,â Ripple said. She smiled sheepishly and then vanished out the door.

âœWeâre going to have to work out a way to keep Ripple happy,â Rising Star said in a worried voice. âœHaving two sisters in the bed together during certain moments is a bit skeevy Iâll admit.â He jumped onto the bed with Loch Skimmer and nosed the frisky looking pegasus. âœWeâre gonna need to soundproof this room.â

Sparkler continued to stare out the window, looking down at the lake, watching the moon reflected in the water. The effect was hypnotic, soothing, and she didnât mind that Loch Skimmer and Rising Star were getting started without her.

Lyra watched Barley playing with Harper and took a deep breath. Harper was cooing and happy, and more importantly, she seemed to love the old stallion who was holding her, rocking her, and bouncing her in his embrace.

âœI love me some foals,â Barley groaned, shifting in his chair as he tried to get comfortable. âœI dinnae mean to make you upset lassâ I got carried awayâ Iâve been under a lot of strain. Comfort is in short supply when you get to be my age,â he said apologetically.

âœIâm not upset,â Lyra responded. âœI was more surprised than anything. Iâm very protective of herâ I love her so much. I never thought Iâd love anything so much. Loving Harper hasâ it hasâ it has made me feel more love for Bon Bon, Bucky, and the others.â

âœI know lass, been a rough road for ye,â Barley said, his accent softening as he calmed down and settled into his chair. He settled Harper against the crook of his neck and patted her back with the soft side of his folded fetlock. âœOh to have foals againâ these are the only thing that matters in life.â

âœI suppose coming from a group of ponies that had their foals stolen for so long makes them that much more important,â Lyra said as she watched Harper going still and falling quiet.

The log in the fire popped, sending a stream of embers up the chimney. The ticking of a wind-up clock could be heard in the room. The smell of fire was pleasant and brought a feeling of coziness to the room. The couch Lyra was sitting on looked new but the design appeared to be over a hundred years out of date. It had clawed wooden feet that curled around wooden knobs and the legs of the couch looked like griffon legs, and the wood was a dark mahogany.

âœI ainât eâer leaving home again,â Barley said in a soft voice. âœNo more traveling. Iâve secured a place for those I love to be happy, safe, and comfortable. Iâve got my bed picked out that I plan to die in. I was so worried about all of ye.â

âœHow much do you know about what has happened?â Lyra asked.

âœLuna showed me some of it. I saw it in dreams. I know what took place. She dinnae wanna show me but I demanded to know,â Barley replied. He smiled briefly as Harper burped, ceased patting her back, closed his eyes, and allowed his head to fall back into the chairâs cushion.

Lyra listened to the crackle of the fire and said nothing else, allowing silence to overtake the room. She felt as though she had come home. She heard soft voices in the kitchen, happy voices, and then she heard laughter.

Summoning her lyre, Lyra began to play a little tune. It started off sad, but slowly became happy, and it filled the room with soothing sound. In no time at all, she heard a snore coming from Barleyâs chair and she could hear the soft sound of Harper breathing. She lifted a blanket that was folded over back of one of the couches, spread it out, and laid it over Barley. He snorted once, and then settled back into his slumber, Harper sound asleep on his shoulder.

Lyra found that she had room in her heart for one more stallion.

Chapter 227

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The dawn was grey and the sounds of birdsong could be heard all over. Loch Skimmer was the only pony up for the dawn, the entire house was still sound asleep. She wandered around outside, exploring her new home, and she waved cheerfully at the guard pegasi who were posted around the farmhouse.

There was a raspberry thicket, a vineyard, an enormous garden full of vegetables as well as melons, and there were songbirds everywhere. Loch Skimmer began to whistle with them, joining them with her song.

She stopped when she heard wings, big wings, and the sounds of hooves in the distance, not too far away. She turned around, expecting guards, wondering if they had come over to listen to hear singing.

Instead, she saw Princess Twilight Sparkle and another pegasus, a soft yellow pegasus with a pastel pink mane. The yellow pegasus was hiding behind Twilight Sparkle. Loch Skimmer, always a friendly one, smiled and waved at the pair.

âœCelestia was right about you,â Twilight stated. âœThis is my very best friend Fluttershy. You and Fluttershy share something in common.â

âœWe do?â Loch Skimmer asked.

Nodding, Twilight gave Fluttershy a gentle nudge and pushed her forward. After taking several minutes to gather her courage, Fluttershy spread her wings, raised her head, and in a soft voice, she began to sing. Immediately, all of the birds around her flocked close, and they joined her in her song. Some perched upon her spread wings, others on her back, and one perched upon her head.

âœI can make the birds sing,â Loch Skimmer said, beaming as she realised she wasnât alone and wasnât a freak.

âœCelestia thought so. She told me to head over here and come looking for you during the dawn. We have a job offer for you. Fluttershy heads the Dawn Brigade. Every morning the dawn is orchestrated. A song is chosen to help shape the mood of the day. Some days, it is hope. Other days, it is courage. Songs of peace and unity have been common themes lately because of the refugees. How would you like to work for the Dawn Brigade and make the lives of thousands of ponies better?â Twilight said, now smiling herself due to Loch Skimmerâs infectious grin.

âœYouâll be paid a fair wage,â Fluttershy said in a small voice. âœOur gift is rare. There are only a few like us in Ponyville. I need the help. If you donât mind. If it wouldnât be too much trouble that is. Oohâ have I been too forward again? Darn Iron Willâ I still get so pushy,â she squeaked.

Loch Skimmer darted forward, causing all of the birds to fly away, and she hugged the squeaking pegasus, making Fluttershy squeak even more. With each squeak, the vicious cycle grew worse and worse as Loch Skimmer felt the need to make the squeaking pegasus feel better, and she was completely unaware that she was the cause of the squeaks.

Few ponies were so cheerfully oblivious as Loch Skimmer.

âœIâm so glad to see you two getting along!â Twilight Sparkle gushed.

âœI have a special song that I can singââ Loch Skimmer boasted good naturedly.

âœOh? You do? Is it inspirational?â Twilight Sparkle responded in a curious tone.

âœIt makes ponies horny as all get out and want to make foals,â Loch Skimmer replied excitedly. She felt the pony she had her foreleg around go limp and she caught Fluttershy before she hit the ground. She gently lowered the fainted pegasus down to the soft grass.

âœOh myâ poor Fluttershy. Sheâs fainted. Um, wellâ okay then. Celestia didnât mention anything about this. But uh, well, hooâ there are probably times when we will need your special song like when Celestia triggers heat cycles. Every pony has a special purpose and every special purpose is special and necessary,â Twilight stammered.

âœWanna hear it?â Loch offered.

âœNo!â Twilight said, now completely off guard. She lifted Fluttershy in her magic and eyed the farmhouse. âœLetâs get her inside, shall we?â

Loch Skimmer watched as Twilight Sparkle prepared tea. She sort of liked tea, provided there was a lot of sugar in it and maybe a bit of milk. Fluttershy was laid out on the couch in the living room, still completely unresponsive.

There were sounds in the house now as a few ponies began to awaken.

âœIs she going to be okay?â Loch Skimmer asked in a worried voice.

âœSheâll be okay in a while. She has very delicate sensibilities,â Twilight said sheepishly.

âœDo I still have a job?â Loch Skimmer questioned.

âœOf course,â Twilight said as she began to steep the tea.

âœI donât know anything about bits or money,â Loch Skimmer said.

âœTime to learn,â Twilight said cheerfully.

âœI can read and write,â Loch Skimmer announced.

âœAnd that is why I know Buckminster is a good pony. His insistence upon education. Your whole herd seems geared toward self improvement and education. The focus upon knowledge and its importance seems to have become a central tenet of your herdâs ideology,â Twilight responded. âœIt is good that Buckminster has things he believes in."

Loch Skimmer nodded, now feeling a little lost. Some ponies were entirely too wordy. âœYeah. Bucky is a firm believer in getting drunk and scre-er, uh, gently making more little ponies,â she said in reply. She remembered Berryâs warning about being so blunt and she realised that âœscrewâ might be a dirty word if she used it here.

Twilight froze for a moment and felt her eye twitch. Firm. It had to be an accidental choice of words. She took a deep breath. âœYes, well, fatherhood is a noble goal,â Twilight said as she thought about her own fatherâs raised eyebrow. She shivered. âœMaking little ponies is very important and so is the relaxed casual environment to make them. Alcohol might help as a social lubricant to assist in relieving anxiety. But being a good responsible parent means educating them, which your father seems very keen upon.â

âœBerry is a berry good educator,â Loch Skimmer said with a broad toothy smile.

âœIs she?â Twilight asked as she convulsed slightly from the pun.

âœShe taught me all about shagging and how to have explosive orgasms!â Loch Skimmer gleefully replied.

There was a thump as Twilight Sparkle hit the floor.

Looking on with some concern, Loch Skimmer wondered what was up with the ponies of the mainland. Perhaps there was some kind of disease or condition. She slipped from the chair, walked over, and prodded the passed out prone purple princess pony.

I donât know what happened,â Twilight Sparkle said. She sat up slowly and got to her hooves. She shook herself. âœWe were talking about somethingââ

Nodding, Lyra finished the tea. It was strong from steeping too long, but it was salvageable. She shot Loch Skimmer a glance and the pegasus filly fell silent just as she was about to say something. Loch Skimmer had briefly explained what had happened and Lyra was having trouble keeping a straight face. With fine telekinetic control, Lyra set the tea out upon the table and then wandered off to the fridge to begin thinking about breakfast. Lyra came to the conclusion that they were going to need a much larger refrigerator. This one would be emptied within a day.

âœOoh,â Fluttershy moaned, her voice creeping into the kitchen from the living room.

Pouring tea as she sat down, Twilight made herself at home as she had already done so many times before in this house. She knew this house from the many hours spent with here with Luna and Barley. It was one of her favourite places, a quiet place of peaceful reflection. She doubted it would be a quiet place any longer. Even Celestia and Cadance had stayed here. Barley had always been a gracious host.

Fluttershy peeped around the doorway and then slowly entered the kitchen to join Twilight at the small kitchen table. She approached the table slowly and cautiously, as if she wasnât sure if she was invited, and then after Twilight made a gesture, Fluttershy sat down.

Fluttershy meeped with surprise when Loch Skimmer hugged her to make her feel better.

âœIâm sorryâ I wasnât always like this. Berry Punch made me better. I used to be a very broken pegasus. A lot of bad things were done to me. Iâve healed and learned to love. I love Rising, I love Sparkler, I love my sister more than ever now that my heart has been opened, I love Bucky, I love everypony in my family. And I tend to come on a little a stro-oooOOOOooOOF!â

Loch Skimmer never got to finish when Fluttershy suddenly ferociously hugged her back.

âœOh you poor dearâ it must have been so awful for you!â Fluttershy cried as she began to squeeze the stuffing out of Loch Skimmer. The filly squirmed as the yellow mare applied a crushing amount of pegasus affection in her embrace. âœIâve heard storiesâ they made me sick. I had nightmares!â

Twilight watched all of this with a raised eyebrow. Sheâd seen this before. All it took was one little thing to trigger Fluttershyâs need to nurture and protect and suddenly Fluttershy was a pegasus again. Twilight found that she much prefered the company of pegasi. She thought of one pegasus in particular that sheâd like to spend a little time with and she felt her cheeks grow warm.

âœOh you poor, poor dearâ Iâm so sorry that something hurt youâ let me make it better!â

Twilight looked at Lyra. âœPegasi. What can you do?â

âœNot much you can do,â Lyra replied, yawning after she did so. She crossed the kitchen and looked into the pantry. The pantry was huge. It was an entire room unto itself. It was filled with hundreds of jars of preserved fruits and vegetables. Lyra saw a jar of stewed apples and cinnamon. She snatched it in her magic and levitated it over to the table. She fetched a bowl and a spoon. She unscrewed the jar and poured some apples from the jar into the bowl. She then sat down and began to eat.

Lyraâs ears perked and she cocked her head. âœThree legged sound pattern. Thatâd be our patriarch,â she said as she looked up into the doorway, chewing as she did so. She saw Bucky come stumbling through a moment later and poured him some tea.

Bucky sat down at the table and peered around, unaware of the effect he had upon Fluttershy, who was sitting in his blind spot. She had let go of Loch Skimmer and was now staring at Bucky, her mouth gaping with horror. He was completely unaware until he heard her begin to cry. He turned his head to look at her, and then reached out to try and comfort her.

âœI donât think weâve met,â Bucky said to Fluttershy.

âœYouâ your bodyâ all of youââ Fluttershy whined.

âœFluttershy, are you going to be okay?â Twilight inquired.

âœI think I need some hot tea,â Fluttershy sniffled. She wiped her eyes and demurely picked up her teacup between her front hooves, her eyes never leaving Bucky. âœHow is Berry Punch? She is a dear friend. We knit together,â she said, trying to make herself feel better with small talk.

âœSheâs going to have twins,â Bucky grumbled, not fully awake.

The words had a profound effect upon Fluttershy. âœOh that is very good. Twins are always a nice surprise.â

âœDerpy is having twins too,â Lyra said.

âœYON SCARY WEE BEASTIE! LEMME SEE YER WAR FACE!â

âœWas that Barley?â Lyra asked.

âœYeah, who else would talk like that?â Twilight answered.

âœWhat is going on?â Lyra inquired.

âœI have no idea,â Twilight said with a shrug.

âœI like Barley,â Loch Skimmer said.

âœEverypony likes Barley. Even if they donât want to like him to begin with,â Twilight said as she craned her head and tried to peer through the doorway.

âœI BET YE DO YER FATHER PROOD!â

âœAll that yelling is very inconsiderateâ ponies might be trying to sleep,â Fluttershy whispered after taking a sip of her tea. She continued to look at Bucky, her eyes glassy with tears, her expression broken hearted.

âœBarley is getting acquainted with Sentinel,â Bucky mumbled. Using telekinesis, he stole a stewed apple out of Lyraâs bowl and gobbled it down.

âœHey! Get your own!â Lyra protested with her mouth full.

âœSHARP TOOTHED TERROR OF YONDER NORTHERN EXPANSES!â

âœBarley gets a bit worked up sometimes,â Twilight stated. âœHe and Luna occasionally go on a spree.â

âœOoh, yer a squire eh?â

The voice was still loud but was no longer shouting. Fluttershy drank more tea and continued to look at Bucky. Lyra was now guarding her bowl under a field of glowing golden magic. Twilight poured a second cup of tea. There was a loud thump upstairs followed by giggling. There was the sound of a toilet flushing. The house was slowly filling with the sounds of life.

Unable to poach Lyraâs food, Bucky began eating stewed apples out of the jar. He gobbled them down, eating wolfishly, not behaving at all like a proper unicorn. He was completely oblivious to how Twilight was watching him. In no time at all, he had finished the jar. He belched loudly, a thunderous belly busting gurgle, and Fluttershy cringed in her seat.

âœI wonder if Thistle has caught any fish,â Bucky said. He slipped away from the table, leaving behind an empty jar. He hobbled out the room and down the hall to the back door.

âœI noticed the fangs,â Fluttershy whispered after Bucky was gone.

âœYou know,â Lyra said to her companions at the table. âœI think everything is going to be okay now. I finally feel like I am home, even though this isnât Bon Bonâs place. We need to go there and see how the shop is, but I donât feel like being mobbed.â

âœI love this place,â Loch Skimmer said. âœAnd now I have a job so I can help support my family. Life is unbelievably good.â

Chapter 228

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Berry Punch sat at the table and quietly drank her coffee, not at all concerned that there was a princess at her breakfast table. There had been a prince with morning wood in her bed earlier, so she wasnât overly concerned about these sorts of things. She was happy to see Fluttershy again and hoped they could start knitting together soon. Berry needed to do something physical to really get her mind going, and knitting was a good way to engage her body so her mind could function. She needed to sort out everything that had taken place. She looked over at Derpy who was eating sauerkraut and drinking black coffee for breakfast.

Pregnant mares had a right to eat whatever it was they wanted. Even if it did cause explosive flatulence later on, the sorts of farts that might wreck a less faithful and devoted marriage. Thankfully, Derpy had nothing to worry about. Bucky loved her and the proof was on his backside.

Reaching down and stroking her own belly, Berry was thankful to be home and that she and her foals were healthy. She took the hoof she was rubbing her belly with, reached out, grabbed her coffee, and took a gulp. She looked over at Bon Bon, who was just starting to fry some eggs and tomatoes in a skillet.

The stove was a problem. The four burners would never be enough to cook all the food needed to feed a group of ponies this size. There was one oven. Berry quietly reflected upon all of this and wondered what to do about it. She didnât know if she had a bank account left after the economic collapse. She took another drink of coffee and peered around the kitchen.

The sounds of foals running around crazily made the house feel like home for Berry. Dinky and PiÃa both had mouthfulls of water and were running all over the house squirting one another. Berry sighed, feeling happy. She heard Barley talking quietly to Sentinel in the living room. She couldnât make out what was being said, but it warmed to heart to know that the two of them were getting along.

âœNewspaper takes a while to get delivered this far out. And we get six of them!â Sparkler announced as she waltzed through the kitchen. She pranced around the table dropping off the different newspapers and then took off out the door and down the back hall towards the back of the house.

âœSheâs always in a better mood after a proper shag,â Loch Skimmer observed.

Twilight Sparkle turned a darker shade of purple and Fluttershy allowed her mane to fall down and cover her face. The sounds of Fluttershyâs panicked wheezes filled the kitchen, which made Bon Bon step away from the stove to stroke her and make the panicked pegasus calm down.

From the living room, there was a loud cry as Harper began to squall. Lyra, hearing Harper cry and realising that Berry hadnât eaten yet, excused herself from the table to go feed Harper, who was probably hungry.

Rising Star stumbled into the kitchen a few moments later and sat down where Lyra had been sitting. He blinked a few times, yawned, and then looked around.

âœThis is Fluttershy. Fluttershy, this is Rising Star. I nominated him for the Stable of Representatives,â Twilight said, introducing the pair and giving Rising Star a wink.

âœYou did that?â Rising Star mumbled.

âœI sure did. Well, I am one of manyâ Iâve been very impressed with you Rising Star,â Twilight replied.

âœThanks,â Rising Star grumbled.

âœRising Starâ you should have showeredâ you stink like mare musk,â Loch Skimmer announced after sipping her tea. She failed to notice the horrified expressions of Twilight and Fluttershy, or the wide grin on Berry Punchâs face. She was completely oblivious to the clatter of the spatula in the cast iron pan after Bon Bon dropped it.

âœLoch Skimmerâ how are you even awake and so chipperâ I meanâ it was about three in the bloody morning when you finally let Sparky and I go to sleep,â Rising Star said with a bleary expression upon his face.

âœThe dawn is too pretty to miss. Iâll nap later,â Loch replied. âœOh! Food!â

Bon Bon kissed Loch Skimmer on the ear as she set down a plate of fried eggs and tomatoes and then moved back to the stove. She patted Rising Star as she moved past. âœWant something?â

Rising Star nodded but said nothing.

âœPlaying Twister last night sure was fun,â Loch Skimmer said. âœI love learning new games!â

âœNothing like a one in the morning game of Twister,â Rising Star mumbled.

âœIâve learned to never try to play Twister with pegasi,â Twilight said with a soft smile. âœTheyâre too flexible and the close physical contact isnât at all embarrassing for them.â

Nodding, Rising Star silently agreed and then he looked at Loch Skimmer.

âœOh I donât like twister,â Fluttershy murmured. âœIt is umâ I just donât like it. All the touching.â

âœBARLEY!â

âœPINKAMENA DIANE PIE!â

âœOh noâ Pinkie showed up and got past the guardsââ Twilight said as she slapped herself in the face with her hoof and grunted. âœPinkie and Barleyââ

âœOhâ myââ Fluttershy said in a panicked voice. âœI should be going!â

Sentinel felt dizzy as the room whirled around him. He was being held in the forelegs of one Pinkamena Diane Pie as she danced around on her hind legs and spun him around the living room, prancing and leaping about on two legs with as much balance as Ripple had.

This was undignified.

âœOHMYGOSHYOUâRETHEMOSTADORABLEFOALEVER!â Pinkie shouted.

Feeling kind of nauseous, Sentinel hoped that Pinkie would stop spinning around soon. Round and round she spun, lifting up up and swinging him up and down. And then, as suddenly as it started, it was over and Sentinel found himself on the sofa.

âœMy Pinkie sense tells me a foal is going to be sickâ I wonder where the sick foal is?â Pinkie muttered as she took off through the house to go looking. âœThere is going to be a sick foal!â she cried out in warning.

Heaving, Sentinel tried to make the room stop spinning. He closed his eyes and covered his mouth with his front hooves. He was suddenly in no mood for breakfast. He felt his gorge rising. He wasnât sure if he ever wanted to try and fly again. Living with his hooves on the ground seemed like a brilliant idea.

Pinkie Pie had somehow managed to give a lunar pegasus, who by their very biological design, were physically adapted and evolved for erratic flight patterns that were impossible for feather winged pegasi, a severe case of motion sickness. By all known scientific and medical accounts, lunar pegasi were immune to dizziness and vertigo due to their unusual physiology.

Twilight Sparkle covered her eyes with her fetlocks and sighed. Now, there was two of them. Loch Skimmer and Pinkie Pie were nattering on with one another and acting if they had known each other their whole lives. They giggle-snorted together and filled the kitchen with laughter. Fluttershy had fled the kitchen and Twilight considered the option to escape as well.

It was too early in the morning for Pinkie Pie.

Barley was quietly drinking coffee and eating a breakfast of fried eggs and tomatoes while reading the newspaper. He didnât know that eating his breakfast and reading the newspaper caused all manner of internal strife for Twilight Sparkle, who had nightmares about Barleyâs big bushy eyebrows being raised in a menacing fashion.

Barley had the enviable ability to completely tune out Pinkie Pie.

Dinky and PiÃa were eating granola and milk, chewing down big mouthfuls so they could run off and play once they were finished. They said very little as they shoveled down their food.

Ripple was drinking coffee, much to Bon Bonâs vexation. The timer had been set and soon the Ripple-bomb would go off. Thankfully, there was a wide expanse of countryside all around the house for her to gallop off her excess energy before it turned into coffee fueled mayhem.

âœThereâs gonna be a mob oâ earth ponies showing up here later. Theyâll stay away from the house to give ye privacy, but they agreed to work the garden in exchange for some of the produce. Theyâre refugees and theyâve had a rough go. Be kind to them and donât run them off,â Barley announced.

âœSpeaking of earth ponies, I want to see Diamond Tiara,â Dinky said with her mouth full.

âœMaybe later today,â Berry said.

âœWell?â Bucky asked, looking at Sparkler with a raised eyebrow.

âœThere is a massive lump of black basalt under the field here. Down a ways. I can feel it. It sings to me,â Sparkler replied.

âœCan you shape it?â Bucky inquired.

âœNot by myself. I would need your help I think. Tap into a ley line and supercharge me. I can shape little rocks and even a medium sized rock, but I donât have the energy for something this big,â Sparkler answered.

âœAnd you can shape rocks without any heat? I mean, we had to melt rock the last time we made a tower,â Bucky said to his daughter in a low voice as they stood in the field some distance from the house .

âœNo heat. The rock will just move like clay for me,â Sparkler said.

âœI need to construct a vault. And as an archmage, I deserve a proper tower. Maybe Iâm old fashioned, but a tall black tower appeals to me,â Bucky stated.

âœI think I could leave behind a shell of black basalt and when I hollow out the space below ground, everything that made up the solid mass can be lifted above ground to make a tower. Youâd have a massive space under the tower that you could turn into a vault. Youâd have your tower. You should keep your office as Headmaster in the top of the tower,â Sparkler said.

âœHmm, good idea,â Bucky muttered.

Sparkler sat down. She only had a couple of minor tremors and her condition wasnât bothering her as bad as it had been. She was able to smile without her face jerking and twitching.

âœWhen we shape it Sparky, I want little nooks along the outside walls. Little comfortable places for pegasi to roost so they can nap in the sun. Or out of the sun depending on which side of the tower they roost on,â Bucky suggested.

âœI will do as you askâ but it will cost you,â Sparkler said as she looked at Bucky.

âœName your price,â Bucky sighed. âœCanât do something for somepony just because theyâre family, right?â

Sparkler giggled for a bit and then got herself together. âœI want a room in this tower. For my own studies. Iâll share it with Rising Star. But I want us to work together on projects. A family of unicorns all working together.â

âœFine, but you have to make a private room for Lyra,â Bucky said.

Entering the back door of the house, Bucky suddenly found himself snoot to snoot with a pink pony that he somehow knew without actually having been introduced to directly. She pressed her snoot into his and stared at him eye to eye.

âœYou look a little bit like Sombra,â Pinkie Pie announced.

âœMaybe just a little,â Bucky said, finding it impossible to back away for some reason.

âœThe eye thing is really creepy,â Pinkie stated.

Starting to feel sweaty, nervousness took over Bucky. He liked earth ponies a great deal. And Pinkie Pie was rather attractive as far as earth ponies went. She was pudgy in all of the right places and jiggled enticingly when she moved.

âœYour horn is really long. Are you trying to compensate for something?â Pinkie asked.

A sharp intake of breath was all Bucky could manage. He was sensitive about how short a certain part of him wasâ but he wasnât trying to compensate with his hornâ was he?

âœI bet it is because you are really short and stubby!â Pinkie Pie chirped. âœYouâre the same size as me and I am kinda short!â

Exhaling suddenly with relief, Bucky wished that he could somehow pull his snoot away from Pinkie Pie, but an invisible force held him in place.

âœSombra was really big and tall. And kinda handsome in a spooky way. I bet the ghosties giggle when they see youâ youâre scary!â Pinkie said and then went pronking off, leaving Bucky alone.

Bucky stood there, pondering what Pinkie Pie meant when she said that the ghosties giggled when they saw him. It was probably random Pinkie Pie nonsense and he dismissed it as he continued down the hall towards the kitchen.

Chapter 229

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Sitting in the grass near the garden, Bucky watched the earth ponies who had come to work the garden. There were two adults, a filly in her teenage years, two colts, also teenagers, and a foal that followed them all around trying to be helpful. They were moving through the rows slowly harvesting onions, tomatoes, and eggplants.

He envied them their gift, their connection to the earth.

It was all they had to fall back on. The only useful skill they had left it seemed. The ability to work the land. As refugees, Bucky supposed they could have been almost anything in their old lives, but now, they were farmers. It didnât seem fair.

Having been distracted by watching the earth ponies work, Bucky didnât notice that the foal had slipped off until it was too late, and discovered much to his surprise that she was sitting before him, looking up at him curiously.

âœHi little one,â Bucky said in a soft voice, the same sort of voice he used when Harper and Peekaboo were frightened and were in need of comforting. He cocked his head slowly to focus his remaining eye upon the foal.

âœCitrus Summerâ get back hereâ youâll make us lose our jobs!â a mare shouted.

âœCitrus Summer is it?â Bucky asked.

The foal nodded. She moved a little closer and tried to wipe dirt from her face with her dust covered foreleg. All this did was leave her dirtier. She froze up completely when Bucky slowly reached down and lifted her mane out of her eyes with his stump. She peered up at the unicorn and blinked a few times.

âœCitrus! Get over here! We need this job!â

âœWhere are you from little one?â Bucky inquired. The little foal was orange, exceedingly orange, and Bucky found that he liked her eye searing colour a great deal. She was living sunshine and it was impossible not to feel cheered up by being around her.

âœMy family and I are from Dodge City,â Citrus Summer cautiously replied.

âœHow is life being a farmer?â Bucky asked.

âœEasy!â Citrus Summer answered.

âœEasy? This looks like hard workâ and you seem to be working the hardest out of all of these ponies,â Bucky said to the foal, who began blushing and making a painfully adorable face.

âœThis is like a dream for us. Before, my mama, my daddy, and my oldest brother worked in a copper mineâ my very oldest brother died there because it wasnât safe,â Citrus Summer explained.

âœI am very sorry to hear that,â Bucky said, lowering his head and drawing nearer to the foal. She was smiling now, and didnât seem afraid, but one mare, presumably her mother, was rapidly approaching panic.

âœThe mine was really hot. Dodge City was really hot. My parents worked all night when it was cooler, pulling carts in and out of the mine. Mama said the carts left my daddy swaybacked,â Citrus said, now chatty in a way that only foals who just met somepony can be chatty.

âœSo you like farming work?â Bucky asked.

âœIt isnât hard work like pulling a mine cartâ mama sings while she is working and she smiles a lot, and she and daddy get to stand together, and I get to be with them,â Citrus replied.

The mare crept forward just a little bit more and then stopped, looking sick with worry. âœPleaseâ sheâs so curious. Donât be upset. She knows she isnât supposed to go off and bother the ponies we work for. Weâve already lost a few jobs because of her-â

âœHush,â Bucky commanded, interrupting the pleading mare.

She fell silent and began to look very afraid. Chewing on her lip, her eyes darted out to the other earth ponies in the field, all of whom had stopped working and were watching the unfolding situation intently.

âœYour mother has a green bean cutie mark. I am assuming that is your mother,â Bucky said to Citrus in a soft voice.

âœYep, thatâs my mama. She has a bean cutie mark and her name is Dandelion,â Citrus announced. The foal beamed up at Bucky, the smile of foals and extraverts everywhere. âœMy father has a wagon wheel cutie mark and his name is Pinto.â

âœVery interesting,â Bucky said with a wry smile.

âœWe live in a tent,â Citrus Summer said. âœWeâve been camping for a long time now.â

âœMy name is actually Dandelion Fluffâ Iâm very sorry she bothered youââ the mare said in apologetic tones.

âœShe isnât bothering me,â Bucky responded. âœI like foals. I like foals a lot.â

âœYou are a very patient stallion,â Dandelion said, dropping her gaze into the dirt submissively when she saw Bucky was looking at her.

âœI try to be. Tell me, do you enjoy farming?â Bucky asked.

âœYes sir, very much so sir,â Dandelion replied.

âœI am going to ask this again. This time, I want an honest answer not brought about by fear. Do not attempt to supplicate me,â Bucky said to the mare. âœDo you enjoy farming?â

âœYesâ we do. It is much easier on my husband. He has a bad back. We like working together as a family and while it is hard work, it isnât working in a dangerous smelly mine full of poison gas. It is very peaceful here and Barley has been very kind to us,â Dandelion answered.

Pressing his lips together into a straight line, Bucky nodded a little bit and then began to look at the others. âœThe filly and the colts are yours I take it?â Bucky asked.

âœYes sirâ they are sir. Theyâre good foals. Quiet. My oldest filly is smartâ I donât want her being a farmerâ Her name is Honeysuckle and the two colts are Butter Bean and Lima Bean,â Dandelion said.

âœI like your foal,â Bucky announced. âœSheâs brave. Letâs be honest, I look awful. And she came up to me anyway,â he announced as he gently nudged Citrus softly. âœHow would you like jobs? Let me put this another wayâ how would you like to live here and look after these fields and the grounds around the school?â

Dandelion shot a nervous glance at her husband and her older foals. She then looked at Bucky. âœLive here?â she asked. âœI suppose we could move the tent here,â she murmured to herself.

âœWell, the tent would be temporary. Iâd have a house built,â Bucky said .

Dandelion looked at Bucky shrewdly. âœAnd we spend the rest of our lives working to pay off the house so we could live in it?â she asked.

âœNo,â Bucky replied. âœI build you a house because I am generous to my servants and wish to inspire their loyalty. The house is given to you and a good working wage is offered to you as well. I do have a condition though.â

âœAnd that is?â Dandelion questioned.

âœAll of your foals are to be educated. This means reading and writing. Especially Citrus Summer. She seems bright,â Bucky replied. He blinked in the bright sunlight and wondered where his goggles might be. He was going to have to try and conjure them later.

âœSo we work on your land and you give us a house?â Dandelion asked in disbelief.

âœSeems very simple,â Bucky stated. âœAnd I will pay you. Might need some time to establish my finances.â

âœAnd we just have to do common farmer stuffâ work the fields, maybe pull wagons, keep the grounds looking neat and orderly, stuff like that?â Dandelion inquired.

âœMama, you're making this complicated,â Citrus said as she rolled her eyes.

âœNo more wagon pulling for your husband. At least not until I can pay for a doctor to get his back examined and maybe fixed,â Bucky said.

Her eyes narrowing, Dandelion peered at Bucky. âœAnd what about when my husband and I get too old to work? What then?â

âœYou retire and continue to live out your days here as management, telling the new generation of servants what to do, how to do it, and how I like things done,â Bucky said with a soft chuckle.

Dandelion looked at her husband, whose head was bobbing up and down enthusiastically. She turned her head back towards Bucky. âœWe accept. After we finish today, we will go and pack up our tent. Just let us know where to settle in.â

âœOh, and one more thing. Do not disturb the lake,â Bucky said in a serious voice.

âœUnderstood,â Dandelion said as she shot a glance around to her foals.

âœI am glad we could work out something,â Bucky said.

âœPeekaboo! I see you! I see you!â

Twilight Sparkle wondered how this would end. Pinkie Pie had discovered Peekaboo, the same Pinkie Pie that had once checked her mailbox every few moments for six hours straight without tiring. She watched Pinkie, who was sitting on the floor with the foal, and Pinkie seemed entirely too willing to keep playing the game until one of them lapsed into a coma. And it would probably be Peekaboo.

âœWhere did Peekaboo go? Iâve lost a foal! Oh woe is meâ oh there she is! I see you!â

Berry Punch watched the pair with a big smile upon her face and Barley, who was sitting beside her in his chair, was cuddling a very sleepy Harper who needed her mid-morning nap. It felt good to be near Barley again. The family felt complete. Fluttershy, sitting beside her on the sofa was humming to herself as she watched Pinkie playing with Peekaboo.

There was a knock upon the door and it was Lyra who answered. A guard announced that there was a visitor for Twilight Sparkle.

âœOh thatâd be Rainbow Dash with the daily report,â Twilight said. âœI should go talk with her.â

âœSend her in,â Berry announced. âœNo need to leave.â

The guard nodded and stepped away from the door.

A moment later, Rainbow bounded into the living room with her usual swagger. She flicked her tail around and immediately went for the sofa where Twilight was sitting. She lept up, settled in, and hugged Twilight, making happy little grunts as she did so.

âœAyeâ Rainbow Dashâ when are ye gonna let me plunder the pot of gold in the south end of yer rainbow?â Barley asked.

Everything fell silent for a whole minute as Barleyâs words lingered in the room. Fluttershy squirmed uncomfortably. Twilightâs cheeks looked like two tomatoes. Berryâs mouth hung open in shock. Lyra darted off down the hall, fleeing the living room. Pinkie Pie was oblivious, still locked into a deathmatch game of peekaboo with Peekaboo.

Rainbow Dash exploded with laughter and fell over on the sofa clutching her sides.

Barley grinned and looked over at Berry as he waggled his eyebrows.

âœYou twoâ are horrible,â Twilight muttered. She poked the guffawing pegasus beside her with her hoof. âœYou shouldnât laugh at that! It only encourages himâ itâs awful what he said.â

Wiping her eyes, Rainbow Dash sat up and tried to pull herself together. âœWeâve got a few situations Twiâ,â she reported.

âœOh?â Twilight inquired in a monosyllabic utterance.

âœThe White Tail Woods camp has an outbreak of hoof rot. The living conditions there are deteriorating. Weâve spoken with the camp leader and tried to explain that they need to move the camp and give the land time to heal, but they are scared that they are going to be sent off someplace horrible and everypony refuses to move. They donât believe us when we tell them we just want to move them over the rise and down into the gorge,â Rainbow Dash explained.

âœBuggeryâ I was hoping to have a few days with my family. Iâll go talk with them,â Barley groused. He carefully passed Harper to Berry. âœHere, look after my little fluffball.â

âœNeed a lift?â Rainbow Dash offered.

âœAre ye finally offering me the ride of a lifetime?â Barley asked as he squinted one eye at Rainbow Dash.

The rainbow maned pegasus giggled like a school filly and then looked guilty when Twilight Sparkle cleared her throat. âœIâll carry ya over,â Rainbow Dash offered. âœAnd Iâll bring ya back too.â

âœAnything else before you go?â Twilight asked.

âœWell, a few things actually. Weâre facing a water shortage. We canât schedule the heavy rain like we used to. The meadows where the rainwater runs off and collects into the local waterways are now filled with camps. If we have a hard rain, the meadows will become mud pits and everything will become a nightmare. We need a big rain Twilight. Applejack says it is affecting the coming apple harvest. Cherry Berry of the Airborne Watch tells me that timberwolves have been coming out of the Everfree along the southern edge of Ponyville and prowling. She has watchers along the outskirts, but it is something to be concerned about. Iâve posted some of our militia out that way, but we are spread thin. Also, poison joke has begun sprouting all over the Sweet Apple Camp along the Everfree border,â Rainbow Dash said, offering a detailed report.

âœAnything else?â Twilight said, raising her eyebrow.

âœOh, the Rambling Rock Ridge camp are all getting the green apple splattersâ theyâre all sick Twilight,â Rainbow Dash said, now looking very concerned and serious.

âœIf we make it rain, it floods the camps. If we donât make it rain, we face a food shortageâ ugh! I donât know what to do,â Twilight muttered.

âœWe better be going,â Barley said, his voice now serious and businesslike.

Chapter 230

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Rarity moved through the processing camp with recent arrivals from Manehatten. Behind her, her sister and her sisterâs friends trotted with her, and Rarity carefully assessed the situation. There were wounded ponies that would need medical treatment, foals that were missing their parents or had no parents and needed to be looked after, and ponies with special needs like the elderly and the infirm.

Being the fabulous Element of Generousity had its perks. Ponies knew her and her visits to the camps were always well received. It was important that the refugees felt that somepony cared about them. Twilight was very insistent about this issue and Rarity agreed.

âœOh Sweetie Belleâ be a dear and take a message. We have a large group of foals that will need to be sorted out. It is going to take a whileâ be a good sister and run to Sugarcube Corner. Tell the Cakes that I will require treats. An assortment of cupcakes, cookies, and fresh fruit if there is any to be had shall do nicely. Tell them to place it upon my tab. And Apple Bloomâ Scootaloo… could you be so kind to help deliver those treats?â Rarity said to the trio following her.

âœWeâd be glad to,â Apple Bloom said. âœAlright girls, we have to go do our part. Letâs go!â

Rarity watched as the trio went running off and sighed. All three of them had become so responsible and grown up over the summer. Sweetie Belle was maturing. Apple Bloom showed so many leadership qualities. And Scootaloo had her delivery service.

Tossing her head around to whip her mane out of her face, Rarity continued on her rounds. She pranced carefully, moving among the crowd, waving and smiling, making her way to the hastily constructed shed that housed the office for the processing camp. As she moved through the crowd, she saw a familiar face.

She froze, looking at the soft cream coloured mare with a blue mane that was gingerly slipping free from a wagon hitch harness. The harness had rubbed away her pelt in places, leaving bare exposed skin, some of which was blistered. The mare was dirty, caked with old mud, her hooves were chipped and scuffed, yet somehow she managed to radiate a quiet dignity despite all of this.

Rarity felt her heart seize up in her barrel. âœCoco Pommelâ what has become of you?â

The water looked cool and inviting. The afternoon was warm, entirely too warm, and Bucky realised that the heat was going to be a problem for him from now on. He watched Thistle swimming, surfacing occasionally to wave before disappearing once again beneath the waves. She had been in the lake all night. He had missed her in the bed.

He watched Ripple, marveling at her physical skill. She was standing on one front hoof, balanced upon the top of a post that held up the rail along the rear porch. She hadnât moved in quite some time, and had become a Ripple statue. Earlier, she had gone tearing around the fields after drinking her coffee.

Out of the corner of his surviving eye he saw a streak of grey go galloping down the dock and then go diving into water, cannonballing in and causing an enormous plume of water to rise up. Bucky had practical concerns. Like wet ponies coming into the house and tracking in water. He was going to have to enchant the back door to instantly dry ponies. It was a simple enough enchantment and it was more commonly used to dry off ponies soaked in the rain before they came inside. He made a mental note to apply it on the front door as well.

Something large flew overhead and Bucky realised that Lugus was heading off towards the Everfree, probably to go hunting. Living on the edge of the Everfree had its perks.

It was almost too peaceful and Bucky had trouble letting his guard down. There was nothing to do, no pressing need, nothing to worry about, Bucky almost felt bored. He knew this blissful state would end soon enough.

He heard the soft approach of hooves drawing nearer to his chair and then the soft feeling of a foreleg slipping around his neck to pull him in. Without being able to see her, he knew it was Berry. One very smouldering kiss later, Bucky realised that he was in fact, entirely too hot. He rose from his chair, slipped free from Berry, ambled over to the dock, and then fell over the side rather than walk all the way down to the end of it. He sank into the water and was thankful to be home.

Bon Bon paused and looked at the napping pegasus. Loch Skimmer was sprawled out upon the couch, sound asleep, her wings fluttering at her sides occasionally. Peekaboo was quietly napping on a quilt spread over the living room floor, little Harper right beside her. Pinkie Pie had worn Peekaboo out and then had gone bouncing off saying she had a full afternoon of work. Fluttershy had flown off with Twilight Sparkle. The house was quiet and serene.

She checked on Lyra in the kitchen, who was busy mincing up onions, garlic, tomatoes, and mushrooms. A large pile of eggplants sat upon the table. Bon Bon could only guess what Lyra was fixing, but she assumed it would be baked eggplant with a rich red sauce.

Bon Bon walked through the dining room and pushed open the library door to investigate. Her mouth hung open. This was easily the largest room in the house. There were lots of comfy chairs, tables, a few desks, and the walls where all lined with shelves, most of which were empty. Bon Bon knew they would be full soon enough. There was a door in the back of the library and she moved to check it out, her hooves clattering over the hardwood floors. She noted that there was a big fireplace in the library, it was back to back with the fireplace in the living room.

Reaching the door, she pushed it open. There was a small room here, more shelves, and a fully stocked bar. It was a small cozy room made for one purpose. Bon Bon liked it immediately. There was a small loveseat, two high backed chairs, and a big pile of cushions in the corner.

She backed out of the room, made her way through the library, and went off to explore the rest of the house. There was a smaller bedroom located right next to the master bedroom, a large nursery which would be full soon, several bathrooms as Barley had mentioned, a storage closet, and a nook under the stairs that some foal would probably turn into a hidey hole.

Correction. A foal had turned it into a hidey hole. She looked down at Sentinel, who was grinning at her sheepishly as she stood there with the access door open. He had brought along a few cushions and was fixing up the place.

âœHi motherâ Iâve found a cave to call my own,â Sentinel announced.

Bon Bon found herself smiling. âœAre you happy here?â

âœYes, very much so. I like this spot,â Sentinel replied.

âœBut you have your own room upstairs,â Bon Bon said.

âœAnd I like that roomâ but I feel safe and secure here. I like having a hiding spot,â Sentinel explained as he tucked a book away on a small storage shelf.

âœYouâre my little cave dweller,â Bon Bon said as she shut the door. She left, walking down the hall and leaving Sentinel alone. She had long wanted a family, and all things considered, Bon Bon was happy with the family that she had. She appreciated them all the more after everything she had to endure to have them.

Twilight Sparkle landed near the massive brick building that was under construction, came to a running stop, folded her wings, and then became the composed alicorn she was known to be. Ponies waved as she drew near. Refugees were hard at work constructing the new Ponyville Orphanarium.

The refugees worked willingly. Any refugee who worked on various public works projects was promised citizenship in Twilightâs Kingdom, which was how Ponyville was jokingly referred to these days. Twilight Sparkle took a lot of pride in her sense of civic planning. When she had taken over Ponyville, she had been free to get things done and change things that needed changing. Her sense of civic duty had blossomed. Her trip to Fillydelphia had changed her profoundly and it was part of what made her the leader she was today.

âœMayor Mare!â Twilight cried, seeing the pony she was looking for.

âœYes Princess Twilight Sparkle?â Mayor Mare replied.

âœJust call me Twilight, please, I keep telling you thisâ I need the orphanium report if you please. We look ahead of schedule,â Twilight said to the mare before her.

âœOh we areâ volunteer turnout was at an all time high for the past few days. Iâve spoken with Silver Shill, the head of the Farmerâs Unionâ heâs pledged support with food when we start housing foals. There is going to be a food shortage though. We are overpopulated. We need water somehow,â Mayor Mare reported.

âœAnd what of the caretakers?â Twilight asked. âœHow are they settling in?â

âœOh, theyâre fine. Fancy Pants and Fleur Dis Lee are tickled pink about their appointment. Celestiaâs punishment was surprisingly fairâ they were starting to look for a foal to adopt when the collapse happened. Fancy Pants was mortified when he found out where his family fortune came from. It was so nice of them to join your parents right from the startâ Iâve had them over for dinner several times. Such a nice couple. Just like your parents,â Mayor Mare said with a broad sunny smile, her eyes merry and bright.

âœPrincess Celestia will be pleased to know that the life she sentenced them to is working out for them,â Twilight responded.

âœThe water issue is a big problem Twilight. The town reservoir is running low. The river is at critically low levels. We need a big rainstorm or we need to start piping in water from the Everfree aquifer. But it will take time to tap that and lay in pipes. It will take too long,â Mayor Mare said.

âœHow dire is the food situation?â Twilight asked.

âœWell, the grocery stores are almost empty. The farmerâs markets are usually emptied before noon. The townâs food reserves that youâve had put aside are dwindling, running at a deficit. We need a big harvest. If we donât get some drenching rain, we are not going to get a big harvest. But if we get a prolonged soak, it will flood the camps,â Mayor Mare said in a worried voice.

Twilightâs eyes opened wide. âœI have a solution!â she shouted. Rearing up on her hind legs, she spread her wings, kicked off from the ground, and took off, streaking through the sky.

Bucky watched as Twilight landed, coming to a somewhat clumsy stop and then folding in her wings. She waved at him frantically and Bucky began to swim towards the shore to speak with her. She pranced in place impatiently and Bucky figured it must be important.

He crawled ashore, waterlogged, and struggling to walk on three legs. His coat was too shaggy and dense now, and held too far too much water. It was difficult to keep his balance.

âœI need your help Buckminster. I need you to make the largest ice cube that Equestria has ever seen!â Twilight exclaimed.

âœWhat?â Bucky asked.

âœBig ice cube! To solve the water shortage!â Twilight replied.

âœIf I make a giant ice cube, it will pull all the water from everything all around us and leave everything dry. The water has to come from somewhere Twilight,â Bucky answered.

âœGet in the chariot. There is still one parked by the school. Weâre going to Winsome Falls!â Twilight said as she snatched up Bucky in her magic and took off running around the house and towards the school.

Sighing, Bucky summoned his patience. If she wanted ice, the Lord of Winter would give her ice. Bucky had always wondered just how big of an icecube he could make.

He saw startled guards running towards Twilight as she galloped through the yard and wondered how it must look to them to see the Princess of Friendship running around with the Lord of Winter held in her magic. Upon reaching the chariot, Twilight stuffed him in and then hitched herself into the harness, shooing the guards away and telling them to guard the house.

And then, Twilight was off and Bucky discovered much to his terror what it was like to break the sound barrier as they went hurtling through the sky in complete silence.

âœJust freeze one lake and weâll haul it back to Ponyville. Iâll hit it with a featherweight spell and tow it back in my magic. Weâll dump it in the reservoir and call it a day,â Twilight explained.

The plan was brilliant and utterly insane, the sort of plan that only an alicorn and a type four unicorn could create and execute together. It was the sort of plan that had elevated equine-kind to prominence upon this planet. More importantly, Bucky liked the plan.

âœThis is going to drain me,â Bucky said.

âœBoth of us. Iâll be able to get us home, but weâre going to need a ten thousand calorie meal afterwards,â Twilight announced. âœAll you need to do is freeze a whole lake solid. Iâll featherweight it, rip it out of the ground, and haul it back to Ponyville.â

Grinning a maniacal grin, Bucky nodded. âœIâm liking this plan.â

âœWell, get to work,â Twilight said impatiently. âœWe have an obligation to protect our ponies.â

âœActually Twilight, if I freeze two lakes, we could drop one in the reservoir and drop the second one behind the dam possibly. How low is the water level back there?â Bucky inquired.

âœGood thinking! Two lakes it is!â Twilight shouted.

Bucky hobbled closer to the lakes and looked around. âœThese will refill, right?â he asked.

âœYes,â Twilight replied.

âœGood deal,â Bucky said as his horn flared.

He summoned forth everything he had, free to finally freeze everything around him. It began to snow in the general area. Frost appeared everywhere. He pointed his horn at one lake and let go, focusing a beam of pure elemental cold into the lake.

Twilight, a creature aligned with fire, felt the cold and it made her ache. She burst into flames to keep warm, her mane and tail becoming wisps of flame, and her feathered wings became a roaring inferno. She could feel the heat being leached from her, so she cranked up her internal furnace.

Profound changes overtook the pair. Bucky slowly turned to ice, his body turning blue and icicle spikes emerging from his form as ice consumed him. His horn became ice encrusted and grew even longer. His mane and tail were gone, now replaced with cold blue flames that were surprisingly like Freezerburnâs flaming blue feathers that produced no heat. He grew larger, taller, his small fragile body was completely encased in ice.

Twilight Sparkle burned hotter and brighter as more and more heat was leached from her body. Eventually, her physical form collapsed completely and she became a flame elemental, prancing around on legs made of living fire. After several minutes, she ceased to be a pony at all, becoming a ball of living fire that danced around the sky, bobbing back and forth like a miniature sun, a ball of living searing plasma.

Bucky turned his horn towards the second lake and went to work, the first lake now frozen. He felt surprisingly strong. The magical drain didnât feel nearly as bad as he thought it would be. He realised that he had barely even tapped into his cold potential. He could keep going. He could make anything freeze. He could make things still. He could bring calm to the universe around him. He could restore orderâ

âœBUCKMINSTER! ENOUGH!â

Bucky snapped to attention from Twilightâs magically amplified voice. He ceased his magic and realised he was completely encased in ice. He didnât feel cold at all. He felt strong. He still had magic left. He looked up and saw a burning ball of white flame hovering above him.

The world warmed as his magic retreated.

Twilight popped back into pony form with a loud thunderclap and then landed beside Bucky. She looked at him and watched the chunks of ice melting and falling away from his body. âœI think you lost control for a moment there,â Twilight said. âœIâve never converted into a plasma wisp before. I wonder how hot I was burning? Doesnât really matter though, the ambient air temperature was still plunging down below zero. Whew, talk about a hot flashâ now I feel all sweaty and cold at the same time. I need to eat something.â

âœI feel weird,â Bucky said. He shook the ice from his pelt and large chunks of ice fell away from his body.

âœWe got what we came for, letâs go,â Twilight said.

Chapter 231

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The citizens of Ponyville saw a strange sight overhead. Princess Twilight Sparkle pulling a chariot with two large frozen chunks of ice following along behind her, surrounded in a magenta glow. A few sighed and went about their business, Ponyville was a strange place after all, a couple stopped to stare, a few took photographs of the event, and one older mare fainted.

The chunks of ice were massive, larger than the largest buildings in Ponyville. One was dropped off in the lake that had formed behind the hydroelectric dam and the other massive chunk of ice was plunked down in the freshwater reservoir. Once that was done, the chariot went streaking off, and the strange spectacle was over.

The mare who fainted would never fully recover and would spend the rest of her days fearing the invasion of the giant flying icebergs, always keeping a wary eye upon the sky.

At home once again, Bucky sniffed and smelt something delicious. He paused, sniffing, watching as Twilight Sparkle zoomed off again towards Ponyville. The chariot was parked once again by the school and the guards paced around the perimeter of the property. So far, no massive mob had shown up.

Something stunk of delicious garlic and onions. Bucky teetered up the steps and made his way indoors, sniffing with every step. As soon as he cleared the door he was nearly bowled over by Loch Skimmer who rushed to greet him and plant kisses all over his face.

âœDinner will be done soon. Lyra has made an enormous amount of baked eggplant lasagna layered with cheese. Several pans are cooking in the oven right now. There is also going to be garlic bread and a spinach with alfalfa and bean sprout salad,â Bon Bon announced.

âœSome of the foals and a few family members will have to sit at the kitchen table,â Lyra said informatively as she paced by the stove and looked in the oven window. âœI hope there is enough. We need a bigger oven.â

âœI knew weâd be a large herd, I dinnae know youâd be founding a tribe,â Barley groused.

âœI keep wondering how I am going to get back and forth to workâ I donât even have my learnerâs permit to fly yet,â Loch Skimmer said as she walked Bucky to a chair, nudging him along with her wing. âœI donât even know where to show up for workâ nopony told me anything.â

âœDonât worry about it lass, itâll all sort out in time ye pretty little cuss,â Barley said as he sat reading the paper. He lowered his paper and looked at Bucky, one eye narrowed. âœSomepony went and hired the earth ponies in the garden as groundskeepers.â

âœIs that a problem?â Bucky asked.

âœNay, Iâm prood of ye fer doing it,â Barley replied as he hid his face behind his newspaper.

âœWe need to grow bell peppers!â Bon Bon shouted from the kitchen.

âœCelery!â Lyra added.

Strolling casually into the living room, Derpy took a seat next to Bucky. She leaned on him and kissed him softly on the cheek. âœOur son has made himself a hiding place under the stairs. Heâs calling it his cave. Once he is done fixing it up, he plans to invite you inside. Seems you had some hiding places in school and Sentinel was quite impressed.â

Chuckling, Bucky nodded.

âœDinky and PiÃa have a new friend theyâve been playing with,â Derpy said.

âœWho?â Bucky asked.

âœA little earth pony foal named Citrus Summer,â Derpy replied.

âœGood. This pleases me. I donât want the hired help being treated poorly or somehow unequal. I want their foals to get along with our foals,â Bucky said. âœI remember how my family treated the help. Makes me feel sick to my stomach just thinking about it.â

âœCalm down,â Derpy whispered soothingly. âœI think weâre all better than that.â

âœI want to be better than them,â Bucky groaned in an insecure voice.

âœYou are,â Derpy said, smooching him on the cheek.

âœQuit yer bellyachingâ ye did good lad. And if anypony treats the help poorly, Iâll be giving them such a tongue lashing,â Barley grumbled from behind his paper. âœBesidesâ I has me a soft spot for the wee orange filly.â

âœYou just love foals,â Derpy said to Barley.

âœAye. I do,â Barley replied. âœEhâ they're gonna put all that empty space in Canterlot to good use. Building the Stable House. A place for all of the representatives to gather an vote on the issues at hoof. I like where this is going.â

âœEggplant?â Sentinel asked in a curious voice.

âœItâs delicious,â PiÃa said just before jamming a bite into her mouth.

Looking down at her plate, Ripple struggled to hold a fork with her hoof. She was still getting the hang of things, but she had perfect control over her body. Usually. Controlling her manipulation shoes was another story.

âœI donât understand silverware,â Yew said, looking down at her utensils. âœLooks like you could stab your lip with the fork.â

âœI already have,â Ripple muttered. âœDuring breakfast I stabbed my gums.â

âœThis really smells good,â Yew commented.

âœMmm hmm!â Dinky nodded, her mouth full of lasagna.

âœThis might be better with meat in it,â Sentinel quipped.

âœGross! Who would put meat into lasagna?â PiÃa responded.

âœMaybe little slivers of deer,â Sentinel mused.

PiÃa puffed out her cheeks and made a gookie face.

Dinky laughed and Lyra started to laugh as well. Yew giggled around a mouthful of food.

âœPiÃaâ what am I going to do with you?â Lyra asked.

âœLove me,â PiÃa replied.

Lyra looked at the foals around the table and was glad to be sitting with them. She watched as Sentinel finally tried a bite of eggplant. She watched him chew slowly, his expression blank. She felt her muscles tense. She waited, hoping that he would like it.

A moment later Lyra felt as though she had made a major accomplishment when Sentinel dropped his muzzle to his plate and began to noisily savage his food, devouring it in large wolfish bites. It was pretty much the highest form of compliment she could hope for.

âœHe was hungry,â Yew commented as she watched the lunar pegasus colt scarf his food. She followed his example and planted her muzzle into her plate and began gobbling.

âœSentinel has his own little hiding spot,â PiÃa said between bites. âœWe want a hiding spot.â

âœYeah!â Dinky agreed with her mouth full.

âœHe needs a place to have a little privacy. Thatâs important to him,â Ripple said. âœHeâs in a house full of fillies and mares.â

PiÃa chewed her food thoughtfully, looked at Sentinel, and thought about making a comment about him needing a place to hide his boners. She swallowed and then said nothing. She couldnât say something that mean about her big brother. Then she began to chortle as she realised that he had a place to hide his bonersâ Moonbow. Someday. For some reason, the thought didnât seem as icky as it once did.

âœI am an apprentice to an all powerful archmage. I need a proper study,â Dinky said with a few dramatic gestures. âœI need a secret location.â

Chewing on his garlic bread, Bucky came to one simple conclusion. He swallowed, smacked his lips, and then looked around the table. âœThis butter is flavourless.â

âœI was just thinking the same thing,â Derpy said, her ears perking forward. âœI miss the butter on the isles.â

Suddenly feeling many eyes looking at her, Berry Punch looked up from her plate. âœWhat?â she said, her mouth full of salad, a little bit of oil and vinegar dribbling out as she spoke.

âœYou are such a gifted ponyââ Bucky said as he turned his sole surviving eye upon Berry.

The earth pony mare begin to giggle as she was eating, dribbling more oil and vinegar as she did so. She wiped her face with her foreleg, stabbed a big slice of eggplant, stuffed it into her mouth, chewed, and then swallowed.

âœSo full of milk,â Bucky said as he licked his lips. âœAnd I bet Bonnie would have sweet milk.â

Bon Bon blushed and then began to chortle.

âœAch, so ye discovered the secret of the wunnerful butter oâ the isles,â Barley said. âœI say, ye should run her down and milk her fer being a saucy little tart. Been too long since Iâve had proper butter.â

âœConversation over food is never boring in this tribe,â Lugus said. He tried a bite of the lasagna and held it in his mouth for a while to get a taste for it. Lugus, being semi-omnivorous, could eat small portions of things not meat and not have too much trouble in his stomach.

âœItâll be all garlicky now,â Derpy complained.

âœMmm, garlic butter,â Bucky said as he ate a bite of salad.

âœRising, honey, are you gonna milk me someday?â Loch Skimmer asked.

Upon hearing Lochâs words, Rising Star nearly choked and Barley whacked him on the back. Snorting through his nostrils for air while his mouth was still full, Rising Star tried not to laugh. Beside him, Sparkler was about to fall out of her chair and everypony at the table was laughing.

âœWell, dairy should come from trusted family members,â Barley quipped. âœPegasus butter is too thick to spread when its cold. I can remember Berryâs father milking me sister right at the breakfast table so weâd all have fresh milk.â

âœWell, this just got weird,â Sparkler said before jamming a big folded up lasagna noodle into her mouth along with a big runny glob of cheese.

Recovering from his laughter, Rising Star felt an odd pressure in his horn. His sinuses suddenly felt clogged and his entire head felt stuffy. His ears popped, then popped again, and he felt something pressing on the back of his eyeballs. A puff of fire exploded from his horn and then a scroll landed on the table between his glass and his plate.

âœOw,â Rising Star said as he rubbed his head with his hoof. He lifted the scroll with his magic, broke the seal, and saw one word. âœTesting,â he read aloud. âœI donât think I like this new mail service.â

He felt the terrible pressure building again in his head and he clenched his eyes shut. âœNo,â he moaned, not enjoying this sensation at all. A second later, there was another big poof of fire and a second scroll landed on the table. Rising Star groaned wordlessly and had to hold his head up, his eyes still closed.

Levitating the scroll, Bucky popped it open to see what it had to say. âœInstructions for return mail coming soon. Sorry about the headache. You can actually do something that Twilight Sparkle cannot do. Love, your fellow pyromancer, Celestia,â he read.

âœMore mail is coming?â Rising Star whined.

Suddenly, Bucky clutched at his head and everypony at the table watched as tendrils of shadow snaked around his horn. After a few moments, the shadow coalesced into a scroll and landed on the table, being the crescent moon symbol of the Lunar Court.

âœUgh, havenât I suffered enoughââ Bucky muttered.

Barley sat in a reclining deck chair watching the moon rise up over the trees, his bones aching and tired. It has been a long day. Convincing the camp leader to cooperate had taken some serious cajoling and all of the charisma he could muster. He looked over at Sentinel, who was sitting beside him.

âœAye, yer a quiet sort,â Barley quipped.

âœI have trouble expressing myself sometimesâ I find it is easier to write. I can think about what it is I want to say and carefully put the words together,â Sentinel replied.

âœThe trick to talking well is saying what ponies want to hear, while remaining true to yer own self, and saying what ponies need to hear, all at the same time,â Barley confided.

Staring up at the edge of the moon that was peeking over the trees, Sentinel did not know how to respond. The stars twinkled overhead. There were crickets and frogs. Owls hooted. Whippoorwills cried. The night air was sweet and rich with scents that only Sentinel could smell.

âœYe had to watch yer father do a right awful thing and endure a terrible trial,â Barley said. He heard a whimper from Sentinel and a pained expression crossed over his own face. âœReading that transcript killed me. I understand that ye were there.â

âœI was,â Sentinel replied.

âœYer father, and make no mistake nephew, he is yer father in every way that matters, said what some ponies wanted to hearâ but even with all the awful things he said, he stayed true to himself and his ideals, and then said what needed to be said. Bucky is a right good lad. Heâll grow old and wise if he lives that long,â Barley explained.

âœI worry about that,â Sentinel confessed. âœHe runs away from silly thingsâ foolish things. I donât understand it. He ran away from his own coronation and hid. But he willingly walked into the lair of a crystal lich. He runs at danger, not from danger. My father confuses me.â

Taking a deep breath, Barley considered Sentinelâs words carefully as he gazed up at the starry sky. The night air was warm and pleasant. Fireflies danced in the grass and over the lake, which was currently kelpie-less.

âœMy father is going to get himself killed one dayâ I donât think he will suffer from old age,â Sentinel stated in a solemn voice. âœIâ loveâ I love him so much.â

âœA stallion could not ask for a finer colt,â Barley muttered and then fell silent to enjoy the sounds of the dark sacred night all around him. He loved the nightâ and he loved its Mistress.

Chapter 232

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Sitting by the fire, but not in Barleyâs chair, Bucky made himself comfortable and sighed. He suspected the peace wouldnât last. His belly was still full from dinner. He was mildly worried that there were no leftovers. Every last bit of lasagna had been eaten. There was a lot of mouths to feed, and some of them were unicorn mouths, which could be bottomless pits.

Derpy sat beside him, reading something, and he wasnât sure what it was. Feeling curious, he leaned over and prodded his pegasus mate gently, noticing the softness of her padded sides. It gave him ideas.

âœWhat are you reading?â Bucky inquired.

âœFlight camp brochures. I found them in a drawer. We have a few pegasi nowâ and they need to learn how to fly. Properly. From pegasi who are better fliers than I am,â Derpy answered, her voice serious and calm.

âœI suppose you are contemplating sending our foals away to flight camp?â Bucky asked.

âœWell, I thought about it, until I saw this brochure. This is a flight camp that comes to you. I like this one because I donât want to break apart our family. It is run by a pony named Surprise. Sheâs a Wonderbolt. She brings military style flight training but with gentle instruction. She focuses on defensive flying and responsibility. I like this brochure a lot,â Derpy replied.

âœWe can look into it,â Bucky said.

Outside in the yard, Bucky heard one of the guards shouting, and then there was more shouting. Wondering what the commotion was, Bucky slipped off the couch and made his way to the front door. The shift had changed a while ago with fresh guards coming in for the evening.

He made his way outside and saw a chariot along with a wing of lunar pegasi. Peering up, he squinted, and was able to make out two figures in the chariot. He made his way to the steps, hobbled down the steps, and then trotting on three legs, walked out onto the lawn where the guard began to salute him.

He watched the chariot land and the two figures stepped off. After a moment, he recognised them and began to hurry forward as fast as his three legs would carry him.

âœWitching Hour, Tiddlywinks, what brings you here?â Bucky asked as he approached the pair ponies. He felt a little concerned and hoped they were just here for lessons.

âœPrincess Luna sent us here,â Witching Hour responded. âœWe need a place to stay for a while. This is not a secure location, but Princess Luna couldnât think of a better place to send us and we refused to stay in Canterlot Castle. IT GIVES MY HUSBAND THE WILLIES! Celestia has clairaudience spells all over the castle.â

âœYou need a place to stay? What happened?â Bucky asked.

âœOur apartment building exploded. Our apartment specifically. We have several. We never stay in the same apartment two nights in row,â Witching Hour replied. âœWe checked the door, it showed no signs of tampering. Turned the knob, opened the door, BOOM! Winkyâs reflexes saved us both. As soon as he heard the popping crackle sound, he teleported both us to safety in a fraction of a second.â

Swallowing loudly, Bucky sat down with a thump, his hindquarters hitting the grass. He could see that they were both trembling with fear and their eyes darted around everywhere.

âœPONIES KEEP TRYING TO KILL US!â Witching Hour shouted. She froze for a moment. âœSorryâ shouting. Right,â she said, taking a deep breath.

âœWell, I have a few spare roomsâ you could pick one. The guards have been staying in the unfinished dormitory towers. You are welcomed to stay with us,â Bucky offered.

âœWe keep a highly modified tent in our private fold space. Weâll set up someplace private. We need quiet time. You probably wonât be able to find our tent or even see it. If we need something, we will come to you. We will need something to eatâ and we hope you will not be insulted if we thoroughly inspect our food. SO MANY PONIES HAVE TRIED TO POISON US!â Witching Hour said to Bucky.

Private fold space?

Bucky thought about what Witching Hour had said. He knew it was possible, but he had not looked into creating one for himself yet. Nothing from Sombraâs memories seemed to surface about the matter, which lead Bucky to the understanding that it had to be a magical development that happened after Sombraâs time.

The lunar guards were deploying all around the property and Bucky watched them disperse. He heard soft whispering as the guards discussed various duties amongst themselves.

âœStay here as long as you need. My home is your home, always. Do whatever it is that you need to do to feel safe. Try not to spook my foals. Watch out for Dinky and PiÃa. Theyâre overly curious and will probably ask you a million questions. And if anything comes here trying to harm you, you have powerful protectors all around you,â Bucky said to the pair.

Both Tiddlywinks and Witching Hour nodded gratefully and then began to make their way towards the school. Bucky watched them go and began to feel a sense of worry. Lyra was going to need to cover this place in wards. He turned around headed for the house, and he saw Derpy and Berry Punch on the front porch watching.

âœWe heard everything,â Berry said as Bucky approached.

âœThat was very nice of you to let them stay,â Derpy said.

âœWe came home to a different Equestria,â Berry said in a sad voice.

At the same time, in a different part of town, Coco Pommel was sitting on a soft overstuffed fainting couch, recovering from her ordeal while sipping hot tea. Her hooves were so sore that she could barely even hold the tea cup, and she smelled strongly of medicated liniment that had been liberally applied not long ago.

âœYou pulled a wagon full of ponies all the way from Manehatten to Ponyville,â Rarity said in a cultured voice. âœThat was so kind of you, darling.â

âœIâm an earth pony,â Coco replied in a calm voice. âœI was able to find out how strong I was.â

âœYou poor dear,â Rarity whined. âœHow dreadful. Look at you. You are in such a state. It breaks my heart to see you like this.â

âœWe were attacked by bandits. They wanted to drive the males away and keep us females,â Coco said, her words causing ripples to form in her teacup as she spoke into it. âœA pegasus in our group, the most gentle and kind pegasus you ever did meet, he killed one of them. They all ran away after that.â

âœRuffians,â Rarity hissed.

âœAnd then there was a forest fire. It was burning on both sides of us. We were trapped in the middle. We had no choice but to keep going and hope that the flames didnât burn us,â Coco said, her voice finally losing its calm and wavering slightly.

Rarity lifted her own teacup and took a sip of the hot tea, a blend she had made herself of peppermint, anise, and chamomile. Her eyes lingered on Cocoâs blistered back and the places she had been rubbed raw. It made Rarity ache to see another pony she so loved in such a sorry state.

âœWe met a nice dragon. He helped us. He lifted the wagon and carried us over a raging river. The bridge was gone. He stayed with us for several days and gave us a chance to rest. He was very kind. I would have never thought a dragon would be kind. He gave us quite a scare when we first saw him though,â Coco said as she let the steam from her tea soak into her snoot.

âœNot all dragons are bad, dearâ some of them are simply delightful. Like my little Spikey Wikey. He is such a nice little gentle-dragon. Twilight Sparkle has raised him so well,â Rarity said.

âœThank you so much for taking me in,â Coco said graciously.

âœAbout that. Darling, we need to talk. To be honest, I took you in with an ulteriour motive. I need help. I know you have organisational skills because of your time spent working in the theatre. You know how to work with large groups of ponies and keep everything focused. I need you to help me,â Rarity said bluntly. âœTake a few days to settle in and get rested. Weâll talk more later.â

âœI want to help,â Coco said. âœIâll start tomorrow.â

âœVery well. Tomorrow. I am so glad to see you again and know that you are safe!â

Sitting in the library, Sparkler had her nose buried in a book about an officerâs obligations to the public. She reread several words over and over again, trying to fully understand their meaning. Short simple words.

An officer is to protect civilians from the soldiery.

The book elaborated that in the event that the guard was deployed as a constabulary force, there was a risk of the guard treating civilians as combatants due to their training, and the entire chapter was about the escalation of conflict and how an officer was to prevent it from happening. Civilians were soft targets, but to the common guard, it was easy to forget that in times of crisis.

An annoyed feeling crept over Sparkler as all four of her legs began to tremble and then her back muscles began to spasm painfully. She gritted her teeth and kept reading, ignoring her body as it rebelled against her wishes. Very much against her will, she found herself crying out slightly.

The guard were there to battle enemies of the Crown, and by extension, citizens who engaged the guard might be treated as enemies of the Crown. This left a sour taste in Sparklerâs mouth. The guard were there to protect and serve the Crown. Something was needed to protect and serve the ponies. The common pony was not an enemy of the Crown and didnât deserve to be treated as such.

An officerâs duty was to make sure to rein in the guards that became too overzealous in their duty. Sparkler thought about this, turning it over in her mind. The most obvious solution was to not use the guard to pacify the citizenry, but during these troubled times, something was necessary. Sparkler had read plenty of stuff in the newspaper about violence in the camps. Sexual assault. Ponyville had more ponies than ever before and in these trying times, the worst sorts of behaviours came out of panicked ponies who were desperate and scared.

âœGoing to be PiÃaâs birthday real soon,â Berry said.

âœI need to go home and get the book I have for PiÃa in my closet,â Derpy said. âœI have a copy of âœA Fillyâs Guide to Growing Upâ sitting on my closet shelf for PiÃa to have on her birthday.â Derpy scowled. âœI guess that place isnât home anymore.â

âœChange is always a bit rough,â Berry said as she patted Derpy.

âœThe summer did kind of go as we planned it. Dinky and PiÃa both grew up a bit and both know what it means to be young fillies. I just donât know what went wrongâ they learned all of the right stuff through all of the wrong ways I think,â Derpy grumbled.

âœThey learned about the important stuff. Love, sex, family values, probably a few lessons they werenât quite ready for, but they adapted quite well. I think in the long run, this summer will make them better ponies. A little rough around the edges, but our little girls are growing up. Theyâre becoming just a bit more independent and want to push the limits to see what they can get away with,â Berry said.

âœAt least we have Harper and Peekaboo to fawn over,â Derpy said in a low voice.

âœWell, for now. Weâre going to be overrun with foals soon,â Berry said with a laugh.

Chapter 233

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Twilight Sparkle slowed down and began her descent, circling overhead and gliding down gently near the farmhouse. The guard saluted her. She was aware that Bucky had visitors, having received a message last night about the situation. She scanned the area, looking around. She saw Loch Skimmer and her sister Ripple.

Ripple was running around on her front legs and leaping, which confused Twilight greatly. Ponies should run around on four legs. Not two. And certainly not the two front legs. And they shouldnât be leaping all over the place.

Seeing Twilight, Loch Skimmer came over to be friendly, tackling Twilight in an extra squeezy pegasus hug. The pair embraced for a moment and then Loch Skimmer let go.

âœSo how do I go to work?â Loch asked.

âœDonât worry about that right now, you have the job. Wait for things to calm down and get settled, and Fluttershy will start coming out here to train you,â Twilight replied.

âœOkay,â Loch said as she pranced around in a circle around Twilight Sparkle.

âœIs Barley up yet?â Twilight inquired.

âœI donât know,â Loch answered. âœI havenât seen him yet.â

âœHmm,â Twilight hummed.

âœI know that Sparky wants to talk to you,â Loch announced. âœBut I donât know why.â

Twilight nodded and made her way to the front door. She let herself in and peered around the house. She saw Barley in the kitchen fixing coffee. Twilight made herself at home and immediately began to prepare tea.

âœMorning,â Barley said amicably.

âœGood morning!â Twilight cheerfully replied.

The two ponies had been at this routine for a long time now, and moved around the kitchen with an easy grace, easily sidestepping one another as they went about their separate tasks. Barley hurriedly stuck his scones in the oven and began to bake them.

âœTwilight?â

Turning, Twilight saw Sparkler. âœGood morning,â Twilight said as she began to set the table and lay out the tea service.

âœI need to talk to you,â Sparkler said.

âœWell, I have time. That is what I am here for. Thereâs a lot to talk about today,â Twilight responded, smiling as she spoke.

âœThe ponies need protection. Iâve been thinking about this a lot. I was up for most of the night reading Sentinelâs officer training manuals. The part about an officerâs duty is to protect the citizenry from the guardâ it stuck out in my mind. We need a way to keep the peace but not with the guard. I know there are problems here, Iâve seen the paper,â Sparkler said in a hesitant voice.

âœLike a police force?â Twilight said. âœLike they had in Manehatten and Baltimare?â

Suddenly feeling stupid, Sparkler facehoofed. She had been so focused on the problem that she had failed to grasp the obvious. She had read quite a few crime novels as a filly.

âœYou okay?â Twilight inquired.

âœHaving myself a stupid moment,â Sparkler mumbled. âœYes. A police force. I am sure the militia does a good job, but Ponyville needs a dedicated police force.â

Pressing her lips into a flat line, Twilight Sparkle stood looking thoughtful for a moment. She made a thoughtful grunt and her wings twitched. âœThat is actually a really good idea.â

âœI want to help,â Sparkler announced.

âœOh bother,â Barley said. âœThe grey mare is gonna be in such a tizzy.â

âœYou want to help organise a police force?â Twilight questioned.

âœI am a Buck Sergeant. I have experience with actual command. Iâve had combat experience. I thought about pressing for military service with the guard, but then I realised I have trouble right here at home that needs to be looked after. I canât save the world, but I can make Ponyville a better place,â Sparkler stated.

âœSo what brought this about?â Twilight asked. âœI mean, youâve been thinking about this.â

âœWhen I read in yesterdayâs paper about the guard breaking a stallionâs leg because he stole something,â Sparkler muttered. âœOverwhelming use of force to gain submission is the right thing to do in combat but the stallion in question was stealing turnips.â

âœThe guard in question is being reprimanded,â Twilight said in a soft voice.

âœThat isnât enough! Who protects the citizens from the guard?â Sparkler retorted.

âœThis is a very delicate issue,â Twilight said in a calm voice.

âœYes it is. I might be young, but I know I have been declared a legal adult with all of the responsibilities and privileges that apply to being an adult. I am willing to help,â Sparkler said. âœIâve given a lot of thought about what to do with my life. Before we left home, I had everything planned out. I was going to go to university. I was going to lead a quiet boring life doing absolutely nothing useful. But then, I went off and I grew up. I saw the world for what it really is. And now I am home and nothing in life makes sense anymore,â Sparkler said, struggling to speak as her face twitched violently. She sat down in a chair as one of her legs began to kick.

âœAre you willing to help me create a police department for Ponyville?â Twilight asked.

âœYes,â Sparkler said, hiding her face with her hooves. She didnât want others looking at her during these states. She felt hideous and unattractive. She silently wondered when she should start taking the pills. Her sudden self consciousness set off a whole new round of twitches and spasms.

âœGive me a few days to ask around. Iâll get you some ponies to work with. You will keep your rank of Sergeant when you take command of the constabulary. I trust that you will lead a force of gentle protectors,â Twilight said.

Stumbling into the archway, Bucky staggered into the kitchen looking bleary eyed. Even the purple haze drifting from his Taint filled eye looked half awake. He hobbled to the table and sat down, leaning over on the table for support.

âœMorning pegasiâ Loch Skimmer,â Bucky muttered. He yawned, revealing fangs.

âœBuckminsterâ

âœStop. No more Buckminster. Call me Buckyâ reallyâ I hate my name,â Bucky insisted.

âœBuckyâ okay then. Bucky, there will be a royal accountant coming out today to visit you. They will let you know about your financial situation. Luna is hoping to come out today at some point to speak with you, Witching Hour, and Tiddlywinks. She might not be able to make it. Mayor Mare has requested an audience with you. I have you penciled in for ten oâ clock. If you try to skip out like you did on the day of your coronation, I will never forgive you. This is VERY important. It is about the school and what you want from the community. Mister Rich will be coming by later today after your meeting. He is one of my most trusted civic planners and he is going to help you with getting the school going. Construction is scheduled to begin again on the dormitory towers. Each tower holds seventy six students and there are currently two towers which are partially completed. More towers will be built in time. Down the road from here, we plan to construct housing for the teachers and staff members. So these are all issues that concern you,â Twilight explained in her usual long winded fashion.

Bucky yawned in reply.

Barley, always thoughtful, shoved a cup of coffee under Buckyâs nose and then went back to watch his scones in the oven. He fretted to himself, worried if they would come out perfect.

Twilight watched as Bucky added cream and sugar to his coffee. âœI think the water crisis is over. I did some calculations. The ice we brought back should give us enough water to work with until winter. But we need to clear out the last of the refugee camps before it gets cold. We are building suburbs outside of Ponyville. Some of the refugees are going to be sent to other places that need labour. To help with the food crisis, we have another train full of goods coming up from Saddle Arabia soonish. Celestia said she might have both of us guarding the train. I know how you feel about not hurting ponies, but the bandits must be dealt with. Just give them a really good scare and make sure that the train keeps moving.â

âœHow are you getting food from Saddle Arabia?â Bucky grumbled.

âœSharing my own personal arcano-tech research with them. Right now, I am working on organising a mutual assistance pact between our nations. They have resources we need, we have resources they need, and I have been working very hard to foster better relations between us. They are preparing to send a whole lot of food. Mostly grain, soybeans, and rice. Enough to see the refugees through the winter. Things are still going to be difficult though,â Twilight said.

âœOh sureâ little miss popular leaves out one important detail,â Barley groused.

With a panicked gasp, Twilight grinned sheepishly and glanced at Barley. âœThe Saddle Arabians love Barley. He and Luna left a lasting impression upon the delegation they sent up here.â

Nodding, Bucky lowered his head and stuck his lips into his coffee cup. He slurped some out and then blinked a few times. Lifting his head back up, he turned to look at Twilight. âœI will meet with Mayor Mare but only if I may take my squire. I either act in my official capacity as a knight or I donât act at all.â

âœThatâs acceptable. She wanted to speak with her princeâ

âœChieftain,â Bucky corrected.

âœThat title is just to humour you,â Twilight groused. âœBecause you acted like a foal and took off during the day of your coronation. You have all of the powers of a prince at your disposal as Equestriaâs War Chief.â

âœBah!â Bucky grunted.

âœDonât take no guff Bucky,â Barley said as he pulled the scones from the oven.

âœDonât encourage him!â Twilight snapped.

Thinking of a response, Bucky continued to drink his coffee and he sniffed a few times as the scones were set down to cool. He glanced at Sparkler, who was sitting quietly and looking thoughtful. âœSoâ what are my legal rights as prince exactly? I mean, where is an official list of my powers and what are the limits of my control?â

Twilight opened to her mouth to respond, fell silent, started to say something else, made a wordless noise of irritation, inhaled sharply, began to speak again, and then her eyes narrowed. âœI donât know anymore.â

âœThatâs what I thought,â Bucky grumbled.

âœYou still have obligations!â Twilight retorted.

âœYes I do,â Bucky agreed. âœI am not a prince. I am a slave. I exist to serve others.â

âœI serve others tooââ Twilight said defensively.

âœI know you do. Which is why I am willing to do anything within my power to help you. You live in a library. I live in a farmhouse. We are easily accessible royalty. Weâve made ourselves available to those we serve. You accept your title and the prestige that comes with it. I do not,â Bucky explained.

âœBuckyâ I donât understand you,â Twilight sighed.

âœI am happy to be a slave. I chose this. Your brother worked out a deal with me and even though I did not know the punishment, I knew that if I jumped through all the hoops and did everything asked of me, I would get to be with my family. My title of slave means more to me than any other title I have a claim on. Prince. King of the Crystal Empire. Knight,â Bucky said in a low voice. When he was done, he drank some coffee and then rested his stump upon the table.

Twilight lapsed into sullen silence. She levitated over a scone, spread some butter on it, and then she slowly nibbled off tiny bites as she sat in her chair thinking. She eyed Bucky a few times but could not figure out anything worth saying.

Bucky smiled in a smug self satisfied sort of way and drank his coffee.

Chapter 234

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Derpy flexed her wings and braced herself for what was coming next. Flying to her old home, having a look around, and then beginning the process of registering her foals in school. She was not looking forward to heading into town and facing all of the other ponies just yet.

As she stood there, she had a moment where she wasnât sure that she could do it. Her sense of introversion screamed at her to stay. She was only aware of her introversion because of Berry Punch, who had quietly explained it to her during a long chat one day.

She looked at the guard and grinned sheepishly as she stood there flexing her wings. She became slowly aware of the fact that what she was doing might be considered a plumage display. She felt a hot creeping heat working its way up her neck and through her wings. She closed her eyes and thought of how she felt when Bucky touched her, her reaction was identical.

As she took wing, she actually noticed for the first time the extra weight in her belly as she flew and she could not help but smile as she went soaring off into the sky.

Stepping slowly off of the chariot, Bucky looked around Ponyville. An old familiar friend returned, and he felt a sharp spike of panic go lancing through his barrel. Ponies were staring at him. A few looked afraid. Some looked curious. But every eye in the general area was focused upon him. And probably Sentinel as well.

âœItâs rude to stare.â

The voice was loud. The voice was commanding. The voice was right to the point and said what needed to be said. The voice was Sentinelâs. Bucky turned around and glanced at Sentinel briefly, remembering not to stare. It was rude.

âœWe must be going,â Twilight said, giving Bucky a gentle nudge.

Not quite sure what else to do, Bucky raised his stump and gave a wave before going into city hall to attend to the meeting.

Feeling irritated, Lyra pushed the newspaper away from her and levitated her cup of tea to her lips. It felt good to be back in civilisation again. She took a swallow and then chewed on a cold scone while looking at Bon Bon and Berry Punch.

âœSentinelâs letter to General Iron Sky has generated a lot of controversy,â Berry remarked.

âœSure has,â Bon Bon quipped.

âœI cannot believe that Celestia herself has responded to this issue. I mean, I keep wondering if she actually did it or if her assistant did it for her, you know what I mean. Pledging support for female guard members, saying that it is time for a change,â Berry said, gesturing at the paper.

âœAnd what does your feminism have to say about this issue?â Bon Bon teasingly asked.

âœIt tells me that it would be really sexy to have a fellow herd member in uniform,â Berry replied without missing a beat.

Clicking his beak together to get Peekabooâs attention, Lugus crouched. âœLook little oneâ like this,â Lugus instructed as he pounced. His leap carried him for almost a good twenty feet and he landed solidly on all fours, his claws digging into the earth. âœNowâ try to pounce upon the grasshopper. Keep your front downâ keep your little hindquarters upâ legs taut but flexible.â

Peekaboo assumed the position, narrowed her eyes, splayed out her small stubby wings, and then she pounced, missing the grasshopper completely.

Yew balanced on her haunches and clapped her front hooves together.

âœShe didnât catch the grasshopper,â Lugus stated.

âœBut she tried. So I am clapping,â Yew replied.

Lugus shrugged. âœI will defer since you know more about this than I do. When I failed, I was beaten with a rod or a cane and disciplined.â

âœThatâs horrible!â Yew protested.

âœResults were rewarded. Failure was punished. I am the strong griffon that I am today because all weakness was ruthlessly carved away from me,â Lugus explained.

Frowning, Yew shook her head sadly. She watched as Peekaboo attempted to pounce upon another grasshopper. âœGriffons seem so cruel.â

âœWe are,â Lugus admitted.

âœYouâre not,â Yew said, raising her voice slightly. âœDonât you dare lump yourself in with them you big lummox!â

âœI left home for a reason. Somehow, I retained my own individual sense of honour. It did not sit well with them,â Lugus said. As he was speaking, he reached out with his talons and snatched a grasshopper in mid leap. He tossed it into his beak and swallowed once he was finished talking.

âœThe way you speak has changed,â Yew observed.

âœI try to talk more like ponies,â Lugus said in return. âœWe are mimics. We copy the sounds and speech of others, we griffons.â

âœWell, why donât you come over here and talk sweet to me? Tell me all about my expressive little face and how it makes you feel,â Yew said enticingly.

Seeing an opportunity, Lugus pounced.

It was very difficult to hold back the yawn that pounded upon his fangs like a prisoner upon iron bars. Bucky envied Sentinelâs ability to be completely enraptured by a droning presentation of civic planning. Bucky shifted in his chair and rested his weight against the table. Even by his old accounting job standards, this was boring and tedious.

Finally, Bucky could take no more.

âœThis is all fine and good to prattle on and on about daydreamsâ what are we doing for the ponies of this town right now?â Bucky interrupted.

The room went as silent as a long occupied tomb.

âœThe proposed memorial fountain does absolutely NO GOOD TO THE REFUGEES RIGHT NOW!â Bucky continued, releasing his frustration. âœAnd I am pretty sure they would be in trouble if they tried drinking from it or bathing in it,â he snarled.

The mayor gulped loudly and backed away from her presentation board.

âœSurely something useful comes out of these meetings eventually, progress is clearly being made, but think of how much further weâd be down the road of progress without all of this useless drivel!â Bucky bellowed. Out of the corner of his surviving eye, he saw a remarkably smug look upon Twilight Sparkleâs face that was entirely too much like his own. Could ponies have a striking family resemblance after one thousand years? Bucky didnât know. But he felt a sudden moment of kinship with the alicorn.

âœGive me the budget,â Bucky demanded.

Looking suddenly nervous, Ivory Scroll, the mayor, looked pleadingly at Bucky. âœWe have accountants and city treasury officials who deal with-â

âœGIVE ME THE BUDGET!â

The mayorâs secretary hurried forward, lifted the folder, and handed it to Bucky. She then retreated, fleeing the room with her tail tucked between her legs and her ears pinned to her skull.

âœReally there is no need for-â

âœI am a certified accountant with a long history of getting results. Just ask Mister Rich,â Bucky growled, cutting off the mayor once more. He lifted the folder and began to look over the proposed budget. His face turned into a terrifyingly sour scowl and another assistant fled the room.

âœThis can goâ this can goâ this is stupidâ if the surviving rich ponies of the town demand gardening service along the public walks bordering their properties, they can pay for the service themselves. I am all for city beautification but this is patently ridiculous. Nope. Nope. Certainly not. Why? Thatâs gotta go. With the funding cut from there this can be raisedâ city employees do not need an expense account at the most expensive restaurant in town during these troubled times. What in Tartarus is this? A joke? The expense account gets more money than the school funding for Miss Cheerilee? RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!â Bucky said as he slashed away savagely with his pen.

Twilight Sparkle covered her mouth with one fetlock and coughed demurely. She then turned to Sentinel and gave him a wink that only Sentinel could see.

âœWhy do the wealthy get trash pick up twice a week while everypony else gets trash pick up once every two weeks? THATâS GOTTA GO! What a load of horseapplesâ why is it that every tree in the town grows wild and free except for where the wealthy live? Why do those trees require so much money for pruning? I bet somepony has a really cushy job with a stupidly high wage for doing nothing more than lopping off a few branches now and thenâ thatâs gotta go. THIS IS NOT A BUDGET! THIS IS A FAT CARCASS WAITING TO BE DISEMBOWELED! DIE DIE DIE DIE!â

Sentinel covered his face with his hooves and sunk down in his chair. This was side of his father he had not seen, and he wasnât sure he ever wanted to see it ever again. The force of his fatherâs pen strokes caused ink to spatter along the wall and it was like blood from a gutted animal spraying forth in rhythmic spurts. His fatherâs savage ferocity was terror inducing and Sentinel hoped that he never did anything that evoked his fatherâs excitable ire.

âœIâve quintupled the education budget after Iâve gutted all of the perks for the wealthy. Cheerilee will be getting a much needed raise. The city is now running in black ink. We could probably lower taxes, but I am not even certain about the tax situation during these difficult timesâ that section of the budget is missingââ Bucky said as he shot an accusing glance at the mayor. âœAlso, I have completely killed the funding to all of the accountants on payroll that created this budget. Iâll be taking over this department. It will save the city almost a half a million bits a year and Iâll do this for the reasonable sum of SACKING THE ENTIRE ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT!â

Mayor Mare flinched as she backed into corner.

âœIâve taken that lump sum of money that would normally be spent upon an army of accountants and Iâve spent it instead on the new orphanarium. The funding for which was criminally low. Are there any objections?â Bucky said, tossing the folder down upon the table.

âœNoâ no I think that about covers it,â Mayor Mare said politely.

âœWell, I am glad this meeting was so productive! In the first half we took care of all of the issues involving our new school, and in the second half, the dragon that was the city budget was slain by our noble knight. I feel as though we accomplished something today!â Twilight announced in chipper tones.

âœWe sure did,â Ivory Scroll, the mayor, replied in terrified tones, her tail clenched tightly between her hind legs.

âœAnd you kept assuring me that everything that could be cut from the city budget was being cutâ tsk tsk. It seems there was a lot to cut from the budget and your staff simply wasnât looking hard enough,â Twilight said in an impossibly cheerful voice.

âœI know what Iâll be writing about for my next open letter to the editor,â Sentinel said.

The house was dusty and quiet. Everything was right where it was left it seemed. Derpy stared at the spot upon the wall where her husband had smashed his head into it. Up the stairs and down the hall was the bed where she had watched over him and had truly fallen in love with him. This house was where it had all started.

Nopony had bothered her as she had flown in to town. A few had looked at her, a few had flown close, but she had not been disturbed by anypony.

She remembered coming home and finding the house full of popcorn and macaroni noodles everywhere, and the crunching sounds they made under hoof.

Derpy made her way up the stairs to retrieve a book for PiÃa.

She roamed the house, going from room to room. She made her way to Sparklerâs room. She peered around, her eyes roaming over the table that Sparkler used as a desk. She opened the wooden box that her daughter kept her treasures in. She saw a diary and lifted it out with her hoof. Placing it on the table, she opened it and had a look. The last few pages were all about how much she loved Rising Star and how happy she was to have a father. She stuffed the diary into her saddlebags with the book for PiÃa and moved on.

Much to her surprise, this house no longer felt like home.

Chapter 235

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Dinky was practicing magic on the front porch and PiÃa was reading a book when Dinky noticed a brown stallion coming up the road and a pink foal beside him. Dinky remained still for a moment, rubbed her eyes, and then burst into action, running from the porch at the two figures.

A moment later, PiÃa had left her book behind and was following Dinky.

PiÃa actually reached Diamond Tiara first, pulling ahead of Dinky, and Dinky arrived a moment later. The three foals fell into a three way hug and Filthy Rich stopped in his tracks to watch them, smiling as he stood there.

âœYouâre here early,â Berry Punch said from the front porch. âœWe were told to expect you.â

âœSorry, Diamond Tiara was most impatient,â Filthy Rich said apologetically as he began to approach the house. He glanced nervously at the pacing guards and was relieved to see a nod.

âœTell me everything,â Diamond Tiara said, still clinging to Dinky and PiÃa.

âœHave you made any friends?â Dinky asked.

Diamond Tiaraâs face fell and her ears drooped. âœApple Bloom and her friends sorta tolerate me. Nopony else trusts me no matter what I do. Iâve tried to be nice. Iâve tried to be good. Iâve tried to show ponies that Iâve changed. Nopony is willing to give me a chance.â

PiÃa squeezed even harder to try and make Diamond Tiara feel a little better. âœYou look good. I mean, you look normal again.â

âœBeen a long summer for me,â Diamond Tiara said. âœIâve missed you both. Well, tell me about the Isles.â

âœIn a bit. Thereâs some ponies you need to meet. Like our big sisters Ripple and Loch. And our big brother Sentinel. Well, heâs not here right now but he will be home soon,â Dinky said.

Berry looked out the kitchen window and watched the foals playing as she served coffee to Mister Rich. âœHowâs life been?â she asked.

âœLost everything,â Mister Rich replied. âœAll I have now is my house and my daughter. Lost every single bit I had when the banks went under. The banks didnât have real money in them. Just accounting ledgers stating how much each account was worth. None of the money in the banks was real. All those bits were off somewhere else. Iâm recovering though, making money again and slowly making something of myself the hard way.â

âœSorry to hear that,â Berry said apologetically. âœI suppose I ruined a lot of ponies lives.â

âœYou arenât responsible. You struck a blow for earth ponies everywhere. Youâre a hero,â Mister Rich insisted.

âœI donât know how I feel about the aftermath just yet to be honest,â Berry admitted.

âœNot your fault. The nobles did this. Well, some nobles. I actually feel bad about all of them being dragged down by the actions of the upper houses. Fancy Pants, my business rival, he is a remarkably good pony. He deserved better. He had a nervous breakdown not long after the truth came out. He is still consumed by guilt. He had no idea. Night Light and Twilight Velvetâ if only all unicorns were like them. So selfless and good. Or Buckminster. Thereâ there are good unicorns,â Mister Rich said as he stared down into the murky blackness of his coffee cup. âœI actually became physically ill when I read the transcript of Buckminsterâs trial. I didnât know what to make of it. It wasnât until I read the well reasoned explanations of what was really taking place that I understood what had actually happened. I donât know if I could do what he did.â

âœHe lied,â Bon Bon snapped, still sore over the issue.

Saying nothing, Mister Rich nodded.

âœSo, found a nice mare to settle down with yet?â Berry Punch asked.

âœFunny that you mention thatâ I am seeing somepony. Weâre both very busy but we try to make time for one another. She and Diamond Tiara are starting to get to know one another. Sheâs a fantastic mare. Her name is Gala Appleby,â Mister Rich replied, still staring into his coffee.

âœOne of the Apple family,â Berry said, nodding in approval.

âœShe was one of my secretaries before I lost everything. One of the many ponies I had wronged. Sheâs making me earn my forgivenessâ I like her a great deal,â Mister Rich admitted.

âœSoâ bees,â Ripple said, cringing as she did so.

âœYeah. Lots of bees,â Diamond Tiara replied.

âœCan we not talk about my bees?â Dinky requested.

âœBumblebutt has some issues about her bees,â PiÃa quipped.

âœCoconutbutt!â Dinky retorted.

âœOh no you didnât!â PiÃa grunted as she tackled Dinky and began to grapple her sibling into submission for the most hated of all sisterly insults.

Loch Skimmer watched her younger siblings roll around in the grass, trying to wrestle one another into submission. PiÃa didnât look like she was trying very hard, so it would be somewhat fair for Dinky. âœYou donât seem like a bad sort anymore,â Loch Skimmer said as she turned her attention to Diamond Tiara. âœShame ponies wonât give you a chance.â

âœYou have us,â Ripple said kindly. âœAny friends of my little sisters are friends of mine.â

âœWanna go swimming later?â PiÃa asked as she gave Dinky a hoof noogie, making sure she didnât strike Dinkyâs horn by accident.

âœIâd love to go swimming,â Diamond Tiara replied. âœIâve heard about the kelpie in the newspaper. Thistle, right?â

âœRight,â Loch Skimmer answered.

The chariot landed smoothly and it was Sentinel who stepped off first. Bucky tottered off a moment later and became aware of a group rushing up to greet him. He sighed and braced himself for a tackle, knowing there was probably a pegasus barreling at him.

Sure enough, Loch Skimmer rarely disappointed. Bucky endured the greeting as Twilight Sparkle unhitched herself from the chariot and waved hello. After Loch Skimmer had let go, Bucky saw a blur of pink in his limited day vision. He needed to find his goggles.

The pink blur was not PiÃa, but was Diamond Tiara. He felt her forelegs around his neck and was surprised by how much affection was in the hug. He felt confused for a moment but didnât know what to say.

âœThis is my big brother Sentinel. Heâs a squire. Which is a really fancy word for being stuffy and uptight,â PiÃa said, introducing her brother to Diamond Tiara.

âœPleased to meet youâ PiÃa I am not stuffy nor am I uptight,â Sentinel said in return in a rather uptight fashion.

âœYou have a fish,â Diamond Tiara observed, seeing Sentinelâs cutie mark.

âœA brown trout actually,â Sentinel corrected as he departed for the house, not realising that a filly had been checking out his backside with curious interest.

âœMy father is insideâ heâs been looking forward to seeing you,â Diamond Tiara said to Bucky as she patted him kindly once more. She looked up at Bucky and pain was visible upon her face. She said nothing, understanding all too well what it felt like to be disfigured. âœIâm glad to see you home again.â

âœI am glad to be home again,â Bucky replied. He then looked at Twilight, who was still stretching her wings and getting her feathers sorted out. He thought about saying something about the real reason he had been brought to the meeting with the mayor, but couldnât find anything witty to say.

Settling in at the dining room table, Sentinel realised he needed to secure some sort of a flat writing surface in his cubby under the stairs. He set down his journal, set out some paper, and made the mistake of looking into the eyes of three fillies who were staring at him.

âœCome play with usââ Dinky invited.

âœYou donât always have to be writing,â PiÃa said.

âœI need to write down what happened in the meeting while it is fresh in my head,â Sentinel explained, feeling a stab of guilt as he looked at his sisters. Their wide pleading eyes were focused upon him and Sentinel knew all to well the power they had.

âœIâve read your stuff in the paper,â Diamond Tiara said. âœEspecially what you wrote about your family,â she added.

âœMy brother is getting famous,â PiÃa remarked.

âœWe should leave him alone. I am sure he will join us later,â Diamond Tiara said as she cast glance at Sentinel. âœIâve never seen one of your kind before.â

âœYou probably would have teased him if you saw him before everything that happened,â Dinky said with a faint giggle in her voice.

A pained look crawled over Diamond Tiaraâs face and she slumped in place, looking miserable, her ears drooping down to her cheeks. âœYouâre rightâ Iâd have ran him down and said bad things about what he is.â

âœIâm sorryâ I said something stupid. Letâs go get you cheered up,â Dinky said as she prodded Diamond Tiara. Dinky felt awful. What was only intended as playful teasing had gone completely wrong.

âœBut you are right. I did awful things. And that is all anypony can think about. And nopony trusts me now. They can only remember the bad things Iâve done,â Diamond Tiara said as she climbed up into a chair and then rested her head down upon the table. Not looking at Sentinel and with her face smooshed into the table, she asked a difficult question. âœWhat do I call you so I donât say anything insulting?â

âœI am a lunar pegasus,â Sentinel replied, feeling kind of sorry for the pink filly who was slumped over the table.

âœYeahâ heâs not bat pony. Just like a solar pegasus isnât a bird pony,â PiÃa quipped.

âœOr you know, we can just call each other ponies,â Dinky suggested. âœIâm a pony with a horn and he is a pony with wings.â

Lyra and Bon Bon moved around the kitchen trying to figure out what to make for some kind of lunch as a small group sat around the kitchen table and made plans for the future. Lyra, disappearing into the pantry, returned a moment later with a couple of pecks of potatoes held in a magical bubble. She dumped them all into the sink and began to wash them.

Bucky sat at the kitchen table holding Harper to his barrel and trying to soothe the upset foal as he settled in for his meeting with Mister Rich. Harper wanted Lyraâs attention, but Lyra was busy and so Harper was acting as fussy as possible.

Berry, still at the table, watched Lugus talking to the guard and wondered what was being said. Yew and Peekaboo were a short distance away. She sighed and wondered where Derpy was and why it was taking so long for Derpy to come back home.

âœSoup?â Bon Bon inquired in a soft voice.

âœPotato and shoepeg corn chowder,â Lyra explained in a low whisper.

Hearing her motherâs voice, Harper opened her mouth, shrieked, and then turned on the waterworks for maximum effect. She squirmed in Buckyâs grasp, kicking and thrashing about.

âœReminds me of Diamond Tiara,â Mister Rich said in a wistful voice. âœSheâd cry until she had her way. She had a set of lungs that had to be heard to be believed.â

âœHarperâ hush,â Bucky said, patting Harper on the back with his stump. Of course, the foal did not listen and Bucky pondered saying âœhushâ again to quiet his wailing foal.

âœIt is great seeing you again,â Cheerilee said to Derpy as the pair sat down. The earth pony studied the grey pegasus and smiled a sunny smile of affection.

âœI know you must be very busy, thanks for seeing me,â Derpy said slowly, all too aware that ponies were staring at her and Cheerilee.

âœIâve been worried,â Cheerilee said, her smile never breaking but her eyes were filled with concern. âœAnd then I read in the papers about everything that happened. How is Dinky and PiÃa?â

âœTheyâre fineâ mostly. Still recovering I think. They need for life to get back to normal. Routine. You know, the day to day stuff that makes life what it is,â Derpy responded. âœIs there going to school in the fall?â

âœYesâ but the classroom is going to be overcrowded. Weâre still busy trying to figure out what to do,â Cheerilee replied.

âœI need to register Dinky and PiÃaâ and I need to get Sentinel some placement testing. Is there going to be a problem with Sentinel attending school? Heâs-â

âœA pegasus,â Cheerilee interrupted. âœJust like you. I would hope there would be no problems,â she said, her voice now wavering with hidden concern and worry. âœIf there are any problems I will attempt to deal with them, but I am overwhelmed. They want to place over fifty foals into my classroom somehow and it will be me all by myself,â Cheerilee explained.

Derpy heard fear in the earth ponyâs voice. Real fear. Her smile remained as bright as ever, but it was a false smile, the sort of smile you give to let everypony know everything is okay as the disaster continues to progress.

âœThe orphanarium will have its own school. At least that is promised, but there are currently no teachers available. And if it does ever happen, that is going to take a while. A lot of foals wonât be attending school this fall. I already have your foals marked down for registration because I knew that you would be meeting with me the moment I saw your return in the newspaper. I wish all mothers were as dedicated about their foals education as you are,â Cheerilee said, her eyes becoming glassy with emotion.

âœI still wonder where Bucky is going to find teachers for his school,â Derpy said.

âœEverything is still being rebuilt. It is education that suffers the most during these times. Nopony sees it as a necessity. They donât understand that foals need a sense of routine so they can feel as though their lives have returned to normal. If something isnât done, this is going to leave a scar in the education of this generation. Iâm scaredâ ponies donât understand that we are going to be rebuilding for the next fifty to one hundred yearsâ an entire generation. And it is the foals alive right now who arenât being properly educated that will be the ones forced to deal with the reconstruction,â Cheerilee explained, her smile fading away and replaced with a look of genuine fear.

Derpy did not know what to say. She stared at Cheerilee, trying to think of words that simply were not there.

Chapter 236

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The dining room table was still covered with dishes from lunch and two ponies were busy trying to make themselves comfortable in the library. A pile of papers was spread over a table and there was a map as well.

In the living room, a different group of ponies was sprawling out, mostly foals with a few adults. Yew was already sound asleep on the floor with Harper and Peekaboo at her sides. Loch Skimmer had her head resting upon Yew and was drifting off to sleep. Ripple was on the sofa, her eyes struggling to stay open. Beside her PiÃa, Dinky, and Diamond Tiara were in a pile of their own, heads drooping and conversation slowly dying as they drifted off.

Sentinel had hidden away in his cubby and enjoyed the quiet dark as he too drifted off to sleep, feeling safe and secure in his private space.

âœSo you want me to be your majordomo,â Mister Rich said, sitting comfortably in the library. There was a snifter of whiskey beside him on a small table.

âœIs that the word for it?â Bucky questioned, curling into the chair, resting his head upon the arm, and wrapping his long tail along the side of his body as he settled in.

âœClose enough for your purposes,â Mister Rich replied. âœYou want me to be the go between for you and city hall. You need somepony to keep an eye on the bureaucrats, keep your interests guarded, and organise everything you want done. I used to manage an empire. I have experience in it. Youâre going to need an army of devoted workers.â

âœHelp me,â Bucky asked.

âœI will,â Mister Rich replied. âœOur goals are similar. Iâve been focusing on community improvement and education. Different towns have different industries. Manehatten had culture, theatre, art, and the fashion industry. Baltimare had manufacturing. A lot of furniture is made in Vanhoover because that is where the lumber industry is. I want our chief industry in Ponyville to be education. I want ponies to come here to acquire learning. I want it to be our brand. Ponies buy Manehatten fashions. Ponies seek a Ponyville educationâ I want this town to have a brand.â

âœI like this line of thinking,â Bucky remarked, his ears perking forward a bit and his face becoming quite thoughtful.

âœI was the one primarily responsible for the building of your school. I organised the refugees into labour groups. The construction has been stop and go. Right now I am pushing for a new schoolhouse but I am being ignored by the mayor. She says there is no money in the budgetâ what is so funny Buckminster? Why are you laughing?â

Chortling, Bucky wasnât sure how to explain what he had done to the budget. âœOh there is money in the budget. I haveâ reorganised the budget. Iâll write you out a note. Drop by city hall today or tomorrow and pick up a copy. If they give you any lip, tell them my pen will begin go to work on city hall salaries next.â

âœDidâ did youâ did you abuse your authority?â Mister Rich stammered.

âœThe budget was a monster that was terrorising the town. I am to do anything to keep ponies safe as part of my obligations. It is part of my royal duties. The ponies of Ponyville were threatened by the budget and there was real harm being done. I did my job,â Bucky explained in a very solemn voice.

âœYouâ you did your accounting magic upon the budget, didnât you?â Mister Rich inquired.

âœYeah. I did. Ruthless efficiency,â Bucky answered, nodding as he did so, his smug smile present and accounted for.

âœAnd so now that the hard work has been done, you want me to function as a gardener to keep the weeds from creeping in and protect our mutual interests,â Mister Rich said as he lifted his whiskey snifter.

âœCorrect. I will see that you are paid and paid well. Assemble an army Mister Rich. Let us work on this idea of Ponyville as a brand name for education. Weâll turn out educated earth ponies, pegasi, and unicorns the same way Baltimare churns out consumer goods. Or used to,â Bucky stated.

âœPublic image is a concern Buckminster,â Mister Rich said. âœEven if you are doing good things, ponies are going to complain if you come down too hard.â

âœPrincess Twilight Sparkle has told me I have the authority to come down as hard as I want right now during this period of anarchy. I am unofficially in charge of the defense of this nation just below Princess Luna. I have free reign to do anything I feel is necessary to protect and defend. To this end, Twilight Sparkle and I discussed becoming the two heads of education. Prime ministers. Department heads. She used so many big words and phrases I canât keep up with her garble. The best defense begins with education. It is part of what keeps Equestria as a major player in the world power structure. So I will do what I need to do to make things happen by any means necessary, and you will do whatever it is you need to do to repair my public image if there are any overwhelming displays of force. I donât plan on putting anypony in the stocks so your job shouldnât be too hard,â Bucky explained in a slow and patient manner.

Nodding slowly and grimacing from his whiskey, Mister Rich gave Bucky a long look.

âœIn time, the public will begin voting for things in their own interests. If ponies are going to vote, they need to be educated so they can vote well. In time, we can soften our stance a little bit and be gentle. For now, brute force is the only thing ponies understand during this time of civil unrest,â Bucky continued.

âœI understand,â Mister Rich said. âœI will talk to my own public relations department. Their numbers have dwindled but the ones who are left are good at what they do.â

âœMister Rich, place advertisements in the newspaper. Put out the word that any teacher who comes to Ponyville will get an above average wage and a place to live. Make the words sound real inviting and irresistible,â Bucky instructed.

âœConsider it done,â Mister Rich responded, a worried look of reservation upon his face.

Rising Star carefully explored the school. The construction wasnât finished. The building was quite large and the wings added a lot of extra space. He heard Sparklerâs hooves upon the floor behind him. Some of the classrooms already had some desks, but not many. There were birds in the building. Windows were still needed in many places.

The fillies restroom needed a door and for the wall to be finished. Rising Star realised that he hadnât been inside of a fillies restroom. He stuck his head through the door and looked around. Behind him, there was giggling.

He continued down a hall and came to what appeared to be an unfinished lift. There was steam pipes connected to it and he supposed that it would be steam powered once it was done. There was an indicator for four floors.

Ahead, he saw an exit to the outside. He trotted to the doors and stopped when he heard voices just outside the doors. He saw Bucky and two unicorns talking.

âœHow are the both of you settling in?â Bucky asked as he sat down in the grass.

âœWeâre good,â Witching Hour replied. âœFine. Recovering.â

Raising an eyebrow, Bucky studied the pair. âœLookâ Iâve been thinkingâ how about we make this a permanent arrangement? Stay here. Iâll have a house built. We need to start schooling the next generation. Work as teachers in between assignments. Weâd be safer if we stuck together. You could finally settle down. Maybe have a foal or two.â

âœA house?â Witching Hour said, her face twitching in disgust. âœI am more of a tower unicorn myself. If I was to ever settle down it would be in a tower. I miss Trottingham and itâs lovely little towers. Canterlot was far too pretentious with its big towers.â

âœSo, build a tower. Out here near the school. Or away a bit for privacy. Weâd be safer if we settled in together,â Bucky stated. He watched as Witching Hour shot a glance to Tiddlywinks.

âœWe would like to settle downâ we want things other ponies want. A foal. Maybe two. There is no safe place,â Witching Hour said.

âœThis is going to to be a magic school. I need for this to become a safe place. As safe as Celestiaâs school. I canât do it on my own. You twoâ you two know how to keep safe. I need guardians. Capable guardians. Proven guardians. Help me,â Bucky cajoled.

âœThe offer is tempting,â Witching Hour said in a low voice.

âœIf something comes for you, we have a better chance of fighting it together,â Bucky said in a persuasive voice. âœLugus has his axe. Heâs killed a banshee. I understand that such a task is very difficult.â

âœAlmost impossible,â Witching Hour acknowledged. âœI canât promise anything, but Winky and I will think about it. Weâd like to put down roots.â

âœFantastic,â Bucky said.

Derpy and Cheerilee sat together in the park after a lunch of daisy sandwiches. The pair sat in the grass together. Other ponies were around them and the pair spoke to one another in low voices as they continued their afternoon together.

âœThings have been frightening. There are these weird cults running around. Unicorn superiourity cults. Doomsday cults. Cults that want to kill all unicorns. There are ponies that want to wreck what little bit of society we have left so they can rebuild a new society. There are even a group of ponies who want to steal back control of the sun and moon. They fled from Equestria before the fall of the noble houses, went into the Badlands, and then presumably to regions beyond. There are rumours they are hiding in Saddle Arabia, far to the south. There are some things the papers wonât print because of the panic it might cause,â Cheerilee said to Derpy.

âœWow, that is kinda creepy,â Derpy stated.

âœA lot of public servants have been killed. Teachers. Educators. Somepony tried to kill Mayor Mare one night. Twilight Sparkle was in Canterlot. There was a big disturbance in one of the camps. A manticore attacked the refugees. The militia moved to defend and somepony tried to kill Ivory Scroll while the militia was off fighting. I think somepony lured the manticore to the refugees as a distraction. Does this sound paranoid?â Cheerilee asked after she was done saying everything else.

âœHow did the mayor survive?â Derpy asked, her brows furrowed.

âœBarley heard the disturbance. He was having a late night meeting with some of the camp leaders in a restaurant near the mayorâs house. He led a group of concerned citizens over to find out what the screaming was about. She had jumped out of the window and was running up the street with a strange unicorn chasing after her. I donât know what happened exactly, but there was a fight and the unicorn teleported away,â Cheerilee replied. âœHolly Dash was gravely wounded that night. She lived, but she spent a fair bit of time in the hospital. She was outclassed by the strange unicorn who had more magic. Barley ripped a street lamp out of the ground with his magic and whacked the unicorn with it to save Hollyâs life, or so the story goes depending on who you ask. Other ponies say Barley smacked the unicorn with a garbage dumpster.â

âœBarley hasnât mentioned any of this,â Derpy muttered. âœI wonder why he hasnât told us?â

âœHe doesnât strike me as the type to toot his own horn,â Cheerilee answered. âœOr maybe he didnât want to worry you.â

âœBucky was supposed to meet with the mayor today. I hope he doesnât scare her or anything,â Derpy said with mild concern. âœI need to be heading back. Come out to the farmhouse. Please, talk with Bucky. He needs to know these things. He can help.â

Chapter 237

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Something niggled at Buckyâs mind when he thought about the Black Cloaks and their destruction. The group was a thousand strong. The nobles, those who had the strongest magic by average, were mostly accounted for. And of those nobles, most of them were barely even able to write their own name with magic.

Something did not add up in Buckyâs mind and he was still in full blown accountant mode.

Where was the force responsible for taking out the Black Cloaks? Tirek had killed quite a few, but the Black Cloaks were hardened killers and skilled wizards. Something had hunted them down and killed them. Something had infiltrated them. Systematic extermination.

This bothered Bucky. Certainly Luna would know about a large group of capable unicorns running around murdering ponies. Everypony dreamed. Unless of course Luna had a blind spotâ Cold fear crept up Buckyâs spine and made him shiver. His balls prickled from fear.

Bucky began to sense that there was something wrong.

Thistle lay sunning herself upon a large rock. It was a good rock for sunning. She was still in merpony form and her long tail hung all the way down to the water. The heat from the rock made her back feel better, and swimming had done wonders for mood and pain levels.

Beside her, a very wet Berry Punch was getting comfortable upon the rock which happened to be sticking up out of the water. To reach the rock, there was a bit of a swim. Or flight, if you were a pegasus.

âœAre you happy Thistle?â Berry asked.

âœSo very much,â Thistle replied.

âœFeeling settled in?â Berry inquired.

âœMostly. I needed some time to myself. I didnât mean to run away from everypony,â Thistle answered. âœThe lake is lovely. It is a healthy lake. Mostly. Iâve been herding the fish and encouraging them to breed to increase their numbers. There is even a cave down there. Somepony was very thoughtful when this was created.â

Berry Punch rolled over onto her side, wiggled her forelegs around Thistle, and carefully pulled Thistle on top of her, enjoying Thistleâs weight pressing down upon her. Thistle squeaked a few times and then squealed when her tail and midsection sank in between Berryâs hind legs. Berry snaked a hoof up along Thistleâs spine. âœIâve always found you so attractive in this form,â Berry whispered before she kissed Thistle. The kiss was long and passionate, and Berry discovered that even in merpony form, parts of Thistle could become very warm. Berry could feel that warmth pressing against her.

Thistle became keenly aware of where her bulk was resting as Berry kissed her. She relaxed into the kiss and placed both of her front legs, now with fins on the ends, on both sides of Berryâs face, touching the mare lovingly. Her tail flapped against the water, splashing, and her movements caused parts of her to grind against Berry Punch.

Pulling away, Berry gasped a few times. âœThistleâ Derpy and Bucky told me to come and remind you that we are all married. And you need to come out of the lake for more than just sleeping with us in the bed. We miss youââ

âœIâm sorry,â Thistle said tenderly, kissing Berry on the snoot for emphasis. She ground herself into the growing heat that she could feel just below Berryâs belly. She could feel Berryâs hind legs wrapped around her tail section. âœDo you trust me?â

âœOf course,â Berry moaned, feeling Thistle rubbing all of the right places.

âœMmm, good,â Thistle whispered just before she kissed Berry again. Flexing her long body and tail, she flopped from the rock and pulled Berry along with her. With her lips tightly pressed against Berryâs lips, Thistle pulled the earth pony down into the depths where she could have her way with Berry. It was the kelpie way.

From the shore, a very aroused Lyra thought the kelpie and the earth pony making out was the most erotic thing she had ever seen. Feelingly suddenly needy herself, she hurried off into the house to find Bon Bon. Some itches required help to scratch.

Bucky continued unpacking books from various trunks and placing them onto shelves in the library. The books about dark magic were carefully warded and protected from anypony viewing them but him. Luna had seen to that. There were spellbook primers for foals, he placed those on the lower shelves. There were a few spellbooks about geomantic magics intended for Sparkler. Several books about fire spells were for Rising Star.

Bucky pulled out an enormous tome with the words âœEnthralling Evocationsâ printed on the cover. There was a snowflake, a wisp of fire, and a bolt of lightning, the three major elemental powers. It was too big to fit upon the shelves. He placed it upon a small table by a chair instead.

He lifted another book from one of the trunksâ âœSpell Shielding and You: Special Germaphobe Edition.â He stuffed it away on the shelf with a snort. âœAdvanced Spell Shielding: The World Is Not Safe Edition.â He tucked this one next to the first. âœAdvanced Protections and Shielding: Sometimes Pegasi Fly With Scissors Edition.â Bucky rolled his eye. Unicorns were strange creatures and he did not understand them at times. âœAvoiding Trauma: Defensive Augmentations for the Phobophobic.â This went with the others. âœPractical Protections for the Persnickety Pony: A Brief Abridged Dissertation of Dueling Defense by Starjammer.â Bucky gasped. The book was over a foot thick. He felt a keen sense of loathing for Starjammer for a moment and then stuffed the book onto the shelf.

âœMama, Diamond Tiara is going to need a lift home later,â Dinky said.

Derpy nodded and patted Dinky on the head. âœI can do that,â she offered.

âœSentinel wonât come out of hiding,â Dinky reported.

âœWell, maybe he needs time to himself,â Derpy responded. âœHe probably just needs some time to adjust to everything. Heâs sensitive.â

âœMaybe youâre right. Anyhow, gotta go!â Dinky cried and then took off running up the stairs.

Feeling peckish, Derpy sauntered into the kitchen and began to look around. She checked the pantry, she looked in the cupboards, and after finding the waffle iron, she began to pull out ingredients. She plugged in the waffle iron.

She separated two eggs, getting her wings slightly messy. She put these into a small bowl and set them aside. She poured a little bit of milk into a mixing bowl, poured in a tiny amount of lemon juice from a bottle, and then set that aside. She measured out some flour, some brown sugar, a little bit of baking powder, and a bit of salt into another mixing bowl. She then set this aside.

She beat the egg whites until they were perky and formed peaks. She added the egg yolks to the milk and lemon juice mixture and mixed that. She added a dribble of vanilla, a little bit more, looked around the kitchen with a naughty gleam in her eye, and, seeing that she was alone, added just a little bit more vanilla. She giggled. She continued to mix the milk mixture. She added all of her dry ingredients just a little bit at a time, whipping as she added them, her movements making parts of her jiggle as she stood on her hind legs at the counter. When the mix was creamy, she began to fold in the whipped egg whites carefully.

She pushed the bowl aside and began to brush oil over the hot waffle iron. Using a ladle, she added a dollop of waffle batter to the iron and closed the lid. She hurried to the fridge, found a jar of orange marmalade, set that on the table, and then hurried back to the waffle iron.

Lifting the lid, she removed the waffle, afterwards, she put the waffle on a plate and covered it with a clean towel to keep it warm. She added more waffle batter to the waffle iron and then closed the lid.

In no time at all, she had her favourite treat from when she was pregnant with Dinky. Waffles. She slathered them down with marmalade and tore into them, scarfing them down with abandon.

âœYou have something sticky on your muzzleâ let me get that for you.â

Freezing in place, Derpy heard Buckyâs voice right beside her. Somehow, he had crept up on her. A moment later, she could feel his hot breath on her cheek. It lingered there for a moment, and she could feel and hear him sniffing her. Her heart began to race. She felt a tightness in her wings as she began to feel too hot.

And then, she felt his tongue traveling down her muzzle and over her lips. Derpy closed her eyes and tried to remain calm. Again, Buckyâs tongue slowly slithered over her skin, licking away everything sticky. She could still hear and feel him sniffing her.

âœSomething else is sticky I betâ real sticky. I can smell it. Iâll be in the bedroom. Finish your waffles. Iâll be waiting for you. Come to bedâ sticky.â

She heard Bucky walking away and she opened her eyes, feeling entirely too hot. She scarfed down her waffles and made a real mess of herself. Leaving dirty dishes all over the kitchen, she hurried off to the bedroom where Bucky was waiting.

âœMe kitchen!â Barley cried as he came through the kitchen door after coming home. âœMe beautiful kitchen! Who did this to ye?â

He trotted into the kitchen and set about cleaning everything up. Waffles. Marmalade. He knew of one pony in particular that loved waffles with jam or marmalade, and he remembered how much she ate when she was carrying Dinky.

âœMe poor grey mare was famished,â Barley muttered, his anger softening as he moved about the kitchen cleaning up. As he cleaned, he began pulling dried white beans from a bin, placed them into a giant stock pot, covered them with water, and then put them on to boil. He was old, but he had magic still. Stuff flew all over and in no time at all, everything was neat and tidy. He pulled out onions and garlic, set them aside, and then wandered off to the bar to have a drink.

The sun was drifting down near the treeline when Princess Luna burst into existence near the farmhouse and then flapped her wings to slow herself for a landing. She cleared the steps in a single leap as she always did and then let herself in as she had always done.

There were screams this time however, which were sorely out of place. Luna froze. A pink foal went scurrying off down the hall in terror. Sighing, Luna drooped and her head hung low. No matter what she did, this still happened far too often.

âœI think Diamond Tiara might have overreacted,â Dinky said as she looked up at Luna. âœHi Godmother.â

Feeling her heart warm, Luna smiled down at Dinky. âœWhere is everypony?â

âœWell, mama Derpy is in the bath and then she is going to fly Diamond Tiara home. Berry is in there with her. Lyra and Bon Bon are in their room. Sentinel is hiding under the stairs in his colt cave. Daddy is napping a bit in the bed. I think mama wore him out. Thistle is in the library reading a newspaper where it is quiet. Barley is coming up right beside you and about to hug you I thinkâ yep,â Dinky said, as she watched Barley wrap one foreleg around Lunaâs neck and smooch her cheek.

âœYe just canât keep away from me,â Barley said as he waggled his eyebrows.

âœI plan to spend some time with you, but Buckminster and Sentinel require some education. Give me some time,â Luna said softly.

âœWhatta mare,â Barley muttered as he teetered away on rickety knees.

âœSorry.â

Sentinel sighed. His sanctum had been violated. âœThere is nothing to fear from Luna.â

âœShe scares me,â Diamond Tiara whispered.

There were two forelegs around his neck and Sentinel could feel the earth pony trembling. He sniffed. There was no scent of fear. Sentinel felt very puzzled. Diamond Tiara was pressed tightly up against his side. A slow realisation crept into Sentinelâs head as she continued to huddle up against him in his darkened cubby.

âœI am already betrothed to be married,â Sentinel whispered.

âœYouâre WHAT?â Diamond Tiara shouted.

Chapter 238

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âœHow could somepony your age already be spoken for?â

Sentinel looked at Diamond Tiara, who still had her forelegs around his neck. She had stopped trembling and was now looking at him curiously in the dim light. Her face showed confusion and maybe a little bit of hurt. Sentinel felt awkward all of a sudden. There was no place to run, no place to go.

âœArranged marriage. Lunar pegasi are few in number. I have obligations. I have a duty to continue my species. I am also supposed to find other wives for a herd,â Sentinel replied in a cautious manner.

âœYouâre strange. I mean that, youâre really strange. And I kind of like that in a weird way,â Diamond Tiara confessed.

âœSo why are you here with me?â Sentinel asked.

âœYouâre the first colt that has been nice to me. The only colt. And you are so nice to your sisters. So patient and kind. Iâ uh, it is kind of embarrassing actually,â Diamond Tiara said, a stammer coming into her voice.

âœWhat?â Sentinel said with mild insistence.

âœI had my first heat this summer. It was a very confusing time for me. Iâ it was very difficult to go through. Afterwards I just wanted a colt to talk to. To get to know. Somepony that wasnât my father. And I sort of got rejected by everypony. Even the new colts in town. Stories spread about how I was and then everypony just sort of teases me and I never get a chance,â Diamond Tiara whispered, closing her eyes as she spoke.

âœAnd I didnât send you away or mock you?â Sentinel inquired.

âœYeah,â Diamond Tiara replied.

âœSo you acted scared to see Luna, which really hurts her by the way, just so you could try and get close to me?â Sentinel questioned.

âœMaybe?â Diamond Tiara responded.

âœPlease go apologise to her. Tell her the truth,â Sentinel commanded.

Looking mortified, Diamond Tiara pulled away and her ears splayed out sidewaysâ âœI guess you hate me now too. I messed up. I did it without thinking. Iâm sorry,â she said as she stood up. She took a deep breath, held it for a moment, and then let it out slowly.

âœIâll come with you if youâd like,â Sentinel offered.

âœWhy? I just did something awful,â Diamond Tiara murmured.

âœBecause you are afraid. Honestly afraid. I can smell it now,â Sentinel explained.

Turning a much darker shade of pink, Diamond Tiara began to chew her lower lip nervously. As she bumped up against the door, she began to tremble, for real this time, and she realised that Sentinel really was as alien as he seemed. There would be no secrets around him she realised. No subtle manipulations to get her way. He could see right through her. And something about that comforted Diamond Tiara for some reason. There would be no slipping back into old behaviours by accident.

Rising up on his own four hooves, Sentinel arched his back and stretched. âœCome on, hit the latch so the door will open. Iâll go with you so you donât have to be afraid about facing this alone.â

Nodding her head, Diamond Tiara turned around a bit, and popped the latch with her hoof. The door opened slowly. And then she saw the two dark blue forelegs. She immediately felt sick with fear. Real fear. As much as she wanted to, she couldnât move.

âœHow long have you been there?â Diamond Tiara asked in a small foalish voice filled with fear. She lied down upon the floor and tried to make herself look as pathetic as possible.

âœLong enough,â Luna replied.

Looking back at Sentinel, Diamond Tiara blinked a few times in shock. âœYou knew she was out there, didnât you?â she asked.

Saying nothing, Sentinel nodded.

âœIâm sorry,â Diamond Tiara apologised.

âœWeâve all done stupid things to get the attention of a colt,â Luna admitted. âœOr a stallion.â

Very much against her will, Diamond Tiara felt herself being pulled out of the closet under the stairs by an invisible force. She dropped her legs and tried to reach the ground. A moment later, she was gently set down and she saw Dinky and PiÃa. Her face burned with shame.

âœI screwed up again. I just donât think sometimes,â Diamond Tiara said.

âœDinky does that all the time,â PiÃa quipped. Her words got her slugged from Dinky, but PiÃa didnât care, being the stout and stocky little earth pony she was.

âœJerk,â Dinky muttered to PiÃa. âœWeâre still friends. That hasnât changed,â she said to Diamond Tiara.

Emerging from his cubby, Sentinel blinked in the bright hallway light. âœI donât understand girls,â he said as he stood there waiting for his sensitive eyes to adjust.

âœCome on,â Iâll take you home,â Derpy offered as she stepped into view.

Turning to Sentinel, Diamond Tiara looked at him pleadingly. âœAre we still friends?â she asked in a low voice.

âœWhy do you think I offered to help you tell Luna the truth?â Sentinel questioned in reply.

âœYouâre a gentlecolt,â Diamond Tiara stated. âœThank you. Iâm ready to go now.â She turned and began to follow Derpy to the front door. She turned her head and gave PiÃa, Dinky, and Sentinel a final glance. After watching Dinky wave, she turned to Luna. âœI really am sorry. Will you let me make it up to you somehow?â

âœWe will speak later,â Luna replied.

Bucky stood next to Sentinel in the cool dark of the night. The moon was overhead and the song of the night was in full force. Frogs and crickets fill the night with sound. In the distance, Sparkler also filled the night with frog song, loudly belching out various vowel sounds, sweetly serenading those she loved, and Rising Star, Loch Skimmer, and Ripple were her adoring audience.

Princess Luna found the whole thing quite amusing.

âœI know Sentinel can shadow dive. Buckminster, I am going to pull you into shadow. Forcibly. We donât have time to have you figure this out on your own. Once I pull you into shadow, your body will rapidly adjust to it and you should be able to do it again on your own. Any questions?â Luna said, looking at her two students.

âœMy hornâ it will go with me? I mean, it isnât a natural part of meââ Bucky asked slowly.

âœIt will. It has absorbed your essence. Your nature. You infused the fulgurite with shadow, but you have also developed your own natural shadow essence and have further infused the material,â Luna replied.

Feeling a sense of worry, Bucky began to wonder if eating all the bean and barley soup he had eaten was a good idea. He could feel his stomach sloshing when he moved. And based upon Sentinelâs expression, Sentinel was having a similar issue.

âœFather, this will be disorienting. Seeing in all directions at the same time is confusing,â Sentinel warned.

âœCouldnât possibly be worse than winking for the first time,â Bucky muttered.

Raising her eyebrow, Luna gave Bucky a cold glare. âœSo confident.â

âœUh oh,â Sentinel groaned.

âœBrace yourselves,â Luna instructed.

Taking a deep breath, Bucky tapped into his inner resolve and waited for whatever came next. He felt a curious sensation all over his body. He could hear a faint lullabye, but it was inside of his head, in between his ears somehow. A sort of soothing hum. The world lost its sharp focus and became hazy.

And then, everything went wrong.

Bucky could see in all directions all at once and his mind had no frame of reference to fall back upon for this sort of event. He wanted to breathe but he currently had no lungs. He felt as though he was strangling. He needed air but there was none to be had. The memory of his lungs needed air he realised. He forced whatever was left of his mind to cast that memory aside. As he tried to look around him, he saw white flakes, little flurries of snow swirling around.

The need to be in a body again was overwhelming. It was like an ache. It was like being underwater for too long and needing to come to the surface, but unable to reach the surface.

Bucky realised it felt an awful lot like dying.

And then he was solid again. He landed in the grass on his side and, hitting hard, and he lay there gasping for air. Each lungful of air burned and caused exquisite agony. This was somehow worse than winking for the first time. For a moment, he thought he was going to be sick.

âœThat was unexpected,â Luna announced as Bucky writhed on the ground. If she felt any concern for Bucky at all, she didnât show it. Luna coughed and backed away from Bucky, taking Sentinel with her in her magic.

âœMy nose burns,â Sentinel muttered, wiping his nostrils. He sneezed a few times and spat.

âœYou okay? You should be okay,â Luna said, real concern in her voice for Sentinel. âœAs a shadow creature, you should be alright. Anything else would be dead right now.â She looked into Sentinelâs watery eyes and studied him carefully.

âœWhat happened?â Sentinel asked, his eyes red and bloodshot. Tears streamed down his cheeks. âœUgh, I feel awful.â

âœYour father became a freezing cloud of poisonous shadow mist,â Luna said. She coughed again and wiped her nose. She lowered her head down to the ground, wiped her nose along the grass, and then snorted a few times to clear her nostrils. âœAnything not like us would be dead. All of the toxins your father has absorbed in his life have returned to haunt us.â

A long runny ribbon of snot dribbled from Sentinelâs nose and he snorted to free himself from it. It went flying off in an parabolic arc and landed in the grass some distance away, shimmering moonlight reflected upon the shiny surface of the mucus missile.

âœSo I shouldnât shadow dive around other ponies?â Bucky groaned, still trying to recover.

âœNo,â Luna replied. âœYouâd kill them. Or make them wish they were dead, like Sentinel and I are feeling right now.â

âœThe cold wasnât so badâ but the stink. The STINK!â Sentinel complained.

âœI know. That was almost pure hydrogen sulphide. Ugh,â Luna remarked.

âœRotten eggs!â Sentinel shouted. He had recovered enough to begin running away, his wings flapping as he ran.

âœI regret nothing,â Bucky muttered.

âœFoul smelling knave,â Luna retorted. âœI desire that we become better strangers!â Taking off after Sentinel, Luna left Bucky sprawled in the grass. âœThe scent of War is most undesirable!â

Chortling, Bucky felt pretty good about himself all things considered. One more weapon in his arsenal, though he would never be able to use it around ponies.

âœLuna?â Bucky asked in a quizzical tone.

âœYes?â Luna replied, now a safe distance away.

âœI was thinking earlierâ where are all of these powerful unicorns coming from that have killed off the Black Cloaks and are running around down the Badlands? The nobles from Canterlot donât seem to be the cause. Something doesnât add up,â Bucky said, revealing this thoughts.

âœI had hopes that you wouldnât figure this out just yet,â Luna said.

âœYou have a blind spot. A group of ponies you canât track. Canât see into,â Bucky stated.

âœI do,â Luna admitted.

âœSo are they unicorns from another part of the world? Trottingham? The Old World?â Bucky questioned. âœAnd why canât you sense them, find them, go into their dreams, discover their motives, etcetera?â

âœMy sister and I donât know. But we are aware of them,â Luna said. âœWe know they move among us.â

âœChangelings?â Bucky asked.

âœNoâ we know too much about changeling illusion now. Iâve been inside of Shining Armorâs mind. Chrysalis left behind too many secrets of how their magic works. Shining Armor saw everything, even if he doesnât remember it. I was able to study everything in detail. The changelings are no longer much of a threat,â Luna explained. âœPlus, I have been studying Slate. He dreams. Iâve been inside of his mind. He loves. And Iâve seen him for how he really is in dreams. He is still a bug, but his body is no longer full of gaps or holes. Love has healed him. Real love, given to him by Lily, Roseluck, and Daisy. Difficult to go into Slateâs head for dreams, but it keeps getting easier. As time goes on, he becomes more and more like a pony. His dream self, what he truly is, is changing. He is becoming a pony on the inside.â

âœSo the changelings are ponies?â Sentinel asked.

âœMaybe. Under some curse perhaps. Curses are funny things. My sister has high hopes that Dinky will be able to unravel the mystery. Perhaps love is what heals of them of their affliction,â Luna replied.

âœI think I am ready to try again,â Bucky said.

âœAnd I think that Sentinel and I will stay over here this time, thou foul smelling malodorous miscreant,â Luna responded.

âœKnave of noxious vapours?â Sentinel hesitantly quipped, looking up at Luna.

âœOh very goodâ I like that one,â Luna said, her voice full of praise. âœCome. Both of you. There is much to do this night. Let us begin in earnest.â

Chapter 239

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Berry Punch quietly read the newspaper at the kitchen table. The past few days had slipped into a sort of quiet routine. There was a lot of canning and food preservation to do before winter, a job that Bon Bon and Lyra excelled at together. The pantry was rapidly filling with jars of canned vegetables and dehydrated eggplants. Berry enjoyed working in the kitchen a great deal.

But for now, she was content to sip her coffee and read her newspaper. General Iron Sky was now under fire and backpedaling from his comments. A majority of the population not able to vote had left a lot of feathers ruffled. There were demands for his resignation. Mares were demanding their right to serve. The voting process and its details had been released, and the votes would be held soon.

The official title of the new government was a major source of curiousity for Berry Punch, and it was something she would have to study. Crowned Confederacy. Equestria would be broken down into regions and special powers would be given to the local regions to allow each to run to the best of its abilities. Cloudsdale had no need for a farming oriented government like Ponyville, the paper offered as an example. Each region would have its own representatives in due time. Absolute power would be held by the crown but only used in times of crisis and unrest. Each region would, in time, know how to govern its own needs best. Each region would eventually be given its own Stable of Representatives.

Berry took another sip of coffee. Government tailored to the needs of a specific region sounded pretty good to her, and each region being able to act autonomously sounded even better. There was no good reason for a representative in Cloudsdale voting about the farming issues or water distribution rights in Ponyville other than for reasons like vote trading, which would only gum up the political process.

Turning a page, Berry continued to read and ignored the anarchy all around her. Across the table, she could hear Barley clearing his throat. Any moment now she expected for him to start shouting that running needs to be done outside, not indoors. She ignored PiÃaâs pleading cries for help because Sparkler would not stop blowing raspberries on her belly.

âœFOALS NEED TO RUN OUTSIDE YE LOUSY LITTLE GITS!â

Sighing contentedly, Berry was thankful to be home and have all of her herd together again.

Tilting her head off to one side, Loch Skimmer listened carefully to Fluttershy singing. Humming really. The singing would start soon enough when the music within took over. Remembering everything Fluttershy had told her, Loch took a deep breath and sang from her stomach.

âœTRALALALALALA LAAAA LAAA LOOOO LAAAAAA LOOO!â

The echo of her voice came back to her from the trees. A flock of birds flew away, now terrified, streaking the trees and ground with white as they departed.

âœOohâ myââ Fluttershy whispered. âœSuch a powerful voice you haveâ Iâll try to call the birds back and we will try again. Their little backsides must be puckered by now. Poor little birds.â

Frustrated, Loch sat down with a thump. âœWhat am I doing wrong?â

âœOh your singing is wonderful,â Fluttershy said. âœBut, um, well, there is a tiny bit too much volume. Maybe we should have you whistleâ maybe that would be best,â she stammered nervously, uncomfortable with offering any sort of criticism.

âœBut I thought I needed volume so all of the birds could hear me. If I sing really loud, I can effect more birds in one area, right?â Loch asked.

âœTry calling the birds Loch. Whistle. Just close your eyes, think about gentle happy thoughts, and whistle,â Fluttershy instructed.

Doing as she was told, Loch closed her eyes, puckered up her lips, and began to whistle. She thought about all of the things that made her happy. Harper and Peekaboo. Seeing somepony after they had been gone for an hour or two. The time did seem to stretch on forever when somepony she loved was away from her. She thought about moments of laughter with Berry Punch. She loved all of her mothers, but Berry Punch was special.

âœOoooh keep going,â Fluttershy coaxed.

Digging a little deeper, Loch Skimmer thought about those most special in her heart. Sparkler, Rising Star, and Ripple. She thought about the different sorts of affection she had for each. She loved Sparkler, but she loved Sparkler in a different way than she did Rising Star. She thought about Ripple. She thought about comforting Ripple during those private moments where all the pain finally came up to the surface and Ripple would cry bitter tears. Fiercely private moments that no other ponies were even aware of. Loch felt something in her heart swell.

The sky around her was filled with the sounds of birdsong and Loch felt a sense of triumph.

Rising Star watched as the Royal Solar Corps of Engineers surveyed the site of what would soon be his forge. The pegasi, earth ponies, and unicorns worked together, efficient in every movement they made, marking off with stakes the perimeter of the building. Ground was going to be broken today. Apparently, getting the forge going was a priority of the Crown, and Rising Star felt a small bit of pride that he and Buckyâs services were so desperately needed.

âœThis has to be some kind of dream come true for you,â Sparkler said in a solemn voice.

âœThis was a dream I didnât know I had,â Rising Star admitted to his wife.

âœYou donât seem so depressed,â Sparkler commented as she sidestepped a little closer to Rising Star and watched the engineers working.

âœIâve been feeling a little bit better actually,â Rising Star replied. âœI think ponies are going to vote for me. I donât know if I will win, but I know they will vote. My forge is being constructed. Bucky and I have talked about me teaching in the school when it is completed. I donât feel so worthless. So much seems to be depending upon me now.â

âœYou were never worthless,â Sparkler said in a comforting voice.

âœCelestiaâs meditation trick has helped me. Iâve heard the fire talking to me. It has a voice just like she said it did. It wants things from me. And not burn down everything sorts of things. It wants me to create. To make things. It whispers words of purpose in my ears when I manage to tune everything out and listen,â Rising Star explained. âœI can hear the sun talking to me,â he whispered in a very low voice.

âœIâve been readingâ our elemental attunements make us what we are. Iâm not connected to fire, lightning, or ice. Itâs funny, I always wanted to be a pegasus. It was a dream of mine. But yesterday, while reading about elemental alignments, I discovered that I am an earth pony with a horn. Well, maybe not a real earth pony, but earth ponies tend to be geomantically aligned. There are earth ponies that can talk to rocks. And the rocks supposedly talk back to them and tell them things. If fire talks, then the rocks probably talk as well. Maybe I should spend some time trying to listen,â Sparkler said to her husband in a low voice. âœThis all sounds so crazy.â

The pair watched as sky wagons pulled by pegasi came in for a landing in the grassy field some distance away. Building supplies and raw materials were being delivered. More workers were arriving.

It was shaping up to be a productive day.

âœSo I said, tulip-ortation? Petal powered magic? Are you crazy?â

Groaning, Bucky looked pleadingly at Twilight who was sitting across from him in the library of the farmhouse. Twilight looked to be in just as much pain as he was, and he took solace in that fact. Pinkie Pie was truly unbearable at this early hour.

âœSo youâre telling me that pegasi live in giant gourds in the Isles?â Rainbow Dash asked, bringing up a conversation from a previous day. âœLike the little gourds that Fluttershy turns into birdhouses?â

âœYes Dash,â Bucky replied.

âœTwilight, why donât we grow those here? I mean, the housing issue. If we can grow those big gourds and get that magical fertiliser from Zecora, we could grow giant gourds and at least the pegasi would have a home for the winter if we could grow enough. I donât know how they would keep warm, but it is a sheltered dry place,â Rainbow Dash insisted. âœWe still need to find a place for the earth ponies though.â

âœOh I am positive the pegasi would find a way to keep warm piled inside of a gourd,â Twilight said, a blush covering her cheeks.

âœI could fly out to the Shetlands. I bet I could do it in less than a day. I could get a whole bunch of gourd seeds. I could be there and back again in three days, tops,â Rainbow Dash boasted.

Twilight Sparkle pursed her lips together and looked thoughtful at Rainbow Dashâs words.

âœIt is a sound idea. We could easily hang the gourds from trees. If need be, we could probably find a way to put them on a crude foundation and have them on the ground as well. Craft a simple door to keep the weather out. Not an ideal house, but it would allow ponies to make it through the winter with some kind of shelter. Weâd need hundreds of gourds though. I donât know how many,â Bucky said while gesturing with his stump.

âœThe first gourds we grow would provide seeds for more gourds. Weâve been experimenting with magical fertiliser, the food grown from it isâ off. The food is greatly enlarged, but offers no more nutrition than say an apple of normal size. It hasnât been a solution for feeding the masses. But the gourds wouldnât be for eating. Just living inâ and already giant gourds would become even largerâ Rainbow Dash, I am going to need for you to head for the Shetlands. I will write you a letter explaining what we need,â Twilight said.

âœAwesomeââ Rainbow Dash gasped, her excitement already building.

âœOnce you have cleared the coastline, you are cleared for as much speed as equinely possible. I will be outfitting you with a tracker to measure your speed. Weâll take care of several tasks all at once,â Twilight Sparkle stated.

âœDashieâ good luck!â Pinkie Pie said.

âœChickens and ducks,â Ripple said as she watched the crates being unloaded from the wagon. She fluffed out her feathers and studied the chickens. âœWhat is to be done with these chickens and ducks?â She had seen chickens in a book, but she knew what ducks were.

âœFresh eggs,â Pinto Bean said, watching his sons unload the wagon. âœMaybe for eating sometimes,â he added, shuddering as he spoke. âœBut eggs are valuable.â

âœI donât recognise that,â Ripple said.

âœThatâs a goose. There is also a gander in the wagon,â Pinto replied. He sat down and rested his back. âœGeese also produce eggs. Big eggs. Delicious eggs.â

âœMy mother Bon Bon said she is going to start pickling eggs. She wants me to help her so I can learn a valuable skill,â Ripple said as she watched the fowl being unloaded.

âœPickled eggs are good eating,â Butter Bean quipped as he set down a crate full of chickens. He wiped his brow and looked at his father. âœThis is a lot better than pulling a mine cart.â

Freezerburn perched on the porch railing and began to preen his feathers. His mate, Philomena, was sitting beside him, cooing softly and fluffing out her feathers. It was time to build a nest somewhere, and this seemed like as good as place as any. There were ley lines nearby in the Everfree, an intersection, so there was plenty of magic in the area to draw from. The nearby forest and swamps were also filled with abundant food, including Freezerburnâs favourite meal, hydra spawn. Just rip off one head, fly away with it, and there was a feast of flesh, eyeballs, and brains. Philomena was more into fruits, vegetables, and seeds, but he did not begrudge her.

He gave his mate a loving head bonk and then squawked loudly to claim his territory.

Chapter 240

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Sitting in deep concentration, PiÃa tried to focus her will. Her father was sitting beside her, and she tried to match his steady breathing. For almost an hour the day before they had done this, and nothing had happened other than a strange feeling of pressure and a faint tingling in her hooves.

She was determined to become an earth pony mystic.

Not far away, Berry Punch laid in the grass watching PiÃa, Dinky, and Bucky meditating together. Dinky was levitating slightly, as Rising Star was also starting to do on occasion. A state of supreme focus, something few adult unicorns managed, from what little bit that Berry knew about magic.

âœDinkyâ do you wish to try teleporting?â Bucky asked in a low whisper.

There was no response right away. Dinky continued to levitate slightly, just a few inches above the grass. Her eyes remained shut. The only observable response for a while was the movement of her throat as she swallowed. Finally, she spoke.

âœI am ready,â Dinky responded.

She disappeared in a burst of cold and reappeared a fair distance away. Berry Punch was up on her hooves in a hurry when she heard Dinky gag and strangle. A second later, Dinky was vomiting out her breakfast all over the grass.

Somehow, PiÃa held her concentration even with the sounds of her sister being violently ill and the sudden burst of freezing cold. She suspected that her father had teleported Dinky for that very reason, and PiÃa tightened her resolve and focus. She forced her body to relax and listened to the sound of her fatherâs breathing.

Sitting at the kitchen table, Sentinel watched his mothers working, Lyra and Bon Bon both preserving food for what was certain to be a difficult winter. As they worked, he sketched what he saw, Bon Bon standing on her hind legs at the stove and Lyra beside her at the counter. An army of jars stood ready.

âœHow do I talk to fillies?â Sentinel asked.

Continuing at her task, Bon Bon took a deep breath. âœJust talk to them, dear. Why donât you ask your father for his advice?â

âœI plan to do that, but both of you are lesbians. You have experience in talking to fillies or mares. You know what fillies want to hear, right?â Sentinel asked. He had been thinking about this for a while, and he felt his logic was unassailable.

Tittering, Lyra looked over her shoulder at Sentinel and smiled.

Snatching a carrot with his thumb, Sentinel lifted it to his mouth and began crunching down upon it. He chewed thoughtfully and slowly, holding the carrot in the thumb of his left wing, while he continued to scribble with his right wing. He swallowed and looked at Bon Bon. âœFillies confuse me.â

âœOh thatâs how it is supposed to be, dear,â Bon Bon said as she worked. âœI suppose you are confused about what Diamond Tiara did.â

âœMoonbow tooâ I miss her,â Sentinel said morosely. âœI have weird feelings. I want to protect filliesâ maresâ femalesâ but I donât want them to feel like I am superiour, like they need my protection, that they are somehow weaker. I donât know how to be chivalrous without being insulting. My officerâs manual says to behave in a chivalrous manner at all times and protect the weaker sex. But I donât think they are weaker at all. Nothing makes sense right now.â

âœOh my, this is a moral conundrum,â Bon Bon replied. She turned her head and looked at Lyra, her face serious, her previous smile now gone. âœI thought you were having the usual problems a colt your age has with fillies. To be honest, I wasnât expecting you ask me something this complex.â

âœBonnie, he is a sensitive little introvert like me. He is never going to have the common problems common to colts his age,â Lyra said in a low voice. For a moment, Lyra felt an odd emotion and she couldnât tell what it was. It was almost like a physical ache in her barrel, and then the feeling passed.

âœI wish I understood why Diamond Tiara did what she did. I fail to understand her motivations,â Sentinel said, explaining his position. âœAnd since that happened, there has been this weird awkwardness between me and my sisters. My sisters and Iâ ugh, theyâve been treating me differently ever since it happened and I canât figure out why. And when I asked them about it last night, they got quiet and changed the subject. And I canât figure out why.â

âœSentinel, they are probably embarrassed and ashamed that their friend used you,â Lyra replied after thinking about Sentinelâs words for a few moments. âœThey know that Diamond Tiara has some behavioural troubles. Maybe they feel bad that you saw a bad side of her.â

âœI have a bad side,â Sentinel admitted.

Snorting once, twice, and then a third time, Bon Bon finally laughed.

âœI do too have a bad side. Sometimes I am curt,â Sentinel confessed, his ears splaying out sideways. His once torn ear flickered. It had healed well enough, but it was sometimes a bit spastic.

Unable to help herself, Lyra began to chortle. She tried to hold it back, but failed completely and finally let out a chuckle. âœSentinel, if that is the worst your bad side has to offer, I think youâll be okay,â she said, still sniggering slightly as she spoke.

âœSurprise will be out this way in a few days,â Derpy announced.

âœSo Iâll be able to fly again?â Yew asked.

âœYes,â Derpy replied.

Dancing in place, Yew looked extremely pleased. She danced a little jig of happiness, her hooves clattering on the hardwood floor.

âœAre you happy in the attic?â Derpy inquired.

âœI like it. Barley says he is going to have a door put in and a little balcony for us to take off and fly from. And get it insulated before the winter. Right now the only problem is going up all of the stairs,â Yew responded.

âœLugus is a big creature,â Derpy stated. âœI worry about him being comfortable. I mean, heâs huge. Nothing is big enough for him. Couches, sofas, chairs, rooms, beds, bathtubs, heâs a giant. He has trouble going through doors.â

âœHeâs a big pussycatâ eagle hawk bird of prey creatureâ Iâm trying to say heâs gentle,â Yew replied. âœHeâs been good to me. I'll curl up at night and he wraps himself completely around me. Itâs like sleeping in a walled fortress.â

âœYou love him,â Derpy said.

âœLike you love Bucky,â Yew answered. âœOur foals are going to grow up as sisters.â

âœI think so,â Derpy agreed.

âœSissy,â Harper announced from where she was sitting on her quilt.

âœYes! Sissy!â Yew praised, looking at Harper.

âœCan you say my name? Not mama, but my name?â Derpy asked.

âœBurpy?â Harper replied, her brows furrowing with concentration.

âœClose enough,â Derpy sighed. She pointed at Yew. âœWhat about her name?â

Harper looked briefly frustrated. âœShe.â

âœNo, her name is Yew,â Derpy corrected.

âœHarpy?â Harper inquired.

âœNo, Yew,â Derpy said again.

âœMe?â Harper asked.

Realising the problem, Derpy sighed and gave up.

The late afternoon sun shone brightly. Bucky and Sparkler, well rested and full of energy, looked at one another for some time, studying each otherâs moods. Sparkler didnât seem nearly as twitchy as she sometimes was, and Bucky was in an unusually subdued and laid back mood.

âœReady?â Bucky asked after several minutes of silently settling in.

Sparkler said nothing but nodded.

The Tree of Harmony was not too far away and it sat upon an intersection of ley lines. Bucky reached out with his mind and touched the lines, drawing energy from them. He then drew Sparkler in, causing her to gasp loudly. When the magic overtook her, she turned to stone, first grey stone, and then it steadily darkened until she had turned into what appeared to be a mass of black obsidian.

Both unicorns rose up into the air, moving in a binary orbit around one another. A line of raw crackling magic went from Sparklerâs horn down directly into the earth. The ground trembled and there was low rumble that filled the air.

The earth split open a moment later and a spike of black basalt came creeping up like a sapling seeking the sun. It curled and moved around, finding its direction, and then more earth was moved aside. A mass of black rock came creeping out, slow and steady. It moved like clay upon a potterâs wheel, flexible and supple, flexing and moving under Sparklerâs magical guidance.

It snaked skyward, moving ever so slowly, gaining mass and width. It did not grow in a straight line. It moved fluidly. There were curves, twists, bulbous protrusions, and a strangely organic looking growth. At a little over one hundred feet tall, it stopped. It continued to widen, nooks appeared in the sides, places where pegasi could sun themselves just as Bucky requested. The top of the tower split open like a gaping maw. Bucky intended to create a glass dome to cover it. The sides continued to widen and spread out. Windows opened along the sides and a door opened near the base.

Inside, stairs formed a sloping spiral leading up along the inner outer walls. Multiple floors appeared, seven floors in total, and doors opened along the stairs to give access to the different floors. The stairs were wide enough for a pegasus to fly up. Several nooks were created along the stairs for decorations. Fireplaces bubbled into existence. Not big square fireplaces, but round curved fireplaces that were rotund with small openings. The stone would absorb heat from the fire and radiate warmth for hours.

More stairs formed, leading into the bulbous room in the bottom of the tower, which would become a vault. The whole tower had once been a massive solid boulder. The inside of the boulder had been hollowed out and reshaped into the tower that was now above ground.

The tower was near the school, but not too near, and was roughly the same size as the dormitory towers, but much wider. Towers were efficient and efficiency appealed to most unicorns. Maximised living space in the smallest available footprint and easy to heat in the wintertime since heat rises.

The tower was not at all straight. It leaned to one side, then the other, some sections were wider, others were thinner, and it appeared to look more like a tree trunk than anything else. None of the windows were any kind of recognisable shape.

Bucky let go of Sparklerâs mind and both of them fell to the grass with a gasp, and Sparkler slowly returned to her normal pony form, the stone fading into flesh.

The tower would need to have a secure door made. Bucky made his way through the entrance and looked around. The stairs looked like they were made of black flowing liquid. Each stair was slightly different in shape and size. The first floor was open. There were stairs going up, and there were stairs going down into what would be the vault. He would need to construct a door that would keep his orb safe. The entry room needed furniture Bucky decided. He stood at the base of the steps and snorted. He winked, exploding into a cloud of snowflakes, leaving Sparkler behind to climb the stairs.

He appeared on the second floor and nearly slipped and fell down the stairs, stepping on his own sheet ice. A quick cantrip saved him. He stepped off the landing and went through the door into the second floor room. He peered around. Large and spacious, and rather egg shaped. He liked it. There was a fireplace along the far wall. Several windows let in light.

Sparkler moved into the room to look around and he left her behind. He winked again once he stood on the landing. Several quick winks later, he was on the top floor, and had a good idea of where not to wink, so he didnât teleport into a solid wall. Now he could travel from the first floor to the top. The room at the top he planned to turn into his office as Headmaster. It was much larger than Celestiaâs office, and this made him feel more than a little pleased.

When the glass dome was constructed he could place a ledge around the outer perimeter to walk on when star gazing. He could hear Sparklerâs laboured breathing as she trotted up the stairs. The sound of her discomfort brought him a strange sense of satisfaction.

âœThink of the students. They will be exhausted when they reach me. And quite easy to manage I suspect,â Bucky said with a wicked grin.

âœYouâ areâ aâ badâ ponyââ Sparkler panted as she finally crested the stairs.

âœI make no claims on goodness,â Bucky said in a serious voice, his grin vanishing.

âœYouâ stinkyâ cheeseâ smellingâ warlockâ youâ needâ toâ teachâ meâ teleâ portâ tationââ Sparkler heaved.

âœWhy yes, I do believe being sent to see the Headmaster will be quite a punishment. Nothing quite like climbing to the top of a hundred foot tall tower,â Bucky stated, looking thoughtful as Sparkler heaved out a sigh and fell to the floor. âœNote to self. Place a trash can right near the door for students who are bound to throw up.â

âœYouâ dastard!â Sparkler huffed as she lay on her sides. For the first time in her life, Sparkler finally believed that her father might be capable of a tiny bit of evil.

Chapter 241

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It was fascinating watching Witching Hour and Tiddlywinks move around the farmhouse and cast warding spells. They moved in perfect harmony with one another, always close, their magic wove together into single spells of perfect execution. The house was being covered in protective wards and defensive measures.

Bucky moved along behind them, adding his own touches. Aversion fields for those with hostile intent. A new dark magic ward he had learned that not only caused a powerful form of aversion, but also caused fear and confusion as well for those with hostile purposes or intent. It was powerful new magic and this was good practice. Another dark magic ward caused a random teleportation field. It was not a lethal spell, but the rapid fire teleportation would induce severe nausea, vomiting, and motion sickness in all but the most hardy and seasoned teleporters.

Bucky debated internally about a ward that caused the targets to become deaf, dumb, and blind. It wouldnât physically hurt them, and the effects could be reversed, but it was a nasty thing to do to somepony.

He snapped to attention and noticed Witching Hour and Tiddlywinks staring at him.

âœYes?â Bucky inquired slowly.

âœYour cloak. You are an ENCHANTER. Your cloak should BE interesting. I know a little bit of enchantment, but nothing like you. Have you done anything with your black cloak?â Witching Hour inquired.

âœNoâ I didnât know I was supposed to. You mean we actually wear these when out on duty? Thatâs a bitâ corny,â Bucky replied.

Rolling her eyes and snorting, Witching Hour had trouble believing that somepony so dense could be so powerful and dangerous. âœYes. We actually wear the cloaks when we are out in the field. We donât stand out because we arenât seen. WE ARENâT NOTICED. And if by some chance we are, memories are given a little editing because ponies are happier not knowing for certain that we exist. The cloaks are our armor. OUR PROTECTION. Each cloak is unique and represents the wearer. Tiddlywinkâs cloak changes to look like clothing depending on who is viewing it. It might look like a rain coat or even a suit jacket. He blends in with the crowd and becomes completely UNREMARKABLE and unobservable.â

âœOh,â Bucky mumbled. âœI see.â

âœBECAUSE YOU SUCK at defensive magic, you should make your cloak as defensive as possible. We can help you. OR YOU CAN GO TO LYRA,â Witching Hour suggested.

âœYou seem nervous,â Bucky said casually.

âœI am TELLING my BOSS who is a known WARLOCK that he sucks at MAGIC,â Witching Hour said as she cringed away from Bucky.

Nodding, Bucky smiled. âœI understand. That must be stressful,â he said in reassuring voice.

âœYOU HAVE NO IDEA,â Witching Hour replied in a somehow shy and sheepish manner.

Bucky found that he rather liked the dark blue mare and the orange-yellow stallion. For all of their quirks, they were good unicorns and Bucky was glad to have some of the faith in his own type restored. He had been having some issues with his own kind lately after having to deal with his own traitorous house.

âœWE HAVE decided to STAY,â Witching Hour stated, snapping Bucky back to attention. âœWe like your TOWER. It is CHARMING. The tower is what has sold us on the idea of working together.â

âœSparkler and I could probably help you shape stone into another tower. But weâd need to find a big boulder for Sparkler to work with,â Bucky offered.

âœThank you,â Witching Hour said graciously.

âœSo tell meâ what do you know about the unicorns that are running around that nopony can seem to findââ Bucky inquired.

Today, I finally ran down and devoured a squirrel. It took a great deal of effort, and the burst of speed I had to summon near the end was considerable, but the squirrel was delicious. They are rats with big fluffy tails. The bones are easily crunched and swallowed without complications.

Much to my dismay, there were witnesses. Dinky and PiÃa will recover in time I hope.

My mother Thistle tells me I need to lay off the frogs, my constant snacking is hurting their numbers. She scowled at me and scolded me about the still kicking frog leg sticking out of the side of my mouth after she caught me in the act. She doesnât understand how tasty they are. Theyâre slippery and really easy to swallow whole. She doesnât particularly like frogs and she doesnât understand why I love them so much.

I performed a valuable service today in the garden. Working among the earth ponies my father has hired, I went through the garden and devoured any slugs I could find. I did the best I could to ignore the gagging and retching sounds all around me. While bugs are crunchy and delicious, slugs are slurpable and chewy. I also found a really big nightcrawler which had a pleasant earthy flavour.

I found a dead woodchuck. It was slightly rotten and mouth wateringly stinky. Took me a while to track it down and find it, it was near a stump at the edge of the treeline. Thankfully, nopony was around to witness me eating it. It tasted really good, things that are rotten always taste just a little bit better, but it has given me terrible gas. I am not supposed to eat carrion. I feel kind of guilty for doing it, but it smelled so good and tasted even better. At least I resisted the urge to roll in it, the compulsion was almost overpowering. So stinky!

I feel so ashamed. I farted in the kitchen, a carrion fart. Mother Lyra vomited into the sink and claims that the smell curdled the milk in her teats. I certainly hope this is not the case. I feel terrible. I want to die from the shame I feel. I canât help how I am. It is a struggle to contain my inner nature.

Earlier today, near the treeline, I saw a strange animal Iâve never seen before. It was black, had white stripes, and sort of looked like some kind of cat. I wonder how it tastes. After I am done writing, I think I will try to catch one if I can find one. So many things to eat, so little time.

Sparkler read the scroll from Twilight Sparkle for the third time and tried to come up with something other than anger in response. She wasnât angry with Twilight, far from it, but angry at the situation. Out of the thousands of ponies in Ponyville, a miniscule number were interested in police work.

Thunderlane. Pegasus. Cool head. Militia member. Not terribly bright but faithful, loyal, and true to any cause he lends himself to.

Big McIntosh. Earth Pony. Gentle giant. Strong. Cool headed. Physically intimidating. Stubborn and honest.

Sunshower Raindrops. Pegasus. Exceptionally strong flier. Exceptional intelligence. Can communicate with birds and has a predilection for gossip. Tends to know what is going on.

Blossomforth. Pegasus. Flexible. Scrapper. Capable melee combatant. Fearless in defense of her friends. Known risk taker. A bit hot headed.

Bulk Biceps. AKA: Snowflake. Pegasus. Sounds scary but is actually quite timid and shy. Heâs willing to serve and might be useful in situations that require muscle. Rivals Big Mac for strength.

Cherry Berry. Earth Pony. Head of the Ponyville Airborne Watch Union. Smart. Observant.

Holly Dash. Unicorn. (Type II) Helped to save Mayor Mare from unknown assailant. Now filled with a desire to protect and defend.

Twinkleshine. Unicorn. (Type II) Highly social extravert. Good with ponies. Friendly. Good at calming down crowds. Has helped Barley deal with the refugees for quite some time.

Orange Swirl. Pegasus. Fast. Works as a messenger and she delivered this scroll. Fearless. Organised. Strong communications skills.

A meeting with all of them had been arranged in just a few days, giving Sparkler time to prepare. She didnât know what to do, and for a moment, she felt a burst of panic. She had no idea what she was doing. She wondered briefly if she was in over her head.

She quickly recovered her resolve though, determined to see this through. Hopefully, the first recruits would be enough to show ponies that a difference could be made and more ponies would join. Foal steps.

Heading off to the house, she hoped she could talk to Berry Punch for some advice.

âœSo these unicorns just start showing up from out of nowhere and start creating trouble,â Bucky said, trying to understand everything he had just heard.

âœYes. Look, we were going to tell you eventually, but Princess Luna wanted to give you some time to settle in. She was hoping that as the, uh, unascended alicorn of war, youâd be able to sniff out their weakness and hopefully start figuring out who and what they are,â Witching Hour said.

Bucky eased himself against the cushioned back of the chair and rested his barrel upon the arm of the chair, leaving his front legs dangling over the side. He thought for a moment, trying make sense of everything he had heard.

âœWe have a mystery,â Witching Hour stated.

âœWe certainly do,â Bucky agreed. âœI need more information. I need everything you know. I need everything Luna knows. And maybe I should talk to Celestia too.â

âœOr Twilight,â Witching Hour said.

âœWhat does she know?â Bucky asked.

âœTwilight Sparkle has a hunch. She believes that the unicorns are mirror travelers. She canât prove it yet. It is just a hunch. But Twilight, like you, has powerful hunches. Celestia believes Twilight is wrong and they are simply from another part of this world. Luna hasnât taken sides because of the delicacy of the issue,â Witching Hour replied.

âœIs there something I am missing?â Bucky asked.

Sighing, Witching Hour nodded. âœCelestia was in love with Sombra. A different Sombra. One that existed on the other side of a mirror. Twilight and her friends had to get involved. There was a dimensional rift. I donât know all of the details, but this Sombra was good. And immortal apparently. He and Celestia have been seeing one another for the past thousand years or so. I donât know how it ended, but the Elements of Harmony had to be used. Celestia came back kind of broken. It took her a while to recover. Now, Twilight Sparkle sees a new threat and believes they are mirror hoppers, and Celestia dismisses it by saying that Twilight Sparkle is making an assumption because of whatever happened on the other side of the mirror,â Witching Hour explained in a calm collected voice.

âœSheesh,â Bucky gasped. He shivered and shuddered, realising his own relation to Sombra and then he thought about Celestia thinking about him in that way. âœWhat a mess. Now I am worried about talking to Celestia about this.â

âœYou should be worried. She is very sore about the issue. Any mention of mirrors is met with outright hostility. The room becomes kinda hot and stuffy. She just lost her secret lover of the past one thousand years,â Witching Hour whispered.

âœCelestia deserves any comfort she can find,â Bucky said in Celestiaâs defense, knowing full well what Celestia had been doing for the past thousand years. His mind filled with images of the cosmic alicorn and everything he was shown. He was probably one of the few ponies that had any hope of understanding Celestiaâs true pain, and he was completely unable to say anything. The realisation almost made him cackle.

The house filled with screams as Sentinel made his way through the front door. He staggered, having difficulty seeing, and long streams of drool dribbled from his lips.

âœSTINK!â

âœSTANKY!â

âœWHAT DIED?â

âœACHâ CRIVENS! SOMETHING DINNAE SMELL GOOD!â

âœSENTINEL! UGH!â

âœMOMMY! SMELLS BAD! REAL BAD!â

There was the sound of retching from the kitchen and the clatter of glass.

âœThatâs twice todayâ what is that abominable odour? Lyra, you okay?â

Sentinel fell to the floor and wished that he would die. The black and white striped cat like creature had sprayed him with some noxious liquid that had squirted out of its backside. It was like being bathed in liquid farts. His fatherâs cloud of freezing toxic mist smelled worse, but the black and white creatureâs chemical defense had a much stronger effect.

He looked up and saw his mother Derpy looked down at him through his blurred vision caused by his burning eyes. âœMamaâ help me,â he begged.

âœMy colt found a skunk,â Derpy said as she tried not to gag.

Chapter 242 (May contain kinky!)

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Ripple and Sentinel both sat in the library, reading different officerâs manuals. Ripple looked serious and was focused on her reading. Sentinel was distracted. A useful spell from Bucky had gotten rid of the stink, but the memory lingered on.

Barley was in the room with them, reading through a book borrowed from the Ponyville library. He was silent, his eyes were on the book, but his mind was someplace else. There was so much to worry about. The refugees and the coming fall and winter. Concern about the spreading cases of infectious hoof rot. His overly curious nephew that had tried to eat a skunk. And the concern of having enough food to make it through the winter, not just for the town, but here at home. Unicorns ate a lot of food when using magic. Root vegetables were being planted for the fall, as well as some squash and a few other fast growing late summer early fall friendly crops. He hoped there were enough neeps and tatties to get them through the winter.

Rising Star came into the library, flopped down in a chair, and then he levitated over a book about practical applications for pyromancy. He yawned, having had a long day, and then settled in for some serious reading. Tonightâs chapter was all about a spell called âœflamewhipâ and its many uses, both in and out of combat.

âœWeâve been home all this time and no grocery store,â PiÃa said in a low whisper to Dinky, who was in the bed beside her. âœPapers say the grocery stores are kinda empty though. I guess there is no point in going.â

âœThings will get better soon PiÃa,â Dinky responded reassuringly.

âœAll of the seats have been torn out of the theatre and it is being used to house sick ponies who canât be outside,â PiÃa said, glad to have Dinky close. âœThink Ripple will come to bed with us tonight Dinks?â

âœI hope so. I miss sleeping with my momâ with everypony. We all slept together in a big pile for so long. Now I canât even sleep unless I have somepony in the bed with me. Sentinel has his own room. Nothing is like it was,â Dinky whispered in reply.

âœI feel really bad about what Diamond Tiara did to Sentinel. Iâm kinda angry with her. But at the same time, I understand sheâs lonely. Sheâs older than us and she likes colts. I donât know what to do Dinks. I feel bad that she did what she did to Sentinel and Luna. We spent so much time telling Sentinel how she was our friend and she-â

âœShe made a mistake PiÃa,â Dinky interrupted. âœWhat are we going to do? Ditch her? Abandon her? Sentinel is able to forgive her. We should too. It will be awkward for a while but it will blow over.â

PiÃa pulled Dinky closer and squeezed the now smaller unicorn. PiÃa had grown over the summer. Where once they had been almost the same size, PiÃa was now larger, heavier, and bulkier, filling out as an earth pony usually does as they race towards their first milestones of maturity.

âœGonna be your birthday soon,â Dinky said just before she yawned.

âœYou know, I donât wanna celebrate my birthday,â PiÃa said.

âœWhy not?â Dinky asked, now puzzled. She felt PiÃa stroking her side along her ribs and began to feel even more sleepy.

âœJust donât. Feels wrong. There is all these foals living in dirty camps with hoof rot and I am in this warm soft bed with you and I am completely safe and secure with a whole army of parents and siblings that love me and there are no shadow wolves trying to eat me or crystal liches trying to scare me to death and I have it really good right nowâ and a birthday party really isnât necessary,â PiÃa explained in response. âœI heard Berry and Bon Bon talking. There might not be enough food to make it through the winter here on our farm. Weâre going to have to feed the earth ponies we have working the land and all of us.â

âœYou sound like a grown up,â Dinky retorted.

âœWeâve both grown up,â PiÃa stated. âœWeâve matured. Weâre not the foals we used to be.â

âœDiamond Tiara is a bit like usâ sheâs matured. Sure, she did something stupid, but she knows she did something stupid. And she feels bad. I think were all going to be different from the other foals around us. More grown up because of what happened,â Dinky whispered in the dark room to PiÃa.

âœWe still get along okay with Citrus. She is about our age,â PiÃa stated.

âœPiÃa?â

âœYes Dinky?â

âœHave you noticed anything different going on âœdown thereâ between your legs now that youâve gotten a little older?â

âœI havenât had a heat.â

âœI knowâ but I kinda noticed the other day when I was climbing over the arm of the couch and I straddled it for a moment like a ponyback ride, I kinda rubbed up against it and it made me feel tingly all over down there and my pucker clenched up and felt real tight. My dock had this prickly feeling like little bugs were crawling all over it,â Dinky confessed.

âœIâve had that happen once or twice,â PiÃa admitted.

âœWhen we were staying in Canterlot, I woke up in the middle of the night and I heard Moonbow in the bed next to us. She was rubbing herself and kinda moaning Sentinelâs name. I would hear wet squishy sounds like a pony stepping in the mud. It made me feel really confused and funny all over. I still donât know how to feel about it. I havenât told anypony until just now,â Dinky whispered.

âœYuck,â PiÃa gasped.

âœIt was kinda gross but it was also kinda sweet. I mean, she was thinking about our brother while she wasâ you knowâ umââ Failing to find any suitable words, Dinky fell silent.

âœYuck!â PiÃa said again with a shudder.

âœHoo howdy sure is a pretty moon out tonight Silver.â

The orange mareâs beauty was breathtaking under normal circumstances, but seeing her in the moonlight, soaking wet and streaming water as she sat on a rock after a late night swim inflamed Silver Shill. He coughed a little bit to clear his throat and moved a little closer to the earth pony mare.

âœI know what youâre up to loverboy, creeping up on me all coy like and hoping I wonât notice âcause Iâm looking up at the moon. I bet you your trying to think of something clever to say with that there silver tongue of yours.â

âœI am much happier as an honest earth pony,â Silver Shill confessed.

âœLying ainât no good for us earth ponies. Gives us the heebie jeebies and discombobulates us from nature. I know from experience. Earth ponies was made to be honest.â

âœWeâve been friends for quite some timeâ well, business partners, then friendsâ and recently, things have changed and I donât feel honest anymore being around you,â Silver Shill admitted.

âœOh? And what great lie are you telling now, grifter?â

âœApplejack, I donât wanna be your friend anymoreâ withholding the truth is the same as lying,â Silver Shill said as he scooted just a little bit closer to the fiery mare.

âœOhâ I see how it isâ so thatâs how it is gonna be, huh?â

âœApplejack, Iâd rather have you as a wife,â Silver Shill stated in a low voice, looking up at the moon and hoping that his heart didnât explode in his barrel.

âœWellâ shucks. Why didnât you say so sooner? You kept me waiting you silver tongued con artist,â Applejack said with a snort. âœFor a time, I thought your gate opened the other way. Iâve been sending all kinds of signals.â

âœI know. I wanted to prove myself, to show I was being honest,â Silver Shill responded.

âœOh I has me a plan on how you can show me that youâre honest. Iâm gonna put that tongue of yours to work, you sly trickster you. Now Iâm gonna lay my body down in that soft grass over yonder, where it is damp and cool, and youâre gonna hunt my radishâ got it?â Applejack said.

Sitting at the kitchen table, Derpy thought about everything that needed to be done. Her old house needed to be packed up and cleaned out, and everything brought here. She had no idea what to do with the house. Much to her surprise, it had been paid off completely by an anonymous source and she was the sole owner. Holding on to it seemed wise. Sparkler and her herd might want to move out someday.

The house was quiet. The foals were upstairs asleep. Sparkler was outside in the cool of the evening running laps around the house and the lake. The rest of her herd was in the library. Derpy loved quiet moments like these. Soothing downtime for any introvert. She knew that Bon Bon and Lyra were on the back porch relaxing after a long day of work. She didnât know what Bucky was doing. He had vanished. Berry had taken a bath and Derpy guessed that she had gone to bed. She wasnât sure where Thistle was, but the lake was a safe guess.

âœDerpyâ come to bed. We have a surprise for you,â Berry said in a sultry whisper from the kitchen archway. She gave the grey pegasus her best seductive gaze and batted her eyelashes.

Giggling, Derpy slipped from her chair and followed Berry down the hall.

Bucky was tied to the bed and Derpy felt something inside of her break. Raw white hot anger flared. She lept forward immediately to free him. âœJust because he is my slave doesnât give us the right to mistreat him!â Derpy said furiously. Reaching the bed, she pulled the cloth gag from Buckyâs mouth and patted him gently, feeling awful for his predicament.

âœAre you okay?â Derpy asked, her tone both worried and furious.

âœI am a unicorn,â Bucky whispered. âœDo you think ropes could hold me in this situation?â

âœOhââ Derpy gasped, realising a mistake might have been made. Her anger melted away and was replaced by confusion. She turned and looked at Berry, flashing a sheepish grin. She turned back to Bucky, put the gag back into place, and then patted him softly once again and he made a muffled moan into the gag. He was tied down on his back and was completely exposed. She turned her head once again, looking at Berry and Thistle. âœI donât understand this. Sorry if I overreacted. I might own him but I never ever want him abused.â

âœUnderstandable. I suppose I should have warned you,â Berry replied.

âœSo why is he tied down? I donât get what is going on,â Derpy said, her eyes straying to a spot between Buckyâs legs.

âœThis is all about trust. Bucky is tied down, helpless, gagged, and he has to trust us to take care of his needs as we take care of ours,â Berry said as she came forward and mounted the bed. She made a gesture for Thistle to come over. âœWe can do anything to him when he is like this.â

Reaching out with her leg, she ran her folded fetlock over his breastbone and began working her way slowly down Buckyâs belly. âœWe can make him our toy. We can give him a little loving abuse. We can tease him mercilessly. We can use whatever parts of him we want to satisfy ourselves. But make no mistake, we will use him. If he is naughty, we might spank him. If he is a good little toy, we might let him get off without waiting for too longâ but he is ours to play with.â

âœTrust?â Thistle asked.

âœHe has to trust us not to hurt him for realsies. There is play and there is real hurt,â Berry explained in a teasing tone of voice. The soft side of her fetlock lingered over a very delicate place on Bucky, rubbing in a little circle. âœBut the rope lets him know that we are in charge. It is a two way street. We have to trust that Bucky will play by the rules and stay tied down. He could free himself at any time and spoil our fun. So this is a choice for him.â

Licking her lips, Derpy leaned over Bucky. âœSo, what do we do first?â she asked.

âœWell, I was thinking tickle torture,â Berry announced.

âœIâm in the mood forâ meat,â Thistle whispered. After a moment, she tittered, unable to stay serious after what she said. âœYou knowâ after we get done with Bucky, I say we tie up Berry Punch and do awful things to her.â

âœI really like that idea,â Derpy said. âœWe need to hogtie the wild Shetland mare.â

Berry Punch checked the ropes once again. With a nudge, she was able to slip the loop from Buckyâs stump. Smiling, she slid it back into place over the end of his severed limb. "If we hurt you at all, or something goes wrong, you just pull this leg free from the rope, wave it around, and weâll cuddle you until you feel better. Okay?â

Bucky nodded, unable to reply with the gag in his mouth.

Smiling, Berry turned to look at Derpy and Thistle. She stood up over Bucky with her tail over his face, the long fine hairs spilling over his muzzle. âœSo, what do we do?â

âœI say we get each other warmed up,â Thistle said as she pushed Derpy over and flopped down on top of her. She struggled with the grey mare, and the pair began to flounder around the bed, each trying gain dominance.

With Thistle being pregnant, Derpy didnât try very hard. She allowed herself to be pinned down and dominated, even when Thistle sat down upon her head and dry humped her face.

Still standing over Bucky, Berry Punch looked down and noticed something was peeking out. âœHey ladiesâ I think this naughty stallion likes to watch his mares to fight one another.â

âœAm I sexy?â Thistle asked Berry as she sat down on Derpyâs head and ground her bottom against the pegasus. She yelped softly when she felt a gentle tugging nip.

âœSo very sexy,â Berry admitted as she watched Thistle get rolled over by Derpy and held down for a moment. Berry saw a flash of orange tongue plunging into Thistleâs fuzzy cleft, and there was a long low moan from the kelpie. She felt the muscles in her dock tensing and her tail slowly rising in arousal. She knew that Bucky was down below her, getting quite a show from the two mares beside him or just by looking up.

âœNot fair, you went right for the licking,â Thistle protested.

âœYou sat on my face,â Derpy argued as Thistle wrestled her over.

Sitting on top of Derpy, Thistle straddled Derpyâs already moistening minge, the mare making meek muffled moans as she did so. There was a salacious sound of succulent suction, as two lewd luscious labias longingly latched, locking lasciviously to one another in lurid lovestruck lust.

Looking down, Berry Punch could see that Bucky definitely liked what he was watching. She dropped her head and gave a long lick, starting at his flared tip and slowly working down to his balls. The half hard cock twitched and Berry held her head over it, breathing slowly onto the skin. She could see the goose bumps all over Buckyâs body.

Derpy and Thistle continued their tribadism, something Thistle enjoyed a great deal. Berry took note that Thistle enjoyed external stimulation more than internal stimulation.

Hearing the moaning from the two mares was making Berry feel wet. She felt something dribble, hot sticky liquid trailing from her now clenching marehood, and she could hear Buckyâs surprised murmur through his gag. She knew without looking that she had dripped on him. Sticking out her tongue again, she gave another long slow lick to Buckyâs now fully erect cock. Her tongue lingered over the flared tip, moving in a circle, and then moved down, zigzagging from side to side as she trailed her way downwards.

Feeling a spike of jealous envy, Berry could hear Derpy was already approaching orgasm. Her oversized clitoris and pent up state allowed her to scratch her itch against Thistle, who was humping back and forth in a furious fashion, her mouth open and her tongue hanging out as she ground away on Derpyâs clenching cleft with her own madly winking and now swollen slit. Berry waited for just the right moment, her body ready to pounce.

When Derpy started to let out whimpering cries, and with Thistle nowhere near the finish line, Berry Punch sprung into action. She pushed Thistle over, knocking her onto her back, and Berry dove down between her legs. She could taste Derpyâs distinct flavour upon Thistleâs luscious labial lips, and Berry plunged her long tongue down deep into Thistleâs now overly hot and excited folds. The fuzz along the edges was glazed over with squalene secretions, and Berry loved every inch of Thistleâs small delicate marehood. It was like a tiny fragile blossom, a delicate bloom, a rare treat for a hungry earth pony to devour. Thistle was tiny and delicate, and her cunny wasnât very deep. Berry could lick its deepest and most hidden recesses without effort.

âœWow, Bucky is really turned onâ heâs droolingâ there is a puddle forming on his belly,â Derpy announced breathlessly as Berry Punch continued to work poor Thistle over.

Derpy, feeling creative, maneuvered around the bed until she was sitting at Buckyâs backside. She grabbed his left hind hoof and held it between her own two front hooves, lifting it as much as the rope would allow. Her eyes narrowed into a mischievous expression of well meaning malice. Her tongue came out and she slowly licked one of Buckyâs frogs.

The effect was immediate. Bucky exploded with muffled laughter through his gag and his whole body tensed. He squirmed against his bonds and was unable to stop Derpy from taking a second lick.

Derpy allowed her tongue to linger, moving in a lazy circle, pressing down on the soft fleshy pad in the center of Buckyâs hoof. Derpy, still riding the aftereffects of her first orgasm, felt a spike of arousal. Seeing her husband completely helpless and at her mercy turned her on. She also felt a tiny bit of shame because she enjoyed it so much. Watching him and feeling him thrash against his bonds made a hot prickly heat appear in her nethers. She licked his frog again, knowing there was nothing he could do to make her stop. This made Derpy feel incredibly naughty with a touch of guilt. She was torturing her husband and she found herself enjoying it.

The only thing that allowed her to continue was knowing that Bucky could make this stop at any time. She moved on to his right hind hoof and then gave it a teasing lick, and she could hear a frustrated moan from Bucky, followed by involuntary laughter.

Meanwhile, Berry was getting Thistle frustratingly close to orgasm, only to back and away and tease. Thistle was making little mewling pleading cries now, begging for release. Ignoring Thistleâs cries, Berry focused on Thistleâs teats instead, giving each one a lick with the rough side edge of her tongue.

âœBerry pleaseâ donât tease,â Thistle whined.

âœOhâ we have a beggarâ maybe weâll tie you up next,â Berry said, her hot breath blowing over Thistleâs most delicate places and making the kelpie jerk and twitch. Without a word of warning, Berry latched on to Thistleâs winking nubbin with her lips and suckled, causing Thistle to kick all four legs into the air and squeal, an adorable fillyish squeak of bliss as she finally slipped over the edge, shuddering with a powerful orgasmic spasm in her chasm.

Lifting her soaked and dripping muzzle from Thistle, Berry turned her attention to Bucky and Derpy. She watched as Derpy licked Buckyâs frogs and Buckyâs reaction was certainly something to see. With each lick, his cock twitched and thudded against his belly.

Repositioning herself, Berry got herself a mouthful of cock and began sucking. It was far too girthy to get much in, not without making her jaw ache from opening too wide, but she was able to gobble the flared end well enough. She ran her tongue over the tip and teased the opening. A bitter liquid trickled out and Berry shuddered from the taste.

Bucky didnât taste like other stallions. His taste had changed since the introduction of meat into his diet. Berry wasnât sure what to make of the flavour, but it was strong, bitter, pungent, and musky.

Berry lifted her head away, locking her lips around him with powerful suction to tease him as she pulled up. She could feel Bucky straining beneath her. He was moaning and laughing as the assault upon his frogs continued. She gave a long lick, moving her tongue from his balls up to the tip of the shaft, lingering for a moment as she traveled.

Thistle, recovering, moved over to Buckyâs left side since Berry was on his right, and Derpy was in the middle. She began licking Buckyâs shaft, her tongue commingling with Berryâs as they worked together. Each shuddering breath was hot upon Buckyâs throbbing foal making pole.

Derpy, realising she was missing out on the fun, moved up between Buckyâs legs and stuck her head in between Berry and Thistle. Cheek to cheek with her two fellow-wives, she gave Bucky a loving lick, languidly lingering lazily over his balls. They were salty, a bit sweaty, and Derpy rather liked the flavour. They were large, soft, and slipped around in the little sack they called home. This was Derpyâs most treasured objectâ the source of all future foals in her family. She curiously slurped a testicle into her mouth and applied careful suction.

âœI am so turned on right now, I am about to go off from the feeling of my own winking,â Berry panted, lifting her head up for a moment to take a breather. She was incredibly aroused from watching Bucky struggling against the ropes.

âœMore goo is dribbling out,â Thistle said between licks.

Berry went back to work, teasing with her tongue around the tip. She felt Bucky spasm and knew he was close, so berry close to going off, and Berry wrapped her lips around his flared tip. She ground her tongue down upon the narrow opening and waited, wondering how much of a load Bucky would blow.

With a grunt, Bucky went off and Berryâs mouth was flooded with hot, salty, bitter, foul tasting cum. Stallion spunk was actually something Berry didnât mind, but this was even worse than the cock snot she had sampled earlier. She struggled to swallow, gagged, and then fled from the bed and out the door to the bathroom as the rest of Buckyâs seed shot all over his belly and his barrel.

Feeling adventurous, Thistle gave a lick to the still warm semen. She shuddered. It didnât taste good at all. Far too bitter. She watched as more stringy strands came spurting out, Buckyâs cock jerking spastically with each burst.

Crinkling her nose, Derpy watched as Thistle shivered and pulled away. She climbed up over Bucky until she reached his head and loosened his gag. âœHow was it?â

âœNo more frog licking!â Bucky shouted.

âœSoâ more frog licking in the future,â Derpy replied.

âœNoâ it tickles,â Bucky begged.

The door opened and Berry came back into the room. âœSorry about that,â she said in an embarrassed voice.

âœYou know, Berry is the only one of us who hasnât gone off,â Derpy announced.

âœThere are ways to fix that,â Bucky said, his horn flashing.

Derpy took a long lustful look at Berry Punch, who was hogtied on the bed. She wasnât tied down like Bucky was. All four legs had been bound together, she had been gagged, blindfolded, and left on her back. Her curvaceous backside was exposed for all to view, her winking pulsating sex out on display. Derpy could even see her tight perky pink little pucker sitting just above her dock.

âœNaughty mares who waste spunk have to be punished,â Derpy announced. She grinned when she heard Berry moan. She gave Berryâs buttocks a good swat and watched as Berryâs marehood quivered in response. She gave another good brisk slap, striking Berry right on the left strawberry, which made Berry cry out into her gag.

âœDid I hurt you?â Derpy asked, now worried, the act dropped.

Berry shook her head no.

âœThis kinda play makes me nervous. How do we know when to stop?â Derpy asked.

âœComes down to trust,â Bucky stated. âœShe wants to be dominated. I dunno about you, but I am going to screw this earth pony silly.â

Berry nodded enthusiastically, unable to respond in any otherway.

âœBefore you do, I have my own plans,â Derpy said. âœThistle?â

âœMy back hurts. Iâm going to lay here and watch. Iâm worn out,â Thistle replied.

âœBe my guest,â Bucky said to Derpy with a waving gesture towards Berry.

Derpy dove in, her head darting down to get lick of Berryâs exposed and helpless folds. Berry was tangy and salty, there was a faint hint of something almost like garlic.

Her bound legs squirming against her bonds, Berry kicked and wiggled as Derpy worked her way in deeper and deeper. Berry could feel Derpyâs strong tongue parting her folds, licking around little secret nooks and crannies, and going especially deep into her cranny.

And then, she felt the tongue someplace else. Berry squirmed as Derpyâs tongue circled her pucker. Berry never quite understood Derpyâs fascination with anal play. She took a deep shuddering breath as intense pressure was applied to her clenching tailhole. She felt herself growing moist back there, the skin becoming soft and slick, and she thought back to the time when she had shared Derpyâs sensation of backdoor penetration and sex. She felt her heart race just a little bit faster.

âœMmmmph!â

Bucky watched as the tip of Derpyâs tongue wormed its way inside of Berryâs flexing pucker, pushing apart the wrinkled skin. Berry squirmed and wiggled, trying to get away from the randy pegasus that was giving her a rimjob.

Leaning down, Bucky gave Thistle a slow tender kiss, allowing his tongue to creep into her mouth and explore the hidden fleshly places beneath her tongue. When the long kiss was over, he trailed little kisses along her cheek, down her neck, and then began to work his way down further, each peck making Thistle let out a tiny squeak. Finally, he kissed her navel and went no further. He worked his way back up, slowly, teasingly, little kisses being trailed over every inch of progress, until he found himself at her ear. He gave her ear a teasing lick, and then kissed her one last time just above her eyes. Leaning over her ear, he took a deep breath. âœI love you dearly. I hope I can provide the life you wanted,â he breathed into Thistleâs ear.

âœIâm a very happy kelpie,â Thistle whispered.

As Bucky watched, Derpy disengaged from Berry, stepped over the hogtied earth pony, sat down near Berryâs head, spread her legs, tore away Berryâs gag, and grabbing ahold of Berryâs ears, forced Berryâs muzzle into her hot damp folds. He could see Berryâs orange tongue licking, probing, finding its way into Derpyâs depths.

He lay down beside Berry punch on his side and scooted closer, until his belly was pressed against her soft silken sides. He then began to wiggle his way upwards, until he had positioned the tip of his cock against her smouldering snatch. He could hear the wet sloppy sounds of Berry working Derpy over. He snaked one leg through Berryâs hogtied limbs, wrapped it around her, pulled her close, and then, he thrusted, sinking himself almost halfway in.

He heard Berry hiss and he waited for a moment. All she needed was a moment. He gave her that. He then pulled out, leaving only the tip inside, and, with one well practiced thrust, buried himself balls deep in the earth pony. He wasted no time hammering her as hard as he dared, each slamming thrust forcing her muzzle deep into Derpyâs snatch. He worked with a slow steady rhythm, Berry needed a moment to gasp for some air after all, but he gave her the sort of rough rutting she had been begging for. He spared her backside no mercy. Each one of his frenzied thrusts caused Derpy to cry out as Berryâs muzzle collided with terrific force against her stench trench.

Derpy kept a tight hold of Berryâs ears, pinching them in her folded fetlocks, pushing and pulling Berryâs head up and down to force her tongue to move over all the right areas as Bucky continuously collided against Berryâs cunny curtains.

Thistle watched with growing interest as Buckyâs pecker, glistening with juices, slid in and out of Berry Punch. She could see the skin stretched tight all around, and she watched as Berryâs foal hole changed shape, getting pushed inwards on each thrust, and stretching outwards each time Bucky pulled out. Thistle became quite aroused by the sight of the stretching distorting skin, how elastic it seemed to be.

Bucky knew he was doing a good job because Berry began bleating each time his balls slapped into her. He could feel her growing tighter around him, and then, after a few more solid slams, Berry let out a muffled cry into Derpyâs slick snatch.

He was close now, so close, and with a wet âœschlorp!â sound, he pulled free of Berryâs well plowed furrow. Berry made a confused needy cry as he repositioned himself, sitting on his haunches, and bumping his groin up against her backside. He grabbed her by her hogtied legs, his hind legs stretched along each of her sides, and then, he pulled her down violently onto his cock, impaling her, going in as deep as possible.

Berry bleated uncontrollably as she was speared.

With a few quick thrusts, Bucky approached his breaking point and blew his load, filling Berry Punch with hot creamy foal batter. He gave a few more humps, keeping himself deep inside of her, squeezing his hind legs against her sides.

His balls turned to ice when there was a soft knock at the door.

âœAye lad, finish up in there, Lunaâs arrived unannounced for a lesson, Iâll try to stall her.â

Chapter 243

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âœYou look like you just got out of the shower,â Luna said with a wry smile as she saw Bucky hobble through the archway into the kitchen. She was sitting at the table drinking a bottle of cold cider and Barley was sitting across from her.

âœSomething like that,â Bucky responded awkwardly.

âœIt will just be us tonight,â Luna stated. âœWe shall be going to Canterlot. Prepare yourself for a different means of travel. It will beâ unpleasant to say the least. Are you well fed and rested?â

âœWell, I am kinda tired, but I did eat a decent sized dinner,â Bucky replied.

âœWe shall be going in just a while. Say your goodbyes, my student. It will be a long night,â Luna instructed in a patient but commanding voice.

âœYes Mistress,â Bucky said, bowing his head slightly when he heard the tone in Lunaâs voice. He turned and made his way back down the hall to say goodbye to his wives.

Going through a shadow portal was unpleasant. It was like having something reaching up painfully inside of his tailhole, grabbing him by his spleen, and yanking him inside out in one smooth fluid motion. He stood gasping inside of a large room inside of Canterlot Castle.

It was a room he had never seen before. It had no windows, the walls were grey stone, and it made him feel really weird to be standing in it. It made him feel strong. It was like standing next to the shadow crystal in the lair of the crystal lich.

âœThis room always makes our kind feel strong. My sister complains of weakness when she enters this room. Through this door is one of Equestriaâs greatest secrets,â Luna said as she headed for the door she mentioned.

It opened as Luna approached and Bucky saw something wondrous, something that made his breath catch in his throat and for a moment, it felt as though his heart had stopped beating. His hind legs gave out and he sat down upon the stone floor, his eye wide and staring.

Inside the room was a massive stone arch and it was alive with shadow.

âœThis is the Shadow Gate. My sister brought it here from our old castle. I am constantly connected to the dreamscape. I roam the dreams of my subjects even now as we talk. I am everywhere and in every mind. This shadow gate however, allows my faithful dream wardens to enter the minds of dreamers everywhere. Normally, they have to shadow dive and then enter physically into the body of a dreamer to gain access to dreams, much like Sentinel did for you. This gate allows them to shadow dive and then go into the minds of dreamers almost anywhere. It acts as a bridge between all dreaming minds. Each night, hundreds of my lunar pegasi patrol the dreamscape, protecting the minds of dreamers from the destructive influences of escaped imps, mephits, demons, and shades,â Luna explained. She watched Bucky, who was completely enraptured. It was like watching a foal experience their first Hearthâs Warming Eve. She pushed the doors shut slowly and waited for Bucky to regain his senses.

âœBut this is not the purpose of why I brought you here tonight. There are those whose minds I cannot connect with and that this gate does not touch. A few days ago, some of my Myrmidons subdued and captured a most interesting unicorn. Weâve been trying to interrogate him. I cannot go into his dreaming mind, I cannot enter into his mind at all actually. Neither can my sister. We have decided to try dark magic to force entry into his head. I am not that skilled in dark magic, and my sister is worried about scrambling his mind if she uses just a smidge too much power and slips. So, this leaves you,â Luna said, bringing various relevant points of detail into the conversation. âœMy lunar pegasi have no means to peer into his dreams either,â she added after a moment of thought.

âœHmm,â Bucky hummed noncommittally .

âœI donât want you to hurt him. We want to stop him and others like him from hurting others. We captured him outside of Ponyville by sheer luck. Some of my Myrmidons were conducting war games in the Whitetail Woods. He had a detailed map of Ponyville showing the residences of Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Applejack. Also on the map were the marked secondary targets. Ivory Scroll, the mayor. Silver Shill, the head of the Farmerâs Union. Cherry Berry, who heads the airborne watch. We donât know what he was planning to do for certain, but we suspect he might have been there to gather intelligence or possibly assassinate selected targets,â Luna explained.

âœThis is worrisome,â Bucky whispered. âœSo you want me to use dark enchantment and my knack for communing to connect to his mind and forcibly extract information?â

âœYes,â Luna replied.

âœWhere is he?â

The unicorn was dark brown and his mane and tail were the colour of muddy water. An inhibitor was upon his horn and he was chained to the floor with a shackle around one of his hooves. He stared defiantly at Luna.

âœWhat, no monologuing about how I am going to beg to talk when you get done with me?â the unicorn snarled. âœHow scared I should be?â

âœOh, you should be scared,â Luna replied. âœBuckminster, do be a faithful student and come to your Mistress,â she commanded.

When Bucky entered the room the unicorn backed away as far as his chain would allow. His mouth dropped open. When he saw Buckyâs head turn, and Buckyâs single Taint filled eye was visible, he let out a soft whimper.

âœThe time for talking is done. You had a chance. Now, now we shall simply take,â Luna said in an icy voice.

âœHe is like War Empress Umbraâ She of the Fallen Shadow, Student of Nightmare Moon,â the unicorn gibbered, now cowering with what appeared to be real fear.

âœInteresting. Is there anything else you wish to tell me?â Luna said.

âœYou canât listen to her. She is like Princess Seleneâ Sheâll turn into a monsterâ ours was called Nightmare Moon. She was the end of everythingâ everything! She will bring eternal night!â the stallion cried, pleading with Bucky. âœTurn back from your evilâ there is still timeââ

Exchanging a glance with Bucky, Princess Luna looked thoughtful for a moment. âœI am going to step outside and leave you two to get acquainted. Find out as much as you can my faithful student.â

âœYes Mistress, I shall do as you ask,â Bucky answered.

The stallion panicked and tried to get away from Bucky. He pressed himself against the wall of his cell and cowered, his legs buckling and his body sliding down the wall to the floor.

As Luna left the room, Bucky sat down a safe distance away, out of reach of the strange stallion and began to focus his mind. He took a few deep breaths, calmed himself, and then he closed his eye. His horn ignited effortlessly with dark magic.

As he reached out to touch the other stallionâs mind, the room filled with screaming.

Bucky found himself in an unfamiliar body in a strange place. He was in the middle of a castle courtyard. It was nighttime, and the sky was dark. There was no moon and no stars, only a black sky. Unicorns stood all around, providing light with their horns, illuminating the courtyard.

Before him was the body of a dead alicorn. She looked identical to Nightmare Moon, the monster that Princess Luna had become, but her mark was different. It was a blood red full moon on a black inky patch. She had been beheaded somehow, and what Bucky presumed to be the immortal alicorn of the moon was dead, which confused Bucky a great deal.

A starburst of light shot from her body and struck the pegasus standing over her, and somehow Bucky knew that the pegasus had been the one who had struck the killing blow. He watched the pegasus rise into the air, lifted by an unseen force. A glow overtook the pegasusâ body, and the night became as bright as day as the glow intensified.

As he watched, the pegasus became an alicorn.

âœA new alicorn!â a unicorn cried.

âœWith all the rest of the alicorns now dead, we have a new one! Commander Night Watch has become an alicorn!â another unicorn shouted.

âœDoesnât matter. This world is dead. Magic is dying. There is no sun. There is no moon. What little bit of life is left is dying off. The plants have long since vanished and without the magic of Nightmare Moon, the mushroom forests and the magical plants of the night will die. Weâll have nothing to eat. Weâre doomed,â a pegasus said.

âœI will preserve us,â Night Watch said as his hooves touched the ground. âœWe will find a way to continue. There is so much more that I understand now.â

Bucky felt a stabbing pain in his head. He blinked. The stabbing pain came back, stronger this time, and he felt his connection to the unicorn forcibly sever. He focused his gaze upon the unicorn and saw the strange stallionâs head smash into the already blood soaked wall, and this time, his horn snapped off completely at the base.

âœNo!â Bucky cried, rising up on his hooves, knowing he could do nothing. As Bucky watched, the strange unicorn seized, shook, and then slowly died, his eyes becoming dull and vacant looking. âœLUNA!â

âœThis is most troubling,â Luna whispered.

âœIndeed,â Celestia agreed, her voice strained.

âœSo are they mirror travelers?â Bucky asked, fearful of causing injury to Celestiaâs feelings.

âœIt seems likely,â Luna admitted. âœWhich would explain a lot.â

âœSo we have an enemy that we cannot see, cannot track, and probably cannot reason with,â Celestia said, summing up the situation.

âœIf we can capture a few more, I might be able to attune the Shadow Gate to be able to work with their minds. I do not know if I could go into their minds, but my lunar pegasi might,â Luna suggested.

âœI have my doubts, my Mistress,â Bucky interjected.

âœDo explain,â Luna commanded.

âœIt stands to reason that they specialised in fighting against you. They killed the alicorn that was their Master of Dreams. Even if you do find a way into their heads somehow, they will counteract it. They survived a war with you,â Bucky explained.

âœThis is worrisome,â Celestia stated. âœBuckminster brings up a valid point.â

âœI do believe that the unicorn, whomever he was, allowed me to see this one memory as a warning,â Bucky said, expressing the thought that came creeping into his mind. âœAnd this goes without saying. If they killed Selene, the Luna of that world, I suspect that they might have the means to kill either one of you, immortal or not.â

âœI cannot even begin to figure out how they might have done that,â Celestia said, her face contorting with fear and worry. âœLuna and I are linked to primordial elementsâ and celestial bodiesâ so long as those elements exist, so long as those celestial bodies exist, we are immortal.â

âœIf you donât mind me asking, what is your connection?â Bucky inquired.

âœLightâ fire. So long as light exists, so long as there is fire in the world, I will be reborn like a phoenix,â Celestia answered.

âœAnd Luna is the dark? Well, their world had gone dark, Selene should have survived,â Bucky said, now looking thoughtful and he turned his eye to Luna. âœI am not a terribly bright unicorn. I donât know what to say or do.â

âœI canât exist without Luna, and she cannot exist without me,â Celestia said.

âœWe define one another,â Luna added.

âœAlthough one of us did exist for a time without the other,â Celestia stated.

âœSister! Speak not of such things,â Luna warned.

âœWhat? He can know our secrets,â Celestia said.

âœSecrets?â Bucky asked.

âœBuckminster, which one of us is the older sister?â Celestia inquired, holding out a commanding hoof to silence her sister.

âœYou?â Bucky replied to Celestia in a quizzical tone.

âœThink again,â Luna whispered. âœI only call her my big sister.â

There was a flash of light from Celestiaâs horn and a scroll tube appeared upon a nearby table. Celestia levitated it over, popped off an end cap, and slid out a sheet of paper. She unrolled it silently, and then held it before Bucky so he could have a look.

âœWhose destiny mark comes first on the tree?â Celestia asked.

Bucky stared at the picture of the Tree of Harmony and then his jaw dropped.

âœIn the beginning, all was darkness. But the darkness was not aware of itself. And then, light appeared, and there was contrast. The darkness became aware,â Celestia said in a voice that was not quite like her own. Her eyes blazed with inner fire as she spoke.

âœShe has always been the brave one. The strong one. She has always loved me and done everything she could to protect me,â Luna said, looking at her sister.

âœDoes Twilight know?â Bucky asked.

Both sisters nodded.

âœBack to the subject at hoof. What do we do about the strange unicorns visiting our world?â

Chapter 244

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Bucky sighed and waited for his family to gather around. He was tired, it had been a long night, and more than anything, he wanted to tell his family about the news and then go to bed. He rubbed his face with his right fetlock and settled back into his chair as more and more ponies and a very large griffon packed into the living room.

Looking around, he saw that everypony was here and he cleared his throat to get their attention. âœSome news. Well, several bits of news. First off, I am sending the guards away. Weâve settled in and had our private time. So expect visitors. The guards are clearing out before noon today and it will be made known in Ponyville that we are accepting visitors but we donât wish to be mobbed. So I donât know what is going to happen,â Bucky announced.

âœOoh strangersââ Loch Skimmer murmured.

âœHush Loch, before I have to find something else for you to do with those lips of yours,â Rising Star said amorously as he leaned in and kissed her.

Waiting, Bucky laughed quietly as he paused for the pair to finish.

âœSecond order of business. Celestia and Luna want Twilight Sparkle and I to head to Griffonholm to deal with a diplomatic crisis. I will be leaving before the month is out,â Bucky stated.

âœOh youâre not going alone!â Bon Bon said. âœYouâll get in all kinds of trouble without us.â

âœWe need to stay here. School is starting. Foals need to stay so they can go to school. Plus, we have doctors visits and all kinds of other things for those of us who are pregnant,â Derpy said.

âœSentinel will be going with me. I need my squire,â Bucky said to Derpy in a gentle voice.

âœNo! Sentinel is staying here to go to schoolâ heâs a smart colt with a future as a writer,â Derpy argued.

âœLet me put this another way. Princess Luna wants Sentinel to go so he can be schooled in diplomacy with hooves on experience. As my squire and as a potential knight, diplomacy will be one of his many tasks and obligations,â Bucky explained.

Scowling, Derpy folded her forelegs over her barrel and glared at Bucky, her brows furrowed. âœThen you take care of whatever you need to and you hurry home. I want my colt in school. Today he has placement testing along with Ripple and Loch Skimmer.â

âœI get to go to Griffonholm,â Sentinel said in a low voice.

âœRipple is traveling with us as well,â Bucky stated. âœLugus is coming and he is required to have his squire present. Ripple also needs to learn diplomacy.â

âœYES!â Ripple cheered, pumping her hoof into the air repeatedly.

âœA trip to Griffonholm,â Lugus said in a low voice, his beak snapping together several times as he spoke. He smoothed back his crest with his left talons and tried to not look disturbed.

âœSorry old friend. Celestia insisted on you going. She wants an example that griffons can peacefully coexist with ponies. She wants you to take Yew Wood and your foal too,â Bucky said.

âœThis is dangerous,â Lugus said.

âœI know,â Bucky agreed.

âœWait, dangerous?!â Derpy snapped.

âœGriffons are duplicitous treacherous creatures,â Lugus stated.

âœNot all of them,â Yew retorted, slapping Lugus with her wing several times as she spoke.

The big griffon cringed away from the small by comparison mare and gave her a pleading glance to make her stop. When she finally relented, he stroked her softly, and then tugged on one of her ears gently.

âœIâm going,â Lyra stated.

âœI guess this means we are taking Harper,â Bucky sighed.

âœOf course,â Bon Bon answered. âœIâm coming too. Youâ you will get into trouble and cause all sorts of bad things to happen if somepony isnât there to make you behave.â

âœYou make him behave!â Derpy commanded.

âœYou know I will,â Bon Bon said as she shot a glance at Bucky.

âœMaybe there will be a big fight and Iâll get to punch stuff again,â Ripple said excitedly.

âœRipple!â Derpy barked.

Slumping down and becoming completely submissive, Ripple dropped her gaze to the floor and looked guilty. She wiggled behind her sister Loch Skimmer and tried to hide from Derpyâs disapproving glare.

âœIf there is trouble, you kick plot and you kill stuff. No playing around Ripple. Death strikes, not crippling blows,â Sparkler commanded.

âœSparkler!â Derpy shouted angrily.

âœSorry motherâ she might be your daughter, but she is my herdmate, and I am her matriarch,â Sparkler argued.

Her mood souring completely, Derpy fell silent and looked at Ripple, who was hiding behind Loch with a pleading expression in her eyes. âœIf there is troubleâ you do whatever you have to do to come home safe and weâll sort out whatever happens after you come home.â

âœYes mother, I understand mother,â Ripple replied.

âœAnd I am not your commanding officer,â Derpy muttered.

âœIn a few days, I will be heading to Saddle Arabia, far to the south. I will be returning home by train. I will be guarding that train, along with a whole bunch of Myrmidons and Twilight Sparkle. Lugus, you have been requested to come along. No squires. Not for this. We are expecting heavy resistance along the trip. Witching Hour and Tiddlywinks will be here to keep all of you safe. If something happens, YOU LISTEN TO THEM OR SO HELP MEâ look, just listen to them if there is a crisis or something happens. Respect my wishes,â Bucky commanded. âœRising, if something happens, if being the operative word here, if there is trouble, you burn down anything that threatens our family. That goes for you as well Sparky. Petrify anything that threatens you. And when I am gone in Griffonholm, you will be responsible for their protection then as well.â

âœI understand father,â Rising Star acknowledged, bowing his head slightly.

âœIf need be I can summon my protectors,â Dinky offered. âœI donât want to hurt anypony, but I donât want my family hurt either. If something happensâ bees.â

âœWhat abou-â

âœRipple,â Bucky interrupted. âœIt goes without saying. You do that hoof-fu thing that you do.â

âœYes! Permission to punch something so hard it explodes,â Ripple cheered, looking nervously at Derpy as she did so.

âœI feel inadequate,â Loch Skimmer whined.

âœWhy sis?â Ripple inquired.

âœWell, Rising is a living bomb, Sparkler is an unstoppable stone statue, my sister can punch things and make them explodeâ and Iâm just kinda here. Useless. I donât think I can fight. I feel like we are supposed to be the protectors of this family. Bucky depends on the three of you to keep his foals safe and his wives safe, and Iâm just sorta useless,â Loch explained.

âœYou are not useless! You are my sidekick!â Berry Punch said. âœMy pervert pupilâ but more than that, my daughter. You keep Sparkler and Rising Star sane, and you keep your sister leveled off. Say you are useless again and I will slap you so hard itâll make your head spin.â

Loch offered up a half smile and sniffled a bit.

âœYou help to keep my boners warm,â Rising Star whispered into Lochâs ear, making the filly giggle uncontrollably. He then wrapped a foreleg around her and hugged her.

After discovering he could not sleep, Bucky prowled the property. There was a lot to do today. On the side of the school away from the house, just inside the treeline, there was a massive half buried lump of granite that could be shaped into a nice tower for Witching Hour and Tiddlywinks.

Above him, a hot air balloon towed by a pegasus was being pulled along, and a pony waved from the basket of the hot air balloon. Bucky lifted his stump and waved back.

The guards were packing up and getting ready to go. The engineers building the forge were already hard at work for the day. A carriage house was also planned for construction, but the location was not yet determined. Today, a massive supply of sand was to be delivered for Bucky. Fine sand of the highest quality, and kept in large storage containers. Also on todayâs list of things to was to survey a site to build homes for the earth pony groundskeepers and future servants.

Bucky tried to keep his mind focused on what needed to be done, and not upon the unicorn that had died last night. The strange mystery that the unicorn represented was perplexing to Bucky. There was trouble brewing, and Bucky wasnât sure what to do.

As he hobbled along, he saw Witching Hour and Tiddlywinks already hard at work for the day, covering everything in protective spells. They seemed rather sedate and relaxed all things considered, and Bucky was glad that they had found some peace.

The earth ponies he had hired were hard at work already, and he noticed that they seemed rather happy. They were still thin looking, and Bucky worried about them a great deal. A nurse was coming out today to check their hooves since they had been living in a camp.

Finally, he found who he was looking for. âœCome PiÃa, time for a magic lesson. Letâs see if we can get something to happen today.â

Berry Punch pulled Thistle closer and planted a few kisses along her neck, making Thistle giggle softly while squirming to break free.

âœDonât get me worked up Berry,â Thistle tittered.

âœBut your talent is sex appeal. Your cutie mark gives me ideas,â Berry whispered. âœAnd these pregnancy hormones just make me want to hug and squeeze everypony I love. And shag them.â

âœMy back hurts,â Thistle explained.

Berry pulled away, looking berry serious. âœNeed some time in the lake? Or a hot soak in the tub? Anything I can do?â

âœA backrub might be nice,â Thistle said in a quiet voice.

âœOkay, but you have to make those cute little squeaks that you make,â Berry insisted.

âœDeal.â

Rarity moved through the crowd carefully, wearing protective booties over her immaculate hooves. She was taking no chances. There was a positively dreadful disease going around. The mid morning sun was almost unseasonably warm today, and she could feel her pores threatening to make her glisten alluringly as she trotted.

As she moved, she thought about Coco, who was at the depot, taking inventory of all the supplies to distribute. It was dreadfully warm Rarity realised as she thought about her dear friend. Cocoâs attention to detail was already indispensable and and Rarity wondered how she had ever done this job for so long without her.

Arriving at the processing office, Rarity wiped off her boots and stepped inside.

Loose Leaf, the incredibly organised earth pony, watched Rarity as she entered, and waited for Rarity to catch her breath. Rarity looked flustered about something today, and Loose Leaf was a little worried about the news she had to give Rarity.

âœLoose Leaf, how are you this day?â Rarity said in a cultured voice.

âœI am doing well,â Loose Leaf replied.

âœYou look worried, dear,â Rarity said.

âœWe have a situation,â Loose Leaf reported, deciding not to waste any further time.

âœWe do?â Rarity asked, her voice vaguely pouty and filled with concern.

âœWe have a camp resident that just arrived early this morning from the Unicorn Range. I donât know what to do with her. It would be a bad idea to simply leave her in a camp,â Loose Leaf responded.

âœWhy?â Rarity inquired.

âœSheâ she is deaf and dumb. I donât know if there is a kinder way of saying it, forgive me if my words are heartless or harsh,â Loose Leaf answered in a hesitant voice.

âœOh my,â Rarity gasped. âœWith all of the trouble going on, she wouldnât be able to hear any sort of alarm or warning. She wouldnât be able to cry for help. Ohâ this is just dreadful.â Rarity flounced into a chair with a huff and fanned herself with a booted hoof.

âœThere is one more problem with her. It has already been causing some minor trouble,â Loose Leaf mentioned, worried about Rarityâs mercurial moods.

âœAnd that is?â Rarity questioned.

âœSheâs a donkey,â Loose Leaf replied.

âœOh. I thought it was a problem. It is like ponies being afraid of zebras or llamas. How gaucheâ well, that complicates things,â Rarity fumed as she continued to fan herself.

âœAny ideas where we can keep her safe?â Loose Leaf inquired.

âœHmm, give me a moment,â Rarity hummed.

Loose Leaf turned away from Rarity and returned to reading her well written and thoroughly detailed report written out for Twilight Sparkle. Hoof rot, fleas, lice, and a terrible infestation of an extremely hardy species of pubic lice were becoming too common in the camps. Incoming refugees were dwindling. New arrivals would be turned away soon, sent off to other places, like Vanhoover. Winter in Vanhoover was excruciatingly cold however.

âœI am having a marvelous idea,â Rarity said. âœMyâ ratherâ uncouthâ friend Barley could probably use some help for his gardens. It is a busy time of the year. Certainly she could pull a cart or help out in the garden, even without hearing or speech.â

Looking thoughtful, Loose Leaf nodded. âœThat is a good idea.â

Chapter 245

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Lugus came in fast and hard, holding a long wooden pole. Ripple blocked each of his attacks, his swings, his thrusts, and one particularly vicious overhead chop. Her hooves ached from the impacts, but her hooves were growing tougher and tougher each day. For her hooves to become hardened, they had to absorb heavy painful blows and heal.

She was now able to block things that would have made her shriek with pain a month ago.

Lugus stayed airborne, hovering just above the ground, and Ripple stayed on the ground, obeying Lugusâs rules. Aerial combat would come later. The filly and the griffon moved with perfect grace, it was almost as if they were dancing.

However, the large lump on Rippleâs front leg and the enormous bruise over her rear hip was evidence that this was not a dance. When Lugus had the chance, he struck and he struck hard. Ripple was getting better and better, offering fewer and fewer chances for Lugus to land a blow. Occasionally, she managed to tag him. Lugus had his own collections of bruises, lumps, and abrasions.

With each blow, with each strike, Ripple screamed and cried out. It kept her breathing, as each scream required a deep breath. It manifested her rage. It also kept her adrenaline flowing. She was a fierce deadly creature now, already approaching peak physical condition for her age, and she was young. She had her whole long life to perfect her art.

Lugus suddenly let go of a flurry of attacks, not hard, but fast, coming in an endless stream. Ripple blocked, kicked away, or evaded most, but a few slipped in and the wooden pole caught her sharply on the right shoulder, making her cry out in pain rather than fury or anger.

The violence suddenly stopped and Lugus tossed the pole away. He landed, folded his wings, and then looked patiently at Ripple.

âœWhat did you do wrong?â Lugus inquired.

âœI wasâ tooâ confidentââ Ripple gasped as she collapsed into grass, panting with pain and squeezing her eyes shut as she rubbed her shoulder.

âœYes,â Lugus agreed.

âœIâ I shouldâ should haveâ I should have eased off. Not retreated, but backed off and gained some distance when the fast quick assaults began,â Ripple admitted, her eyes squeezed shut and tears slipping from the corners as she spoke. She tried to flex and rotate her shoulder, cried out wordlessly, and stopped mid motion. She went limp in the grass and laid still.

âœYou okay?â Lugus asked.

âœIt hurtsâ but it hurts more that I was stupid. I was feeling cocky,â Ripple confessed. âœYou are too big to move as fast as you do.â

Letting out a squawk, Lugus sat down in the grass and then made a laughing sound deep in his throat. He reached up and began to rub a large lump on his sternum, his crest high, and his tail swishing back and forth slowly.

âœYou are the most extraordinary warrior I have ever seen,â Lugus admitted. âœTo have so much potential at such a young age. One day not long from now, we will be evenly matched you and I. Already, you put me on the defensive far too much. In my homeland, such an admission from a warrior like myself, a knight, would be shameful. I would likely be punished. Maybe even put to death for dishonouring myself. But I am proud to have you as my squire.â

âœThanks,â Ripple responded, looking up at the big griffon and smiling.

PiÃa wasnât sure what she was feeling, but she was feeling something. Her hooves tingled and she could smell ozone in the air, just like she could smell it when unicorns were casting a spell. She felt squirmy and itchy all over. Her knee had a pinchy feeling.

Beside her, Bucky had his eye closed and he sat on his haunches, balanced and calm. He had not slept, but was surprisingly well focused for having been awake all of the day before, up all night, and now part of today. He felt lucid. He felt collected. He felt strangely serene and realised that he loved this farmhouse and the surrounding land.

The calm was completely disrupted with PiÃaâs right front hoof burst into flames.

PiÃa shrieked right away as her pelt singed and her skin began to blister. Bucky responded immediately upon opening his eye, sucking away the flame and the heat, and replacing it with a soothing cooling sensation. He lifted PiÃa in his magic and looked at her leg. The burn was superficial and she was missing a little hair.

âœYou okay PiÃa?â Bucky asked.

âœYeahâ I think so. Scared me more than anything,â PiÃa replied. âœIt was all hot and then I smelled burning hair. My knee had a pinchy feeling.â

âœHmm,â Bucky hummed, taking a mental note. âœGo inside PiÃa. Tell somepony what happened. And theyâll slather some salve all over it and youâll feel better in no time.â

âœI made magic happen again,â PiÃa said.

âœYes you did. But you donât seem to be able to cast spells at a distance. I am guessing that the magic manifests at your hoof and goes no further, meaning everything you cast will have to be touch based magic. Unicorns have spells that only work with an actual horn touch. I will have to ask Twilight for a book if she has one. Certain spells will be very dangerous for you because of proximity. If you can learn to control fire though, it might have some uses. You would be able to light candles or possibly be able to heat things by touching them with your hoof,â Bucky explained.

âœThat would be awesome. Iâd love to do that,â PiÃa said as she was set down in the grass.

âœGood girl. Now go inside and get that looked at,â Bucky said, gently patting her on her backside to send her on her way.

âœI wanted to give Sparky a proper marriage ceremony when we came home,â Derpy said glumly to her fellow-wives in the kitchen. âœBut everything is all messed up. We came home and our home is all strange and weird now. I wanted to have a big party of some sort where we could all celebrate our marriage together. Give Sparky and her herd a proper ceremony, and a chance for all us to celebrate our love.â

âœKeg Smasher did a fine job of bringing us together,â Bon Bon said as she sat at the table drinking coffee. She first took a sip, then she took a swallow, and finding that it had cooled just enough to do so, she took a long pull from her cup.

âœParties weird me out,â Lyra whimpered. âœI am still having nightmares about the coronation. I canât believe I let you all talk me into going into a room packed with so many ponies. I kinda wish that Bucky would have let me tag along on his adventure.â

Stirring her coffee with a spoon, Berry smiled. âœI think Sparky and her herd are happy.â

âœIf we wanted to help them celebrate, all we would need to do is give Loch Skimmer a big tub of frosting and have Berry whisper a few ideas into her head,â Bon Bon said in a low voice, a broad smile on her face.

âœI got burned.â

Every mare in the room froze, and motherly instinct kicked in instantaneously. Every head turned. There were five distinct sharp intakes of breath. Thistle let out a low moan of concern.

âœI made magic with my hoofy and it caught on fire. Daddy put me out. Iâm missing some hair and it blistered,â PiÃa explained.

Berry slid from her chair and went over to PiÃa, looking at her leg. âœWeâll put some burn ointment on this and itâll be okay,â Berry cooed soothingly.

Rolling her eyes, PiÃa snorted. âœDonât treat me like I am a foal.â

âœIâm treating you like you are my foal. Because you are. Bratty little sister or not, you are my foal. And I will worry about you if I feel like it,â Berry groused.

Leaning forward, PiÃa kissed Berry on the snoot. âœThanksââ

âœDonât mention it,â Berry replied.

Seeing Cheerilee again made Bucky feel rather nostalgic for the time when he was just falling in love with the two mares who had started all of this. Her saddlebags were full and she trotted at a brisk pace, moving with the easy grace that all earth ponies seemed to posses when walking down dirt roads, each step causing a puff of dust to ripple outwards from her hoof.

He realised he could only see her in detail when she was close. He really needed to start wearing his dark smoked glass goggles in the daylight, but he couldnât figure out where he had placed them. He had tried conjuring them up, but they were nowhere to be found. Sentinel was missing his pair as well.

âœHello Bucky,â Cheerilee said. âœOr should I call you something else now?â

âœBucky is fine,â Bucky replied. He went still as Cheerilee drew close.

He could feel her breathing on him as she drew near, looking at his emerald eye and his horn. He could hear the sharp inhales of shock as she studied him. He heard her make a sad sound in the back of her throat, a low whimpering sound.

âœThey did a number on you,â Cheerilee whispered. âœIâm so sorry.â

âœThank you,â Bucky said graciously.

âœReady to be an educator?â Cheerilee inquired.

âœVery much so. At least foals donât try to devour you alive,â Bucky replied. He recoiled, regretting every word he had just said when he saw Cheerileeâs look of disgust and horror.

âœIâ I suppose black humour is how you deal with it,â Cheerilee squeaked.

Slumping, Bucky did not know how to respond.

âœYou did a brave thing. You did a good thing. Iâm sorry you had to suffer,â Cheerilee said.

âœI have my reward,â Bucky said, hoping to comfort the stricken looking mare.

âœBeing a prince?â Cheerilee asked.

âœNo,â Bucky chuckled. âœMy wives. My foals. Theyâre all I want.â

Reaching out, Cheerilee gently stroked the withered side of Buckyâs face. She ran her fetlock over the spiderweb of scars tenderly. âœI wish I knew what to say about that. I am glad they make you happy. I seem to be short on clever phrases and pithy sayings lately.â

âœActually, when you get done testing, I want to talk to you about my plans. How would you feel about teaching here? At my school?â Bucky questioned.

âœI know nothing of magic,â Cheerilee answered.

âœNo. I plan to teach all kinds of ponies here. Together. Little unicorns working side by side with earth pony alchemists and clever pegasus researchers. Or anything really. I want them all to work together. As a group. Trusting one another. I want earth ponies and pegasi to be part of the learning process for unicorns learning magic. I want troubled unicorns to make friendsâ and learn the magic of friendship. I have plans,â Bucky explained.

âœWeâll talk later,â Cheerilee replied. âœBut yesâ I would be willing to work here doing something like this,â she offered.

âœOhâ Cheerileeâ watch out for Loch Skimmer. Sheâs a good fillyâ but she can be a littleâ blunt,â Bucky warned.

âœIâll keep that in mind but I have been teaching for a long time. I doubt she could say anything that I havenât heard before,â Cheerilee replied, smiling brightly as she did so.

âœI hope they do well,â Bucky said as Cheerilee headed off to the house. Once she was a safe distance away, Bucky grinned. âœShe doesnât stand a chance with Loch.â

Bucky was watching the sand being unloaded from fleet of skywagons when a worker pointed out that he had two visitors coming over to see him. He stood up, turned, sat back down, and waited for his visitors to get closer so he could see who they were.

One was a white ponyâ and the other was a brown grey looking pony.

When they drew closer, he squinted and stared. One pony had incredibly long ears.

âœPrince Buckminsterâ we havenât been formally introduced. I am Rarity, one of Twilightâs friends, and I am here on a mission of mercy.â

âœJust Bucky will do,â Bucky replied.

âœBucky?â Rarity said, her mouth contorting into a distasteful moue. âœOh my goodnessâ oh dearâ you poor thingâ youâve beenâ beenââ

Hearing Rarity fall silent, Bucky took a deep breath. âœYes. I know. My face. My horn. My everything,â he said, holding up his stump.

âœPerhaps a clever application of makeup would help you recover yourâ rugged good looks,â Rarity suggested. The tacky looking jewelry around his neck certainly didnât help and she considered suggesting that he take it off. Just as she was about to say soâ

âœWhat brings you here?â Bucky asked, feeling mildly irritated.

âœOhâ oh of course. Oh dear, it slipped my mind. I have with me a donkey. She is young. I am not sure how young. I donât know what age she is to be honest. She is deaf and mute. I thought she would be safer out here away from the camps and the city of Ponyville. She couldnât hear alarms or cry for help if something happened. Sheâs defenseless,â Rarity explained.

âœSo you want me to look after her and let her stay here as hired help?â Bucky asked.

âœOhâ yesâ that is exactly what I was hopingâ if I might trouble you, it is quite a long walk to make it out here and I am in desperate need of visiting the powder room,â Rarity demurely stated.

âœBe my guest. Just walk right in. Somepony in the house will show you,â Bucky offered.

âœOh what a perfect gentlestallion you are!â Rarity cried as she trotted away.

Bucky watched the donkey staring at Rarity as the white unicorn mare trotted off. He saw the donkey roll her eyes and heard her snort. Reaching out, he gently prodded her, making her turn to look at him.

âœCan you understand me?â Bucky inquired, moving his lips slowly.

The donkey stared at him for a moment, her expression quizzical. After several moments of consideration, she nodded slowly.

âœReading lips?â

Again, she nodded.

âœI am guessing that the well meaning unicorn named Rarity treated you like you were stupid instead of just being deaf and dumb?â

The donkey nodded enthusiastically.

âœShe meant well.â

Shrugging, the donkey snorted.

âœCan you pull a cart? Are you good at manual labour?â

The donkey shook her head no. She lifted a hoof to her mouth, made a faint coughing sound, pressed the hoof to her throat, and then flung out her leg and shook it. She then pointed to her other foreleg and prodded the muscle.

âœWhen you got sick it messed up your body and left you weak?â

The donkey froze for a moment, looking very surprised. She blinked a few times, and then her eyes narrowed at Bucky. She leaned her head forward, nearly touching his snoot with her own. She snorted.

âœOne of my best friends is mute. We had long conversations.â

The donkey jerked her head back, her eyes going wide again. She cocked her head to one side and then prodded Bucky with a hoof.

âœYouâre not that different from an earth pony.â

The donkeyâs nostrils flared for a moment. An intense look blazed in her eyes. And then, she slowly smiled.

âœSo you canât work in the garden much. At least not heavy labour. You seem smart. Can you read? Write?â

The donkey nodded frantically and looked at Bucky with pleading eyes.

âœYou probably really want to communicate. Do come up to the house with me. I bet youâre hungry. You look thin. My instincts tell me you are a foal still, no matter how you might protest. You seem more adult because you are quiet and serious and subdued.â

The donkey looked shocked and peered at Bucky once again with narrowed eyes. Reaching out, she booped him on the snoot.

âœOkay, youâve made your point. You can be playful. No need to be sarcastic about it.â

The donkeyâs jaw dropped open and her ears drooped forwards as she continued to stare at Bucky in disbelief.

Chapter 246

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Much to Buckyâs relief, Rarity had pressing business elsewhere and departed quickly, saying âœta taâ and telling him that a finely tailored suit would do a great deal to ease the âœdistracting imperfections and unsightly blemishes upon his slender masculine form.â

Bucky understood that Rarity was a good pony, but he found her mannerisms rather irritating, and he figured that it would be better to take Rarity in small doses. Having her around, even for a short time, made him feel all the more grateful for his own wives.

The donkey was scarfing down leftovers as fast as Bon Bon could serve them, and showed no signs of slowing. The poor thing was clearly starved, and Bucky felt genuinely bad for her. She had no manipulation shoes it seemed. She was light grey, dappled with golden brown spots, and her muzzle was white. Her mane was black and her tail seemed exceptionally long by any standard, with a thick tuft of hair at the end. Her tail was currently coiled around the chair leg and Bucky wondered how prehensile it was.

âœYou poor thing,â Bon Bon said as she set down bowl of reheated cornmeal mush.

âœShe canât hear you Bonnie,â Lyra quipped.

âœI donât care, that was more for my benefit,â Bon Bon muttered.

âœIs it just me or is Rarity a bit snooty?â Lyra inquired. âœI mean, I kinda know her just a little bit. Weâve been to the spa together and weâve bumped into one another many times now, and I am actually a seething caldera of rage right now that is struggling to hold back crackling electric death because of her repeated âœsuggestionsâ on how our husband could improve his appearance and I think my neurosis is getting the best of me.â

Bon Bon hurried away from the table and immediately began to try and soothe Lyraâs frazzled nerves, stroking her and whispering softly into her ear.

Sitting quietly, Bucky levitated a pencil and some paper over to the table and set them down, having them ready for when his guest needed them. He levitated the dirty dishes back to the sink, washed them, dried them, and placed them in the cupboard. There were spells that simplified the process, but low output telekinesis used far less mana calories.

Words were his friend. Numbers not so much. Sentinel struggled with the math on the test he was taking. He felt sweaty and nervous. He hated tests. Too much pressure. He knew he had done well on the writing part and the reading part. He wasnât sure about the history part. There was a lot of questions he couldnât answer. He had been able to name all of the royalty present in Equestria though.

Ripple, sitting beside Sentinel, had a different problem. She had some trouble with words. She could read well enough, and understand what she had read, but writing was difficult. Finding the right words was a tricky business. Math on the other hoof was stunningly easy. One pile of dead bodies when added to another pile of corpses, made for a much larger pile of corpses. All of her math questions that required to her write them into word problems turned into body counts, shockingly well written body counts. Subtraction problems usually involved ripping limbs or heads from bodies and how many limbs were still attached to the body. After much internal debate, the scrotum counted as the mathematical equivalent of two, because there were two testicles that could be ripped free, thereby increasing the number of parts that could be torn from a body, including legs, wings, a head, a tail, ears, four eyelids, a penis, etcetera. Ripple worked with a manic glee, tearing through her math section with ease.

Loch Skimmer approached her work carefully and methodically. Her words were carefully chosen, but simple and plain. She understood what she read, and her written summaries were short, brief, and the central points were focused upon. Her math portions were a bit tricky, but she did the best she could. She felt that she did exceptionally well, she was able to answer every question on the test, but she wasnât sure if she had provided enough information. This was stuff that Sparkler and Rising Star had pounded into her head when they taught school.

Derpy paced back and forth in the dining room, glowering at her foals, just waiting for one of them to slack off even just a little bit. She walked silently, treading carefully upon the hardwood floor, her hooves making no sound. Her feathers were ruffled and her ears were perked forward.

Picking up the sheet of paper, Bucky squinted in the bright light of the kitchen and focused on the fine well written print. âœMy name is Bittersweet. I am one decade and three summers old. I am not stupid. I hate ponies that seem to think that screaming will somehow make me hear them. It only makes their lips harder to read. I do not know where my mother is, but I am worried and scared for her. I am keenly observant with my eyes. My mother and I used to work for a wealthy family of pegasi who worked in the entertainment industry in Las Pegasus. I am an experienced nanny but I cannot provide references. I can talk with my ears,â Bucky read out loud.

He paused, and his muzzle scrunched. He peered at Bittersweet, trying to understand what he had just read. âœYou can talk with your ears?â

Bittersweet let out a sigh, hunched over a sheet of paper, and began to scribble out words with the pencil in her lips. She wrote slowly and carefully, her eyes occasionally flashing up at Bucky and her ears moving the entire time she wrote. Finally, she finished and lifted her head.

Floating the paper over, Bucky had a look. âœEar language. A movement of the ears that corresponds to each letter of the alphabet, and specific gestures for common words. If you let me stay, I can teach you. I will teach your foals. Just please donât make me stay outside. I am scared of the dark. I will do anything my dignity allows if you will keep me as a servant,â Bucky read, struggling to focus upon the paper.

He looked at Bittersweet, who was looking at him pleadingly. âœEar language. Something donkey in origin?â

The donkey nodded slowly and her ears twitched.

âœIâm guessing it was meant as a way for servants to talk to one another without being heard by your masters. Being seen and not heard is what makes for a good servant,â Bucky said, moving his lips carefully.

Nodding enthusiastically, Bittersweet leaned forwards.

âœI must admit, I have concerns about a deaf-mute nanny, but I believe you will be extra attentive with your eyes. Pegasi are persnickety about who they let watch their young, and I have no reason to think you lied. So you must be a good nanny. You are intelligent, you are bright, and letâs be honest, you are in a bad spot. So letâs get a few things clear. You are now my nanny. You will live in this house, you will be given a room, you will be fed, and you will be looked after. You will be paid a fair wage. There are currently two small foals. One is Harper, the other is Peekaboo. There is about to be a lot of foals, so we could use the help. There is going to be two sets of twins soon, and one more foal is going to be here by winter,â Bucky explained.

Bittersweetâs eyes went wide. She gaped at Bucky.

âœIn over your head?â Bucky asked, a soft chuckle escaping with his words.

Nodding, Bittersweet slowly closed her mouth.

âœAnd I will not require you to go outside at night or be in the dark. Nothing should live in fear,â Bucky said in a gentle voice that Bittersweet could not hear, but he could see the relief in her eyes.

As Bucky watched, tears of gratitude slowly made their way down the donkeyâs cheeks.

Sitting on the porch, Bucky sipped his gin and lemonade. The late afternoon sun was away from the the front of the house, and the porch was gloriously shady and cool. A nurse named Redheart was looking over his earth pony groundskeepers and Bittersweet, his donkey nanny, making sure they were in good health and free of hoof rot.

In the distance, beyond the school, there was a new tower for Witching Hour and Tiddlywinks. It wasnât too tall, only around eighty feet. It was fairly broad, and the top was onion shaped. Or maybe turnip shaped. It was a massive bulb on top of a flowing column of granite. It needed windows and a door still. Bucky planned to work on making glass later.

Beside him on the porch, sitting on a swing, Sparkler sipped her own drink and relaxed. Her Shivers seemed mild today, or so Bucky noticed, and he felt some relief for her.

âœYou are getting better at stone shaping,â Bucky said, trying to engage Sparkler in some kind of conversation.

âœI need practice. One day, I might not need you to supercharge me to shape big things like towers,â Sparkler said. âœToday, when I touched the granite, I felt something weird in my head. I dunno what it was, but I felt at peace.â

âœI feel like that sometimes when I am using my magic at an extraordinary level. I can just tune everything out and my mind goes blank, and all of my worries slip away. There is just magic and nothing else,â Bucky replied to Sparkler.

âœYeahâ I think I am falling in love with my magic. I have so much of it now. My telekinesis is stronger now, so much stronger now that I am a type three. I can do things now that were impossible before. I am starting to understand some of those complex things in the spellbooks you want me to read. When are you going to teach Rising, Dinky, and I how to wink?â Sparkler said, ending her words with a question.

âœAs soon as I think you are ready. Winking is dangerous. You need a fine level of focus and concentration so you donât wink yourself into a wall or down underground,â Bucky answered.

âœYeahâ my focus isnât the best yet to be totally honest. And Rising Star still gets distracted. Dinky howeverââ Sparkler murmured.

âœDinky shows a scary level of control already for a foal her age,â Bucky finished.

âœFather, she can lift my whole herd with her magic,â Sparkler announced.

âœReally?â Bucky asked.

âœTruly,â Sparkler replied.

âœThat is impressive,â Bucky admitted.

Looking out over the property, Sparkler took a long drink of gin and lemonade and then turned and looked at her father. âœWeâre building a village.â

âœI suppose we are. All of the teachers will need houses or towers nearby. The servants all need a place to live. I am thinking that this farm will become its own community in time,â Bucky responded.

âœHow did your talk with Cheerilee go?â Sparkler asked.

âœShe couldnât stayâ testing ran a bit longer than she expected and she had to go. We only talked briefly and she said she is all for the merger of the schools. Her concern is that the school is outside of town, rather than in the inside of town, so students may have trouble getting here. Weâll have to set up a wagon service to cart in foals that are too far away to walk here within a reasonable amount of time,â Bucky answered.

Sparkler took a long swallow of her drink, grimaced, it was more gin than lemonade, and then she pulled an ice cube into her mouth to crunch on using her tongue.

âœI wonder how they did on their placement tests,â Bucky muttered.

âœI am worried too. If Loch or Ripple let me down, I am so going to work them over. I will Buck Sergeant Sparkler both of them to death if they botched this,â Sparkler said between crunches.

âœSentinel will punish himself and nothing I could do would be worse than what he will do to himself,â Bucky grumbled. âœHeâs such a stuffy little guy.â

âœHey, you donât get to complain about Sentinel being stuffy,â Sparkler snarked.

âœHeh, I suppose you are right. Iâm one to talk, right? At least I have a long history of mischief to show that I am not a total loss,â Bucky said, smiling rakishly as he spoke.

âœYou probably played those pranks because you were so repressed. Imagine if Sentinel started pranking us,â Sparkler muttered.

âœSheesh, Sparky, donât talk like that, I felt shivers up and down my spine and got a tingly feeling in my dock,â Bucky said as he shuddered.

Chapter 247

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âœIs it just me or has Ripple really filled out and started looking hawt?â Sparkler asked Loch Skimmer, who was sitting beside her. She felt a spike of attraction. Loch was preening her wing.

âœUgh, I wouldnât knowââ Loch Skimmer retorted as she lifted her head. âœSheâs my baby sister you perv!â

âœShe used to look like a foal. She was so smallâ so skinnyâ Her legs got all long. Sheâs covered in muscle. Sheâs almost as big as you are now. What a difference a little bit of time, food, and love has made,â Sparkler said, her eyes narrowed and lust filled. âœAt some point recently, my brain stopped saying âœfoalâ when I looked at her.â

âœEeeew grossâ stopâ thatâs my sister!â Loch cried.

âœJust saying, you have a hawt sister,â Sparkler teased.

âœMy baby sister isnât hawt! Stop saying that! New subject!â Loch protested.

âœWhen is your birthday?â Sparkler asked.

Taken aback by the sudden question, Loch Skimmer panicked for a moment. âœI donât know!â

âœThatâs awful,â Sparkler said.

âœWe just go by how many summers weâve seen,â Loch muttered. âœRipple is supposed to be treated like a foalââ

âœRipple stopped looking and behaving like a foal. You do know that she kinda sorta slipped Rising Star the tongue, right? They were kissing so innocently and she licked his lips. And then he freaked out and she freaked out and-â

âœOH GROSS STOP STOP STOP!â Loch Skimmer shouted as she tackled Sparkler and knocked her off of the bed. She pinned Sparkler to the ground, sat on her head, mindful of Sparklerâs horn, and held Sparkler down. âœIâll fart on your noggin,â Loch warned.

âœMurphulphlurb!â Sparkler murphulphlurbed, pinned under Loch Skimmerâs loaded plot.

Barley settled into his chair by the fireplace, curled up as much as his rickety old spine would allow, and then rested his head upon the arm of the chair. He was tired and it had been a very long day. He saw Lyra bringing him a cup of tea and he managed to offer a thankful grunt when she set the cup down upon the ornate wooden table that stood next to his chair.

He watched her sit and settle upon the floor with Harper, Peekaboo, and the new donkey nanny that was named Bittersweet.

Barley liked Bittersweet. She didnât take no guff from nopony.

There had apparently been quite a scare earlier when Bittersweet had seen Lugus and then proceeded to freak right the feck out. Donksylvania had been completely overrun by griffons, and donkeys had lived in mortal fear of griffons ever since.

Barley liked Lugus. He liked Lugus even more now that he had heard that Lugus had patiently stood there with a deaf-mute donkey kicking the stuffing out of him and doing nothing to defend himself. Lyra finally pulled Bittersweet off of him and got her calmed down.

Lugus had no lips and this made it extremely difficult to communicate with Bittersweet. Once Bittersweet had realised that Lugus posed no threat, she had calmed a bit, but was still very afraid of the large griffon. Lugus, knowing that actions spoke louder than words, gently pushed Peekaboo over to Bittersweet and then had walked away, leaving his foal with the donkey.

And now, Bittersweet was on the living room floor trying to make sense of this weird tribe of ponies and one griffon she had found herself living with, and Lyra was still trying to soothe her frazzled nerves.

Derpy pulled the blankets over Buckyâs sleeping body and was silently grateful that he was finally asleep. He had been awake for far too long and had done far too much. He reeked of gin, or what Barley called âœheroâs burden.â Barley assured her that heroes never slept well and the only happiness they ever had was what others gave them.

Heroes sacrifice their own happiness and peace oâ mind so the rest oâ us can be happy and have peace oâ mind, Barley had told her in his soft lilting voice.

She felt troubled, because Bucky seemed so happy being homeâ the nightmare was over. He could finally rest. The long sleepless spell troubled her. She paced beside the bed, torn between the need to crawl into the bed and guard his body or the desire she had to go upstairs and spend some time with Dinky and PiÃa before they went to sleep.

âœIâll watch him.â

Turning, Derpy looked at Thistle.

âœIâm tired. My back hurts. Iâve been a little constipated and using the bathroom actually wore me out. Iâm going to go to bed. Iâll stay with him. I know how you feel about protecting him when he is worn down like this,â Thistle stated as she crawled into the bed.

Derpy gently helped Thistle get situated, lifted Buckyâs head carefully, and lowered it down upon Thistleâs back once the kelpie was comfortable. Buckyâs breathing immediately became more regular, and both mares sighed.

âœHe needed his kelpie pillow,â Derpy whispered as she tucked the blanket around both of the ponies she loved so dearly.

The woods were dark but Rising Star didnât find them scary. He crept carefully over logs, under low hanging branches, around brambles, and carefully avoided patches of stranglesnatch, a carnivorous vine that watered itself with fresh blood.

The Everfree had a strange beauty at night. His horn was lit, not with the usual glowing brilliance of most unicorns, but with a wisp of pink-white fire that only a pyromancer could summon.

Lots of ponies connected with the fire element, but most were not pyromancers. They were just handy with fire spells and good with making things burn. Then there were the minor pyromancers. Ponies with a strong connection to fire and could undergo minor elemental shifts.

Rising Star had learned he was a Pyromantic Unicornis Majoris. He was fire trapped in a unicornâs body. Upon first hearing it from Celestia, Rising Star was filled with fear. He was making peace with it though, and with the advice offered by the living embodiment of the sun as well as a few books, he was rapidly coming to terms with his power. He was to fire what Bucky was to cold. A special type of fire.

Minor pyromancers burned from within and quickly tired themselves out. Fire spells were the most draining. Major pyromancers with the right training could draw in ambient magical radiation from the ley lines all around them and set it ablaze, offering up a nearly infinite amount of fire with enough focus and training. It wasnât tapping into the ley line directly, which was something Celestia was capable of, but it did allow for Rising to burn things continuously and never wear out, provided that he trained himself to focus.

He cautiously peered around him, wondering if some terrible drooling monster might ambush him. Rising Star was kinda hoping that something would try something stupid. He was in quite a mood and he couldnât figure out why.

âœWhat is this? What do I see? A burning ponyâ in the Everfree.â

Rising Star froze at the voice and then turned his head.

âœA cunning look, a dangerous flash, I must ask you, donât burn me to ash.â

The zebra was watching him, waiting, a lantern filled with fireflies had been set down near her hooves. She looked rather afraid.

âœLet down your guard, just ease your mind, have no fear, I donât burn the kind,â Rising Star said in reply. He saw the zebra smile.

âœTwinkle twinkle Rising Star, how I wonder how you are?â the zebra said.

Squirming, Rising Star realised he did not know the zebraâs name. He had heard it before, but he could not remember it. He felt a pang of guilt for not knowing.

âœRelax your mind and worry no more, Zecora is the memory you are looking for,â the zebra rhymed.

âœI felt the blush of worry upon my cheeks, but then I heard the voice of kindness speak,â Rising Star offered in return.

The zebra nodded and bowed. âœI have a quest I must bespokeâ I need the leaves of the fireoak,â Zecora stated.

âœI swear upon the heart that burns within my breast, I will aid you on your questââ Rising Star replied with a sheepish smile. âœIâm really not that good at this. And I used to fancy myself as a poet tooâ how embarrassing.â

âœRising Starâ donât be absurd, I am flattered by your words,â Zecora said. She dropped her head, picked up her lantern, and headed off.

Sensing adventure, Rising Star took off after her.

The log in the fireplace popped and crackled, filling the room with a pleasant and cozy background sound. The smell of peppermint tea hung heavy in the air, and a very adult sounding silence was filled with the rustle of newspapers and cleared throats.

âœYou know, Iâve read through this three times now, and I still find myself smiling. Captain Spitfire is well spoken. She wants the Wonderbolts returned to full military status and no longer considered the entertainment division, which she feels is an embarrassment to their proud and noble history. She also wants the head of General Iron Sky on a platter. The fact that she has over a thousand nominations for the Stable of Representatives is impressive,â Berry said, breaking the silence.

There was a crackle from Barleyâs newspaper and he lowered it to look at his niece. âœAyeâ anâ Spitfire is a looker tooâ ifân Iâm gonna be voting, I have no shame in voting for some mare that is easy on my eyes,â Barley replied.

Remaining silent, Lyra wondered how Barley turned the word âœtooâ into something with two syllables. âœTay-ooâ which also rhymed with how Barley said âœno.â

âœBarley, have you no shame?â Bon Bon asked.

âœNae, my sweet dear Bonnieâ it was chewed off by a badger,â Barley replied.

Chortling, Bon Bon rolled her eyes and gave up.

âœI plan to do my part to help our family. When the vote comes, Iâll be voting for Rising Star. Heâs a fine lad. Good head on his shoulders. Plus, he knows how to light his farts on fire, a skill every politician should have,â Barley announced.

The room filled with giggles and titters.

âœI donât fully understand the need for voting,â Sentinel said, finally sticking his snoot into the adult conversation. âœWhy not just have the royals run everything?â

âœBecause lad, theyâre ponies too. They make mistakes. Lunaâs made all kinds of mistakes and the nattery old dame has chewed my ear off telling me about them,â Barley replied. âœIt is time for us to make our own mistakes. Look after our own affairs. Let them look after the big things, and we look after the little things, so more things can get done,â he explained.

âœI think the vote is a good idea, I just donât fully understand it,â Sentinel said, stating his position clearly. âœI am not sure what it will accomplish.â

âœProbably not much in the beginning. Weâll have to learn as we go,â Barley patiently answered, looking over at Sentinel fondly. âœIâm glad that Bucky brought me back a nephew.â

âœWhile most of us are gathered here, there is something I want to bring upâ well, I know Thistle is in the bed with Bucky and Derpy is upstairs with the fillies, but I plan to spring this on them as wellâ times are hard right now. I mean, we all know that. Just look at the papers in front of you. With all of the shortages and stuffâ I was thinking, we need to fall back on things we learned while visiting the Shetlands,â Lyra announced.

âœAye, and that is?â Barley asked, raising an eyebrow.

âœWell, I know it has been talked about a few times, but I think we need to have a serious talk. We need to get all of the mares in the herd producing milk. We go through butter and milk by the pounds and by the gallons every dayâ we have an untapped resource that we could be exploiting,â Lyra explained. âœIt is just milk. Made by equines, for equines, and it shouldnât be weird that we use it. We could secure cows or goats, but we would have to feed them and house them. Times are going to be rough enough as it is.â

âœAyeâ between Bon Bon and Berry we should have enough for day to day stuff. Mostly. If we make something like chowder or something that needs a lot of milk, we might need more,â Barley stated, his voice serious and firm. âœThings will be a little harder once the foals arrive though.â

âœWeâll cross that bridge when we come to it,â Berry said.

âœSelf sufficiency is something we should strive for,â Bon Bon remarked. âœI suppose I can be milked. It will give Lyra something to do.â

âœWe Shetlanders have an awful lot we could be teaching ponies about living, if theyâd just stop laughing at us and poking fun at our ways,â Barley muttered, his lilt softened into an almost non existent state.

Chapter 248

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âœWow, who would have thought there was a word that rhymed with âœophiotaurusâ and that you could be so clever in explaining to what in Tartarus this thing was,â Rising Star said to Zecora as he stood over the charred remains of the weird half bull half snake creature that had given them both a scare.

He let out a grunt when he was suddenly hugged by the grateful zebra, who had been grabbed by the horrible monster and nearly swallowed whole. If Rising Star hadnât responded as quickly as he had, the outcome might have been very different. He could feel Zecora squeezing him and he felt pretty good about everything even though he nearly lost control of his bowels and his bladder just a few minutes ago.

âœOh noble unicorn I owe my entire life to youâ you have saved me from being Zecora stew!â Zecora rhymed, still clinging to Rising Starâs neck.

âœWeâre both equines,â Rising Star replied sheepishly.

âœWhen I go to town… there are many gripes, ponies say bad things… because of my zebra stripes,â Zecora whispered.

âœYeah well, when you need to go to town, you just stop by the farm and you get one of us,â Rising Star grumbled angrily.

Rising Star took a deep breath as Zecora let go and then backed away from him. She was only slightly singed. His magic was dangerous to everything around him, but he had somehow managed to keep from burning Zecora to a crisp. The giant ophiotaurus on the other hoof, it was not so lucky. Flamewhip was an incredibly useful spell. He had wrapped the telekinetically charged lash of fire with physical properties around the ophiotaurus, tied it up, subdued it, and then set it on fire once he had safely secured Zecora away to safety. It was big enough to eat a pony in one gulp.

It settled into his mind exactly what he had done and Rising Star felt his body begin to tremble, the post-kill jitters settling in and doing a terrible number to his already bad nerves.

Seeing Zecora continue onwards, Rising Star hurried to follow her and keep her safe.

The fireoak was a flaming oak tree deep in the heart of the Everfree. Rising Star figured it had to be midnight, and he hoped that his family wasnât too worried about him. He stood watching the tree in awe, and as he watched, a flaming bipedal figure came dancing and prancing along, moving towards them.

âœMind your manners and make no fuss, a pyrodryad approaches us,â Zecora rhymed reassuringly.

Rising Star watched the dancing figure that walked on two legs, a creature made of living flame. As she drew near, he felt himself igniting somewhat, his mane and tail bursting into flames.

âœThelesignus, how bright you are, my companion here is named Rising Star,â Zecora said, introducing the pair as the pyrodryad drew near.

âœGreetings fellow fire spirit trapped in pony-flesh. How are you this fine evening?â Thelesignus inquired politely, her voice a crackling bonfire given speech. The pyrodryad turned to look at Zecora. âœAre you in need of acorns?â

Zecora nodded silently and backed away from the pair as it grew uncomfortably warm.

âœWould you like an acorn?â the pyrodryad asked, reaching out and stroking Rising Star with a flaming hand with seven fiery fingers that lingered on Rising Starâs neck, trailing upward slowly, and she giggled as she watched the pony shiver at her touch.

âœI donât understand what the acorns are for or what they do,â Rising Star whispered.

âœThey are fireoak acorns. One day I will find a suitable mateâ perhaps a phoenix or a fire spirit trapped in pony-fleshâ and then the acorns will become my children and there will be more fireoaks and I will have many pyrodryad daughtersâ but for now, the acorns are simply nuts. They can be turned into potions, which is why the zebra finds them useful, those potions will burn away almost any infection or disease, even magical onesâ or you could eat one,â Thelesignus suggested suggestively.

âœI am a happily married ponyâ very happily married with three wives,â Rising Star stammered nervously.

âœOne more wife couldnât hurt,â the pyrodryad whispered as her fingers caressed under Rising Starâs jaw and tickled his chin. âœI would share youââ

âœNo, thatâs okayâ Iâm already in over my head,â Rising Star responded nervously.

âœOhâ thatâs too bad,â Thelesignus said poutily.

Rising Star watched with terrified fascination as the pyrodryad reached into herself, her hand merging with her own crotch, moved around, and then she pulled out a handful of acorns. She carefully placed them on the ground and made a gesture to Zecora.

He watched as she held up one acorn pinched between her fingers and waved it in a hypnotic manner in front of his snoot. Rising Star found himself mesmerised by the acorn, which was surprisingly not on fire.

âœThis nut will change you. Phoenixes sometimes eat them to have visions and gain power. Far below your hooves lies a sea of fire. Eat this, and the fire you draw from the ley lines will seem like little but a warm zypher compared to the new fires you will be able to summon. And all I ask in return is a little kiss. Just a tiny kiss on the lips and I will give this acorn to youâ a gift of unbelievable power,â Thelesignus said, tapping the acorn on Rising Starâs snoot to punctuate her words.

âœZecora, what should I do?â Rising Star asked.

Zecora, scooping up the acorns and stuffing them into her saddlebags, looked up at Rising Star after securing the last one and shrugged. âœExtra power might be nice, will you pay the pyrodryadâs price?â

âœJust a friendly little kiss you say?â Rising Star inquired. âœWhat will the acorn do exactly if I eat it? What will happen?â he questioned.

âœThe fire of the ley lines is the fire of the aether. The fires deep within the earth are different fires. They are the fires of life. The roots of my tree go down deep into the ground and draw from this fire. It is what causes the tree to burn but not die. This acorn,â Thelesignus stated, holding up the nut before Rising Starâs eyes. âœThis little acorn will make you like my tree. Your hooves will pull up the primordial fire from deep below. This will change youâ forever. All of your offspring will be touched by fire. I give you my word that this will not hurt you or rob you of your pony form. But I can see into your mind. I know what you desire. You desire to keep your family safe. This will let you do thatâ this will give you the power you need to secure their futureâ and all I want is a kiss.â

âœSeems too good to be true,â Rising Star muttered.

âœPerhaps we should go and just be on our way, you can go home and forget the gifts of the fey,â Zecora interjected.

The pyrodryad blazed brighter for a moment. âœYes, I am feyâ but I give you my word. This will not hurt you. This will help you keep your family safe! This will give you a level of control that you could only dream of otherwise. Your wifeâ Sparklerâ yes, I can hear her name in your mindâ both of you would draw from the same source. Your magics would mergeâ become powerfulâ you would be able to cast symbiotic magic with one another. All I want is a kiss.â

âœA kiss doesnât seem like such a terrible price to pay,â Rising Star said, feeling temptation. Control. Power. All of his future foals gifted with fire. He was having a hard time seeing the drawback to any of this.

âœFiery earth magic. A natural connection to everything that comes from the earth, including metals. Just think of what you could do as a smith if you could connect with the metals you worked with. And all I require is one willing kiss,â Thelesignus offered.

âœI will give you what you want,â Rising Star whispered hesitantly. âœJust one quick meaningless kiss.â

Thelesignus pressed the acorn up against Rising Starâs lips, and when he opened his mouth, she pressed it onto his tongue. She then placed her hand under his jaw and closed his mouth, and leaned in close.

The acorn was bliss. Rising Star had no words to describe the flavour. It filled his mouth and burned through his body. He felt heat rippling and radiating from his skin. He felt pressure behind his eyes and in his horn. He felt a strange feeling in his hooves. He looked down and saw that his hooves were changing. Right before his eyes, they were warping. He felt a weird feeling of peaceful confusion, a sense of sleepy awareness that made his head feel swimmy. His hooves were splitting. He felt a hand under his chin lifting his head up. Everything was fire. He felt two lips briefly touch his own, and a powerful jolt traveled through his body. He felt strange as the pyrodryad pulled away, and he heard peals of laughter fill the Everfree forest all around him.

âœAt last I will have my daughters!â

WHAT? Rising Starâs brain screamed at him. It was only a kiss something inside of his brain said. His legs wobbled and he felt weak. His balls felt like he had been rutting Sparkler and Loch Skimmer all night. He let out a wordless cry and heard Zecora shouting something, but he could not make out what was being said.

Suddenly, everything exploded into fire. Rising Star felt himself being pulled into the flames and sucked down into the ground, the earth devouring him and swallowing him whole.

Rising Star came to awareness slowly. He was laying next to a river of fire, a running river of magma. He groaned and rubbed his head. He caught a glimpse of his hoof and did a double take. His hoof was cloven, like a goatâs hoof. His legs were longer. He braced his hooves beneath him and stood up. He was taller. His tail felt weird. There was something pointy inside of his mouth, and he ran his tongue over what he could only assume were fangs.

Turning around to look at his own backside, he saw his tail was now like a donkeyâs tail.

âœOh stars! Iâm a storybook creature! Iâve turned into one of those fey unicorns like in the stories my mother used to read to meâ oh nuts what do I doâ what have I done? What did I get myself into? And where am I?â Rising Star said to himself as he began to peer around.

âœYou must be new here,â a voice said.

Rising Star turned around, trying to take everything in. Nearby was a tree. A tree on fire. And in the tree was some kind of bird. Also on fire. âœWhere is here?â Rising Star asked politely.

âœYou mean you donât know?â

âœWell, no, if I knew, I wouldnât be asking.â

âœWhatta moron. Kid, youâre in Tartarus.â

âœWHAT?â Rising Star screamed.

âœThis is the realm of Scorch the Usurper. The fey fire elemental,â the bird replied.

âœIâm in Tartarus?â Rising Star whimpered.

âœThis is a nice part of Tartarus,â the bird answered with a cackle. âœAt least if you are a fire elemental. Otherwise, this is a HORRIBLE PLACE!â

Rising Star looked around. Everything was on fire. There was a river of magma, he was standing on hot black coals, and a raging inferno blazed in the distance. The air was filled with the stench of brimstone, which for some reason didnât bother him.

âœOh by the stars I was so STUPID!â Rising Star shouted.

âœEh, youâre one of us now. Scorch will find a purpose for you. He found one for me. I show up and taunt new arrivals. Well, I shouldnât be taunting you, you are a fellow fire elemental, but, eh, screw you anyway. I am supposed to torment the souls sent here for processing,â the bird explained.

âœOh pony fartsâ Iâm in Tartarusâ I donât want to be here,â Rising Star whined. âœI have three wives at homeâ a family that loves me.â

âœTough luck kid. I hear these sad sob stories all the time. Anyway, Iâm off. I am going to go peck out the eyes of the damned and maybe get a bite of delicious genitals from the all you can eat corpse buffet,â the bird said as it took wing and flew off.

Alone, afraid, and uncertain what to do, Rising Star focused his magic and attempted to send a message to Princess Celestia through the living fire.

Chapter 249

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All things considered, this was a nice place. The fire didnât bother him, the landscape was interesting, and oddly enough, the smell of brimstone was strangely appealing to him now. He stepped into the river of magma and it felt it running around his hooves. There was a pleasant tingling sensation.

âœOh bugger.â

Turning, Rising Star looked around to see who the voice was. He saw a tall bipedal figure of living flame. As he watched, it changed shape and became vaguely pony shaped, but it had no solid parts, it remained a cloud of flame.

âœYouâre not dead,â the flame pony said.

âœNo, Iâm not. Who are you?â Rising Star asked in what he hoped was a polite tone.

âœIâm Scorch. I sensed something strange. You donât belong here kid, youâve done been pranked,â Scorch muttered.

âœWell, send me back,â Rising Star requested.

âœI canât,â Scorch replied.

âœWhy not?â Rising Star asked.

âœThe rules donât work that way,â Scorch said. âœBut I think I can help you.â

âœPlease, I have three wives, I want to go home,â Rising Star begged.

âœHold on kid,â Scorch said. âœJust keep everything together and we will work something out,â he promised.

âœI just got tricked into being sent here by the fey. Why should I trust you?â Rising Star asked. âœYouâre a fey elemental right?â

âœOh, you shouldnât trust me. Only a moron would trust me. But I am friends with Celestia. We play chess together. And sheâs part of my bridge club. And you can trust her. Hold on kiddo,â Scorch replied nervously. âœOh the big dove is gonna be pissedââ

The fire elemental became bipedal again, snapped his fingers, and a sheet of parchment appeared in mid air. It floated there, not moving, and Scorch pulled a pen out from nowhere. He began to write slowly, humming to himself. When he was finished, he rolled up the scroll, held it up to what appeared to be his mouth, blew out a gout of flame upon it, and then he smiled at Rising Star.

âœNow we wait kid. Sheâs good about answering her mail. Weâll figure out a way of getting you home in an hour or so. Now you just stay calm and tell me all about your wives or something kid,â Scorch said in a friendly voice.

✅ And that is why Loch Skimmer is the most wonderful pervert ever,â Rising Star said with a big dopey grin on his face. He looked at Scorch, who was clutching his sides and guffawing with laughter, the big primordial fire elemental really wasnât a bad sort at all. Rising Star could understand why Celestia liked him.

Suddenly, Scorch stopped laughing. He looked around.

âœWe got incoming kid, three alicornsâ oh by the Hagâs saggy left teat, why does there have to be three alicorns?â Scorch said, now looking worried.

âœIâll tell them not to hurt you,â Rising Star whimpered, moving closer to the cowering fire elemental. âœI kinda know them. Just stay close to me.â

There was a loud crackle, a pop, and a brilliant flash of light. When Rising Star could see again, there was two alicorns and one figure in dull black armor. Both of the alicorns, Princess Celestia and Princess Twilight Sparkle were on fire.

âœIâve come for my son,â Bucky announced, making no bones about why he was here, his voice a menacing mechanical growl.

âœScorch, why is my little pony Rising Star here with you?â Celestia asked, sounding very cross. Her nostrils flared and her brows furrowed. She made the sort of face that was the last face that millions of demons and evildoers saw in their final moments before their impending destruction.

âœI DIDNâT DO IT!â Scorch cried out in a frightened voice. âœI donât want to lose my friend!â

âœI met a pyrodryad. I ate an acorn. I ended up here,â Rising Star said, leaving out a few minor details in the sequence of events. âœAnd donât hurt Scorch. Heâs nice. Heâs been nothing but good to me, but Iâd have to be a moron to trust him.â

âœRising Starâ I do not even know what to say,â Celestia said in a very cranky sounding voice. She scowled. âœYou are an infernal fey creature now. I cannot undo that.â

âœLook, I wanna settle this peacefully,â Scorch whined. âœI donât want no violence or bodily harm or any kind of trouble.â

âœThen let him go,â Twilight commanded, her eyes blazing like miniature suns. She took a step forward and bared her teeth.

âœHe cannot do that Twilight. It is not that simple,â Celestia said in an annoyed voice.

âœLook, Celestia, I owe you a few favours, but I canât just give him to youâ but you know that. So Iâll make this as easy as I can. We trade,â Scorch said in a trembling voice.

âœIâd rather just kill you,â Bucky growled.

âœYou cannot kill him Buckminster,â Celestia said dismissively.

âœThen I spend hours making him wish he was dead until he lets my son go,â Bucky growled, his horn now flaring with dark magic.

âœWoah!â Scorch whined. âœIâm not technically evil!â He grabbed Rising Star and held him close, trembling with fear.

âœHe speaks the truth,â Celestia muttered. âœAnd he has been a big help to me in the past. I cannot let you threaten my friend. Now behave yourself.â

âœWe really donât have anything on us to trade,â Twilight said, taking a step forward to get a better look at Rising Star, who was clinging to Scorch. Twilight thought the pair looked rather pitiful together, but she said nothing about her personal private thoughts.

âœThe only one who can trade with me is the buckethead over there,â Scorch said.

âœWhich is why I brought him here,â Celestia stated.

âœWhy me?â Bucky asked.

âœFamily member. Fey rules,â Celestia answered tersely.

âœOhâ so what do you want from me?â Bucky questioned.

âœWell, this is a pretty standard hostage situationâ one soul for another. Has to be a family member. I really donât care who,â Scorch said. âœIâm sorryâ themâs the rules. I didnât make the rules, but I am bound by the rules.â

âœSo I could trade myself,â Bucky stated.

âœNo!â Rising Star shouted. âœNO NO NO!â

âœOr maybe a foal that you are not to fond of,â Scorch muttered dejectedly.

âœAre you sure I couldnât kill him?â Bucky asked.

âœBuckminsterâ I do not know what to do. There are rules here. Strange magic. Primordial magic. We have to figure out some way to free Rising Star and give Scorch what he wants,â Celestia said in a strained voice.

âœVery well. I accept,â Bucky said. âœThe soul of one family member in exchange for my son, Rising Star. How do we do the exchange? How do we make a binding deal?â

âœAll you must do is say the name of the soul you wish to exchange,â Scorch grumbled.

âœBuckminsterâ donât do this,â Twilight warned. âœWeâll go to warâ Iâll find a way to bend the rules of magic. Weâll find a wayââ

âœBuckminster, it was very noble of you to make this sacrifice,â Celestia said solemnly as she closed her eyes. She began to silently make plans on how to free Buckminster from Tartarus somehow.

âœWait, you are gonna let him do this?â Twilight snapped. âœThere is no way you can just let him do thisâ he is the alicorn of war. We need him!â

âœNO!â Rising Star shouted.

âœIt is his choice Twilight. His soul is his own,â Celestia said in a sad voice.

âœI just need a name,â Scorch said. âœJust say the names of the exchange in full and we will seal the deal,â he explained.

âœVery well. In exchange for the freedom of Rising Star, I offer you the soul of another family member in exchange. Primrose Propers.â

âœBUCKMINSTER!â Celestia screamed.

âœDone!â Scorch accepted. He snapped his fingers. A blue flash surrounded Rising Star and there was a loud pop.

âœWhere am I? What is going on here?â

âœWelcome to Tartarus,â Bucky said in a low mechanical growl to his mother.

âœBuckminster, how could you?â Celestia inquired angrily.

âœI have brought no physical harm to her. I have merely facilitated her arrival to face judgment,â Bucky replied in a cold mechanical thrum.

âœWhat have you done?â Primrose hissed. âœWhat is this place? I demand to know what is going on! Tell me at once!â

âœWhat a lovely juicy soul,â Scorch cackled. He snapped his fingers again and Primrose vanished. He rubbed his flaming hands together in glee and continued to cackle. âœOh I am going to have fun with that. I love the property laws here.â

âœBuckminsterâ how could you?â Celestia repeated.

âœIt was easy,â Bucky answered.

âœSo I am free?â Rising Star asked.

âœAs a bird,â Scorch replied.

âœI am at a loss for words,â Celestia whispered.

âœBuckminster, you just traded your own motherâ to a Lord of Tartarus,â Twilight gasped, finally able to say something about what had just happened.

âœShe was an insufferable coont,â Bucky growled.

âœAnd this is why you treat your foals with respect and love,â Scorch jubilantly announced. He clapped his hands together a few times, looking very pleased with himself.

âœCan we go home now?â Bucky asked.

âœI want to be away from this place. Stinks like rotten eggs here,â Twilight muttered.

âœScorch, we must be going. I will speak with you soon, sorry if we must make a hasty departure, but the sooner we get Rising Star out of here the better,â Celestia said apologetically.

The great white alicornâs horn flashed with a golden lightâ

Rising Star blinked and saw the farmhouse in front of him. He blinked again. He looked down. He still had cloven hooves. He was still a lot taller. He was stillâ

âœOWâ Rising Star shouted as a white wing slapped him in the back of his head.

Again the wing came down, a painful stinging blow. After the first two strikes to get in practice once again, Celestia let go of a flurry of blows, each blow landing in the perfect spot to cause the maximum amount of sting. When Rising Star tried to run from her, she ran after him and kept slapping, using both wings for maximum efficiency.

Ponies began to step out on to the porch into the dark night to watch what would become known as the Great Alicorn Slapfest. Nopony said anything. Nopony made any move to stop Celestia. Nopony made a move to help Rising Star escape her fury. Around and around the yard they went, Celestia raining down what seemed to be an endless number of blows.

âœNEVER MAKE DEALS WITH A FEY CREATURE! YOU STUPID, STUPID COLT!â

Finally, Rising Star fell into the grass and curled into a ball, begging for the slapping to stop.

Standing over him, Celestia scowled down. âœWe are not done. We are going to talk later,â she said icily. She turned away in disgust and faced Buckminster.

âœTake off your armor,â Celestia demanded furiously

âœUh oh,â Bucky whimpered, his voice odd inside of his helmet, sounding strangely foalish. He took off his helmet and various sections of armor began to fall away from him.

Wasting no time, Celestia rushed forward, wings out, and the Great Alicorn Slapfest continued. Bucky didnât bother running, he stood there and took it, his ears splayed out to the sides in submission.

âœYOU DO NOT TRADE YOUR OWN MOTHERâS SOUL TO A FEY DEMON LORD OF TARTARUS! BAD FOAL! BAD BAD BAD! SHAME ON YOU NEPHEW! YOU OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF!â Celestia scolded as she landed many blows upon Bucky in rapid succession, her wings moving in a blur of righteous fury.

The ponies on the porch watched, eyes wide, mouths hanging open in utter shock.

âœYOU! BOTH OF YOU! THIS IS NOT OVER! WHEN I HAVE CALMED DOWN I WILL HAVE WORDS TO SAY TO BOTH OF YOU!â Celestia shouted as she ceased slapping poor Bucky silly. She made no move to catch him when he fell down into the grass. Celestia stood there, panting with anger, her sides heaving like bellows.

White feathers floated in the breeze, drifting to the ground like snowflakes, and Celestia stood over two ponies that she loved a great deal but was currently very disapointed in.

There was a crackle, a pop, and then Celestia vanished.

Chapter 250

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Laying in the grass with her husband, Derpy tried to comfort Bucky after the Great Alicorn Slapfest, which had left him sore and rather battered. She kissed him softly and made soft cooing sounds into his ear, while wrapping her wings around him gently and stroking him with her forelegs.

âœShe must really love you,â Derpy whispered.

âœHow can you tell?â Bucky replied in a mildly sarcastic voice.

âœBecause she wing slapped you,â Derpy answered.

âœLove stings,â Bucky groused.

âœBucky, a pegasusâ wings are so sensitive. Just think about what happens to me when you gently stroke my wings or blow on them or just try to get me wound upâ each blow, each slap, they are full of ouchy. A wing slap hurts a pegasus just as much as the pony they are slapping. It is shared pain. We share the pain with those we love and bear their punishments. If we wanted to hurt them, weâd just kick them,â Derpy explained.

âœWait, so each time she slapped me she was hurting herself?â Bucky asked.

âœYes, you dimwit,â Derpy responded.

âœI donât know what to say,â Bucky murmured.

âœShe loves you,â Derpy whispered.

âœYou stink like rotten eggs,â Ripple said, backing away from Rising Star and fanning her nose with her wing, her eyes narrowing as she retreated.

âœI do?â Rising Star replied, sniffing as he did so.

âœYou do,â Loch Skimmer answered. âœYouâre kinda stinky.â

âœI hate to admit it Rising, because I hate to sound shallow, but you are a bit sexier right now, even with the eggy smellâ there is something about youââ Sparkler confessed.

âœWhat about the Stable of Representatives?â Rising Star whispered. âœOnly a moron would trust me now. Iâm a fey creature.â

âœBon Bon will keep you honest,â Sparkler said reassuringly.

Looking at Twilight, Rising Star tried to understand the long winded and overly wordy explanation he had just been given about everything that just happened after he had explained to her in brief what had taken place in the woods.

Twilight, noticing his vacant expression, rubbed her muzzle and grunted in frustration, not sure why other ponies had such a problem communicating over such simple concepts. She gave such detailed and careful explanations. The whole world was obtuse.

âœOkay, let me try this again. Iâll use simple words this time. Really simple words. Try to keep up,â Twilight grumbled in annoyance. âœCelestia draws her fire from the sun. I, like most pyromancers, draw my fire from the aether. You used to draw your fire from the aether. I strongly suspect that now, you draw your fire directly from Tartarus itself, which means you have demon-fire, or quite literally the infernal blazes. I would also strongly suspect that if we measured you, you would no longer be a type three, but a type four unicorn, at least as far as raw power goes in relation to fire. You seem to have suffered a few minor physiological changes. Horn growth, longer legs, cloven hooves, your tail has been altered, youâve grown fangsââ Twilight summarised. She yawned and covered her mouth with her wing. âœLook, I need to go get a few hours sleep. We will talk later. At least try not to be a tricky lawyerly fey creature or I will geas you into submission.â

âœIâll be good,â Rising Star said in a strangled voice. âœIâm just glad to be homeâ with my wivesâ my familyââ He watched as Twilight spread her wings, took flight and departed.

âœYou okay Rising?â Bucky asked in a concerned voice.

âœYeah, I feel mostly okay. Thanks for rescuing me,â Rising Star said graciously in reply.

âœThink nothing of it. You are my son. I wouldnât want to explain to your other parents why you were stuck in Tartarus,â Bucky responded. He looked at his armor pieces scattered over the lawn. âœTartarus wasnât such a bad place. Scorch seemed nice enough for a fey demon lord fire elemental. Looks like you have a friend you can probably call on in times of trouble.â

âœHe is part of a bridge club with Celestia. And they play chess together. When she was a little filly, Scorch used to foalsit her and keep her from burning down the entire countryside,â Rising Star said, smiling as he spoke.

âœOhâ well that is interesting,â Bucky said in stunned disbelief.

âœAnd I got to tell him about my wives and we talked about all kinds of thingsâ you know, youâre right. I think heâs my friend now. He was honestly worried about me and my well being now that I look back on everything. And he was so afraid of losing his friendâ to think that friendship means so much to a fey demon lordââ Rising Star said thoughtfully.

âœOr a draconequus,â Bucky mentioned. âœOr a lonely unicorn who had given up on the world. Never underestimate the power of friendship.â

âœIâm tired. Iâm going to try going back to bed while I am feeling sort of sleepy,â Bucky muttered as he teetered off to the house, lifting his armor pieces in his telekinesis to place them back into their case before he went to bed.

The first grey light of dawn broke over the trees as Bucky took a sip of coffee and tried to make everything stop shaking. He wasnât sure what was wrong. Fear? Lack of enough sleep? A bad case of nerves from visiting Tartarus? He had no idea. He took a sip of the hot liquid and felt it trickle down his throat, burning as it went down.

There was several hundred pounds of coffee stored in the pantry, and Bucky was quite happy about this fact. Barley had seen which way the wind was blowing early on, and had stockpiled coffee back when it was plentiful. There were also tins of compressed loose leaf tea and a number of other dried goods staples that made life bearable.

He heard a cry from the nursery and set his cup down upon the kitchen table. He rose from his chair, made his way down the hall, into the nursery, and saw Harper in her crib. She glared at him, indignant that the sun was rising and nopony has freed her from her prison. Everypony else in the house was sound asleep. Dawn was supposed to bring freedom, and the adults had failed in their responsibility.

He lifted her in his magic, levitated her over, and then sat down in a rocking chair. He pulled her close, cradling her to his barrel, wrapping his diminished leg around her, and began to rock back and forth while holding her.

âœHi Harper,â Bucky whispered. âœIt was a long night last night. Everypony is worn out. There is no need to be fussy,â he cooed.

âœMama,â Harper said, resting her head in the crook of Buckyâs neck.

âœRising Star had himself an adventure that heâll be able to tell his own foals about, but I donât think he told me the whole story,â Bucky whispered as he rocked in the chair with Harper.

âœStory,â Harper burbled, drooling into Buckyâs thick shaggy pelt.

âœWell, there was a unicorn who had a son that he loved a great deal. And this son found himself in Tartarus, trapped there. The unicorn didnât know why, but he was worried. And the only way to free his son was to trade the soul of another family member,â Bucky said, telling Harper a story in a soft sonorous voice that made the foal go still.

âœSo the unicorn, he was clever. He made a plan to free his son from the fey fire elemental named Scorch. This unicorn is brain damagedâ he has a very muddled sense of right and wrong now. Heâs not sure if there is right or wrong. There is only playing to win, which is all that mattered to him, because he was painfully and horribly selfish. It is his major failing, and it will probably cost him dearly one day. He wanted to keep his son. So, the unicorn was clever and traded the soul of his own mother for the soul of his son. The unicorn got to keep his son, which made him happy. Now, his son is a fey creature, and probably has a very interesting future in politics.â

Bucky could tell from the sounds of her breathing that Harper was asleep. Yawning, he continued rocking while holding Harper, humming softly to his foal, and before too long, he too drifted off into sleep, his cup of coffee growing cold in the kitchen where it was forgotten.

Loch Skimmer awoke to the stench of rotten eggs and lifted her head. At first she thought that somepony had farted, maybe her, but then she recalled Rising Starâs feculent new funk. She leaned in close and gave him a sniff.

âœYuck,â she muttered.

It really wasnât that bad, it was like spring water that reeked, redolent of rotten eggs, but it was bad enough to be noticed. Still, there was something incredibly alluring about him now. Some kind of irresistible charm. She shook her head, her ears flapping around crazily as she did so, and then yawned. Something else stunk as well. She sniffed around, smelling Sparky, and then sniffed Ripple. She lifted a wing and sniffed her own wingpit.

âœEeewâ gross,â she murmured. âœI have underwing stink. Thatâs not attractive.â

She slipped out of bed with her tongue sticking out, arched her back, stretched her legs, spread her wings, tried not to smell the stench coming from her own wingpits, and then stumbled for the door. Opening the door, she peered into the hall. The house was silent. Barleyâs room was at the other end of the hall.

Moving through the door, Loch Skimmer made her way down the hall to the bathroom. The door was open and it was unoccupied. She went inside and closed the door behind her. Inside the bathroom was an old bathtub that was big enough for four ponies.

Showers might be the single greatest invention in the whole wide world, and perhaps the best thing the mainland had to offer. She kicked the levers to get the water running, banged an ornate iron lever that redirected the water to the shower, and then stepped in to hot steamy bliss.

Five mares had their heads poked into the nursery door, their faces melting from the adorable sight. They were silent, or tried to be, there were a few low moans and whimpers, and all of them were quite taken by what they saw.

Bucky, asleep in the rocking chair, was holding Harper, also asleep. Harper had drooled a great deal, leaving Bucky quite damp. His head was tilted back, his mouth open, and as a testament to his powerful magic, his horn had a dim glow. The rocking chair continued to rock back and forth, even in his sleep. It was a rare unicorn that could keep their magic going in their sleep.

The mares backed away from the door and made their way down the hall, heading off to the kitchen together. Derpy had been the one who discovered the slumbering unicorn, and then had dragged her fellow wives out of bed to come have a look.

Spilling into the kitchen, the five mares began to rummage around for breakfast. The coffee in the coffee urn was still hot, but the cup of coffee on the table was cold.

Barley silently staggered into the kitchen, stared at the herd of mares for a moment, blinked a few times, and then sat down at the kitchen table. He rubbed his eyes and remained silent as the mares moved about the kitchen.

âœBucky traded his own motherâs soul,â Lyra murmured, breaking the silence.

âœGood riddance,â Berry grumbled.

âœTo bad rubbish,â Barley finished.

âœIs it wrong that I feel very attracted to him for being such a bad pony?â Derpy asked.

âœHeâll keep ye safe,â Barley groused. âœHe traded one soul worth keeping for one soul that was utterly worthless. If I was a demon Iâd feel cheated.â

âœWeâre never going to have normal family problems,â Bon Bon said.

âœNay, I doubt weâll ever be normal,â Barley replied.

Moving with a cloud of strawberry scent, Loch Skimmer bounced into the kitchen, moving through the crowd and kissing cheeks, bringing smiles with every peck. The charcoal grey pegasus beamed, her own smile shining like the sun, and she finally sat down at the table next to Barley.

âœRising Star stinks like rotten eggs now,â Loch announced. âœSomehow, heâs even more sexy, but I canât figure out how or why.â

âœBloody fey,â Barley muttered.

Chapter 251

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âœDo you think it is safe to go into town?â Bon Bon asked.

âœItâs safe enough,â Barley replied.

âœWorried about hoof rot,â Bon Bon stated.

âœAye, I worry as well. Avoid muddy places, wet places, and try to wash your hooves in clean water any chance you get,â Barley said after taking a swallow of coffee.

âœI plan to go into town today. Check on my shop and my old apartment. I bet the fridge is a nightmare. Gonna need to to get a wagon and move everything out,â Bon Bon said in a sad voice. She slumped at the table, holding a spoon with her hoof and stirring her coffee endlessly.

âœWhy so glum Bonnie?â Barley asked.

âœMy businessâ I donât know what to do about it. It is so far away now. Lyra and I do most of the cooking around here. I am not sure what to do. Making candies made me so happyâ but now I have responsibilities. I feel so conflicted,â Bon Bon confessed.

âœGo back to work if it makes you happy. There are a lot of ponies here, if need be, weâll hire a cook, but you have a right to be happy. The walk will keep you fit ye pretty lass,â Barley said, looking Bon Bon in the eye.

âœI dunno if I wanna go,â Lyra said in a low voice. âœI dunno if I can face the crowds. The ponies looking at me. Staring at me.â

Looking at Lyra, Bon Bon felt smidge of worry. Lyra certainly seemed happier out here on the farm. It made everything all the more conflicting. She reached up and scratched at her ear nervously with her right front hoof. She needed to be making candies again.

âœIfân ye go, take Loch Skimmer with ye, sheâs a gabber, sheâll help ye deal with the crowd,â Barley suggested, his lilt becoming noticeably thicker after taking a few drinks of coffee.

âœI donât have a problem with the crowds so much, I just donât want to be mobbed and asked a million questions,â Bon Bon muttered, her muzzle scrunching up as she lifted her coffee cup and took a sniff. âœBucky makes coffee too strong. This is sludge.â

âœAye, âtis proper coffee,â Barley amicably agreed. He chortled when he saw Bon Bon roll her eyes at him and slapped the table with his hoof. He smiled a lopsided grin of affection at the earth pony sitting across from him at the table and tried to get his old ears to stand up straight.

At his age, it was getting difficult to get anything to stand up at attention.

A low slung figure moved slowly through the tall grass. It moved carefully, each move made with consideration towards the end goal. All four knees were kept bent to keep the figureâs profile low. It moved silently towards its preyâ freezing in place every few moments in the seemingly jerky movements of a practiced hunter.

A restless tail swished as the hunter moved towards its acquired target, and a low growl could be heard, a faint almost imperceptible sound. Ultrasonic sounds tracked distance and calculated effective ranges for pouncing through a highly advanced system of echolocation.

There were few finer hunter-killers to be found in nature.

Three fillies hugged one another in the mid-morning sun. Dinky and PiÃa both squeezed Diamond Tiara, embracing in a three way squeeze. They all giggled, happy to see one another. Summer was drawing to a close and days to be spent in play were running out.

âœWe should have a sleepover,â Dinky suggested.

âœIâll ask my dad,â Diamond Tiara replied.

âœWe can have a tea party,â PiÃa gushed.

âœWhat is it with you and tea parties?â Dinky asked.

âœI like tea. And I like parties. And I really love those little cucumber sandwiches with spicy brown mustard that Berry makes,â PiÃa answered, licking her lips after she spoke.

The world suddenly became a very confusing place as a sooty brown blur came soaring out of the grass and crashed into Diamond Tiara. The earth pony filly shrieked and fell over, going limp as something plowed into her and bowled her over. Dinky and PiÃa both screamed and shouted, panicking, unable to make sense of the situation. Dinkyâs horn flashed with a truly dazzling brilliance.

And then, things made sense again.

Sentinel was sitting on top of Diamond Tiara, smiling an almost non existent smile, the corners of his mouth only almost turned upwards. The colt looked very pleased with himself. And, after a long profound silence, Diamond Tiara, pinned beneath him, started to laugh.

Dinky, realising what had happened, began to laugh as well, but then fell silent when she saw her daddy and Mister Rich on the porch. Her daddy looked worried. Afraid. Frightened. But then she saw his face soften and slowly break into a laugh. Mister Rich still looked confused. Beside her, PiÃa was beside herself with laughter, guffawing and rolling on the ground.

âœI thought Iâd be friendly,â Sentinel explained.

Dinky watched her daddy lean over and whisper something to Mister Rich, and then Mister Rich looked better, his own face and body relaxing a bit and even offering up a bit of a laugh.

âœYou tackled me,â Diamond Tiara said, looking up at Sentinel with wide eyes.

âœNo, I pounced you. I wanted you to know there was no hard feelings after what happened. This is how my kind show that we like somepony,â Sentinel replied.

The two stallions on the porch were heading back inside and Dinky took a deep breath. She had nearly let go with a tremendous amount of magic. Her mind went back to the night where she rode on her motherâs back shooting bolts of telekinetic death down upon her enemies. For a moment, she could hear the sounds. Yelps of pain. Whimpers. Cries. The smell of blood thick in the air. The sounds of violence filling the air and making it impossible to hear anything else. She remembered in vivid detail the bombing run, dropping dozens of spell jars filled with death down upon her enemies far below her. The way her mother banked and descended slowly, giving Dinky time to line up her targets for another strafing run. The furious howls of her mother and the spitted curses, the terrible things her mother had said, her gentle loving motherâs ferocious snarls and growls as the pair of them worked together to rain down death and dismemberment from above.

âœDinky?â

Snapping to attention, Dinky looked around.

âœDinky, you were talking to yourselfâ are you okay?â PiÃa asked.

âœWhat was I saying?â Dinky questioned in reply.

âœI dunno, I couldnât make it out,â PiÃa said in a worried voice. âœYou donât look well.â

âœYou know, I suddenly donât feel well,â Dinky admitted.

Sentinel scooted away from Diamond Tiara and went to Dinkyâs side, giving her a hug and wrapping his wings around her. He felt confused. Just a moment ago, she had seemed so happy, but he could feel the hitching of her barrel and the wetness of the tears now starting to fall. He held her close and tried to comfort her, feeling worried for his sister.

Feeling more than a little concern because of her Shivers, Sparkler worried about making a good first impression. She had to meet the hopeful first recruits of the Ponyville Police Department today. She trotted down the road, moving with mindful purpose, off to the location in which they would all be meeting. Twilight had reassured her that these were good ponies and her Shivers shouldnât be a problem.

She hoped more than anything that this was true.

As each day passed, she was feeling more and more self conscious about her condition. Even the looks of concern from those who loved her made her feel awkward and sometimes infuriated her, filling her with rage even though she had no good reason to be angry.

Pushing these thoughts from her mind, Sparkler focused instead on just how sexy Rising Star had become quite literally overnight. He was taller, seemed to be more muscular, but she couldnât quite be sure, and there was something impossible to resist about him.

Flicking her tail, Sparkler went down the road with a smile upon her face.

âœWhere is my squire?â

The closet under the stairs was empty. Bucky stood there for a moment at a loss. He was having some trouble thinking. He was distracted and out of sorts. He looked at Mister Rich and then looked around the hallway. His eyes glanced over the door to the nursery and he saw Bittersweet on the floor with Harper and Peekaboo. A contented feeling slipped over him, easing some of his sense of worry.

âœI have lost my squire,â Bucky announced. âœIâll be upstairs. Sorry about the cold Mister Rich, I really am.â

Before Mister Rich could ask why Bucky was sorry, Bucky exploded into a cloud of snowflakes, covering the walls in frost and leaving behind a patch of ice on the floor. Mister Rich shivered violently, the cold biting in deep into his thin pelt. He still had his summer coat and it offered no protection.

Upstairs, Bucky nosed around, checking doors. Sentinel was not in his room. There was stuff on his desk, papers, pencils, indicators that Sentinel had been there. Usually, he kept his desk tidy, so he must have left in a hurry.

Curious, he pushed open the door to Dinky and PiÃaâs room.

He found Sentinel. The fillies were gathered around a small short table, and Sentinel was with them. They seemed to be having a tea party. Sentinel was certainly a pretty colt, with his hair braided into two pigtails and tied off with pretty pink and yellow ribbons. A white flower was tucked over one ear. All of the fillies were gussied up and looked extra pretty for the tea party.

Bucky saw his son looking at him pleadingly.

âœFatherâ they foalnapped me from my desk and drug me in here. Dinky used her magic,â Sentinel whimpered. âœThey said it was because I pounced their friend.â

âœWell, I was going to have to have you join Mister Rich and I for a talk, but I can see you are previously engaged,â Bucky said, struggling to keep a straight face. âœIt is very important that you keep your sisters happy. Be on your best manners. And look after our guest Diamond Tiara. Be a good squire.â

âœYesâ sir,â Sentinel squeaked.

Closing the door, Bucky bit down on his lip to keep from exploding with laughter. Only a supreme act of will kept him from losing it completely. He backed away from the door, snorting a few times as he beat a hasty retreat.

Rising Star

First off, welcome to the family. Celestia will be talking to you soon. There are a lot of things you should know, and I should have spent some time telling you things, but it was a stressful time for both of us and you were scared out of your mind.

Truth be told, so was I.

Youâve probably noticed the lingering smell of brimstone. That is because we are fey. There is difference between fey and fae. The differences are minor, but major, meaningless, and of vital importance. All fey are part of the fae, but not all fae are fey. We are the otherworlders. We are extra dimensional beings. Donât worry, this will all get explained.

Anyway, after Celestia and I talked, Iâve been volunteered to be your uncle. If you need advice, you send a letter. If you need help, you send a letter. If you are in life threatening trouble, you call out âœUncle Scorchâ and reach down deep into the fire within. Yeah yeah, I know, Iâm a demon, but I am not one of those sorts of demons. I am free to walk through the gate at any time and frequently do. So donât feel bad about calling me if you are in trouble.

All of your foals, all of your future offspring, they will be like us. In time, the blood will fade and only the occasional cloven hoof will show up, but expect some interesting foals in the near future. Iâll be glad to be their Godfather. Been a while since Iâve done that job.

Be careful about deals you make. Be careful about giving your word. We tend to geas ourselves, quite often without even realising it. Be wary of foals or other cute innocent little baby critters. We tend to become rampaging behemoths in protection of the young. Well, some of us. Weâre all a little different, these are just general warnings kid. Watch out for primordial ice elementals. We donât get along well. Most importantly, be careful with your magic. You are going to notice that you are a lot more powerful now. Donât worry too much. Fire will obey you now and bend to your whim, where as before, you had to exert mastery over it. Fire is now your slave.

I will be in touch, your friend, Scorch.

Looking at the letter, Rising Star felt an odd emotion bubbling through him. He was part of something larger now, some larger part of the world that he had no idea existed. He rubbed his aching head. Having letters exploding out of his horn was unpleasant but practical.

He heaved a sigh, feeling a little better about everything that had happened.

Chapter 252

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All of the house plants were dead. The room was covered in dust. Other than that, everything was the same as when they had left. Somepony had boarded up the shop windows and the glass door. The apartment above the store smelled of neglect and emptiness.

The trip here had been largely uneventful. Ponies had stared a bit, a few had waved, but most had simply left her alone, which she had not been expecting. Bon Bon didnât know what to make of it. She had expected something else, a different reaction, but now, more than anything, she felt like an outsider.

She dared not open the fridge, fearful of whatever eldritch horror might be lurking inside. They had done nothing to clear out the fridge before leaving. Or the breadbox. Or the fruit and vegetable bins. There was something nose crinkling lurking somewhere in the kitchen. Her husband might have bravely faced the crystal lich, but Bon Bon had no desire to face whatever was causing the nose crinkling stink.

âœEeew,â Bon Bon groaned.

Staring at the living room, Bon Bon felt a spike of emotion. There were two high backed chairs with a small wooden table tucked between them. Many nights had been spent in those chairs, one Lyraâs, one her own, sometimes quietly reading and other occasions passing time together in conversation. There had been many conversations about starting a family.

The apartment could be called cozy, but Bon Bon could only think of her family, and the apartment would be cramped now. There was one bedroom. This was no place to have a foal. There was no yard. There was a street just outside both the front and back doors. There was no place to play.

She took the steps from the apartment down into the shop proper, and found everything covered in dust. They had given away all of the candies the day before they had left. Large spiders crawled over the floor and Bon Bon watched them warily. Her sharp eyes saw tiny footprints in the dust, indicating rats. Ponyville was having a problem with rats lately, or so the paper said.

Something stunk horrendously down in the shop, and she suspected the supply fridge down here was also full of eldritch horrors waiting to unleash tentacles upon her if she opened the door. Lyra had some very strange books about tentacles and the terrible things they did to ponies.

Shuddering, Bon Bon moved away from the fridge.

The group of cadet hopefuls attempted to stand at attention. Sparkler smiled as she studied them. In their faces, she saw hopefulness and dedication. She saw eagerness. She saw bravery and kindness. Certainly, there were a lot of pegasi, but others had turned out, and Sparkler had no intention of turning any of them away. She wanted all three tribes represented.

âœGreetings, I am Buck Sergeant Sparkler. Letâs get one thing out of the way right now. I have the Shivers, and it causes me some problems, but it will not prevent me from doing my job. I am very glad that all of you showed up, and I hope that all of you stay.â

There were a few grunts and nods, and one very loud âœYEAH!â

âœWell, one pony here has spirit and guts,â Sparkler announced.

âœYEAH!â

âœSnowflake, right?â Sparkler asked as she drew near the musclebound pegasus and looked him in the eye. He snapped to attention as she came closer and his large nostrils flared.

âœYes maâam,â Snowflake replied in a surprisingly soft voice.

âœWhy are you here Snowflake?â Sparkler inquired.

Swallowing, Snowflake tried to think of a good reason as to why he was here. Nopony told him there would be a test. Feeling nervous, he began to sweat. âœBecauseâ I wantâ to liveâ in a nice city?â

âœVery good. Thatâs what I want to hear,â Sparkler responded, her ears snapping forward sharply. âœPonyville is a nice city. But we have some growing pains. We have some ponies here who are new and donât understand how we do stuff here in Ponyville. We have some ponies who donât know that all three tribes live in peace here and work together. And we want to help them.â

âœIâve been helping them.â

Sparkler turned and focused on the voice. âœAnd you are?â

âœCadet Twinkleshine,â the unicorn replied. âœIâve been working with Barley for a long time now. Ponies know me, I know them, and I have been helping them readjust.â

âœI havenât announced who I will select as cadets yet,â Sparkler stated.

âœI know for certain you will pick me. I have absolute confidence in your ability to make wise decisions and do what is best for Ponyville,â Twinkleshine replied.

âœVery good answer cadet Twinkleshine,â Sparkler said to the confident unicorn.

Moving down the line, Sparkler picked a pony at random. âœAnd you are?â

âœBlossomforth,â the pegasus answered.

âœAnd why are you here? What do you hope to accomplish?â Sparkler questioned.

âœI gotta problem with bandits. A big problem,â Blossomforth replied. She raised one front leg and cracked her fetlock, put her hoof down, lifted her other front leg, cracked that fetlock, and then she looked pointedly at Sparkler. âœSo, are you going to do something about the crime or am I going to have to be a vigilante again?â

âœBlossomforth, now is not a good time to harass your future boss,â Thunderlane warned.

âœNow is a perfect time. I want to know if you plan to take a hard stance or not,â Blossomforth grumbled sullenly. âœOtherwise, I am wasting my time.â

âœI plan to do something about crime, but I donât want ponies hurt unless it is absolutely necessary,â Sparker stated firmly.

âœI can live with that,â Blossomforth said in return. âœThatâs how it should be.â

âœExcellent,â Sparkler said as she turned to Thunderlane. âœHow you doing old friend?â

âœJust fine,â Thunderlane replied. âœHow is your mom?â

âœPregnant,â Sparkler replied. âœDrop by the farmhouse.â

âœWill do,â Thunderlane answered.

âœSo why are you here?â Sparkler asked.

âœThe flock looks after its own. I want to be paid for it,â Thunderlane replied.

âœWell, thatâs honest,â Sparkler responded.

She moved down the line until she reached the other unicorn. âœHolly Dash?â

âœYes maâam,â Holly replied.

âœSaved the mayor?â Sparkler inquired.

âœI did my part,â Holly answered.

âœWant to keep saving ponies?â Sparkler asked.

âœYes,â Holly replied, wasting no words.

âœGood deal,â Sparkler replied.

Standing in front of Big McIntosh, Sparkler smiled. âœI know better. Welcome aboard.â

Blushing, Big Mac said nothing, but grinned shyly.

Stepping heavily, she moved on, feeling so confident about the situation that she barely even noticed any annoying symptoms of her Shivers. Everything about this felt right so far, almost like this was meant to be. She came to the next pony in line.

âœSunshower Raindrops, what brings you here?â Sparkler asked cheerfully to the pegasus mare who was beaming with pride before her.

âœTwilight Sparkle believes that my spy network and me will be useful in police work,â Raindrops replied. âœPlus, I can do things like pick Big Mac up and fly with him. If heâll let me grab him and fly away with him,â she clarified.

âœEenope,â Big Mac interjected.

âœIt was just an example Mac,â Raindrops said sheepishly.

âœYes, you and your birdsâ Iâve read about you. Impressive. Weâll need you to be our ears,â Sparkler said, affirming Raindropâs position.

The young filly sidestepped over and moved close to her next subject. âœCherry Berry. Balloonist. Highly observant. An earth pony who likes to fly.â

âœYes maâamâ embarrassing reallyâ time for a full disclosure. I am a terraphobic earth pony,â Cherry Berry blurted out.

Raising her eyebrow in confusion, Sparkler took a deep breath and looked Cherry Berry in the eye. âœSay again?â

âœI am an earth pony. I have a fear of the ground. Iâve seen a therapist on and off about it. Like right now I am a bit nervous and Iâm freaking out only slightly. It isnât as bad when I am indoors and I feel safe. But on the ground and out in the open?â The earth pony stopped speaking and shuddered violently.

âœHow is an earth pony afraid of the ground?â Sparkler inquired.

âœI dunno, I just am. I feel comfortable being in the air. Nothing looks right unless I am looking down on something from above and the fear goes away,â Cherry Berry explained.

âœSo this is why you founded the Airborne Watch Union and why Ponyville has ponies in balloons and pegasi in the air watching and waiting to sound the alarm. Sounds like your phobia is useful. Letâs put it to work,â Sparkler said to Cherry Berry. Sparkler watched the earth pony take a deep breath and relax slightly, which made Sparkler relax as well.

âœAnd that leaves me,â Orange Swirl said nervously.

âœI hear that youâre fast,â Sparkler announced.

âœOh, I am no Rainbow Dash,â Orange Swirl said modestly.

âœI also hear that you are fearless,â Sparkler said, stating what little she knew to develop a rapport with her cadets.

âœI am a pegasus wing semaphore specialist. I took communications in university. Ponies seem to think that I am organised,â Orange Swirl said, listing her traits.

âœVery useful,â Sparkler said. âœAlright, all of you are my cadets now. I want you out at the farmhouse early tomorrow morning. Last pony to arrive is going to run extra laps around the house and the lake. Iâm tough but fair. You all take care of each other, and I take care of you. I am your Buck Sergeant. As of right now, I am your best friend, your boss, your big sister, your little sister, and I demand to be the center of your attention. We are all ponies first and foremost. We all have different strengths that we bring to the table being different tribes and what not. And I plan to make all of you damn useful. Am I understood?â

âœYEAH!â

âœThank you cadet Snowflake. Because I like you, I am going to run laps beside you tomorrow. Weâre gonna run until we puke together. Do you like the sound of that?â Sparkler asked.

âœYEAH… Wait, maybe?â

Laughing, Sparkler turned to face the ripped muscle bound pegasus. âœI bet you think Iâm joking,â she said.

âœLugus, I need to study your talons if you donât mind. I want to make a sketch. Should only take a few moments,â Bucky explained, holding a pencil ready.

Coming closer, Lugus lifted up one set of talons and held it up before Bucky, flexing his talon fingers and talon thumb. âœRaptor talons. Three forward talon fingers and one talon thumb. My claws are somewhat retractable,â Lugus explained, demonstrating, his claws slipping into sheaths so it would be easier to walk without his claws digging into the floor. Fully extended the claws at the end of his talon fingers were several inches long, bladed, and razor sharp.

Studying them carefully, the pencil moved over the paper for Bucky without him looking at it, creating an exact print of what he was looking at. âœAnisodactyl,â Bucky muttered to himself.

âœAnd I have never once brought harm to Peekaboo or Yew with any of my claws or my beak,â Lugus said, his voice full of pride.

âœThose are impressive. Nature worked overtime creating those,â Bucky said as he continued to observe. âœSo the sheath extends over the claw, retracting it slightly and angling it upwards and away from the ground when you are walking on it.â As he spoke, the pencil copied down every single detail perfectly, as though it was printing out a photograph.

âœSo why are you looking at my talons?â Lugus asked.

âœI intend to create my own,â Bucky responded. âœIâm missing a hoof. A set of talons seems more efficient for my purposes. I think I will include fully retractable claws and rounded fingertips for safety. Iâm not as careful as you. Theyâll function like my armor, powered by my bodyâs natural mana reserves. Theyâll work both passively and actively as I need for them to. Iâll have to develop a walking routine and standard adaptable behaviours. Plan to make them from the same metal as my armor and then enchant it into usefulness.â

âœRetractable claws might be nice, but that would make the fingers hollow and restrict flexibility when the claws are pulled inside. Make claws appear when needed. Out of ice or something,â Lugus suggested.

âœBrilliant,â Bucky said, the pencil darting off to one side to make notes. âœI plan to make the connection point out of fulgurite since it seems to like fusing with my bones so well. And then, Iâll just teleport the whole limb into place. Thatâs gonna sting a bit.â

âœYou are mad, my chief,â Lugus said in a quiet voice, his beak clicking.

âœTotally and completely,â Bucky agreed. âœBut I mean, thatâs been medically established, right? At this point, saying Iâm mad is flogging a dead pony.â

âœHow did your meeting with Mister Rich go?â Lugus inquired.

âœCity Hall is undergoing some restructuring. There were some ponies there who immediately wanted to spend the new city surplus on useless expenditures. Iâve sent Mister Rich off with a mandate for infrastructure work. Laying in sewer and water pipes. Putting the refugees to work in paid positions. Going to be hundreds of new jobs created and maybe a dozen jobs lost. Maybe the bureaucrats can work to create efficient means of waste removal laying sewer pipes instead of flooding us with more crap,â Bucky answered.

âœThis is not going to win you many friends in the higher places,â Lugus warned.

âœI donât give a flying feck at a rolling donut if this makes me friends,â Bucky retorted, sounding angry.

âœBut those friends might be useful in later ventures,â Lugus said patiently.

âœMaybe so. Maybe you are rightâ ugh,â Bucky sighed.

âœMister Rich has left his foal in your care,â Lugus stated as he placed his talons on the ground, the drawing now completed.

âœYeah, Diamond Tiara is going to spend a few days with us while Mister Rich goes to Canterlot for me and deals with a few issues. This new means of communicationâ Morsel Code. Iâve issued a decree, I want an office established in Canterlot and one here in Ponyville. Somepony smarter than me needs to figure out the logistics. How much wire we need. How to string that wire. Iâm thinking tall poles sunk into the ground with the wire strung between them. Iâve made this a national defense issue so it canât be ignored or put off. I hope Luna doesnât rake me over the coals for overstepping my bounds, but I do see it as a national security issue. We need a way of instant communication between cities that does not involve magic,â Bucky ranted.

âœThat seems prudent,â Lugus replied.

âœWhy is it that you, me, and Mister Rich are the only ones that seem to think so? I have a whole bunch of pissed off unicorns that want to keep the magical message monopoly going for themselves, and a group of concerned Pony Express workers are worried this will put its flying messengers out of jobs and the postal service is already breathing down my neck with some worry. The postal service which currently barely functions by the way,â Bucky grumbled. He reached up and nervously scratched at his neck with his stump. âœAh that feels goodâ on my neck and on my stumpâ the end of it gets itchy.â

âœSeize control of the Pony Express, draft the workers, and then station them at the Morsel Code offices. When a message comes in, dispatch a flier to the recipient immediately. Everypony stays happy,â Lugus said, his crest at half mast and his tail swishing from side to side thoughtfully.

âœGood idea,â Bucky said, snatching a fresh sheet of paper with his magic and making notes. "Iâll make the Pony Express workers a national asset for our defense. It will keep them employed. Weâll call them the Civil Defense Message Corps or something. That will keep them happy. We need better means of communications. Iâve been hearing these horror stories about how during the worst of the collapse, Twilight Sparkle was completely unable to contact Celestia.â

âœThe lines will be vulnerable,â Lugus warned. âœAnd can be sabotaged in times of conflict.â

âœI am aware of that, I donât have a good solution yet,â Bucky mumbled in frustration. âœIâve put out a call for arcano-tech tinkerers to come up with a fix.â

Gritting his teeth with frustration, Bucky slammed his right hoof down upon the table. He made a wordless snarl and then with a flash of his horn, he conjured a bottle and two glasses from the nearby bar in the back of the farmhouseâs library. Still grumbling, he poured the conjured rum into two glasses. His horn flashed a little brighter and several ice cubes manifested mid-air and then fell into the glasses with a splash. He grabbed one and took a sip, offering the other to Lugus, who took it gratefully with a nod.

âœTo the simple pleasures in life,â Lugus said, raising his glass in his talons and saluting Bucky.

Chapter 253

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It was almost evening when Princess Celestia burst into existence by the farmhouse. The crickets were chirping, frogs were singing, and Bucky was deep in his cups on the front porch, well on his way to becoming soused. Upon seeing Celestia, his horn flashed and he quickly approached the terrible state of being sober.

Already, his head was thumping.

Looking around her, Celestiaâs gaze fell upon the school and the new towers that had sprung up only recently. Her head moved slowly, taking in every detail, her keen pegasus powers of observation manifesting, and finally she turned her gaze on Bucky.

âœI am still very upset with you,â Celestia announced.

âœShe poisoned me,â Bucky said, his voice dangerously close to a growl. Only his love for Celestia kept him from being openly hostile towards the alicorn.

The alicorn slumped and looked grief stricken. âœI know. My sister Luna told me.â

âœI regret nothing,â Bucky grumbled, his expression almost but not quite apologetic as he spoke, his shoulders slumping and his body language was one of sadness more than anything.

âœI am going to carve those words on a monument dedicated to you,â Celestia replied with no trace of humour in her voice. She recovered her composure and stood up straight. Her feathers remained fluffed out however, a clear indicator for anypony that spoke pegasus that her feathers were literally ruffled by the subject.

âœYou know, sometimes, I worry that you fail to understand just how much I have changed. Have you spoken with Luna?â Bucky inquired, his eye narrowing and his ears splaying out to the sides for moment.

âœShe has triedâ she has tried to tell me things but I refuse to believeâ Iâ we both know that you are troubled, but I believe that you can recover. You can get betterâ what you endured has been very trying for you and then coming homeâ having to face everythingâ but I know you can be restored if you will just-â

âœHold that thought,â Bucky said, daring to interrupt Celestia. âœWhat if I donât want to be restored? I have no intention of ascending. Becoming an alicorn will not fix me. Becoming an alicorn will only take everything already wrong with me and make it worse. Do you know what source the alicorn of war draws from? Do you?â

The big white alicorn stood there mutely, unable to answer, her eyes wide and unblinking, her ears folded back against her head, and her wings fluttered uncomfortably at her sides. Her ethereal mane and tail moved in an erratic pattern now that she seemed irritated and upset.

Bucky felt a twinge of pity when he realised that Celestia didnât know. âœThe alicorn of war draws power from hatred Celestia. Just like Cadance draws power from love. You mean to tell me that you didnât know? Just think about how much I HATE my mother and how much strength that would give me. Think about the conflict in the world right now. And hatred for unicorns. You know how loving Cadance gets around love, right? Well, imagine what Iâll become.â

âœI believed that the alicorn of war would draw strength from defending others,â Celestia stated, her voice ragged with emotion. âœSurely all of that energy can be redirected. Repurposed. We could find a way of keeping you focused as you kept all of us safe. The hatred might make you strong, but love would keep you balanced. Harmony would find a way.â

âœI suppose you are here to talk with Rising Star,â Bucky stated, changing the subject.

âœYes, I am,â Celestia responded, drawing her head up higher and straightening out her long swanlike neck. âœI do not understand you Buckminsterâ you have so much love but also so much hate. How can both exist in your heart?â

âœI donât hate you,â Bucky replied. âœIt is either or for me. Something is wrong with me. I donât seem to have a middle setting.â

âœSo you love me,â Celestia responded.

âœAs much as you love me. Or so I would hope in a fair exchange. How are your wings?â Bucky questioned, raising his eyebrow and narrowing his surviving eye at Celestia, his ears perking forward. He thought about a different Sombra through the mirror and wondered briefly just how much love Celestia had for him and how far their love had gone. He worried if there was any lingering projected emotions that might be influencing her and how she viewed him. He hated himself for being as cynical as he was and immediately wished that he had not burned the alcohol out of his body to make himself sober.

âœSore.â The alicorn hesitated after speaking the lone word, her muzzle scrunching slightly as she looked thoughtful. âœIn a great deal of pain actually,â Celestia answered, being a little more honest once she realised that Buckminster understood just how much the wing slapping had hurt her.

âœRising Star is in the house. I think heâs in the library. We all just ate a while ago, and he likes to study after dinner,â Bucky said. âœJust follow the scent of rotten eggs.â

Rising Star stared down at the floor, unable to meet Celestiaâs gaze. Other ponies had been shooed out of the library, the door had been shut, and the pair were now alone with each other. His guts were clenching painfully from guilt.

âœI know what happened.â

Squeezing his eyes shut, Rising Starâs whole body tensed. âœIt was only a kiss,â he whispered in a pained raspy voice. He felt a tightening in his dock and his ears drooped down to the sides of his face as his bottom lip protruded outwards. âœIt was so temptingâ I didnât see the harm in just a kiss, and the acorn seemed so harmlessâ I mean, Zecora uses them in potions so I thought they must be safe.â

âœI have spoken with Zecora. I was visiting with her before I came here. She was worried for you,â Celestia replied as she watched Rising Star twist himself into knots. âœShe considers you a friend. You left quite an impression upon her.â

âœThank you for letting me know,â Rising Star said appreciatively. He relaxed a little, took a deep breath, and then kicked his hind legs around beneath him trying to get comfortable on the sofa. He was sitting in the âpony-loafâ position as Berry Punch called it, laying on his belly with all four legs tucked in beneath him. He was supremely self conscious around Celestia and he didnât want to take a chance at certain things peeking out or any embarrassing reveals around the princess. Plus, he didnât want to look at his own hooves.

âœTwilight Sparkle will be bringing you a book about fey unicorns. As you have discovered, they are not old pony tales or fairy tales. There used to be a fair number, but they met a bad end about eight hundred years ago when they attempted to seize power from me, believing they could control the sun better than I could. The cloven hooves were all exterminated, something I did not want to happen. Are you at all familiar with the coven trials?â Celestia said, her eyes narrowed and her expression curious.

Rising Star shook his head and waited for Celestia to continue.

âœHouse Avarice sent out their armigers all over the land. The cloven hooves, even the innocent ones, they were all hunted down and exterminated. There were public trials, all of which were shams. They blamed the cloven hooves for all kinds of things. Famines, bad water, plagues, diseases, foals that died in their sleep, there was a lot of panic. And it all started off because just a few decided to challenge my rule. There was very little I could do. I was beset on all sides by enemies, I had lost my sister, I could not be everywhere at once, and a variety of other factors kept me from trying to deal with the terrible situation.â

A terrible prickling feeling began to creep up Rising Starâs spine. He didnât like what he was hearing. Not one bit. A cold sensation crept up his croup and then went galloping up his spine, up his neck, and then it sent shudders through the back of his skull that traveled through his whole body. He snorted and tried to compose himself.

âœYou are going to notice some changes. One of the most important to be mindful of is that ponies, females in particular, are going to be attracted to you. Twilight Sparkle will be giving you a spell you need to learn to curb this irresistible attraction. Husbands will become quite jealous and possibly even violent if their wife begins to fawn over you or show that she finds you desirable. And I do not want you hurt, Rising Star.â

Nodding silently, Rising Star remained quiet. He had a suspicion this was one of those occasions where it was more important to listen than it was to talk.

âœCertain types of monsters will be, and I hesitate to use this word, friendlier towards you. Ursa Majors and other zodiac animals, being fey, will tolerate you far more than the average unicorn. They will see you as one of their own. But I really do hesitate using the world friendly, Rising Star. The term is subjective. They are violent dangerous monsters, but now, you are one of them. So how they treat you is bound to be different.â

âœI donât understand the difference between fey and fae,â Rising Star admitted.

âœFae creatures are nature spirits or manifestations of natural concepts. Dryads are f-a-e creatures. Linked to trees, they are gentle nature spirits who serve harmony and keep the balance. Pyrodryads are f-e-y creatures. Nature spirits, but otherworldly nature creatures. Creatures who serve harmony, but have a touch of chaos and have infernal natures. Extra dimensional beings who connect to another plane. Like you. Once the connection to the primordial plane of fire was established for you, you were sucked down to the source. Make sense?â Celestia explained.

âœSo like everything else, there is a balance. Light and dark, fae and fey, heat and cold, it is all part of a self balancing system,â Rising Star replied. âœI draw my power from an otherworldly source, making me an outsider. A dryad draws directly from this worlds source and as such, belongs on this plane of existence.â

âœA very astute observation,â Celestia praised.

âœSo infernal doesnât necessarily mean evil, at least in this case, so I am not an evil denizen of Tartarus or anything,â Rising Star said, seeking confirmation.

âœOther than some changes, you are still Rising Star. You can still choose to do good things or bad things. How you look does not make you evil, even though certain ponies might think otherwise. Your magic has a touch of chaos to it, but that does not make you evil. Do keep in mind that your fires will now burn anything if you exert your will and make it happen,â Celestia replied.

âœI already can burn rocks and stuff,â Rising Star stated.

âœNo, I mean chaos driven fires will burn anything. Even the demons of Tartarus will feel your fires if you so will it. Why do you think Scorch is one of the Demon Lords of Tartarus?â Celestia responded. âœScorch could burn this whole planet into non existence if he so willed it. But he remains curious about life and some might even say he values it in his own way.â

The realisation was like a slap on the face, and Rising Star did not know how to put it in context. He slipped his front left hoof free, extended it a bit, and had a look at it, examining his cloven hoof. He found that he could flex his hoof and pinch the two halves together. His cloven hoof was black, hard, and strangely shiny. He could see swirling shadows moving just under the surface, and found it mesmerising.

âœI am trusting you Rising Star, because I believe you are a good pony,â Celestia said in a trembling voice. âœKeep my little ponies safe. Buckminster, for all of his darkness, I know he will keep my little ponies safe, and I want to believe that you will do the same.â

Not entirely sure of what to say, Rising Star nodded. He took a deep breath and settled for what for appeared to be a long conversation.

Chapter 254

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âœSo how much did you erase? How much did you cut away? I suppose it was for his own good, or at least you will make a very convincing argument to that end, as you always do.â

Standing just at the edge of the steps, Celestia did not turn around to face Buckminster, who was sitting behind her, right where he had been when she had arrived. His voice was angry and carried with it a subtle undertone of frustration.

âœI did what needed to be done,â Celestia replied in a low whisper. âœI suppose you sensed what I was doing when it happened.â

âœOf course I did,â Bucky replied. âœEnchantment and transmutation are my bread and butter. I could feel the enchantment magic in the air. You knowâ a less understanding father might take offense to you messing with the minds of his foals.â

Hearing the icy edge of anger in Buckminsterâs voice, Celestia felt a faint prickle of fear.

âœI suppose there was a lot at stake and things that needed protecting,â Bucky said in cold voice. âœWeâre not so different, you and I. We both doâ things. When you doâ things, you can excuse them for the âœgreater good.â When I doâ things, it is because I am playing to win or simply being a pragmatist. Right and wrong no longer seem relevant to me. I have discovered that I can live with myself after what Iâve done. Thankfully, out of the both of us, at least one of us has the âœgreater goodâ in mind.â

Biting her lip, Celestia choked back an angry retort. She chewed on her lip, her anger causing the temperature around her to rise, and then she tasted blood in her mouth. Tears stung her eyes. Buckminsterâs cynicism and bitterness cut deep, made her angry, and hurt her far more than she would ever dare confess.

âœSo what were you protecting?â Bucky asked.

Taking a deep breath, Celestia tried to calm herself. She turned to face Buckminster and looked him in the eye. âœI planted the acorn that would eventually become Thelesignus,â she said. âœI was a filly. A tiny tiny filly. And I was given the acorn as a test. I was told to plant it where it would do the most good. I chose to plant it in the Everfree, not too far from the castle where I spent my years as a filly. I could have placed it in a private garden for my own amusement, but I chose to plant it so it would keep the Everfree, which has always been dangerous, in check. For over a thousand years, I have nurtured that tree and kept it safe.â

âœSo I am guessing that something went on that was a bit more than Rising Star eating some acorn,â Bucky said in a low accusing whisper that was thick with contempt.

âœYes,â Celestia admitted in a guarded voice, feeling another hot flash of anger towards Buckminster and the fact that he of all ponies might judge her for her actions.

âœI canât help you protect what you hold dear if you keep me in the dark,â Bucky responded.

âœYou chose the darkness,â Celestia said and then vanished.

Staring at the blank space where Celestia had just been standing, Bucky heaved a sigh of frustration. He understood the necessity, but resented the intrusion. He cursed, grumbling to himself, and then decided that it was time to go inside for the evening.

âœYou know, I am not sure what to think about you liking my brother,â Dinky said in a low voice. âœI mean, I donât hold it against you or anything, and I donât want you to stop liking him, I just donât know what to think about it.â

âœHeâs different,â Diamond Tiara admitted.

âœHe pounced you. Iâve never seen him act so sillyâ I think that is as close as heâs come to being playful,â PiÃa commented.

âœSentinel is kindaâ I dunnoââ Dinky began, and then faded off when she couldnât figure out what to say or how to finish her statement.

âœHeâs noble. Heâs chivalrous. I mean, he let us drag him to the tea party and doll him up, and patiently sat there while we robbed him of his dignity. He could have screamed at us or even fought back, but he was just so kind,â Diamond Tiara said.

âœSentinel is a good pony,â Ripple said, looking up from her book and speaking to the younger fillies. âœHe is what more colts should be.â

âœSo you think he likes me?â Diamond Tiara asked in a worried voice.

âœHe pounced you. We can assume that he likes you. Or has an interest in you,â Ripple stated in a carefully worded response.

âœI really want him to like me,â Diamond Tiara said.

âœYou just want a colt to like you,â PiÃa teased.

âœWell, yeah, but not just any coltâ Iâm picky. I wouldnât want Snips or Snails liking me,â Diamond Tiara responded.

âœOh gross, Snips eats paste and likes it,â Dinky groaned.

âœAnd Snails always smells like sour milk for some reason,â PiÃa muttered. âœYuck.â

âœSnails always has a boogery snoot,â Dinky said with a shudder. âœWhen he breathes, sometimes there are snot bubbles that grow and shrink as he breathes in and out.â

âœEEEEW!â Diamond Tiara squealed. âœI know what you are talking aboutâ I used to tease him about itâ I still want to tease him about itâ we shouldnât be making fun of them nowââ

âœYouâre right,â PiÃa agreed, looking guilty.

âœFunny how easy it is to do something awful,â Dinky remarked, her ears drooping down low as she slumped over and sighed once done speaking.

âœDo you think Moonbow will kill me?â Diamond Tiara asked.

âœMaybeâ but she wants Sentinel to find another pony or two to have a herd with. I miss Moonie,â PiÃa replied. She heaved a fillyish sigh of longing and looked sad for a moment.

âœOh I donât know about all of that laterâ I just want to get to know Sentinel now,â Diamond Tiara explained in a nervous voice.

âœYouâre hot to trot for my brother,â Dinky said, shoving Diamond Tiara over on the bed.

âœJust a little, but I donât want to think about marriage and adult stuffâ I justâ I dunno, want a special somepony,â Diamond Tiara admitted. âœBut Sentinel is engaged to be married. Which is weird. He is somepony elseâs special somepony and I feel like I am intruding on something.â

âœThis whole family is weird. I call my sister my mother,â PiÃa retorted.

âœAnd PiÃa Colada is actually my auntâ I think,â Dinky added.

âœPrincess Luna is our Godmother,â Ripple said, her face hidden behind her book.

âœRising Star, our big brother, got sent to Tartarus for something,â Dinky said.

âœAnd our daddy had to go to Tartarus to rescue him,â PiÃa continued.

âœBoth of them got wing slapped silly by Princess Celestia,â Ripple contributed.

âœI wonder if daddy scared the demons down in there?â PiÃa asked.

âœIf theyâre not scared, theyâre dumb dumb stupid heads. They should be afraid,â Dinky replied in a very foalish sounding voice.

âœYour family is kinda weird,â Diamond Tiara interjected. She rolled over on the bed and propped her head up on her front hooves, resting her chin on both of them.

âœYeah, well, if you are interested in my brother, you have to take all of us with him. Youâll be a weirdo too,â Dinky said, flopping over on Diamond Tiaraâs side and using her back as a pillow.

âœI donât want to marry himâ I just want a special somepony,â Diamond Tiara whined.

âœSentinel only understands duty, honour, and obligation. If you show an interest in him, he is going to court you. Probably following the instructions for courtly behaviour found in one of these officer manuals that we have to read. If you get him to like you and then let him go, you are going to crush his heart. Donât hurt my little brotherâs heart,â Ripple explained, her last words a clear warning to the other pink earth pony filly in the room that was not named after an alcoholic beverage.

âœI hurt him once. I donât want to do it again. I just want a special somepony, so why does this have to be complicated?â Diamond Tiara said fretfully.

âœNothing is ever simple for Sentinel,â PiÃa responded. âœEverything has rules. Meaning. He tried to explain it to me once. He called it virtue and something else.â

âœIâm not ready to figure out my life and to try and be an adult. Iâve made a mess of my foalhood. Why does everything have to be so hard? Why canât anything just be easy for me like it used to be?â Diamond Tiara whined, her voice almost squeaking from emotion as her ears splayed out sideways. âœNothing makes sense anymore. Iâve become an outsider. Hardly anypony likes me. Hardly anypony trusts me. I keep making mistakes when I am really trying to be good and ponies just think I am acting and when I do make mistakes I get punished extra bad because of what I have done in the past. And I finally meet a colt that doesnât immediately hate me and heâs complicated.â

âœNothing easy is worth having,â Ripple said, lifting her face up out of her book to look at the troubled earth pony filly.

âœI donât understand,â Diamond Tiara replied, the first few tears now beginning to fall.

âœI want to become a knight just like Sentinel wants to become a knight. My whole life finally makes sense now. I have purpose. I have direction. But if I want to be the very best sort of knight I am capable of being, Iâve got to have my snoot bloodied regularly. Iâve got to take my lumps from Lugus. I have to test myself every single day. Right now, I am covered in bruises, lumps, bumps, and there is a tiny crack in one of my back hooves that is just killing me right now. And tomorrow, he is probably going to thump the fire out of me again. One day, all of this is going to be worth it. One day, all of this training is going to pay off. Like Lugus, one day, I am going to meet my banshee. And when that day comes, I will not hesitate, I will not freeze, I will not falter, and the lives of everypony around me that is depending on me to do the right thingâ I will do the right thing. I will come through. I will not fail. Reaching that point is not going to be easy. I am going to have to bleed for it. There is going to be a lot of lumps. Lugus takes a great deal of satisfaction in lump stacking, hitting already lumpy places and making them lumpier. It hurts so badâ and I love him for it.â

âœFunny to hear you say all of that, seeing as how your father used to beat you,â PiÃa said in a quiet voice that was full of confusion. She leaned over and rested her head on Dinkyâs side, making herself comfortable.

âœLugus loves me and wants what is best for me. And I trust him to do the right thing. If I am seriously hurt, I mean really hurt, he stops right away, picks me up, and holds me while I am bawling my girly little eyes out. And I trust him completely. But if I want to face my banshee, I am going to have to do things the hard way and take my lumps,â Ripple explained.

âœYou are only a couple of years older than I am. Youâre married. You have your whole life figured out. I am not even sure how I am going to face the next year of school. You seem to like pain and lumps. You scare me just a little bit with how much of your life you have together,â Diamond Tiara said to Ripple as she sniffled and wiped her nose with her foreleg.

âœIf you want your life to be better, make it happen. Pony up. Dedicate yourself to a cause. Take your lumps. So everypony hates you because of what you did. So what? Dedicate yourself to those who are your friends now and everypony else can go get stuffed. Just take a direction and go with it. You stick with us, and we stick with you, because that is how we are in this tribe. My father, my real father, Bucky, he just went to Tartarus ready to go to war to rescue his son and my husband from that horrible place. You stick with us and I know for a fact that he will do the same for you. You stick with us and I will call you sister. But if you toy with my brother, if you string him along and break his heart, you will get a detailed blow by blow explanation of what my cutie mark means,â Ripple said. When she was done speaking, she lowered her face back down into her officerâs training manual and continued to read quietly to herself.

Trembling, Diamond Tiara did not know how to reply and fell silent after hearing Rippleâs words. She didnât know anything about causes, or dedication, or even what her direction was. When she was little, she wanted to be a princess. A lady. She had a grand dream of elegance and nobility, and not long after, her cutie mark had appeared. Her father had called her his precious little Diamond Dazzle and the name Tiara had been tacked on after her cutie mark had manifested. She hadnât even worn her tiara in months. It seemed so useless now, and she was teased for wearing it now that she was alone and at the bottom of the herd structure.

Her thoughts, fears, and worries were all interrupted when PiÃa smacked her in the head with a pillow, knocking her over and completely ruining her concentration. Before she could protest, she was slammed with another pillow held in a magic glow.

For a moment, everything was smiles and laughter, until somepony threw a pillow at Ripple.

Rippleâs cutie mark was all about war, and pillows were a weapon.

Chapter 255

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The predatorâs dilemma. The depths of Sentinelâs mind had trouble figuring out where a desire to devour began and a desire for sexual conquest ended. Before him was a small pink earth pony filly, supine, helpless, on her back, sprawled out, and willing to fulfill either or both of his primal needs.

Diamond Tiara had sparked both sorts of desires within the now sexually aware apex predator. He stood over her, looking down, and she was smiling up at him invitingly. His mind recalled in vivid detail sitting on top of her, the soft velvet feeling of her short haired pelt as his testicles pressed up against her, the feeling of domination as he straddled her. Her muscled curvature set off hunger of all sorts. The heaving flesh along her ribs. The sure to be succulent muscles along her forelegs, which lay at her sides. He could feel the heat coming up from her navel, which heaved from her heavy breathing, rising and falling. Every inch of her thighs would be delicious. She was the ultimate prey animal, full of muscle, docile, and submissive to any of his cravings.

Below her navel he could see two small budding teats, just now developing and turning into something other than two meaningless bumps. They would be tender, easy to tear off and consume, and the tender sweetmeats and treasures that were hidden just beneath the skin, the tasty guts down beneath, they would be worth every bite. And just a little farther down from her teats was another series of muscles Sentinelâs predatory mind told him would be a good place to start ripping and tearing, an area filled with clenching muscles and rich red blood he could satiate his every hunger with.

He had other hungers. He could feel himself even now, hard as a rock and quivering.

âœYouâve found quite a treat for us to devour together.â

Turning, looking over his shoulder, Sentinel saw Moonbow. She was grinning, her large fangs visible, her tongue lolling out. A tongue evolved for licking marrow out of cracked bones. Something about seeing her excited this way inflamed his desires even further.

âœThis is the proper way for a hunter to woo his mateâ to bring food. Youâve caught quite a meal my little hunter,â Moonbow said in a low heated growl, her words resonating deep in her throat.

Sentinel watched as Moonbow moved closer. Her head dropped to Diamond Tiara, she began to sniff her, and Diamond Tiara giggled, unaware of the coming feast, or perhaps not caring about the fact that she was about to become food. The idea that she wanted to be devoured set Sentinel on fire. His guts clenched painfully, and there was a dull throbbing ache in his balls.

âœWhat a morselâ look at all of this fat, soft flesh. It is like she has been fattened up for the slaughter. What a soft pathetic mewling creature. What a meal youâve found,â Moonbow said lustily as she began to sniff along Diamond Tiaraâs throat, taking in the scent of hapless, willing prey.

âœWait,â Sentinel whispered.

âœWait?â Moonbow asked. She sniffed again, and then began to move towards Sentinel, sniffing at him. âœOhâ you want to play with our foodâ I understand my mate.â

Moonbow moved swiftly, impossibly fast for a creature of her already considerable size and bulk, and not even her full size yet. Sentinel found himself thrown down on top of Diamond Tiaraâs body, every warm curve of her pressing tightly against his own finely muscled body. A broad hoof pressed down on his croup, and he felt himselfâ

âœAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!â Sentinel cried, feeling warm flesh wrapped around him for the first time. Diamond Tiaraâs delicate throat was inches away from his toothy maw, and he could feel her heart beating in her barrel, which was pressed against his own. Diamond Tiara was panting, heaving, her breath coming in fevered whimpering cries, and he felt the sort of intimacy that only predator and prey share with one another as the predator works his way inside, finding all of the hidden places within their prey.

âœRut her senseless, get the blood flowing, and then tear her throat out,â Moonbow snarled.

Using his echolocation, he easily found the artery in her throat that lead directly to her heart. Moving with the precision that only an apex predator has, he clamped his maw down upon her jugular, bit down, and drank deep of the warm salty liquid that came spurting forth.

Bolting awake with a cry, Sentinel kicked and squirmed beneath his covers. His bed was soaked. His belly felt damp. He was still aroused and his body shuddered as even more seed came spurting out. Everything was drenched.

Confused, frightened, and feeling horribly guilty for even dreaming about killing and eating another pony, Sentinel began to weep bitterly, covering his face with his hooves, his body wracked with sobs as he wailed into his pillow, too ashamed to let anypony hear him.

When his sobs finally subsided, he slipped free from his sopping wet bed, dropped to the floor, eased down the hall, and took a shower, hoping that nopony would awake. No matter how much he scrubbed, the shame would not go away, and he did not feel clean. Many sooty brown pelt hairs were washed down the drain as he literally scrubbed away some of his own pelt from his frenzied efforts.

After his shower, he did not know what to do. He stood in the hall, still slightly damp, and he could smell her. His nose told him she was nearby, tucked in bed in his sistersâ room, along with Ripple, Dinky, and PiÃa. Shame burned the back of his neck and his ears.

His father was gone, having left shortly before midnight to go to Canterlot. Sentinelâs bed was still a mess. More than anything, he wanted his father. His father would understand and would make everything better somehow. His father would know how to make the hurt and confusion go away. His father could make the savage primal parts of him behave and become submissive.

He looked at Barleyâs door. Barley was always nice to him. Barley was always kind and called him nephew. Barley, who was quiet and reflective and knew how to say all of the right things to Sentinelâs quiet inner voice. He moved on silent hooves towards Barleyâs door and pushed it open. He peered inside at the sleeping stallion, and then crept to his bedside.

âœBarley!â Sentinel hissed.

There was a muffled snort, a gasp, and a sharp report of flatulence as the old stallion was startled into wakefulness.

âœAch, crivens, damnit lad, yer a terrible wee beastie, ye dinnae scare an old stallion awake at his bedside with yon skeery flesh ripping face full oâ fangs,â Barley grumbled.

âœSorryââ Sentinel whimpered.

Sensing something was wrong, Barley lifted his head, causing his neck to crackle. âœWhatâs wrong lad?â

âœI had an accident in my bed,â Sentinel said, his voice thick with shame.

âœYe wet the bed? Eh, so what, I wet the bed occasionally. At my age, I sneeze and everything back there leaks,â Barley groused. âœLunaâs a real tease about it, she likes to tickle my nose with her wing just trying to make something happen, laughinâ the whole time, the cuss headed lass. Nae respect for her elders.â

âœNoâ I didnât piss the bed,â Sentinel whispered in a faint voice.

âœOhâ ye had yerself one of those sorts of dreams, eh lad?â Barley said, rising into sitting position and looking at Sentinel, who was barely visible in the dark.

âœIt was a nightmare,â Sentinel cried, sitting down upon the floor and shaking with terror.

âœAchâ one of those sorts of dreams and it was skeery,â Barley whispered.

âœIâve never had a dream like this beforeââ Sentinel confessed.

âœNeâer had a wet dream before and yer first one was skeeryâ aye, thatâll put ye off the mood for a while,â Barley grumbled. His horn ignited and he lifted the squirming colt up to the bed with him. He wrapped one foreleg over Sentinelâs withers and gave a squeeze. âœYou must be scared shiteless.â

âœMy bed is a mess,â Sentinel whispered. âœI did something wrong. Luna is going to punish me. I broke the rules. I did something forbidden. I did something my kind are never supposed to doâ I-â

Barley silenced Sentinel with a light slap over the muzzle. âœCrivens lad, it was a dream. You dinnae do anything wrong. Dreams ainât real. And Luna wouldnât punish you for something ye did in a dream. Now come on, Iâll help you strip yer bed and haul everything down to the laundry room. Weâll clean this up and fix this wee mess, and yer gonna stop acting all nancy about it, ye ken?â

âœYes sir,â Sentinel responded, burying his face against Barley as his sobs began again.

âœAye, thatâs a good lad, cryinâ ainât nancy, let it out, but no more blaming yerself,â Barley whispered soothingly to his nephew.

âœAye, there is a lot to be done today,â Barley said as he sipped his hot coffee, looking at Rising Star and raising his eyebrow as he did so. He was red eyed and bleary from a lack of sleep.

âœI know, I am still kinda surprised by it. Celestia believes that I can help with the hoof rot problem by purifying the ground,â Rising Star replied before shoveling in a bite of eggs into his mouth.

âœAye, fae creature,â Barley said, looking at Rising Star with an amused expression upon his face. âœNow there are two oâ ye fair folk in this family, and I couldnât be prouder.â

âœTwo?â Rising Star asked.

âœAye,â Barley grunted between coffee sips.

âœMaybe Iâve gone stupid, but I thought I was the only one,â Rising Star muttered sullenly, no longer feeling quite as special. He slumped at the table and shoveled in more eggs.

âœYe and yon kelpie out in yon lake, ye daft neep headed numpty,â Barley chortled.

âœOhâ wait, really?â Rising Star said, coming to a swift and sudden realisation.

âœAye, sheâs fae. A water spirit. But sheâs kind and shy and sweet. She dinnae stank of rotten eggs like ye do ye great lout,â Barley chuckled, a twinkle in his eye.

âœSurprise is coming. All fliers need to eat more and chat less,â Derpy instructed from the living room. âœWow, Sparky sure can move now. Never thought sheâd be such a runner.â

âœWell uncle Barleyâ do you still love me even though I reek of rotten eggs?â Rising Star asked, leaning over and getting closer to Barley.

âœAye, I love yeâ but only a moron would trust ye now, ye cheatinâ cunninâ creature,â Barley said as he leaned over and drew closer to his nephew. âœNo honeyed words from ye or Iâll give ye such a zappinâ on yer arse.â

Bursting into laughter, Rising Star slapped his hoof on the table at the old stallions words.

Moving at a swift canter that was not quite a gallop, Sparkler urged her cadets onwards as they approached the bend at the far side of the lake, near the tree line for the Everfree. She ran beside Snowflake, just like she said she would, offering encouragement as she continued.

She kept a close eye on Cherry Berry, who seemed to be having some trouble being out in the open and running on the ground. The earth pony was managing, but was clearly having a few minor issues about doing so. She admired Cherry Berryâs dedication and spirit. Even with her troubles, she persisted and continued with her task.

Holly Dash and Twinkleshine ran together, urging each other onwards. They didnât have the stamina and speed of the earth ponies and pegasi around them. Big Mac brought up the rear, making sure nopony fell behind. He wasnât even sweating, and with his long legs, his movements were effortless.

Thunderlane led the herd, and Blossomforth ran at his side. Sparkler watched her as her head moved around, her eyes darting about, her gaze moving towards the treeline of the Everfree.

Orange Swirl and Raindrops ran just behind Thunderlane and Blossomforth, both of them giggling and laughing as they ran, clearly having the time of their lives together.

Sparkler felt a fierce sense of pride. All of her cadets had arrived together in one unit, not one lagging behind. Their arrival had surprised her. She expected one or two to be late, she had not expected for all of them to arrive all at once, all grinning and looking pleased that nopony was last. Sparkler had the strangest feeling that somehow, this half baked idea of hers was going to work somehow.

Chapter 256

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There was a small army of foals looking at the window. His window. Bucky smiled, knowing that they were seeing a foal friendly version of the window. He had enchanted it oh so carefully. He sat quietly behind them, and none of the foals seemed to know that he was there. Every foal gazing up at the window and listening to the lecture was a unicorn, and so was the teacher.

Class was in session.

Class became a lot more interesting when the teacher turned around and saw Bucky. She cleared her throat and fell silent, looking at the three legged unicorn off sitting by himself.

One by one, each foal turned around to have a look at whatever it was the teacher was looking at. There were many quiet gasps and a faint murmur could be heard in the crowd.

âœPrince Buckminster,â a foal announced.

âœJust Bucky,â the one eyed stallion replied with a snort.

âœI believe his proper title is âœWar Chief Buckminster,â class. Hero of the Shetlands. Destroyer of the Crystal Lich,â the teacher corrected.

âœNope, just Bucky,â Bucky insisted.

âœBut that is not proper,â the teacher replied.

âœIâm just a pony,â Bucky muttered. He looked at the faces of the foals. Some were clearly terrified by his appearance. Others were curious. Others were in awe. The teacher looked quite afraid and she trembled visibly. âœAnd I am not a proper pony,â he stated.

âœAs the Lord of Winter, can you make it snow?â a foal asked.

âœYes,â Bucky replied.

âœIs it true that you have Sombraâs memories?â another foal inquired.

âœSome of them,â Bucky answered.

âœDo you like tea or coffee?â a foal questioned.

âœThatâs a very political question among unicorns, there is no way Iâm answering that,â Bucky chuckled, smiling, revealing his fangs, causing a few foals to cower at the sight.

âœIs it true that you have five wives?â a small filly asked.

âœYesâ and I love each and every one of them,â Bucky responded.

âœDo you get nagged a lot?â a brave colt questioned.

âœWhen I deserve it,â Bucky replied, unable to hold back his chuckle.

âœWhy arenât you at home with your wives?â a filly asked.

âœMystery Mark, what have I told you about using contractions?â the teacher warned. âœThat is going to be two hundred and fifty sentences on the chalkboard later.â

âœWhy are you not at home with your wives?â the filly asked again, looking ashamed.

Feeling slightly annoyed, Bucky shot a scathing glance at the teacher. âœBecause I'm about to head off to Saddle Arabia on a top secret mission.â For a moment, Bucky felt a pang of shame, and then realised he had just used a contraction. His irritation increased and his dislike for the teacher grew just a tiny bit more. It always started so early, the enforced rigidity. He hated it.

âœMy father says you seized control of the government of Ponyville. Is this true?â a colt questioned, looking rather nervous as he asked.

âœI seized control of the bureaucracy and dismantled them. The mayor is still free to do her job, and I dare say her job is a lot more pleasant without the bureaucrats breathing down her neck and second guessing her every move. She actually has time to meet with the ponies she serves and her schedule is now very open,â Bucky explained.

âœHow does an accountant kill a crystal lich?â a filly asked.

âœHow did you know I was an accountant?â Bucky inquired in return.

âœWe have a schoolbook about you,â the filly replied.

âœOh my, alreadyâ they wasted no time,â Bucky said.

âœCome, it is nearly time to change classes, we must return,â the teacher instructed. She stood, stomped a hoof, and class fell into a line behind her, from the largest to the smallest. A few waved at Bucky.

âœYou and Princess Twilight Sparkle seem really nice,â a filly said in parting as the line began to move.

âœBe good little foals,â Bucky called out. âœAnd make sure to question authority,â he added.

Celestiaâs office hadnât changed much. The door was still shockingly easy to disenchant, the alarms were all primary school level spells, and Bucky concluded that Celestia wanted foals to break into her office. For some reason. He felt slightly confused.

Her desk was a bit more cluttered than he remembered. Pencils, pens, a kazoo, probably taken from a student, a phoenix feather, a couple of comic books, and a plate with cake crumbs were all to be found upon her desk.

He went to work, attempting to apologise the only way he knew how. Soon, the desk was on the ceiling once again, so was the chair, and everything else in the room. He sighed a smug sigh of satisfaction, and then had a brilliant idea. He turned the floor, the ceiling, and the walls into mirrored surfaces, and the effect was vertigo inducing. There were a billion reflections of himself stretching off in all directions.

âœYouâ you should not be here.â

All of the hair on the back of Buckyâs neck stood up. âœTwilight,â he muttered in surprise.

âœUgh, that is nausea inducing,â Twilight said as she looked around.

âœI was uh, apologising,â Bucky explained. âœCelestia and I had a misunderstanding of sorts.â

He backed out of the room, closed the door, and began to lock it, re-enchanting all of the alarms and protections upon the office entrance.

âœSo youâve pranked her, turning her office upside down,â Twilight stated.

Nodding, Bucky said nothing. There was nothing that could be said.

âœYou are a disreputable maladjusted warlock,â Twilight groused. âœHow louche you have become. I suppose you will be pranking me next?â

âœIâm also your cousin,â Bucky teased, not answering Twilightâs question.

âœOnly distantly,â Twilight retorted.

âœCelestia needs to know that I still love her. There were some harsh words,â Bucky halfheartedly explained. âœWe should skedaddle. If the guard comes along, weâll both be blamed. Iâll make certain of it.â

âœYouâ monster!â Twilight cried as she took off at a trot.

Smiling, Bucky took off after her with his three legged hobble.

Sentinel was having trouble paying attention to Surprise, the Wonderbolt flight instructor. He felt sick to his stomach, nervous, and more than anything, he wanted to crawl back into bed and go to sleep. He felt guilty and ashamed. He missed his father terribly already.

And everywhere he went, he could smell her.

Her scent clung to his nostrils, filling with a flood of confusing thoughts and feelings. All he could think about was the dream and the horrible thing he had done. More than anything, he now wanted to protect her to make up for the awful thing he had done while dreaming.

He had no idea what it was that he was feeling, and he wasnât sure who to talk to.

âœCan you fly yet?â

Snapping to attention, Sentinel realised that Surprise was addressing him. âœNo maâam, not very well maâam.â

âœWhen I get done with you, youâll be flying. Iâve helped train your kind,â Surprise said kindly. âœAnd I bet I know the problem too.â

âœProblem?â Sentinel asked.

âœYouâre probably extending the fingers in your wings out from your central knuckle and locking them into place, and when that happens, your wing is too rigid and becomes too flat. You need to leave your fingers loose so you can cup some air under your wing,â Surprise explained, smiling broadly as she did so.

âœI thought I was supposed to lock my fingers into place,â Sentinel said, mystified that the solar pegasus would know this.

âœNo silly,â Surprise giggled.

Looking at her, Sentinel realised he was seeing something different now. She was sleek. She was curvy. Her croup had the most spectacular arch to it. Her hocks were amazingly shapely. Her gaskins were bulging. Her stifles were smooth, supple, and seemed almost a perfect place to get a good grip with his hooves if heâ

Ugh, what is wrong with me? Sentinel asked himself. He blinked and made himself stop staring at Surprise's shapely smooth silky sleek supple seductive silhouette.

âœAre you with me?â

Sentinel snapped to attention again.

âœI said your name three times, are you alright Sentinel?â Surprise asked.

âœI didnât sleep well last night,â Sentinel answered, being completely honest without saying what was really wrong. He yawned to drive home the point. This was almost dishonest, and he didnât like it at all.

âœIt is tough to be a lunar pegasus and be awake during the day,â Surprise stated.

âœHeâs probably thinking about pouncing Diamond Tiara,â Loch Skimmer giggled.

âœI am not!â Sentinel retorted.

âœWow, somepony is touchy. Sorry Sentinel,â Loch Skimmer said apologetically.

âœIt is too warm… I feel like I am overheatingâ I feel funny… I donât feel well at all,â Sentinel stammered. âœI gotta go!â he shouted as he took off, running at top speed for the lake, hoping to hit the water before something slipped out and embarrassed him to death.

âœYouâ youâ you transmuted a hairy mustache onto Celestiaâs statue!â Twilight stammered.

âœLunaâs too,â Bucky responded as his horn flashed and Celestiaâs statue turned into a hideous shade of plaid. âœHmm, nice colour.â

âœPlaid is not a colour,â Twilight argued.

âœSure it is. When a pony is wearing a tie that is plaid, how do we describe it when we see it?â Bucky retorted good naturedly.

âœWe say that he is wearing a plaid tie,â Twilight said slowlyâ âœWait, you tricked me, plaid is not a colour!â Twilight recoiled in horror, her mouth dropping open. âœYou made Luna puce coloured!â

âœAnd gave her a goatee. Helps with that whole âœevilâ appearance,â Bucky mentioned, explaining his reasoning.

âœWhy am I watching you commit magical vandalism?â Twilight whined.

âœBecause deep down, you want to join me. See that statue of Cadance over there?â Bucky replied, grinning wickedly. âœYou love Cadanceâ so give her a makeover.â

Grumbling, Twilight cautiously approached the statue. She looked to the left, then to the right, then behind her, and finally, she looked up. She and Bucky were alone. âœThis feels wrong.â

âœOf course itâs wrong,â Bucky answered. âœLooking forward to Saddle Arabia?â

Chewing her on her lip, Twilight did not respond right away. She was too busy turning Cadance a nauseating shade of avocado green. âœIâve been there a few times now,â she finally answered. âœI donât like how they treat males there,â she muttered as she turned Cadanceâs hair a revolting rainbow of sewage coloured sludge.

âœIs there going to be a problem with me being there?â Bucky asked.

âœSo long as I make it clear that you are not for sale or trade,â Twilight grumbled in reply.

âœOh dear,â Bucky gasped.

âœNot slavesâ well, not in the traditional sense. Pets really. Pampered. Loved. Spoiled. Males are rare down there and what few there areâ well, theyâre spoiled pompous brats with a roaring sense of self entitlement. The mares do keep them happy, and social status is determined by factors like how spoiled and pampered your stallion is. Even with the seemingly loving attitudes, the males are occasionally sold or contracted for breeding purposes. Rarityâs cat has better manners than most of the males in Saddle Arabia,â Twilight explained.

âœHmm,â Bucky hummed, admiring Twilightâs work. âœCadance is missing something. How about some braces on her smile and some horn rimmed glasses?â

âœBrilliant,â Twilight crowed. âœOh, wait, what am I saying? You monster!â

âœYou call me a monster, but youâve added braces, an external retainer, and hideous glasses,â Bucky quipped.

âœAnd I made her cross eyed,â Twilight added.

âœYou know, the cross eyed thing is just meanââ Bucky stated.

âœOhâ your wifeâ Iâm so sorryâ Iâm an awful ponyâ Iâm the monster!â Twilight shouted fretfully. She started to say something else, but choked on her words when she heard Bucky laughing behind her. She turned around and saw her own statue. It was bile yellow with puke green polka dots. She stared, now completely at a loss for words. Her mane was a day-glo safety cone orange.

âœOur work is done here, we should move on. The guard will be patrolling in less then three minutes,â Bucky warned.

Twilight followed after Bucky, hoping they wouldn't get caught.

Chapter 257

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âœSentinel?â Thistle inquired gently, slowly approaching the colt in the water. She could smell fear, panic, and a number of other scents. She could also smell the source of Sentinelâs fear and panic. Her little colt was growing up. âœSentinel, please, donât try to swim away, or I will use the water to grab you, donât make me do it.â

She finally drew near where Sentinel was huddling down in the shallow water, sitting in water that came up to his neck. He was breathing heavily and glaring at her, angry and frightened. Thistle felt her heart breaking when she saw the hurt in his eyes.

âœTell me, what is wrong my little colt?â Thistle asked.

âœI had a terrible dream where I mounted a filly and tore her throat out because I wanted to eat her,â Sentinel confessed in a frantic whisper. âœShe was foodâ but I wanted her in other waysâ I was so scared. I feel so ashamed. Iâm never supposed to use my teeth on another pony. Please donât hate me mother Thistle.â

âœOhâ my poor coltâ I donât hate youâ sometimes creatures like us have these dreams. The grass eaters trigger our base instincts. I donât know if I am going to be very good at talking about this, but Iâve had those kinds of dreams as well,â Thistle replied in a slow loving voice, her long fishy tail swishing in the water.

âœYouâve had dreams like that?â Sentinel asked.

âœIncluding one about Bucky, where I couldnât help myself and I just took a little nibble. He forgave me and said he understood, patting me on the head. It was a very troubling dream, because that is probably what Bucky would actually do. It scared me terribly and I thought I was unfit to be around him and my fellow-wives. I had trouble looking them all in the eye for a while,â Thistle explained in answer.

âœThat was just eatingâ this dream I had involvedâ involvedâ

âœOh Iâve had those sorts of dreams as well. We are what we are Sentinel. Meat eaters in the bodies of ponies. We must always guard against our instincts,â Thistle interrupted. âœSo who was it?â

âœOh I couldnât tell you,â Sentinel whispered fearfully.

âœIf you ever want to leave this lake again, you will tell me,â Thistle said with a cheerful but willful smile. âœDonât test your motherâs patience.â

âœYes mother,â Sentinel replied, bowing his head. âœIt was Diamond Tiara.â

âœSheâs a pretty little thing. Do you share your fatherâs appreciation for earth ponies?â Thistle asked, her voice sweet and soothing.

âœNow that you have said something, the thought is crossing my mind,â Sentinel muttered.

âœShe is pretty, but she also strikes me as being strong, stocky, and sturdy. She will make a good mate for you,â Thistle said, looking thoughtful as she spoke.

âœWith Moonbow it was necessary, but I am far too young to make these sorts of decisions,â Sentinel protested. âœSheâs young too. The mainlanders are different from us. She might be old enough to marry back where we came from, but that isnât fair to herâ I do kind of like her. There is something about herâ how she struggles.â

âœYou should go back to your flying lessons,â Thistle suggested. âœWe will talk later. Come to me Sentinel. If you are troubled, come to me and we will talk.â

âœYes mother, I will do as you ask,â Sentinel replied.

âœSo how is our old home?â Lyra asked.

âœThere are probably tentacle monsters in the refrigerators,â Bon Bon replied.

Giggling, Lyra squeezed Harper close and lost herself for a moment in mirth.

âœI suppose we need to pack up everything we want to keep and move it out here. Our little small bedroom weâve claimed for our more private moments is about half the total size of our old apartmentâ I never realised how small it was,â Bon Bon said, her eyes narrowed and her brows furrowed thoughtfully. She watched Lyra holding Harper and thought about how much smaller the apartment would have felt with Harper exploring around underhoof.

âœAt some point, we should think about maybe letting the others watch our âœmore private momentsâ perhaps,â Lyra suggested.

âœDo you think youâd be comfortable with that?â Bon Bon asked.

âœI dunnoâ Iâd like to be, but it is hard to say. Might be real hard around Bucky,â Lyra confessed in reply. She squeezed Harper again, and then began to bounce her around gently. âœBerry and I flirt a bit. I feel bad for leaving Bucky out, but maybe we could ask the others to join us. But not all at once. I think Iâd be overwhelmed. I still have some trouble when it is just us Bonnie.â

âœI know Lyra,â Bon Bon said gently.

âœSo how is everypony? Did you see anypony?â Lyra questioned.

âœI saw a few ponies. I stopped in and visited the Cakes. I saw Twist,â Bon Bon replied.

âœHow is Twist?â Lyra inquired.

âœShe is staying with the Cakes. Her parents went to Manehatten on business. The collapse happened. They havenât been heard from in a long time,â Bon Bon said sadly.

âœThatâs not good,â Lyra said.

âœSheâs about the same age that Pinkie Pie was when Pinkie Pie left home, came to Ponyville, and then lived with the Cakes. I think sheâll adapt,â Bon Bon said. âœHer parents were always gone anyways. They were never that close. As terrible as it sounds, I think it will make it easier.â

âœAre we good parents?â Lyra asked, her voice filled with insecurity and doubt.

âœI think so Lyra,â Bon Bon answered.

Looking at the map, Bucky studied the long twisting route that the train would be taking from Saddle Arabia to Ponyville. A vast section of desert, the Badlands off to one side, plenty of places for an ambush. The Macintosh Hills would have a strong potential for danger, there were a number of tunnels and canyons that seemed ideal to stop a train. Traveling along the coast of the inland sea would expose them to ships. The train would be traveling through Mustangia as it traveled along the coast of the inland sea, taking on water and fresh coal. The entire route seemed as though it would be fraught with danger.

âœWhy canât we do this by airship?â Bucky asked in a demanding voice.

âœMost of our navy is engaged along our borders, and many are in the Sea of Grass securing the borders with Griffonholm and the Hinterlands. Our fleet is spread thin. Also, I do not think you understand how much food is being shipped. The train is going to be several miles long. Ten engines and ten tender cars for coal,â Luna replied.

âœWhat a nightmare. The train will literally stretch from one horizon to another,â Bucky grumbled, rubbing the withered side of his face with his stump. âœThis is insanity.â

âœNothing has ever been done like this before. This is a moment of engineering history. The longest train ever assembled. The heaviest load ever hauled. The food we haul will keep hundreds of thousands from dying of starvation during the winter,â Luna said, her voice full of an odd manic pride.

âœTwilight and I must make sure that this train does not stop,â Bucky stated. He looked at the specification sheet. âœTwenty two thousand feet long. That is over four miles in length.â

âœEspecially in the Macintosh Hills. If the train is halted on an incline, it will have to be thrown into reverse and pushed back to level ground in order to build up enough steam to make the climb on the second attempt,â Luna explained. âœYou will need at least a hundred mile stretch to build up steam to make the climb.â

âœThis is nuts,â Bucky grumbled.

âœYou will have one airship for support. A light support frigate crewed by Myrmidons,â Luna said, ignoring Buckyâs grumbling. âœPity you donât have wings, they would be useful here. Twilight will be able to fly from one end of the train to the other. Enchant your armor so you will stick to the train and not risk falling off. You will be able to walk along the top and the sides. There will be a couple of passenger cars in the middle for your comfort.â

Looking at the map, Bucky sighed. He turned to look at Luna. This whole idea was folly. Scowling, he shook his head. âœWhat if the track is damaged? Will the brakes on the engines even be able to stop the train?â

âœWe will have some unicorn engineers on the airship and the means to repair. That is why we are sending along a supply frigate,â Luna responded. Seeing Buckyâs irritation, her demeanor changed to one of commanding superiourity, and she watched as Bucky became a bit more submissive. âœAs for stopping, you and Twilight will be responsible for stopping the train in an emergency.â

âœSending supplies by sea is out I suppose,â Bucky said as he leaned over the map.

âœWould take too long,â Luna answered.

âœThis is going to go badly,â Bucky mumbled. âœThis will all end in tears, I just know it.â

âœAnd it is your job to make sure that it does not,â Luna demanded. âœYou are to keep Twilight as safe as equinely possible and you will command the Myrmidons if they require leadership for some reason.â

âœLike when something goes catastrophically wrong,â Bucky groused.

âœYou are a type four and Twilight is an alicorn. Between the two of you, you should be able to reverse natural disasters, change the geography, alter the course of rivers, and make sure a train makes it from one point to another,â Luna snapped.

âœI suck at magic, remember?â Bucky retorted, daring to talk back to his Mistress.

âœYou are good at killing things and finding creative solutions to impossible problems. No more whining!â Luna barked. âœPlus, you are barking mad down deep in your mind. There are things in that twisted brain of yours that frighten me a great deal. If something happens and the train is lost, I at least have the satisfaction of knowing that those responsible will be dealt with in what could only be described as a waking nightmare.â

âœI wonât hurt or kill other ponies,â Bucky stated defiantly.

âœI am not asking you to kill other ponies, but if this mission fails and hundreds of thousands of ponies starve just because you decided to go easy on a few bandits, you will never know the end of my fury,â Luna promised.

âœI understand, Mistress,â Bucky replied.

âœYou are to keep Buckminster contained, do you understand me Twilight?â Celestia inquired, her voice firm. âœNo fusing of hydrogen atoms. No demon summoning. No disintegrations,â she commanded, her eyes narrowing.

âœThen why are you sending him?â Twilight asked.

âœIn the event that those things become necessary,â Celestia huffed. She turned her head to look at Twilight when she heard the loud gulp from across the room.

âœWhat about me? You knowâ I couldâ I could do those sorts of things,â Twilight stammered nervously.

âœCould you?â Celestia asked coldly.

âœWell, theoretically,â Twilight began. She opened her mouth to say something else, her lips moved, but no words came out and she remained silent. Finally, she closed her mouth and gave up after realising she had no idea what to say.

âœHow is Chrysalis?â Celestia inquired.

âœChrysalis? What does she have to do with anything?â Twilight questioned in reply.

âœShe is still somehow alive after you went off to do battle with her,â Celestia stated. âœAnd now, ponies in the south are being taken. Even killed. She foalnapped Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo. She nearly destroyed the Crusader Project.â

âœWell I couldnât just kill her!â Twilight protested.

âœExactly,â Celestia stated.

âœOhâ thatâs not fair!â Twilight retorted angrily, her wings flared out and her legs went stiff with rage.

âœI suspect that Buckminster would kill her without a momentâs hesitation,â Celestia said in a soft voice, trying to defuse Twilightâs anger. âœThat is the difference between the two of you. It is my hope that you never have to kill anything.â

âœDo you really think he would kill her?â Twilight asked in a hesitant voice, but still angry.

âœIf he discovered that she captured and tortured the Cutie Mark Crusaders to lure you into battle? If he found out she hurt you and your friends?â Celestia asked. âœWhat do you think he would do? Be honest Twilight Sparkle.â

âœIâ Iâ I suppose the Badlands… would become… heavily irradiated,â Twilight stammered. âœBut he is such a good pony with his family. Iâve seen him. Iâve watched him play with Harper. I donât want to believe he would do something so horrible.â

âœHis own mother…â Celestia stated, falling silent, unable to finish her statement.

âœI know. That bothers me. I donât know how to deal with it,â Twilight admitted.

âœI have begun to have concerns about my beloved Buckminster,â Celestia whispered. âœI hope I do not lose him. Luna assures me that he can be contained. Balanced out. Held in check. But I am starting to have my doubts.â

âœMaybe you shouldnât push him so hard,â Twilight suggested.

Celestia whirled on her former student angrily and whinnied furiously.

âœYou pushed Sunset Shimmer too hard. You were so certain that she was going to be the Element of Magic. You hounded her. You pushed and you shoved and you never let her have a moment of peace. The strain finally got to her. And when she broke, you exiled her beyond the mirror rather than deal with and take responsibility for your own failure. What will you do with Buckminster once youâve pushed him too far and he breaks?â Twilight said, standing her ground defiantly. âœWill he go through the mirror? Would you kill him? Have me find some way of binding him or imprisoning him?â

Too furious to answer, Celestia stormed out of the meeting room, leaving Twilight Sparkle standing all alone by herself, and many unspoken words left between them.

Chapter 258

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Derpy heaved a motherly sigh and read over the paper once again, squinting her bad eye shut so she could focus with her good eye. Placement testing wasnât quite as good as she had hoped. Sentinel was well ahead of primary school standards for writing, but had abysmal skills in math. Ripple had slightly below average writing ability and her math skills were subpar. She was going to have to attend primary school and potentially be the oldest filly there. She excelled in simple arithmetic and creative solutions but there was a concern she might have some issues with violence. Loch Skimmer was thoroughly average and had scored just high enough to be placed into secondary school, but secondary school was optional and not required.

The frustrated grey pegasus tossed the paper on the kitchen table. This would not do. She could feel all of her hopes and dreams teetering on some great precipice. When Bucky came home, she was going to have to talk to him about private tutoring for all of their foals, including Rising Star and Sparkler, who seemed to have no interest in going back to secondary school or even university.

If she had to, she would wing slap them into submission. She had dropped out of school and she wasnât about to allow it to happen to her foals. She nickered, an equine sound of frustration, and then she blew her golden mane out of her eyes with a snort.

Feeling frustrated, she took it out on the first thing she could find. She snatched Berry as Berry trotted past, the earth pony had been on her way to the fridge, Derpy hauled her in with her forelegs, crushed her into submission, lifted her from the floor, kissed her savagely, and then dropped the stunned earth pony upon the hardwood floor, where Berry lay giggling stupidly on her back.

Derpy wiped her mouth with her foreleg and felt a little better.

âœWhat marvelous fliers I have, and I am glad you could finally join us Yew Wood,â Surprise chirped cheerfully. âœYou look sleepy this afternoon.â

âœPeekaboo was fussy this morning long before the dawn and Lugus insisted on letting her sleep with us rather than in the nursery,â Yew replied before slipping into a yawn. âœPlus, he kept me up all night.â

âœGriffons are largely nocturnal,â Surprise said knowingly.

âœTell me about it,â Yew mumbled.

âœI like being all up all night,â Loch Skimmer giggled.

âœYou certainly keep parts of Rising Star up all night,â Ripple deadpanned.

âœLadies!â Surprise shouted. âœFocus.â

âœLugus and I were just talking. We do that. He tells me about his time as a fledgeling and his trials as a knight,â Yew said nervously.

âœSure he does,â Loch tittered.

âœCan we not have implications of rutting,â Sentinel begged.

âœYes,â Surprise agreed. âœSensitive little ears.â

âœSorry,â Loch Skimmer apologised.

âœWeâre going to take wing. Sweet little Sentinel can glide marvelously, Iâve never seen a better potential as a glider, but weâre going to need somepony to give him a lift to keep him aloft,â Surprise instructed.

âœFlattery to cajole me is not needed,â Sentinel grumbled.

âœI do not flatter,â Surprise said. âœGliding is an art. Not every pegasus can glide so well. Gliding means long distance flight with very little energy expended. It means efficiency. One day, you will make for a marvelous cross country flier but only if you pay attention to me, listen to what I say, and learn.â

âœYes maâam,â Sentinel responded, perking up a bit under Surpriseâs honest praise.

âœSentinel is our glider, Ripple is our junior speedster, Loch Skimmer is our heavy lifter, and we need to find out what Yew can do,â Surprise summarised.

âœI have big wings and Iâm clumsy,â Yew said self consciously.

âœBig wings are a good wing type for a number of things. Gliding, heavy lifting, flying through heavy winds and storms, and keeping foals covered up snuggly-wuggly,â Surprise replied.

âœUgh, cuteness,â Sentinel groaned.

âœLike you,â Surprise chirped.

âœI am not cute,â Sentinel proclaimed sullenly.

âœSure you are,â Surprise argued. âœI think my husband is handsome in his own way and my little foal, who is still so teeny tiny, she is cutesy-pootsy adorable,â Surprise argued.

âœWait, are theyââ Sentinel fell silent when he saw Surprise wink and had the sudden realisation that somehow, everything was going to be okay somehow. Not just with his flying lessons, but everything. His dad had chosen a solar pegasus as his mate and had not devoured her. Several things in his brain suddenly clunked into place. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, suddenly feeling much better and thinking about how funny life was.

âœPlease, keep Twilight safe, she is very dear to me.â

Looking at Celestia, Bucky nodded slowly, acknowledging her command but said nothing in reply. In Buckyâs eye, the big alicorn almost looked like she was suffering a fit of neurosis. Celestia looked miserable, and he felt as though he was to blame.

âœI want you safe as well, please, do not think for one moment that I do not constantly worry about your safety and well being,â Celestia said in a strained raspy voice. âœI am so sorry, I was wrong for what I said to you and I regret everything.â

âœYou only spoke the truth,â Bucky replied. Upon saying it, he wished he could take it back. He watched Celestia flinch in pain and he felt something in his barrel clench tightly. âœNopony can fault you for saying what needed to be said. I chose the darkness. I still have purpose with my darkness. I am still loyal to you and willing to serve.â He hesitated, unsure if he should say what was on his mind. âœI also know about Sombraâ through the mirror.â

âœI loved him. And I see so much of him in you, even now,â Celestia admitted. âœBut do not worry. You are Buckminster and he is Sombra, and I know how to keep you separated in my mind. I loved the Sombra in this world as well, but in a very different way.â

âœI would do anything for my family,â Bucky stated.

âœI know Buckminsterâ that is probably far more fitting to carve upon your monument,â Celestia replied, looking sorrowful.

âœYou are part of my family,â Bucky whispered.

Celestia froze, her eyes closing tightly, and her whole body shivered. âœThat makes me a feel a little better to hear you say that Buckminster.â

âœI will bring Twilight back to you, whole and in one piece. She is also my family,â Bucky promised in a low voice. âœFamily doesnât always agree, and they might not always get along, but they do stick together. At least mine does.â

Opening her eyes, Celestia looked over at Buckminster and smiled a weak smile. âœYou have an airship to catch. Try to come home in one piece. I do not think I could bear watching you convalesce once again in the hospital. And look out for Twilight. She is very confused and angry about so many things. She is not sure about her place in the world. She had a very idealised view of how the world was, how the world should be, and then one day, she went to Fillydelphia and found out that the world was a very different place. Not long after, she watched everything she knew and believed in come crumbling down. She realised that I could make mistakes, and that I have made mistakes. She watched as the collapse happened and she could do nothing but try to keep control of the tiny section of the world around her. She still holds to her idealism and the last shreds of her naivety like a foal clings to their doll after a nightmare. I want her to keep her idealism Buckminsterâ it is my hope.â

âœI understand. I will try to protect that as well if I can,â Bucky acknowledged as he turned to go, hobbing off on three legs.

Watching him go, Celestia sighed. She drew in a deep shuddering breath and hoped that both of her foals returned in one piece. She understood that the rift still existed between her and Buckminster, but it was easy enough to stand on either side and wave at one another.

Carefully following Surpriseâs instructions, Dinky prepared to cast one of the first and most important spells she had learned as a unicorn. She recalled the words to the Blink spell in her mind, thinking back to that day that seemed so long ago. She had cast the spell that had made everypony want to hug her and her daddy, still her teacher back then, had nearly died because his horn had cracked. But he had kept her safe, and nopony was seriously hurt because of her mistake. She saw the pegasi overhead, ignited her horn, and said the magic words.

â Whenever I am all alone

And I am too scared to think

Whenever I need some help

I flash my light and blink!â

A strobing purple flare shot from Dinkyâs horn and rose into the sky, impossible to ignore, the universal unicorn cry for help that every pegasus was duty bound to answer. Dinky watched as Surprise banked, rolled sharply, and then began to angle towards the ground, the others behind her following her example.

A moment later, Surprise had landed near Dinky, gave a wink, and saluted with her wing. She pranced around in place, watching her students land, cringing as Sentinel came in for a hard landing.

âœWe all just saw a Blink spell. The Blink spell is a call for help that all pegasi are obligated to answer, class. It means trouble, or that somepony is hurt, or that something terrible happened that only a pegasus can fix. You ALWAYS come and investigate if you see a blink spell, do you understand?â Surprise said, explaining the situation to her class in a voice of commanding instruction.

âœSee a flashing flare, come rescue some unicorn, maybe have a chance to kick plot, got it,â Ripple answered as she folded her wings to her sides.

âœA Blink spell means trouble,â Loch Skimmer replied.

âœIf I see one, I will respond,â Yew acknowledged.

âœI already knew this from my officerâs manuals,â Sentinel stated. âœAirborne Distress Signals, chapter two, what to look for.â

âœDinky cast a very powerful version of the spell. Sometimes, the Blink spell is very faint. Always be watchful. If you are in the sky, you are obligated to answer. Always be on the lookout. Responding quickly can be the difference between life and death,â Surprise instructed.

âœThis is one of the first spells that daddy taught me,â Dinky said proudly. âœAnd he stressed how important it was. It makes a lot more sense now, after all of the trouble thatâs happened. It is about tribal unity. If a unicorn calls for help, and the pegasus answers, it means that the tribes are working together. If a unicorn calls for help and the pegasus ignores it, there is something wrong.â

âœDinky is correct. Always look for Blink spells and listen for cries of help. We are PEGASI. We are the sworn protectors of the other two tribes. We have a reputation to protect and that reputation states that we are loyal and we come to the rescue when there is trouble,â Surprise stated in a surprisingly harsh militant voice. âœAnd if I ever find out that my students slacked off and trouble happenedâ and my students did nothingâ I will bring a flock and I will hunt my students down for one final lesson. Am I clear?â

There were several nods and Surprise smiled at the earnestness that she saw.

âœSo when we see a Blink spell, we stop, circle overhead, look for trouble, and then dive down to investigate,â Ripple said.

âœAlways,â Surprise responded.

âœAnd other pegasi will come as well,â Loch said.

âœYes, but you must never make the mistake of thinking another pegasus will take care of it. What if every pegasus believed that the pegasus on the next cloud over was going to check it out and then just ignored it?â Surprise questioned.

âœNothing would get done because everypony would pass the blame on everypony else. So everypony stops what they are doing and drops down to investigate,â Sentinel answered.

âœGood foal,â Surprise replied. âœYou get a chocolate covered biscuit when weâre done, you adorable little cuddlebug.â

Very much against his will, Sentinel found himself almost smiling at Surpriseâs praise.

Chapter 259

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Alone in his small cramped cabin, Bucky began to examine his torque for lack of anything better to do. The braided silver coils were beautifully crafted, the wolf heads were in perfect detail, it always stayed strangely warm to the touch, and it gave off a faint dweomer of magic.

He looked it over, eyeing it carefully, looking for visible glyphs or sigils, and found nothing. He cast a few simple spells to detect magic and detect the nature of the enchantment. Suddenly, the torque was no longer a mystery. It thrummed for a moment, and made a sound like a bell being struck.

A faint glow came from the wolf heads and a projected image of five mares appeared before him, five mares he recognised all too well. Five mares that he was missing a great deal right now.

âœBehave yourself!â they all said together as they stood waving, their tails swishing, looking up at him longingly, broad smiles upon their faces. Derpy was waving with her wing. Bucky felt a lump growing in his throat. He missed them all terribly already and was wondering how he was going to sleep without them.

The torque was nothing more than a moving image and a message, and it made Bucky feel better to hear their voices again. It was quite possibly one of the most thoughtful gifts that anypony could have possibly given him.

âœI helped to make that.â

Looking up, Bucky saw Twilight in his doorway.

âœThe door was open. Usually that means a pony wants company, unless I am mistaken,â Twilight stated as she came in. She sat down on the only other bit of furniture in the cabin, a chair. Curling up, she made herself comfortable.

âœDo you love somepony?â Bucky bluntly asked.

Twilight blushed and her ears splayed out sideways. âœMaybe,â she admitted.

âœEither you do or you donât,â Bucky replied. âœMake up your mind. Are you a tease or something?â

âœItâs complicated,â Twilight muttered, her ears now framing her face, completely limp and dangling down as she glared at Bucky. âœI have a penpal. Who I like a great deal and weâve been getting to know each other through letters,â she confessed in a guarded monotone.

âœAnd here I thought it was Rainbow Dash,â Bucky stated.

âœRainbow? Really? You think that? Why does everypony think that? Weâre just friends,â Twilight answered, looking confused. âœIâve never understood this accusation.â

âœMaybe Iâm making a mistake when I watch her speak pegasus towards you,â Bucky said dismissively. âœI am pretty good at reading Derpyâs signals, but I admit, Rainbow Dash might have different signals. Iâm probably wrong.â

âœI donât understand,â Twilight said in a confused voice.

âœNevermind, it is probably nothing,â Bucky said.

Twilight shifted her body into a comfortable pony-loaf position and looked at Bucky. She studied him, watching his Taint filled eye ooze a purple haze out around his head, the vapour trail drifting back into his long shaggy mane. She swallowed nervously and then decided to speak her mind. âœIt is difficult to see you the way you are. I mean, your eye. Sombra was a difficult foe. It makes me recall a lot of bad memories.â

âœBad memories? Have a lot of horrible hideous things try to kill you?â Bucky asked.

âœWell, no,â Twilight replied.

âœBeen mauled? Savaged by creatures who donât even wait for you to die before they start chewing off pieces of your flesh and swallowing them? Or tied down to a table and had hot irons pressed into your flesh to make the bleeding stop? Or had somepony dig around inside of your eye socket to scoop out the remains of your ruined eye? Or-â

âœI get it,â Twilight said squeamishly. âœBut youâre not the only one who has had it rough.â

âœIâm sure plenty of your enemies have tried to talk you to death,â Bucky stated.

âœThatâs not fairâ Discord turned my friends against me,â Twilight snapped.

âœIâll admit, thatâs probably just as painful as having hot irons pressed into your flesh,â Bucky said in a low voice.

âœAre you being serious or is that sarcasm?â Twilight asked in guarded tones. She glared at Bucky, her ears folded back against her skull, her nostrils wide and flaring. Her tail swished once, and then she pulled it back in and tucked it against her side.

âœI would find having my family turned against me most unpleasant. Iâd find a way to kill whomever did it of course,â Bucky said in a low voice. âœSlowly and unpleasantly. I might even resort to necromancy to keep them alive long enough for some real satisfaction. I would want them to admit to their mistake you see, before I finally granted them the mercy of actual death.â

Feeling a chill in the air, Twilight slumped her head, feeling genuine fear. She chose to ignore Buckyâs terrifying little rant. âœDoesnât change one thing that is true. Most of my enemies have tried monologuing me to death. Nightmare Moon came back from the moon feeling chatty and sociable. Discord put us in a hedge maze and played with our minds. Chrysalisâ well, there was an actual scuffle during the invasion of Canterlotâ wait, what were you doing during the Canterlot invasion?â Twilight asked, coming to a swift realisation.

âœActing as a school prefect. All of the students were hidden away in the emergency bunker. I hadnât actually graduated yet,â Bucky admitted. âœThere was uh, some disciplinary issues that prolonged my graduation.â

âœYou and your pranks,â Twilight muttered.

âœNoâ actually I was going through a personal crisis due to my parents and I sort of fell apart. I became exceedingly antisocial and withdrawn. Celestia came down hard upon me,â Bucky answered, looking away from Twilight, a pained expression on his face as his focus was turned to the empty corner. âœSo, uh, what about Sombra?â

âœHe was scary, but he didnât do a very good job of trying to kill me. His love of stairs nearly did though. What a jerk. Stairs everywhere,â Twilight groused, her tone bitter. Her ears perked forward. âœYou havenât done anything evil involving stairs have you? I mean, one could see it as a warning sign.â

âœI have no idea what you are talking about,â Bucky deadpanned, immediately thinking of the stairs in his own tower. They were steep and twisty for a reason.

âœThe worst danger I was ever in came from my friends. They killed me. Quite by accident,â Twilight said, looking down at her own folded forelegs distractedly. She sighed. âœMy life has been an adventure, but it hasnât been all that exciting now that I look at it.â

âœI was out of place for what I said,â Bucky said in apologetic tones.

âœEverything you had to deal with tried to kill you,â Twilight replied in equally apologetic tones, looking Bucky in the face as she did so. âœI guess that is the difference between the Scholar and the Guardian. Our experiences are different because our purposes are different. I wonder how things might have been if our roles had been reversed.â

âœWould you want to be like me? Be honest, I will not hate you, cousin,â Bucky commanded in a gentle voice, a soft voice that he hoped would put Twilight at ease.

Her lips pressing into a flat line, Twilight hesitated to reply. She thought about the missing limb. The lost eye. Having the Taint. Her eyes lingered over all of Buckyâs scars. âœNo, no I donât think I could handle it,â she finally admitted. âœI canât help but notice that you address me as family.â

âœThat is because you are,â Bucky replied.

âœSo I suppose youâd be on the warpath if something happened to me,â Twilight said. She watched Bucky raise his head and look at her. For a moment, his face became so distorted with malice that Twilight shivered. For just a brief second, he didnât look at all like an equine, but something else entirely. She realised that Bucky wouldnât be all that out of place in Tartarus. She shivered again and felt a cold prickly feeling in her hooves, which made her wonder if her earth pony physiology was reacting in some way. She made a mental note to ask Celestia if earth ponies could detect unbridled evil. For a moment, she wondered if she saw what seemed to scare Celestia so badly.

âœSoâ who is your penpal?â Bucky asked, focusing his eye on Twilight.

âœOh, you wouldnât know him. Heâs from the Crystal Empire,â Twilight replied. âœOh wowâ I just realised how pathetic and cheesy that sounds.â

âœDoes your brother approve?â Bucky inquired, a mischievous gleam in his eye.

âœMy brother is the one that got him to write the first letter,â Twilight giggled. âœOh my gosh I sound like a lovesick fillyâ how embarrassing,â she said as she pulled one front hoof free from beneath her and covered her muzzle. âœCelestia made me write him backâ she told me it went against protocol for a royal to not write back to a soldier that sent a letter. We owe them for their service, or so she claims.â

âœSo heâs a soldier,â Bucky said, seizing upon a detail.

âœUmmm,â Twilight hummed. âœSort of. Heâs a guard, but heâs actually part of the messenger division and the communication corps.â

âœSo heâs seen action,â Bucky stated.

âœAre you teasing again?â Twilight snapped, suddenly defensive.

âœNoâ I was reading in the paper how much danger the messengers were in during the collapse, especially the ones running messages to Canterlot when some of the nobles were at war with Celestia. They killed the messengers. Dirty pool, ✠Bucky responded. âœDirty poolââ For a moment, he struggled to contain his anger, he couldnât tell if he was upset about somepony hurting a messenger or somepony at war with Celestia.

âœI was wrong I seeâ of course I should have known better. Of course the alicorn of war would have a soft spot for soldiers,â Twilight said in an embarrassed tone of voice. She squirmed and stuffed her front hoof back under her barrel.

âœSo does it ever become any easier? Being a royal I meanâ the guilt is eating me alive. I went from being a noble full of self loathing to a royal full of self loathing,â Bucky said in a strained voice. He fidgeted and squirmed, now wishing he could take back what he said and say something else instead.

âœCelestia tells me that being a noble is all about entitlement. Being a royal is all about enforced servitude and being a slave to the common good. We donât have the option of saying no for example, when we were both asked to escort the longest train ever assembled,â Twilight responded thoughtfully.

âœWhat do either of us know about rulership?â Bucky asked. âœTo be fair, weâre both very broken poniesâ Iâm speaking in a very honest and blunt sort of way.â

âœOh, I agree. I have some serious issues. I have some trouble dealing with feelings when I am busy sorting out facts. I think I hurt Celestia earlier when I was stating some facts. I didnât take into account how it would make it her feel, I was just trying to be factual,â Twilight admitted, her eyes narrowing. She stared off into some non existent point point, looking troubled. âœI suspect that I owe her an apology.â

âœNeurosis,â Bucky muttered.

âœYeah, that too,â Twilight agreed in a huff. âœBut to be fair, youâve progressed past neurosis and into deeply troubling and advanced psychopathy. You seem to only have a conscience when it suits you, which is a dangerous sign of-â

âœThere you go, stating facts again,â Bucky said in a dull monotone, interrupting Twilight.

âœOhâ gosh Iâm sorry,â Twilight said fretfully. She took a deep breath and made ready to offer a stronger apology, but she choked on her own breath when Bucky exploded into laughter. She remained silent for a time, feeling somewhat frightened by Buckyâs maniacal guffaws. For a moment, it was dangerously close to a cackleâ but then it smoothed into a chuckle and Twilight found herself reluctantly joining in, her laughter more of a nervous giggle. It occurred to Twilight that she was laughing with a madpony. His rant from earlier came back into her mind and she began to worry slightly. Bucky was a good ponyâ he is just a little troubled, Twilight thought to herself.

Her reserved and nervous giggle died while Buckyâs laughter continued.

âœIn Saddle Arabia, they have these wonderful things called pita pocket sandwiches,â Twilight stated, hoping to change the subject and make Bucky stop laughing. Much to her relief, his manic laughter eased off. âœThey have this bean paste from chick peas that is fried into patties. The unicorn chefs they employ apparently created this dish. I think youâd like it.â

âœMmm, bean patties. Embarrassing social consequences be damned,â Bucky replied.

Chapter 260

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The city of Baah-Rein. The city of Sheep Stop in some old tongue. Aside from ponies and the much taller Saddle Arabians, there were sheep everywhere, baahing and bleating away, and Bucky suddenly missed Berry Punch more than ever. Smiling to himself, he realised that with a little effort on his part, he could make Berry Punch fit right in here.

There were a fair number of unicorns here, a few pegasi, and the occasional earth pony. Type one unicorns seemed to be everywhere, and Bucky wondered where they came from and why they were here. He wondered if they immigrated down here to feel special, being away from the type twos and type threes of Equestria. Any sort of magic was useful down here, where the Saddle Arabians had no magic.

Most of the unicorns wore collars, indicating that they were owned.

Bucky didnât like this. Not at all.

Saddle Arabia didnât keep slaves, not in the traditional sense, but they had a culture of pets. It was a culture that encouraged ownership over what you adored. The males seemed pampered and the unicorns actually looked a bit fat all things considered. Most of them were pulled around the streets in drawn hackneys pulled by earth ponies or goats.

The hummus was fantastic and Bucky was glad he had learned the seemingly simple recipe for its creation. He was currently licking out the bowl of hummus and listening to Twilight Sparkle clearing her throat. He knew why she was clearing her throat. It was because he had his head inside of the hummus bowl. He simply didnât care and was ignoring her. The Saddle Arabian ponies had no magic and they ate without silverware. Bucky felt that he was fitting right in just fine.

Finally, he heard Twilight sigh and give up. When there was no more hummus, Bucky moved on to a dish of slivered cucumbers in yogurt, filled with little green leaves which seemed like mint and something else, Bucky wasnât sure what.

âœI see you are enjoying the khyar bi laban,â Twilight said in a low embarrassed voice.

Lifting his yogurt covered muzzle from the bowl, Bucky smiled. âœItâs delicious!â he cried and then stuffed his head back down into the wooden bowl, slurping and smacking away on his food.

âœSuch a simple dish reallyâ cucumbers, yogurt, garlic, and different types of mint,â Twilight mused. âœAll things we eat in Equestria, but this dish is unlike anything we prepare for ourselves.â The princess watched her companion gorging himself on food and felt mildly disgusted. Her table manners werenât always perfect, but at least she knew when to make the attempt, like in diplomatic situations. Buckminster was just barbaric. She shuddered and felt the corner of her eye twitch in alarm, the coming storm of worry just on the horizon.

âœSave some room for fattoush. The bread salad is delicious. I do hope they bring out the abakadoo ma' taheena soon, thatâs avocados and other stuff,â Twilight announced. She tried to ignore the fact that Buckminster was sucking in khyar bi laban through pursed lips, and making the most obscene sounding slurping sounds in the process. It almost sounded like the wet sloppy sounds of muddy ghosts crawling through the air ducts-âœOnce I have The Scorned Mare again Iâm coming back here for the food,â Bucky announced around a mouthful of yogurt and cucumbers, completely derailing Twilightâs train of thought.

Twilight began to have worrisome thoughts about eyebrows. Angry eyebrows slowly raising. Her mood manifested in her mane, and a single split end poinked into existence. Her father and his raised eyebrows. It hadnât been ghosts at all, but Shining Armor and Cadance. Wrestling.

Noâ not wrestling

There was entirely too much pressure upon Twilight Sparkle, getting the train back home in one piece was really starting to weigh upon her mind. She could only imagine her fatherâs look of disapproval if she failed. He might raise his eyebrow again. Or her mother might take away Twilightâs most prized possessions, her library card. How would it look if the town librarian lost her library card? Not good. Not good at all. The corner of Twilightâs mouth twitched and several more hairs in her mane sproinked up alarmingly. Suddenly her appetite was gone. Gone. Like her library card would be if she failed. Gone like her dignity when her father raised his thick hairy eyebrow at her. Gone like her sanity would be if she was sent back to magical kindergarten.

And the sounds of Buckyâs slurping flooded her mind with the memories of the night she had hidden under Shining Armorâs bed trying to hide from the ghosts. And she had discovered what Shining Armor and Cadance were really doing.

Twilight snapped to attention when there was a slight pressure upon her nose. She focused, trying to see what had happened, and she realised she had been booped. Buckminster had nose booped her and left behind an enormous dollop of khyar bi laban. Twilight, a princess of Equestria, was sitting there, stupidly staring cross eyed at a giant blob of khyar bi laban plastered to the end of her snoot. Several more split ends manifested, each accompanied by a faint sound like somepony plucking strings on a cello or a violin. Magic manifested in strange ways, often comical ways, and magical insanity was no different.

Bad manners. Bad manners. Buckminster needed that raised eyebrow. Buckminster needed his library card taken away. Buckminster needed to go back to magical kindergarten.

A reedy wavering laugh escaped Twilightâs lips. If something went wrong, she would blame Buckminster and they would both go back to magical kindergarten together. She would make certain of it. A worrisome thought occured. What if Buckminster got the gold stars she was entitled to? She couldnât let that happen. No. She needed those gold stars to validate her existence. She was just going to have to show him what she was capable of. Twilight Sparkle giggled, and for a brief moment, it lapsed into a cackle.

The train was impossibly long. Over twenty two thousand feet in length. It stretched from one horizon to another. Ten engines of a fairly recent design teamed with ten tender cars. Each engine had four driving wheels connected with heavy duty coupling rods on each side, or eight wheels total providing pull. The cars were all of an enclosed design, not open air bin cars like Bucky was used to seeing. There were a few passenger cars in the middle of the train.

The past week of travel and relaxation had been surprisingly pleasant and just what Bucky needed. He missed his wives terribly, but he was managing, and he found that he rather liked Twilightâs company, even if she had lost her mind just a tiny bit the other night during dinner.

Bucky did get the distinct impression that he wasnât the only pony with questionable sanity.

He settled into the passenger car, determined to enjoy as much of his trip as possible. His armor was at the ready. There were high calorie snacks stationed around the train that could be conjured up if needed. A whistle blew, and there were several loud cries.

Many were worried that the train wouldnât be able to move.

Another whistle blew, and then another, and then horns blared. A shudder was felt in the passenger cars. The train vibrated, it seemed to almost shiver with anticipation and Bucky found himself shivering with it. Cold chills ran down his spine. He was part of history with this train.

He felt somewhat excited. He wasnât too sure about going down in the history books as a royal, but escorting this train was a worthy accomplishment that he didnât mind taking credit for.

âœThink it will move?â Bucky asked his companion.

âœYeah,â Twilight grunted in reply. âœThe wheels will spin a bit on the rail and when they get hot, theyâll get traction.â

âœThink weâll have trouble?â Bucky inquired.

âœAlmost certainly. But from who is anyponyâs guess,â Twilight answered. âœChangelings, mirror travelers, bandits, saboteurs, cultists, ponies who hate Equestria, unicorn superiourity groups, could be anypony.â

âœWell, Iâm ready,â Bucky said. âœThis might sound odd, but I am actually spoiling for a fight. Or at least something exciting. Iâve been bored out of my mind since returning to Equestria.â

âœYou sound like a pegasus I know,â Twilight muttered. âœI miss my friends.â

âœI miss my family,â Bucky whispered.

âœThe idea of having a family scares me,â Twilight admitted. âœI donât know if I can do it. The idea of being responsible for all those lives frightens me.â She looked around as the train lurched again and then gave a soft smile. âœAny moment now,â she announced.

And then, with a screech of metal, the train lurched again and moved a scant inch forward. The passenger cars were two miles away from the engines and two miles away from the rear of the train, where there was a little caboose for comfort. With a herky jerky motion, the train began to move, the metal couplings creaking as tension spread through the cars.

âœWeâre actually moving,â Bucky muttered in disbelief.

âœI knowâ feels amazing. Weâve done the impossible,â Twilight responded as she broke into a broad smile and clapped her front hooves together.

âœGetting it home intact is going to be the impossible task,â Bucky argued, a smile cracking his mangled face as well.

âœDid you enjoy our visit?â Twilight asked, settling into a comfortable position in her chair.

âœThe food was good. The uh, the delegate trying to give me a unicorn pet was troubling,â Bucky admitted, his voice sounding troubled. âœI donât know how to feel about that.â

âœYou enjoyed the food so much that he wanted you to have one of his cooks so you could eat well. They all felt you were far too thin for a male,â Twilight explained.

âœOh I get that, I heard all the whispering,â Bucky said as he reached up and scratched his ear. âœIt was very clever of you to tell them that I was a pet myself. They were concerned about the branding though. Theyâve outlawed that practice here and have gone with collars.â

âœThey were a bit shocked, but also strangely hopeful that we were finally starting to civilise ourselves as a nation,â Twilight giggled. âœFor a pegasus to own a pet princeâ I do believe we may have accidently cemented all future relations quite securely.â

âœYou gave your word that you would lecture my owner about my scrawny appearance and slight build. Youâd better keep your promise,â Bucky chided.

Overcome with the giggles, Twilight was unable to reply. She continued to giggle, the worries of the mission temporarily forgotten as she thought about the absurdity of the situation. She enjoyed spending time with Bucky. Her distant cousin was almost like a brother or some other close member of the family now. She saw a side of him that was easy to love and to feel affection towards. She had seen other sides as well, but she chose to focus on the good parts. She saw the pieces of Buckminsterâs personality that Celestia desperately wanted to hold on to.

The train lurched again and now it was actually moving, creeping forward oh so slowly.

âœA week to get home if weâre lucky,â Bucky said, looking pensive. For a moment, a dark cloud passed over his face. âœA week of not being able to watch my foals do silly things.â

âœI miss Spike,â Twilight said. âœI left him with Fluttershy and Discord.â

âœHow is Discord?â Bucky asked, seizing upon the offered distraction.

âœDiscord is doing a little better. Heâs able to get up and move around now. He still has no real magic. When he gets a cut, he actually bleeds now, which really thrills him and makes him excited. He keeps announcing that he is going to die when he gets nicked,â Twilight said.

âœFluttershy loves him,â Bucky said in a low voice.

âœMore than anything,â Twilight replied. âœAll of my friends are growing up and settling down and Iâm still stuck writing my pen pal.â

âœSettling down?â Bucky asked.

âœApplejack got married. She didnât want a fuss so she slipped off to city hall and eloped. She married Silver Shill and theyâre happy," Twilight answered. âœAnd her brother Big Mac married Cheerilee not long ago.â

âœCheerilee didnât tell me this,â Bucky grumbled.

âœBig Mac is a very private pony,â Twilight said to Bucky, trying to make him feel better. âœAnd Applejack insists that Rarity is madly in love but I donât see it,â she huffed. âœI think Applejack is teasing me and having a good laugh at Rarityâs expense which kinda makes me mad.â

âœRarity found her noble?â Bucky asked, remembering what he read in the book about Twilight and her friends. It was public knowledge that Rarity wanted a big step up in life.

âœNo, Rarity has an earth pony living with her. Theyâre just friends. A pony named Coco Pommel, an old friend of Rarityâs. Spike seems to think there is something going on there too, but I think heâs seeing something that isnât there because of Applejackâs teasing,â Twilight explained.

âœAnd Pinkie Pie?â Bucky asked.

âœPinkie Pie has a pen pal just like me,â Twilight said, blushing as she said it.

âœAnd what about Rainbow Dash?â Bucky asked, even though he suspected he knew the answer already.

âœI dunno, Rarity keeps implying that Rainbow Dash has a crush on somepony, but I canât figure out who. Probably some Wonderbolt. Iâd guess Soarin,â Twilight replied, now looking out the window as the train picked up speed and moved at the pace of a slow walk.

âœSometimes, the love of our lives is just a snoot-bump away,â Bucky said and then then yawned. He settled into his chair. âœMaybe Iâll get in touch with Shining Armor and find out who your pen pal is.â

âœYOU WOULDNâT DARE!â Twilight shrieked in alarm, covering her face with her wings, trying to hide her glowing embarrassment.

Laughing, Bucky fell silent and watched the world as it crept by.

Chapter 261

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Saddle Arabia was behind them and the inland sea was ahead of them. The train moved with surprising speed once it was finally moving. Overhead, the supply frigate kept pace and the Myrmidons circled around the train, keeping a wary eye on threats.

Mostly, the trip was boring. The most difficult thing Bucky faced was boredom. Twilight had her snoot buried in a book. Bucky had his snoot in a book as well, but he was too distracted to pay attention. He lifted his head and looked out the window, hoping Mustangia would come into view soon. Something. Anything. All around was savanah, an endless expanse of grasslands that seemed to stretch in all directions, and all of it the most boring shade of dull brown. There were no clouds to look at. The island sea was close, they would reach it sometime today, and travel along the coastline until they reached Mustangia in a day or two, where they would take on fresh water and coal for the train.

Focusing his attention on the table, he drew upon his cold magic. In moments, he had himself a chunk of ice formed, and he shaped it carefully, making a tiny little ice pony mare in perfect exacting detail. He gave her wings and a horn, deciding the ice pony deserved to be an alicorn. His horn flashed brilliantly for a moment and the ice pony began to dance upon the table, a miniature ice golem for his amusement.

The ice pony seemed alone as it paced along the table. She wandered around, her little ice wings fluttering, her little icicle horn glistening. She looked up her creator and cocked her head.

Bucky felt a twinge of guilt. He knew better than to attempt to give his creations a personality. It was one of the great unspoken rules of enchantment. He felt a pang of shame for his first golem, a tiny automaton made of ice that he made for his own enjoyment.

She would melt soon, unless Bucky cast powerful permanency spells upon her to keep her animated. Realising she was alone and her life was limited, Bucky decided to do the right thing. Calling forth another burst of cold and drawing in water vapour, he made another chunk of ice. In no time at all, there was another little ice alicorn running around on the table. He made this one a stallion.

He watched his icy creations sniffing one another and then they chased one another around the table, their little hooves clattering. Bucky became aware that Twilight was no longer reading, but watching, her mouth open in awe.

As Bucky watched, his little ice ponies caught one another and sure enough, the male mounted the female and began rutting her senseless. Their lives would be short but enjoyable.

âœUgh, thatâs perverted,â Twilight grumbled, turning away.

âœThatâs what ponies do Twilight. Including your parents. Twice at least,â Bucky replied.

âœUgh. Ugh. UGH! NO! Blargh!â Twilight grumbled. âœWhy must you be so awful?â

âœJust think about the faces your friend Applejack probably makes when she and Silver Shill do what ponies do,â Bucky teased as the ice ponies continued their rutting.

âœNO!â Twilight cried, covering her face with her hooves. âœWhy must you be such a pervert!â

âœHeh heh heh,â Bucky chuckled.

âœYou have such talent, you just made ice golems with no real effort, and you had to be a pervert about it,â Twilight complained.

âœSo, ever thought about riding the pony making bone with your pen pal?â Bucky inquired.

Saying nothing, Twilight glowered at Bucky, her eyes narrowing and becoming pinpricks of furious rage. Her nostrils flared and her ears splayed out sideways. She felt an embarrassing quiver in her wings and it only made her angrier.

âœYou look upset, Iâm sorry. I am coming to the awkward conclusion that you have never rode the pony making bone at all,â Bucky said, his tone genuinely apologetic.

Twilightâs expression intensified for a moment, and then began to soften. âœIâve never done anything of that nature,â she admitted. âœJust the thought of it scares me.â

âœI was once like that,â Bucky said. âœAnd then Celestia sat down and had a sex talk with me. She said the word âœclitorisâ and I just about died. I had the mother of all sex talks from the mother of all ponies.â

âœOh by the moon and stars that sounds awful,â Twilight whispered.

âœIt was, but she set me straight. Gave a spell book full of sex magic. She wrote most of the spells herself it seems,â Bucky said as he lifted his head to look Twilight in the eye. âœReally kinky sex magic. If you ask her nicely, I know she would give you a copy.â

âœThere is an image I didnât need, Celestiaââ Twilight froze, her eyes clenched shut, and she shook her head from side to side wildly as though she had just eaten something incredibly sour. âœHow could she? I mean, why? I canât imagine herâ doing thingsââ

âœSheâs still a pony. At some point, she was in love. She did things. I donât think sheâs doing those things now, but Luna certainly is,â Bucky said as he turned his attention back to the wildly rutting ice ponies on the table.

âœThey're both sterile you know. Side effect of immortality. They can still experience phantom heats, but they canât have foals,â Twilight said in a sorrowful voice. âœThis is why Celestia takes on personal students and Luna takes on Myrmidons. Did you know that the Myrmidons call Luna mother when they are hurt? Luna really loves her Myrmidons. They're her murderous, freakishly-devoted-to-their-mother foals. Iâve been there with her a few times now when âœa new foal is bornâ and Luna starts working on their minds to make them into Myrmidons. I was there when Moonbow went through the rituals. She was older than usual, but she handled herself quite well.â

âœLuna is the former bearer of the Element of Loyalty,â Bucky stated.

âœI knowâ she told me that love is the strongest and purest form of loyalty, and all of her Myrmidons love her. It scares me how loyal they are to her. Luna wants me to take on a few Myrmidons but Iâve refused. I donât think Iâm mature enough for that sort of responsibility or love,â Twilight admitted. She squirmed and looked at the ice ponies who were still rutting. She quickly turned away, her cheeks as red as tomatoes, and closed her eyes.

âœI do believe I may have passed some of my own desire on to my creations,â Bucky stated.

âœOh gross,â Twilight fussed. âœIâm trapped on a train with a horny warlock.â

Unable to help himself, Bucky began to snigger uncontrollably.

The inland sea was beautiful. The water sparkled and was a deep azure blue in the sun. The train was slowing down, a difficult task, and Mustangia was just ahead over the horizon. The sea was clear of ships near the coastline and there was nothing but flat land all around.

Some of the Myrmidons had flown ahead to secure the train station in the great city-state of Mustangia. It was a port city on the inland sea and located on the train line, making it a major trade center and a focal point of transport.

Mustangia was protected as an asset of Equestria and governed by Saddle Arabia. Ponies of all sorts could be found there, but it was primarily an earth pony city. Saddle Arabians lived there and so did many zebras, or so Bucky had heard. Friendly griffons settled there as well, fishing from the great inland sea to get the meat they needed in their diets, most of them refugees from Griffonholm.

Out the window, Bucky could finally see the city in the distance. Several zeppelins and airships floated over the far off horizon. The train was slowing, and he could hear the squealing of the brakes and smell hot metal from the locomotives.

And he was two miles away from the engines. Up close, the sound must be deafening.

âœEverything seems secure, Knight Major Bitters,â the Myrmidon reported, snapping out a wing in a smart salute. âœThe teams work to load coal from the supply ship in the harbor quickly. There is a chute to feed it into the cars directly. The water tanks have already been refilled. Will we be spending the night in Mustangia?â

âœNo, we will not,â Bucky replied, his words slow and drawn out.

âœWeâre going to begin the climb through the Badlands Foothills and into the Macintosh Hills in the dark sir?â the Myrmidon questioned.

âœIf an attack is going to happen, it will happen night or day. The Badlands are our biggest concern, and you lot are stronger at night. Weâll have reduced visibility, but I feel that is a worthwhile tradeoff,â Bucky said, explaining his reasoning.

The Myrmidon, a male, looked thoughtful for a moment and then began to nod his head. âœI concur, sir. This course of action seems wise and well thought out. By dawn, we should be heading downhill towards Appleloosa then into Equestria proper. Weâre making good time and we are ahead of schedule.â

âœThe engineers who calculated the loads and speed made a few mistakes and things are working out in our favour,â Bucky stated.

âœSir, we are unhappy about Princess Twilight Sparkle leaving the train and flying around. Her safety is our priority. Sorry to be forward, sir,â the Myrmidon reported.

âœShe can look after herself. I hopeâ she is doing her job,â Bucky replied.

âœPrincess Twilight Sparkle flew off to look at various birds that live on the prairie. She was not looking after the train sir. And we had to send a detachment to go and look after her, a detachment that should have been guarding the train, sir,â the Myrmidon said in a nervous voice.

âœI will have a word with her. Sheâs a curious sort of pony. I am positive she was keeping an eye on the train even though she might have been looking at a few birds,â Bucky responded.

âœShe was busy reading a bird watching field guide, sir,â the Myrmidon reported.

âœOh dear,â Bucky muttered. âœStill, she is a master of divination. I am positive that she had everything under watch. She takes her duties very seriously.â

âœOf course, sir,â the lunar pegasus grunted. âœAnd when my Myrmidons landed and scared her, causing her to scream in terror, I am certain her awareness was focused upon the train.â

âœOh bugger,â Bucky swore. âœI will have a word with her.â

âœThis is why we are under your command, sir,â the lunar pegasus said in a low voice.

âœIâve never gone to officerâs school. If you think I know what I am doing you are sorely mistaken. I just make stuff up as I go and hope things work out,â Bucky blurted out, his words loud enough that several Myrmidons turned to look at him.

âœMistress trusts in your ability to make stuff up as you go and have things work out. You are an experienced field commander by all accounts. You treat your troops as equals and think of our needs. We will follow you. Into Tartarus if necessary,â the Myrmidon said, his tone reassuring.

âœI want this train moving within a half an hour of the last piece of coal falling into place,â Bucky commanded.

âœAye aye, sir.â

The sun was beginning to settle upon the horizon. The past few days were uneventful, boring even, but Bucky had a nagging sense of worry now. The Badlands were a confirmed battlezone, filled with changelings, cultists, covens, monsters, and all manner of horror. There were troubling reports of necromancy. There were rumours of vampires. Luna had briefed him on so many possible things.

Bucky stood atop the train, armored and ready. His sense of danger was highly attuned now, and everything just felt wrong as the train chugged up the steadily increasing grade of the hills and mountains up ahead. Beside him, Twilight also stood, her feathers ruffling in the wind, her mane and tail whipping around her. Twilight looked afraid.

A Myrmidon landed upon the train, saluted them both, and then turned to Bucky. âœSir, as suspected, we have company incoming. Changelings from the east and bandit raiders are moving slowly in from the southeast. Mostly pegasi with a few chariots and some unicorns. The changelings are a considerable threat. They are mobilising as we speak, sir,â The Myrmidon reported.

âœI have a plan,â Bucky announced. âœHere is what we are going to do. You are going to airlift the engineers out of the locomotives and secure them on the frigate. The frigate is going to go home at full speed. Keep a few Myrmidons aboard the frigate for security. The rest of you are going to engage the enemy and buy us time,â Bucky commanded.

âœWhat about the train?â Twilight asked.

âœIâm getting to that,â Bucky replied. âœYou and I are going to run this train. How much heat and pressure can you give me Twilight? Youâre a pyromancer.â

âœThe engines will explode,â Twilight argued.

âœNo, not if I hold them together and leach off the excess heat. You can run the engines. Weâll both use our telekinesis to hold the train on the track. We are going to run this thing at top speed until we make it to Ponyville,â Bucky explained.

âœYouâre mad,â Twilight gasped.

âœYes, I am,â Bucky agreed. âœCan you make the engines burn and produce extreme pressure and steam?â

âœWell yes,â Twilight replied. âœTheoretically. Youâre going to supercool the outside of the locomotives and keep them from exploding? Youâll have to be right on top of them!â

âœYes,â Bucky answered.

âœIt will be like riding on top of a bomb!â Twilight cried. âœIf something goes wrong Iâm not certain your armor would save you!â

âœWeâll need to load in coal and keep the heat going full tilt. Iâll be able to coat the engines with ice and keep everything cold. I will keep everything from going critical. Iâll need you to fly over the train and keep the train on the tracks with me. The end of the train will behave like a whip. Pay special attention to it and keep it on the rails,â Bucky instructed.

âœThis is utterly mad,â the Myrmidon said.

âœTry not to kill too many ponies or changelings,â Bucky commanded.

âœExcuse me, sir? Changelings-â

âœMight be ponies under a curse or something. We donât know. Slow them down, give us time to get this train moving, keep them busy for a while, and then disengage. Thatâs an order,â Bucky interrupted.

âœSir, yes sir,â the lunar pegasus responded.

This was going to be a long ride home. Bucky stood on the first locomotive, secured into place, covered in ice, and trying to keep everything together. Beneath him the metal glowed cherry red and the ice sizzled and popped as more formed. Ten locomotives burned with supernatural power. Each smokestack had a column of fire that rose over a hundred feet into the air and black smoke poured out into the night.

The entire train was covered in two magic fields, one magenta, the other blue-green. The locomotives were all covered in ice and steam. The sounds of metal fatigue filled the night. With the fires of Tartarus shooting out of the smokestacks, visibility was surprisingly good.

Bucky figured they had to be going several hundred miles an hour and it was raw magical brute force keeping everything together. The train, the rails, the fragile laws of physics, he and Twilight were somehow managing so far. All bets were now off. The throttles were all thrown open to the maximum. Bucky was pulling in as much water as he could from deep below the ground to make ice and keep the tanks on the engines filled. Twilight was moving coal with her telekinesis.

The boilers screamed with pressure.

The wheels and the tracks glowed red in the night and the entire train was an eerie terrifying sight to any who witnessed. It moved with impossible speed. And then, everything shifted as they crested the marker for the highest peak in their climb. Everything would be mostly downhill from here, with few changes in grade along the way.

As the engines crested the hill, Bucky realised they would be picking up speed.

Unbeknownst to him, the denizens of the Badlands and the hills were all fleeing away from the train, as nothing sane would even think approaching the nightmarish sight of the runaway locomotives.

Bucky was feeling surprisingly energetic as the train continued downwards. The metal beneath his armored hooves seemed almost soft. He could feel it move sometimes. He leached as much heat as he could and dedicated his will to leaching even more. His own armor was completely encased in ice.

Much to his terror, he realised they were coming up on a curve. The straight track was over and now it was time to test just how much magic he and Twilight really had. He had no idea just how many tons the train weighed, but they were going to have to hold it to the rails somehow.

As an alicorn, Twilight was used to doing impossible things, but this nearly broke her fragile connection to sanity. The train was going around the gentle curve with the wheels on one side completely lifted off of the track at the height of the curve. It took everything Twilight had to hold the train and keep it from tipping over. There was over four miles of train to hold on to. Buckminster was doing all he could to keep the engines from exploding and it fell upon Twilight to keep the train on the rails.

Behind them, the rails exploded and tore away from the earth after the train passed, all of which would have to be replaced. The steel rails curled and twisted from the heat and the pressure, turning into giant curlicues and coiling up like ribbons.

Twilight came to one terrifying conclusion. She didnât know how to stop the train. She hoped that Buckminster had a plan. She wasnât certain that he did. Her brain ached and her wings burned with exertion as she struggled to keep up with the runaway out of control train.

The hour was uncertain when Bucky saw lights in the distance. It took several moments of thinking to realise it was Appleloosa up ahead. His brain was full of confusion. Rivets were popping off from the locomotives all around and him rocketing off into the night, glowing white hot, looking like shooting stars as they arced through the night air.

Bits of metal had been flying off and Bucky strained to hold everything together with ice. Magical ice that was as hard and as dense as he could make it. But the ice kept burning away no matter what he did and he had to constantly create more. He knew he could kill the fires completely, but they needed the fires to keep the engines running and keep the train moving.

The residents of Appleloosa fled the town, running off into the desert. Off in the distance, a demon train approached, belching flames that rose a hundred feet into the night sky. A fiendish glow came from the locomotives, and a horrible sound could be heard for miles around, the screeching of the damned. The train was clearly filled with the denizens of Tartarus and it was approaching Appleloosa, which is why the alarm had been sounded.

Even the buffalo fled the area, trying to get as far from the fire belching monstrosity as possible. An old medicine bull announced that it was the end of the world and from that point on, there was only panic and fear as they stampeded into the darkness away from the harbinger of doom barreling down the railroad tracks.

Things werenât looking good. They had lost several wheels from the locomotives. Bucky had replaced them with wheels made of ice and it was a constant struggle to keep everything from flying apart. The smokestacks were getting soft now, they had become slightly misshapen, and Bucky struggled to keep everything solid.

Things were moving way too fast now. The curves were murder. Bucky couldnât even begin to imagine the strain Twilight must be under. They had passed the junction for Dodge City and the Ghastly Gorge awaited ahead.

Twilight welcomed the long straightaway ahead. All she had to do was hold the train together, and didnât have to worry about struggling to keep an untold number of tons tipping over. They had passed the Dodge City junction and were making good time. Fantastic time. Twilight realised they would be in Ponyville sometime around dawn, and she tried desperately not to have the mental breakdown that wanted to follow that conclusion.

Her vision was blurry and her whole body was covered in soot. She was mentally and physically exhausted. She didnât know how Bucky was doing. She worried for him a great deal. But he was doing his part, so she assumed that he must be alright.

She squinted and tried to see the magical projection map she had created that would allow her to see ahead from her position over the middle of the train. It was alicorn level divination magic. It gave her real time data of the conditions up ahead and let her know if there was anything to worry about.

Much to her dismay, there was something to worry about, and at the speed they were going, they only had to minutes to deal with it. Twilight screamed in horror as she dug a little deeper and made ready to do the impossible.

With a cry of terror, Bucky soiled his armor. His bowels turned to water. Ahead was the most terrifying thing he had ever encountered in his life, even worse than going down into the deep dark below the mountain. Ahead was the Ghastly Gorge, and there was no bridge. There was only a yawning chasm almost a mile wide.

They were moving far too rapidly and stopping the train in time was impossible.

Part of the bridge still existed, but the most important part, the middle part, was missing. Bucky wondered what to do. He supposed teleporting away was an option, but they were so close to home now. It would be dawn soon.

As he watched, a magenta beam of pure telekinetic energy appeared, spanning the bridge and connecting the two ends. A second beam appeared, but it flickered and fizzled. Bucky realised that Twilight was giving it her all. There was nothing left to give. He didnât know what he had left in him, and he wasnât sure his telekinesis could support several miles of train.

There was only one way to find out. He reached out with his magic and a blue-green beam appeared beside Twilightâs rail of energy. This was quite possibly the most insane thing he had ever done. His terror gave way to a thrilling feeling of being utterly alive. His fear melted away from him as something deep inside of his brain finally gave way, the strain finally too much for his mind to bear. He was free now, fear no longer hobbled him.

Maniacal cackling could be heard, his helmet amplified the sound and it filled the night, echoing along with the thunderous roar of the locomotives as they consumed themselves in fire.

He felt a shudder when the train hit the telekinetic rails and he could feel the strain inside of his mind, just behind his eyeball. He had to hold up over four miles of train by sheer force of will over an almost one mile gap. Good thing he no longer had a sense of fear. There was nothing holding him back now. At this point, death would be welcomed.

Somehow, Twilight was not sure how, she and Bucky had held the train up over the gap. Now there was an even worse problem for her. One of the sharpest curves on the whole line that would bring them into Ponyville. She pulled and tugged on the train as it began to take the curve, and the bend was several miles long. She could feel Bucky working with her, offering as much support as equinely possible. Somehow, he had formed the second rail on the bridge and for reasons Twilight could not explain, their magic was working remarkably well in synch with one another.

The entire train wanted to tip over along the curve, and she had to pull fiercely to keep it from derailing. Twilight dug deep and pulled, exerting her magical will, completely oblivious to the physical changes her body was going through.

Alicorns drew strength from different sources, and Twilight was the alicorn of magic. As such, under extreme feats of magic, Twilight grew as an alicorn. Celestia had grown quite large holding up the celestial bodies of the cosmos, Luna was larger than the average pony for the same reason, and Cadance had borne witness to several acts of love that had physically altered her body. The nightâs extreme use of magic had changed Twilight considerably. Her wings had grown larger, her legs had lengthened, and her neck had grown a little more swan like, all hallmarks of alicorn growth.

They were still moving at hundreds of miles per hour, and Twilightâs map indicated that Ponyville was just ahead. She still had no idea how to stop the train, but it was time to do so.

Hoping for the best, she let the fires in the locomotives go out.

The sun was just beginning to peep over the horizon when Bucky saw the lights of Ponyville ahead. They were moving way too fast. As if Twilight was reading his mind, he felt the fires in the engines go out. He began leaching as much of the heat away as possible and started crusting over the wheels in ice all along the whole length of the train. Steam rose into the heavens. Even with the fires out, flame and smoke shot out of the remains of the smokestacks into the sky.

More bits of metal were shooting away from the locomotives as the train began to slow. Bucky wasnât even sure how much of the locomotives were left, he had replaced quite a bit with ice along the way.

They were moving far too fast as they neared Ponyville, and Bucky worried that the town was in danger. He applied more ice, trying to put everything into a deep freeze. Everything he loved was here. The train lurched and he could sense Twilightâs magic trying to pull the train backwards to make it slow.

Behind him, there was an explosion as one of the locomotives shattered and exploded. Bucky reached out with his mind and tried to keep the train from derailing. They were so close. Almost home. Another locomotive gave way as the cold bit deeply into it, the boiler shattering into a million pieces.

Bucky realised that he was riding a bomb into Ponyville. He had no choices left, the train had to be halted, and he applied more ice, trying to freeze the train in place and make it slow down so it could be stopped. He uncoupled the boxcars behind the engines and made a tough decision. With a furious scream, he derailed the rest of the engines, tipping them over off of the track, and then teleported away from them as they plowed into the grass. Several more locomotives shattered and exploded, sending metal fragments everywhere.

Reappearing on top of a boxcar, Bucky focused on making more ice to slow the train down. There were no longer any locomotives or tender cars. He could hear the muffled thuds of explosions behind them as the locomotives finally gave up the ghost, pushed far beyond their limits.

He saw Twilight Sparkle overhead, a flash of purple streaking past, and she was using all of her magic to push the train backwards and make it stop.

The entire town of Ponyville heard the explosions and the screech of metal, and quite a few witnesses watched as the train came to a lurching halt at the edge of town. Enterprising reporters were already hard at work trying to take pictures of what was sure to be a historic event.

The air was humid from all of the steam, and the stench from everything that was burning drifted into the town. The melting ice turned everything around the tracks into mud. The rails behind the train were all gone, curled up, twisted, distorted, and broken.

Twilight Sparkle crash landed into the grass and lay still, her body not moving.

When the train came to a halt, Bucky lept from his spot on the boxcars and went to Twilightâs side, hoping that she was okay. He could not help but notice that there was something different about her. He stood beside her and took off his helmet, his armor falling away, the plates falling to the soggy earth. He prodded Twilight and heard her groan. Bucky realised he was filthy from soiling himself. He fell into the grass beside Twilight and took a deep shuddering breath, thankful to be alive.

Already, a crowd was gathering. Dr. Stable and Nurse Redheart hurried through the growing mob, neither one of them dressed in their usual attire for work. Nurse Redheartâs mane was frazzled and uncombed. Dr. Stable had forgotten his glasses. Pegasi came streaking in from all around. Quick thinking pegasi grabbed clouds and positioned them over the burning wreckage over the locomotives, and the rain fell down upon the twisted metal remains, making them sizzle.

And in the grass, Bucky began to cackle like he had never cackled before in his life.

Chapter 262

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Nurses Snowheart, Sweetheart, Tenderheart, and Nursery Rhyme all exchanged knowing glances with one another. A few were in uniform, others had been just called in, and the hospital was busy. Two royals in desperate need of fluids and food, as well as a whole host of ponies who had fainted from fear when the ice encrusted demon locomotives arrived from Tartarus to invade the town. Nurse Redheart was already out on the floor, growling, spitting obscenities, and smiling sweetly whenever she was in close contact with her fellow equines, a perfect nurse by any account. Nurse Redheart and Doctor Horse were both a little nervous about keeping their jobs after giving the prince sedatives due to his frightening manic and rather insane behaviour.

Things went from frantic to worse when a dark blue alicorn materialised in the middle of the nurseâs station. She yawned, looking sleepy, and then peered around with bleary bloodshot eyes. A possum clung to her horn with four grabby little feet, and his tail was wrapped around her ear.

âœUm, we do not allow rodents in the hospital,â Snowheart said in a low worried voice.

âœTIS NOT A RODENT!â Luna bellowed in reply. âœHe is my precious Tibble-kins.â

âœOh, well if he is not a rodent then there is no problem,â Nursery Rhyme said as she gave Snowheart a swift kick in the leg and offered Luna an appeasing smile.

Princess Luna, having just been woke up with news of the crisis, was not in the mood to be bothered by her subjects. She took off down the hall, peering through doors, looking for a pair of ponies she was deeply concerned about.

âœAn enema is not something to be sheepish or shy about,â Luna suggested to a nurse as she stuck her head into one door. âœIt is far better to simply get it over with,â she stated as she gave the enema bulb a hearty squeeze with her magic. She smiled when she heard the stallion groan, then gasp, and then a moment later Luna was rewarded with the sounds of something splattering into a metal bedpan. âœSee? Already so much better,â Luna remarked as she trotted away.

âœNurse, help me, I think Iâm pooping out my pancreas!â

Humming to herself, Luna made her way down the hall. She realised that she was not wearing her regalia and she probably looked like quite a sight. She sighed, exhausted from the long night. The dreamscape had been rife with nightmares of a demon locomotive, the residents of Appleloosa in particular had nearly been scared to death. Luna, who knew how to craft a fine nightmare on her own, had to admit, the imagery she had seen in the dreamscape was quite impressive.

Sticking her head into a random doorway, she found what she was looking for. One sleeping lavender alicorn and one dopey looking unicorn. She entered the room and began to check them both over.

âœI rode the BOMB!â Bucky announced in a wavering voice. âœBig fire. Gooey kablooie.â

Her nose crinkling, Luna realised she smelled feces. She lifted Buckyâs blanket. He had been cleaned up a bit, but not nearly enough. A quiet anger seethed inside of Lunaâs mind. He deserved better. She immediately began conjuring up what she needed to get him cleaned up, including fresh sheets and a blanket.

âœI rode the train of consequences,â Bucky giggled, his manic giggling slowly turning into a cackle as his remaining eye darted around wildly. âœThe train of pain exploded mostly on the plain.â

Sighing, Luna realised she had her work cut out for her. âœWhere is that stupid bloody phoenix?â she asked. âœAt this moment, Freezerburn would be most useful.â

âœI kept them safeâ I kept them SAFE! I brought the food. The food. THE FOOD! Everypony expected me to fight. Everypony thought I would fight. I would fight and I would kill and the Badlands would become an ocean of blood and that tiny little voice of the equine inside of my head would finally go silent forever and then the killing would be so much easierâ just a choreâ JUST A CHORE! Now a boreâ but I didnât stay to fight, I ran awayâ and the little voice went silent anyway, THAT STUCK UP LITTLE CANTERLOT UNICORNâ should be screwed with his own hornâ he stopped talking to meâ I think he hates meâ what did I ever do to him? WHY WONâT HE TALK TO ME? AM I NOT AN EQUINE? AM I A MONSTER WHOSE THOUGHTS ARE CONSUMED WITH TEATS AND OTHER JIGGLY BITS OF MAREFLESH? I just rode the worlds longest penis and I screwed Equestria good and hardâ cumming fire and ice everywhere. I belong way down belowâ should have left me with Scorchââ

âœBuckminster, enough!â Luna commanded as she booped the raving unicorn on his nose with one bare hoof. He became sluggish from her touch, Luna doing what multiple injections of powerful sedatives could not do.

âœMommy, my fear has died, his voice forever silent,â Bucky mumbled as he drifted away.

âœMy poor foal, you deserve better than this,â Luna grumbled as she went to work, trying to clean up and restore a pony that was very dear to her.

Twilight Sparkle awoke to a throbbing hornache. She opened her eye just a tiny bit, was assaulted by the sunlight, and immediately squeezed her eye shut with a groan. There were times she hated Celestiaâs sun.

âœI saw her blink!â a raspy voice cried out.

âœHush Dash,â another voice responded.

âœTwilight?â

âœUgh,â Twilight grunted. Everything in her body throbbed with pain. And the bed felt too small. âœThe blindsâ close the blinds,â she begged.

A moment later, the sounds of the blinds being closed could be heard and Twilight tentatively opened one eye again. Seeing that there was no horrible sunlight, she opened the other eye and looked around. One blue alicorn, one sky blue pegasus, one grey pegasus, all of whom were staring at her. She started to stretch her legs and felt the tug of an IV in her right front leg.

âœTwilight say something,â Rainbow Dash pleaded.

âœSomething,â Twilight muttered. âœBuckminster?â

âœSleeping peacefully,â Luna responded.

âœI donât know how we did it,â Twilight murmured.

âœYouâve grown Twi!â Rainbow Dash gushed, unable to contain herself any longer. âœYour legs, all of you, itâs larger now!â

âœWhat?â Twilight muttered in reply.

âœYouâve experienced some alicorn growth,â Luna said, offering the briefest of explanations. âœI will explain more later when you are capable of understanding.â

âœOh. Is that why the bed feels too small?â Twilight asked. âœIs the food okay?â

âœThe grain in the first few cars is being magically dried. It became damp from the steam. It should be fine,â Luna replied.

âœThe locomotives are all wrecked,â Derpy said as she paced near the bed where her husband slumbered. âœTheyâre melted and big pieces are missing.â

âœIn the span of about nine hours you traveled almost two thousand miles,â Luna said.

âœSo we were doing at least two hundred miles per hour,â Twilight groaned. Her horn thudded with its own heartbeat. âœOn average. Give or takeâ oh my horn is killing me.â

âœCurrently our fastest steam locomotive goes one hundred and ten miles per hour,â Luna stated. âœSo I believe some recognition for breaking a speed record might be in order.â

âœPfaw, thatâs slow,â Rainbow Dash grumbled. âœIâm the worldâs fastest flier. Mach two confirmed after my trip to the Shetlands.â

âœNot bad for a pegasus,â Luna said in a rather haughty voice. âœRather slow by alicorn standards.â

âœButâ heyâ noâ whyâ ughâ my dreamsâ thatâs not fair!â Rainbow Dash sputtered. The skinny little pegasus puffed out in an attempt to look as large as possible, her feathers fluffed, her legs stiff, and her ears perked forward.

âœIs Bucky going to be okay?â Derpy asked.

âœYes, try not to be troubled,â Luna replied.

âœHe was cackling,â Twilight remarked. âœI think I was too.â

âœYour task was stressful. He will be fine. He just needs sleep,â Luna said and then gave a yawn. Her yawn caused Tiberius to yawn, and then the contagious yawn spread to other ponies. She didnât feel the need to worry them with details of Buckminsterâs little breakdown. She was currently hard at work restoring what she could of his mind.

âœThe nurses said he was a little off,â Derpy said in a worried voice.

âœHe was a little delirious,â Luna explained in a comforting voice. âœI assure you, when he wakes, he will be fine,â she promised.

âœOkay,â Derpy said nervously.

Something seemed off, and Bucky wasnât sure what it was. Twisting his head around, he looked over his body. He stretched out his wings and looked at them. Still the same wings. He was certain his eyes were still full of Taint. Something was out of place though. He looked at the Tree of Harmony and then scratched the side of his head against it.

He kicked out a leg and had a look. Still the same foal leg.

âœYouâve grown.â

Not even feeling startled, Bucky sighed with relief. It was one of the many voices he had been waiting for. He knew that voice, and the two others who accompanied it. He turned around to have a look at them.

âœOur little brother has grown. Not to worry too much. You have the beast contained. But your power has certainly grown,â the zebra explained.

âœJust like Twilight has grown,â the earth pony muttered. âœShe needs to leave her comfort zone more often. This experience has been good for her,â the unicorn remarked.

âœWe have a task for you,â the zebra said.

âœYes, a task,â the earth pony repeated.

âœWe wish to repurpose one who has passed beyond the mirror. Once you are done dealing with the griffons, we wish for you to aid us, since you have offered to do so,â the zebra said, offering a partial explanation.

The earth pony moved to Buckyâs side and laid down near the Tree of Harmony. Reaching out with her foreleg, she pulled the foal down to her. Bucky, not resisting, lay down beside her, and leaned close when she kissed him softly. Something about her kiss eased his troubled mind and made everything better. She was warm against him, her pelt was velvety against his own, and he felt safe and secure against her, like any foal would feel against his mother or bigger sister.

âœShe was wronged. Celestia believed her to be something that she wasnât. Our parent had gone silent and Celestia acted out of fear and doubt. She still has a powerful destiny, but it has beenâ disrupted. We wish to restore to her some of what she has lost, and offer her a better fate. You will use your authority to claim her as an asset. Demand that she be fetched from beyond the mirror and brought to you. She will make a fine teacher for your school, and a fine student for you to impart your ways upon,â the earth pony explained.

âœSo I am to take a student? What about Dinky?â Bucky questioned.

âœShe from beyond the mirror will be your student in the sense that she will learn from you. You will be an example for her and offer her shelter. Should you take her on as your apprentice, that is entirely up to you, but it is not a bad idea,â the unicorn answered.

âœCelestia will challenge your decision, but you must be strong. Celestia needs for this to happen. Healing must take place. The scab must be ripped away or the wound will forever fester. She may come down hard upon you,â the zebra warned.

âœSeek Twilightâs aid. If you appeal to Twilightâs sense of reason, Twilight will help you,â the earth pony said, nuzzling Bucky as she spoke.

âœAnd what do you hope to gain from this?â Bucky inquired.

âœAh, our brother is on to us. Yes, there is something we want. We wish to reconcile with our sisters,â the unicorn replied in a low voice.

âœBut first, she must be made to see that she can make mistakes,â the zebra stated.

âœAnd that those mistakes have terrible consequences. She may plan for the long term, but many have suffered in the short term. She must be made aware of this,â the earth pony whispered into Buckyâs ear.

âœOur beloved sister has help now. She no longer has to make impossible decisions for long term gain. She can focus more on the here and now. And having her reconcile with Sunset Shimmer will hopefully set her upon a better path,â the unicorn explained.

âœI will do nothing to move against Celestia or do anything that will bring harm to her,â Bucky said, nearly melting under the earth ponyâs affections. âœI will help you, just so long as I am never required to do anything that will hurt her.â

âœWe want her hurting to end,â the zebra said.

âœYou have made us decide that it is time to bring our family together. When the time is right, we will present ourselves to Twilight. Cadance is already aware of us and our efforts. She is undecided if our cause is right,â the earth pony said and then planted a wet smooch upon Buckyâs head, just behind his ear.

âœIt is our hope that all of us together can prove our mother wrong,â the unicorn said.

âœOur sister Luna repairs what has been injured in your mind. You have endured. With your growth, you will be a little stronger and a bit more prepared to deal with such strain, but be careful,â the zebra warned.

âœWe worry for your safety,â the unicorn added.

âœSombra and Platinum send their best wishes and their love. We spoke with them recently, both are very proud of you. Celestia has been speaking to them as well. All of us are slowly coming together. I hope it will be enough to convince father that he is wrong,â the zebra said.

âœLife must continue,â Bucky agreed. âœEven if it is a hard life.â

Chapter 263

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âœFeeling better daddy?â PiÃa asked, hopping up onto the couch with her father and settling in at his side. She rubbed her cheek against his neck, feeling his longer shaggier pelt against her own shorter silkier pelt, and there was a faint soft crackle of static electricity as she nuzzled.

âœMuch better now,â Bucky replied, glad to have PiÃa beside him.

âœWhile you were gone, it was my birthday,â PiÃa whispered as she continued to rub her face against her fatherâs neck, tilting it slightly so her ear was rubbing against him.

âœI know PiÃa, and I am very sorryâ I got called away on business,â Bucky apologised.

âœNo, âsokay, really, I donât want a big party this year and I told everypony that, what I do want is some time with you and a little trip to the Ponyville Tea Room. With just a few friends,â PiÃa said. She craned her head around to plant a kiss on the side of Buckyâs cheek. âœBerry said that she is going to fix a cake and maybe a nice dinner, she wants to do something for me for my birthday, but I donât want a big fuss with everything that has been going on.â

âœWe will go to the Ponyville Tea Room. Send out some invitations to your friends. I am sure that Derpy will be glad to deliver them,â Bucky said.

âœWhile you were gone, I was able to create a massive static discharge with my hoofsies. Dinkyâs mane and tail stood up for hours,â PiÃa giggled. âœDinky was running around pranking ponies. Sheâs figured out how to cast illusions. Watch out if you are sitting down, the kitchen chairs might or might not be there for reals,â she warned.

âœIllusion you say,â Bucky said, some genuine alarm in his voice. âœOh my, and with her being gifted as a mentalist.â

âœShe made an army of illusionary spiders and sent them after Barley while he was in the shower. He went running around the hall soaking wet and covered in soap shouting âœcrivensâ at the top of his lungs. What does crivens mean?â PiÃa said, still giggling.

âœIâm not sure,â Bucky sniggered in reply, trying to keep a straight face.

âœShe also made a swarm of bats fly out of the refrigerator when Bon Bon opened it. Bon Bon has a potty mouth,â PiÃa whispered conspiratorially.

âœSo do you,â Bucky whispered back.

âœI know,â PiÃa chortled.

âœSo you have been practicing magic while I was gone,â Bucky said to PiÃa, feeling rather proud of her as he spoke.

âœCan I be your apprentice?â PiÃa asked, now suddenly serious. âœI mean, Dinky is your apprentice, and you are our dad, and I know you are already teaching me, but I, well, I want to be like Dinky. Labels are important, they indicate significance and relevance and I want to be significant and relevant.â

âœThe Significant and Relevant PiÃa Colada,â Bucky replied, his mind thinking about Trixie.

âœDonât tease daddy, or Iâll zap you too,â PiÃa warned.

âœOh gracious, youâd zap your daddy?â Bucky asked.

âœIn a heartbeat. You donât understand how badly I want this,â PiÃa answered.

âœAn apprentice doesnât sass her master like that,â Bucky warned, a faint laugh barely contained in his voice.

âœYou mean Iâm-â

âœYes PiÃa,â Bucky interrupted.

âœThank you,â PiÃa said, kissing Buckyâs cheek once again.

Pressing his face tightly against Thistleâs rounded belly, Bucky felt the foal kick again. He sucked in his breath sharply and went completely silent, not breathing, not moving, his eye closed as he waited for another sign of life.

Thistle tried to stay still, tried not to giggle as she felt Buckyâs twitching ear tickle her tummy. She stuck a hoof in her mouth and bit down. She felt his face moving along her curves, his thick and rather coarse sideburns trailing along the thin pelt of her full to bursting stomach.

The constant pressure of his head proved too much, and Thistle farted, a loud squealing squeaker that made Bucky jerk his head away in alarm. His ears pinned back against his head, and his eye went wide with alarm.

âœThat sounded like a manticore rutting a chimera,â Bucky announced.

âœThe things you say,â Thistle whispered and then exploded into breathless laughter.

The night was dark and surprisingly cool. Fall was certainly coming upon them, and summer was dying down. Summer Wrap Up would happen soon, but Bucky would be in Griffonholm when it took place.

Other ponies were asleep. It was well after midnight and Bucky was alone, labouring in the night, working with glass to soothe his troubled mind. He had been quietly creating windows for his tower and shaped opaque glass doors to place in the entrances. He fused the glass windows into the opening they were intended for and enchanted each of them to be quite sturdy and magically hardened. The tower was more than a place for his office as a headmaster. It was more than a place for a few magical laboratories. It was more than a place for his vault to hold his orb with the still beating heart of a demon imp.

It was a place where he would secure his family in times of crisis, a fortress to protect that which he held most dear to his heart. He would spare no effort for their safety. It still needed to be furnished and have creature comforts added. It needed plumbing.

And Bucky still needed to make the glass dome that would cap off the tower.

As he worked, Bucky realised that he could easily make a mooring for The Scorned Mare and provide her with a secure berth on the side of the tower. He would need to construct a cradle for her to rest in so the wind wouldnât buffet her around too much. He would need to go to Canterlot and get measurements at some point soon.

A faint pink light filled the edges of the night off to the east indicating the dawn was thinking about happening soon. Bucky surveyed his work. The glass dome was finished. He had also added glass ledges in his office to walk around on for a good view out of the dome, and a flight of glass stairs so ponies could reach the circular ledge. Flowing glass bookshelves had been created.

He had been productive and had kept the troubling thoughts he had out of his mind. Luna told him that he might feel a little off for a few days. He was tired, and something told him he would sleep well. Before going to bed though, he needed a bite to eat.

Sitting at the kitchen table, Bucky orchestrated beautiful organised chaos in the kitchen. He made tea, brewed coffee, prepared several quiches to go into the oven, delicious breakfast pies made of eggs, cheese, diced green onions, fresh dill, and in one special quiche, dried smoked fish bits that he had found in the pantry with a note suggesting that he try some.

There was a lot of eggs in the kitchen, all of them bearing Lyraâs magical signature. Bucky guessed that she had been conjuring them from wherever the chickens had been laying them. Lyra was clever like that, never putting forth physical effort when magic effort would do. He didnât want to say that Lyra was lazy, but Lyra loved her comfort, and that was the closest he would come to saying anything on that issue.

âœFather?â

Turning his head, Bucky looked at Sentinel, who was standing in the kitchen archway entrance. He smiled briefly, glad to see Sentinel during a moment of quiet when the house was calm and still.

âœHey Sentinel,â Bucky greeted in a low voice.

Coming into the kitchen, Sentinel climbed up into a chair beside Bucky and then leaned on the table, resting his forelegs on its surface. He yawned, completely unaware that how adorable he was when he did so, his echolocation producing a squeak as his maw opened wide.

âœIt is finally just us,â Bucky said. âœEverypony else is still asleep for now.â

âœI like it when it is just us,â Sentinel commented in a low voice.

âœI know. So many ponies want my time. I worry that I neglect you,â Bucky admitted.

âœI donât feel neglected. I have my duties to keep me busy,â Sentinel admitted.

âœOur duties. They will be the death of us,â Bucky stated in a solemn whisper.

âœProbably,â Sentinel agreed in a perfectly serious reply. âœWe are what we are. Weâve accepted this and march towards the inevitable conclusion. I could think of no finer end.â

âœYouâve gotten wordy and smart,â Bucky said in a low chuckle.

âœBeen reading. A lot. And writing. And submitting things to the newspapers. Iâve made a few bits but I donât know what to do with them,â Sentinel replied. The lunar pegasus foal reached up and scratched at his scarred ear with his front hoof, and then let out another yawn.

âœSo my squire. Report. How was everything while I was gone?â Bucky asked as he fetched himself a cup of tea with his magic. He was also cleaning up a few dishes that had been used during the preparation of the quiches.

âœWitching Hour and Tiddlywinks came inside for dinner after Lyra invited them in. Tiddlywinks never talks, but I like him. We played chess. Heâs too good at it. Worryingly so. I donât think Iâll ever be that good. Barley has been teaching me how to play blackjack and poker. Mother Derpy has been showing troublesome signsâ something is wrong with her. Sheâs been eating waffles covered with sauerkraut. Berry Punch keeps making bread pudding with leftover stale bread. And fresh bread. And she doesnât share,â Sentinel reported, becoming sullen when he mentioned the bread pudding. âœSurpriseâs flight camp went well. We all have our basic flierâs licences. Surprise is married to a lunar pegasus and has a lunar pegasus foal. Sheâs a neat mare and weâre going to be penpals. She says that Ripple is fast enough to be a Wonderbolt junior cadet. Ripple is fast. She kept up with Surprise when Surprise gave every bit of speed she had, and Ripple managed to overtake her. Surprise is no slouch for speed.â

âœA lot happened,â Bucky said.

âœSure did,â Sentinel agreed. âœThistle and Yew are becoming closer friends. She helps Yew with her reading primers. Lugus has started teaching me how to track. My nose is enough to find anything, but I want to learn how to follow other signs like footprints, broken branches, and bent grass. PiÃa zapped Dinky because Dinky was being an insufferably awful foal and playing pranks. Harper can say almost everyponyâs name now and has taken to wanderingâ you should watch out for that by the way, she has a knack for slipping out the door if you arenât paying attention. Bon Bon and Lyra packed up their old apartment and cleared it out from what I understand, and Bon Bon plans to reopen her candy store in town once everything settles down.â

âœInteresting,â Bucky remarked.

âœSparkler and her police cadets have been meeting out here on the farm every morning and they should be arriving soonish. Rising Star has been going to the refugee camps with Barley and purifying the earth. Also it seems he can cure some diseases just by touching ponies. It gives them a bit of a fever and makes them all hot and sweaty, but the sweating is good for them or so Iâve heard. Also, it has been confirmed that Rising Star will be a candidate for the Stable of Representatives. Now that Loch Skimmer can fly she has been going off with Fluttershyâ she should be waking up soon. She sings in the shower and is quite loud,â Sentinel said. He paused, and his face scrunched up. âœShe occasionally moans in the shower. I wonder if she is in pain or something.â

âœSentinel?â Bucky inquired.

âœYes father?â Sentinel replied.

âœYouâve talked about so much, but I am curious about one thing,â Bucky stated.

âœAnd that is?â Sentinel asked.

âœDiamond Tiara. Do you like her?â Bucky questioned.

Sentinel slumped down in his seat and inhaled sharply, causing a snorting sound in his sinuses. His ears fell back against his skull and his lips pressed tightly together. His breathing became rapid and his small barrel heaved with barely contained emotion.

âœA father worries about these things,â Bucky said, a faint smile spreading over his muzzle.

âœI like her. She is a good friend,â Sentinel responded in neutral tones.

âœAw, Sentinel, donât be like that,â Bucky said, reaching out and prodding his son. He took a sip of his now slightly cooled tea and then smiled broadly.

âœShe organised my desk for me. I now have inbox and an outbox, my art supplies are all in one location, my pencils for writing are all located in another, and she told me that she helps keep her father organisedâ because…. sheâ lovesâ him,â Sentinel confessed in a low squeak.

âœSo she likes you,â Bucky said, his voice now openly teasing. âœI mean, organising your desk, thatâs practically a declaration wanting somepony to be her special somepony I think.â

Sentinel made a low worried moan at his fatherâs words and sank down even further into his chair. He covered his face with his front legs and his wings fluttered against his sides.

âœAw, cheer up, it isnât so bad. She probably just really likes you and wants you to be her friend. Enjoy your foalhood and try not to be so worried about stuff. Things like this donât have to be so serious. Not that I would know, but I am speaking in a very general sense. Hey, something smells good,â Bucky said, his nose now sniffing at the savoury smell in the air.

âœDinky kept teasing both of us about roosting in a tree and kissing,â Sentinel squeaked.

âœThat sounds like Dinky,â Bucky acknowledged.

âœI canât deal with this pressure,â Sentinel whined as his head thumped down upon the table.

Chapter 264

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âœHeâs finally out,â Derpy whispered as she shut the door behind her. Her mane was mussed and her cheeks were flushed. She was breathing heavily and her tail twitched restlessly behind her. She stretched out one wing and began to fan herself.

âœLooks like he put up a struggle,â Berry replied in a low voice.

âœHeâ just wantedâ a little kissâ before bedââ Derpy confessed hesitantly.

âœSo where did he kiss you?â Berry giggled.

âœAll over. He was very grabby. I swear, heâs like a foal sometimes,â Derpy complained.

âœHe seems to have had a busy night. There is a new glass dome on the tower. Glass windows and doors too. I donât know how he made the hinges, but they look neat. Breakfast sure was nice. And as a parting gift, he left you all flustered,â Berry said as she began to walk away from the back bedroom door with Derpy beside her.

As both mares came into the kitchen, they bumped into Bittersweet, who was holding a written note in her lips. She held it out to Berry, who took it in hoof and had a look.

âœHarper keeps vanishing. Very hard to find. Worried about job,â Berry read. âœOh my, troublesome unicorn magic.â

âœBittersweet,â Derpy said carefully, making sure her mouth movements were very careful. âœYou donât need to worry about your job so much. I trust you completely with my foals and you do a very good job. Unicorn foals are tricky for anyponyâ er, anydonkey.â

The donkey visibly relaxed and her long almost rabbit like ears drooped down to the sides of her face. She sighed and gave a nod. She turned for a moment and then pointed at Peekaboo and Harper, both of whom were sitting at the table, one in a high chair, the other in a booster seat. She then turned and carefully mouthed the words âœI love them so but they both try my patienceâ to Berry Punch, who nodded in understanding.

âœPeekaboo has a knack for hiding in plain sight,â Derpy said as she moved into the kitchen where Lyra was busy feeding Peekaboo quiche while introducing Harper to thin runny oatmeal.

Upon seeing Derpy, Harper blew a raspberry, spraying oatmeal everywhere and all over everypony. She bounced up and down in her chair, spewing oatmeal, all while banging her front hooves on the high chair tray.

âœNuts,â Lyra muttered. âœHarper, why do you do this to mama?â

âœLove mama,â Harper replied.

Wiping oatmeal from her face, Lyra snorted. When she was done wiping her face, she went to work on Harper's, even though it was a futile effort and Harper would only make her face dirty again. Lyra felt it was important that she never gave up.

Berry coaxed Bittersweet into a chair and then Lyra levitated over a cup of tea for the donkey. Bittersweet still had trouble being treated as a family member rather than a servant donkey, and she sipped her tea nervously.

Derpy, covered in oatmeal, took over feeding Peekaboo. âœEat your breakfast,â she urged.

âœNo,â Peekaboo refused, crossing her forelegs over her barrel.

âœWhy?â Derpy asked.

âœEgg pie icky,â Peekaboo fussed.

âœBut you like scrambled eggs,â Derpy reasoned.

âœPie crust,â Peekaboo said.

âœWhat if I scraped the pie crust away?â Derpy offered.

Peekabooâs expression softened for a moment and she looked around, her face pensive with thought. Her resolve came back a moment later. âœGreen stuff. Yuck.â

Sighing deeply, Derpy settled in for the breakfast battle that seemed to be becoming more and more common every morning with Peekaboo. âœSo you donât like the green onions and the seasoning?â

âœNo!â Peekaboo cried.

âœPlerf!â Harper spat, spraying oatmeal everywhere.

A deep sense of contentment settled over Derpy. This is what she wanted from life more than anything. She loved moments like these, even if it tried her patience. Foals were foals after all. Sometimes they misbehaved and sometimes they were lovable. She thought of Bucky for a moment and his reluctance to go to bed. He was really just a big foal sometimes. She began picking through the quiche, scraping away crust and bits of green.

âœJust where is Yew anyway?â Berry said.

âœShe went to the lumber mill with Lugus right after breakfast. They need planks to construct a smokehouse so Lugus can start storing up smoked fish and smoked meat for the winter,â Bon Bon replied. âœAnd I need to go. I have a lot to get done today. Lyra, are you going to be okay without me?â she asked, sounding worried.

âœFreezerburn is around,â Lyra nervously replied. âœIf I have a bad enough problem, I know if I call his name he will come. He and Philomena have a nest in that big hollow tree.â

âœI should only be gone for a few hours. Supplies are scarce, but I am going to try and see what I can do to restock the store for when I reopen. Mister Rich put me in touch with a very helpful supplier than can get hard to procure stuffâ the same supplier the Cakes are using,â Bon Bon said as she carefully kissed Harper on the back of the head and avoided being slathered in oatmeal.

âœBun Bun,â Harper cooed, dribbling oatmeal down her chin and her barrel.

âœThis is like the happiest Iâve ever been in life,â Lyra announced. âœAnd Iâm covered in runny oatmeal. Harper, you just want to be nursed, donât you?â

âœWant mama,â Harper begged, reaching out with both front legs towards Lyra.

âœDonât you want to be a weanling?â Lyra asked as she slipped in another spoonful of oatmeal into Harper while the foal had her mouth open to fuss and beg.

âœA foal can nurse for up to six months or more,â Derpy said as she stuffed a bite of food into Peekaboo. âœDonât rush it. We just want to introduce her to a little food, not take her off the teat completely,â she explained.

âœPeekaboo is about a half a year old and seems weaned,â Lyra said as she carefully spooned in a bit more oatmeal into Harperâs mouth.

âœIâd almost guarantee that Peekaboo was still nursing when the shipwreck happened,â Derpy said knowingly. âœIt was the loss of her mother that made feeding necessary. Lugus must be an extraordinarily patient griffon to coax her into eating after such a trauma. Which is why I love Lugus so much.â

âœWe all love Lugus,â Bon Bon said as she trotted to the front door. âœIâd trust him with my life.â

âœBuh bye Bun Bun!â Harper shouted, spraying more oatmeal as she blurted the words out.

Wiping her face with her foreleg, Lyra smiled patiently and set down the spoon. After she levitated over a fresh towel, she began to clean Harper and herself up. âœIâll do the laundry in a bit, itâs easier for me to manage than it is for you,â she offered as she scrubbed Harperâs face. âœAnd I am going to take this little rascal into the living room and give her the breakfast she wants.â

âœWhere are Sentinel and Ripple? And everypony else for that matter?â Berry questioned.

âœSentinel and Ripple ate a light breakfast and joined Sparkler. Dinky and PiÃa ate, PiÃa drank a lot of tea, that foal has a thing for tea, and then went into the library,â Lyra replied as she tried to wipe oatmeal out of the inside of Harperâs ear. How it got there was anyponyâs guess.

âœThistle is in the lake,â Derpy said. âœShe has the fish breeding out of season and she is trying to keep conditions just right for all of the new fishes to hatch. She says the lake is very large and the fish population is very small, and with all of the meat eaters around, more fish are needed.â

âœHuh,â Berry said. âœThistle is a fish herder.â

Standing over her kill, Ripple examined the remains of the giant spider. One leg still twitched. Green goo dribbled from its wounds. A foul looking yellow liquid trickled from its fangs. Not far from her, Sentinel sat in the grass trying to calm himself.

âœThatâs a giant mailpony eating spider,â Sparkler said.

âœItâs dead, whatever it is,â Ripple remarked.

âœIâm going to go round up my cadets. Thank you Ripple forâ just being you,â Sparkler said. âœYou okay Sentinel? Did you get bit?â

âœNo, Iâm fine,â Sentinel responded after a moment. âœI almost got bit but I bucked it in the face a few times to let it know I donât approve of its arse biting ways.â

âœLiving so close to the Everfree is exciting,â Ripple said as she peered into the treeline, hoping for more mailpony eating spiders. She turned and watched Sparkler trotting away.

âœThat spider almost got poor Blossomforth,â Sentinel growled, sounding rather upset.

âœWe took care of it. You did good Sentinel, tearing off the spiderâs legs and getting Blossomforth free. You also made a good distraction so I could do what I do best,â Ripple praised.

âœWe make a good team,â Sentinel agreed. He spat a few times. âœSpider tastes awful and the hairs are still in my mouth. Yuck.â

âœThis spider is over a yard wide,â Ripple said as she moved around the still twitching corpse, her body tensed and ready to deliver another flurry of blows. âœA mailpony eating spider. I wonder why Sparkler calls it that? Blossomforth is not a mailpony.â

Shrugging, Sentinel continued to try and spit out hairs while trying to get his jitters to stop jittering. This was not his first fight against a much larger foe, but it was certainly more dangerous than the giant brown trout he was fond of catching and eating. He looked up at Ripple when he came to a troubling realisation.

âœWe ran towards the danger Ripple. When everypony else was running away and Sparkler moved herself between the spider and her cadets, we ran at the Spider. Is there something wrong with us?â

âœNo little brother. Some ponies run from danger, others run towards the danger. All part of the balance. Somepony has to keep other ponies safe. You are a very brave little colt,â Ripple said as she moved away from the spider. She went to Sentinelâs side and kissed him between his ears.

âœIâm not so little,â Sentinel replied.

âœIâm sorry Sentinel,â Ripple responded.

âœIâm tired of being a colt,â Sentinel grumbled. âœI want to do things. Important things. Meaningful things. I want to be able to follow father into the thick of battle and not have him worry about me being so little and weak. I feel like I am a disappointment. Iâm just a foal. I am not a protector, I am something to be protected. Father had to go off alone when he escorted that train and I couldnât go with him because Iâm so little and helpless.â

Sitting down beside Sentinel, Ripple wrapped a wing around her little brother. âœThere is more to being a squire and a knight than just combat. Take this time to hone your skills as a writer. Learn other useful things. Be patient. One day you will be one of the largest ponies around, and you will be too busy trying to save the world to keep up with your writing on a regular basis or take art lessons or do whatever.â

âœAt least I can fly now,â Sentinel grumbled.

âœYes, you are certainly improving at a rapid pace now that you know what you were doing wrong before,â Ripple replied. She gave her brother a squeeze and wondered what she was going to have to do to make him feel better.

âœI want to see Moonbow,â Sentinel announced out of the blue.

âœMiss her?â Ripple asked.

âœVery much,â Sentinel replied.

âœWant to tell her about Diamond Tiara?â Ripple teased.

âœUgh, why Ripple? Why must you tease me?â Sentinel whined.

âœBecause I am your sister,â Ripple answered. âœAnd I love you a great deal. Sisters tease their brothers. Especially after a sleepover where all they heard was a fussy pink earth pony filly saying âœSentinel thisâ and âœSentinel thatâ all night long.â Ripple fell silent when she felt Sentinel growing warm under her wing. âœShe likes you a great deal Sentinel. She is worried because she feels you take everything too seriously.â

âœI do want to tell Moonbow about Diamond Tiara. And ask a few questions. Mostly, I just want to talk to her and hear her voice. Tell her I helped kill a spider. I mean, I tore some of its legs offâ I want to let her know that I am working just as hard in my own way as she is. Or at least I hope I am. Every day I worry that she is suffering and miserable to become something great and I am just beingâ worthless and doing nothing to improve myself or prepare myself for the life that I have chosen,â Sentinel responded.

âœYou worry about proving worthy for Moonbow?â Ripple asked.

âœAll the time. And while she is giving up whatever was left of her foalhood and comfort for me out of some strange sense of love and devotion, Iâve been playing around with another female and living a comfortable life,â Sentinel said guiltily.

âœThat sounds rough, little brother,â Ripple said in return. âœMoonbow wants for you to find another worthy female or two for the future.â

âœDiamond Tiara canât figure out what she wants yet. Iâve overheard some of the things sheâs said to Dinky and PiÃa and you. This is all very serious business. If I become involved with her, and it goes nowhere, then I have made no progress towards my end goal of forming a suitable herd for Moonbow to return to,â Sentinel explained. âœIâve just wasted my time fooling around with Diamond Tiara who wanted a fling when I could have been forming a bond with a pony who knew what they wanted from life.â

âœYou are far too serious for a colt your age,â Ripple said. âœI donât know how to help you.â

Chapter 265

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All that could be seen was ice and snow, a white blur that made it difficult to even see the tip of his muzzle. A dark grey muzzle Buckyâs consciousness noted. The cold, as bitter as it might be, was completely unnoticed by the body that Bucky was currently in while dreaming.

âœSir, the Windegos are being pushed back,â a voice reported.

âœGood,â Bucky heard a voice coming out of his muzzle say in a savage growl.

âœClover the Cleverâs forces protect her while she wields the Hearthfire spell,â the voice reported, shouting over the shrieking wind.

âœThe Fire of Friendship as she calls it,â the body Bucky was in bellowed in reply.

The pair of ponies came to a door and pushed their way inside, a flurry of snow coming inside with them. For the first time, Bucky could see clearly. His companion was a massive lunar pegasus and Bucky, after a moment of searching his thoughts, knew that his name was Briarburner. He tried to comb his memories for more details.

âœClover is an extraordinary mare,â Briarburner said as he drew near the fire.

The room was circular. Bucky realised he was in a tower. Some sort of watch tower probably. It was warm inside. Painfully warm. He realised that he and Sombra now shared something in common.

âœClover is certainly an extraordinary looking mare,â Sombra replied after a moment of hesitation. âœShe is a most pleasing shade of green and her mane is-â

âœSir, I know from my intelligence reports that youâve had a good look at her mane from up close and had several opportunities to examine the back of her head in quite some detail,â Briarburner grumbled.

âœIt was meaningless,â Sombra said dismissively. âœShe had cold sickness and it was a practical way to warm her body. There is nothing between us.â

âœBut you still find her pleasant to look at,â Briarburner muttered.

âœOf course I do, Iâm not stupid,â Sombra retorted as he snorted.

âœWhich is why you had to warm her up several times, right sir?â Briarburner inquired.

Still trying to take in his surroundings, Bucky realised that Sombra still had his natural horn. There were no fangs. Sombra was still a pony. A very shaggy stocky pony meant to endure the cold. Sombra had not yet endured his many changes.

âœBah, Clover was a distraction at best. Mares only get in the way. Good for scratching the itch and little else,â Sombra snarled, tired of Briarburnerâs badgering.

âœAnd what of Platinum?â

âœOh do not start discussing that spoiled little trollop,â Sombra bellowed.

âœPrincess Celestia wants you to marry her. She believes it will be good for both of you,â Briarburner stated in diplomatic tones. âœMy intelligence can find no dalliances on her part. She seems to still be as pure as the freshly fallen snow.â

âœSo not a trollop, just a stuck up insufferable prat,â Sombra snorted.

âœIf anypony is the trollop here, I suspect that it might be you,â Briarburner deadpanned.

Glaring icily at his second in command, Sombra bared his teeth and narrowed his eyes as his barrel began expanding and contracting rapidly from his sharp intakes of breath.

âœShall we make a list, sir?â Briarburner offered. âœClover the Clever. Xalaxne the Seer. Carroway the Stormhorn. Youâve done nothing but make innuendo at Princess Celestia while Princess Luna egged you on just to tease her sister. And how many unicorn serving wenches have lost their purity as youâve rammed their gates open in conquest?â

âœVirginity is a prize that can only be taken once!â Sombra argued as he settled into a chair.

âœSo take Princess Platinumâs, sir. She will make a worthwhile conquest,â the lunar pegasus suggested in wry tones.

âœShe is an awful mare,â Sombra grumped in a low sulky voice. âœCelestia asks too much of me. Who does she think she is burdening me with such a millstone around my neck?â

âœSir, if I might point out, I have on many occasions, and I should add that my spies have also observed this, that you have stared longingly at her plush and rather perfect backside,â Briarburner said in diplomatic tones.

âœHer backside is marvelous. Her endless whining would kill the mood,â Sombra retorted as he glared at the ever so mouthy lunar pegasus.

âœMight I recommend a gag sirâ or perhaps you could find another use for her mouth,â Briarburner suggested.

Stroking his chin thoughtfully, Sombra did not reply right away. He sat silently, musing over Briarburnerâs suggestion, reflecting on his options. âœShe hates me you know. Says I am an oaf,â Sombra said after several moments of silence.

âœWell, to be fair sir, you are an oaf, a cretin, a bit of pervert, a regicidal maniac, a shameless flirt, a neâer do well, you have a lewd tongue, you unsheath regularly in public due to a staggering lack of control, you drink copiously, and you are a thief of purity,â Briarburner replied dryly. âœAnd those are your good qualitiesâ sir.â

âœYou know, one day, you will speak one word too many and I will be forced to collect your head,â Sombra stated. âœDonât think for one moment I would shed one tear for the loss of my best friend. I would still have your severed head to keep me company. At least it would be silent.â

Chuckling, Briarburner went over to a shelf and poured himself a drink of strong ale. He raised his mug in salute to Sombra. âœI have taken the liberty of speaking to Platinumâs friends. They are willing to foalnap her and bring her to the wedding. They all believe that marriage would be best for the both of you. Especially Clover, who believes that Platinum could use a bit of âwarming upâ from you.â

âœYou… treacherous… knave… how could you plot against me?â Sombra bellowed.

âœSir, Celestia has given orders. Your lechery is at an end, or so she believes. You have one week to prepare yourself,â Briarburner chortled and then he began to guzzle down the contents of his mug while Sombra began to spew obscenities.

Loch Skimmer circled over Ponyville, watching the ponies down below. Several pegasi watched her warily, and Loch understood why. She was an outsider, and her place in the flock had not yet been determined. Fluttershy was the most wonderful pony that Loch could imagine, even if she was a bit shy.

She banked, rolled, and then leveled out. She reveled in having her freedom again, the ability to fly. She loved to feel the wind trailing along her body. She was not a fast flier, nor was she particularly skilled, but she was a steady flier.

She had spotted Barley and Rising Star earlier, and had even flown low to say hello. She had spotted Cheerilee and had swooped down to be friendly. Loch Skimmer was starting to know a lot of ponies and she hoped that her charm would allow her to make friends. She smelled good, she had a great smile, and she felt she was funny.

It was then that Loch Skimmer saw the Blink spell. Surpriseâs lesson was immediately recalled in her mind and she twisted mid-air, turning her snoot earthwards. She dove, her wings tucked to her sides. At the last minute, her wings flared out and leveled her out just above the ground, and she flew between buildings towards the source.

A construction scaffold had collapsed, causing several ponies to fall from great heights. She could see them on the ground. Several limbs twisted at unnatural angles, which made her own once broken leg ache painfully. Other pegasi were all around her and more were on their way.

She landed, coming down smoothly, and then folded her wings at her sides. She began to take everything in, trying to figure out what to do. Pained cries began to reach her ears.

âœWe have wounded! We need to get them airlifted!â

There was a loud creak of metal, then a screech, and more of the scaffolding tore away. Reflexes took over. Just as she had done with Sentinel, Loch Skimmer reacted without thinking, immediately launching herself skywards towards the scaffolding. If it fell, it would crush the already injured ponies below. There were pegasi all around her.

As a group, the pegasi caught the scaffolding and safely lowered it to the ground, while other ponies began to move the wounded away from the construction site. Loch Skimmer felt a powerful sense of belonging, moving as one part of a whole flock, the feeling of being an outsider now gone.

She felt the tendons in her wings creak as she strained to lift the heavy scaffold framing. Other pegasi around her had their teeth bared from strain. With a great deal of effort, they moved the metal framing away and set it down safely where it could do no harm.

âœWe need to get these ponies in slings and get them to the hospital,â a voice commanded.

âœWe need strong steady flyers. If we jostle them to much, we could hurt them,â another voice instructed.

Loch Skimmer went forward with a few others, hovering over the group. âœIâm not fast, but Iâm steady,â she stated.

âœPut this canvas harness on and weâll get a sling hooked up,â a white pegasus mare commanded in a loud clear voice that cut through the confusion.

Loch Skimmer did as she was told, easily slipping into the harness. There was a large metal ring now protruding from the girth of her barrel. A moaning earth pony was carefully placed into a sling and then a lanyard was clipped to the metal ring on Loch Skimmerâs harness.

âœGo go go!â a pony shouted.

Rising slowly, Loch Skimmer carried away her precious cargo, following other pegasi who were departing for the hospital. She was careful with every flap of her wings, trying not to jostle the earth pony in the sling. She compensated for the wind and followed the other pegasi carrying the injured to the hospital.

It was a short flight and there were nurses waiting on the roof. Loch Skimmerâs wounded pony was unclipped and she was waved off, cleared to go. She took off at speed for the construction site where more wounded awaited, pumping her wings as hard as she could, applying some much needed hustle to her flight.

When she returned to the construction site, there was a pony in a sling waiting for her. She dropped down, hovering carefully, and another lanyard was clipped to her metal ring. She waited, wanting to fly, but worried about a signal of some sort. She looked down and saw a pony carefully making sure everything was in the sling because a leg had flopped out.

Loch Skimmer was glad she had waited.

âœGo!â her loader cried out.

With a flap of her powerful wings, Loch Skimmer was gone.

Her throat was parched and Loch Skimmer sat on the roof of the hospital drinking ice water out of a paper cup. The breeze felt good on her body. Her wings ached, but she didnât mind. She had carried nine ponies in total, and she felt pretty good about it.

She saw a white pegasus approaching her, and Loch Skimmer had the feeling she was being studied. Her ears fell back and she assumed a submissive posture, wondering what was about to happen.

âœYou are a remarkably stable flier,â the white pegasus said. âœMy name is Sky Hook. I head the emergency response team. For somepony who clearly has never done this before, you impressed me.â

Blushing, Loch Skimmer smiled. She felt hot, nervous, and sweaty. âœI just did what I thought was right,â she said sheepishly.

âœWe only recently formed the emergency response team. Ponyville is becoming too large and there are too many ponies. How would you like a job? The pay is awful, there are long periods of boredom, and when disasters do happen you will be overworked to death,â the mare offered.

âœI have a job working with the Dawn Brigadeâ it doesnât pay very much, or so Iâve been told. Iâm from the Shetlands. I donât know a lot about money yet,â Loch Skimmer replied. âœAnd I will be starting school soon.â

âœSchool is fine and having a second job is fine. We need stable fliers. In fact, if you take me up on my offer, you are going to have to spend a few weeks in training, which means more school. In a sense anyway,â Sky Hook explained. âœWhile in school, you can work in the afternoons and evenings. Look, you are too stable of a flier for me to give up on. I donât need fast reckless fliers, I need somebody that flies like there is a foal in their sling. Like you did. I kept an eye on everything you did.â

âœIâm flattered,â Loch Skimmer murmured.

âœWell?â Sky Hook questioned.

âœIâll do it,â Loch Skimmer replied, nodding her head as she did so.

Chapter 266 (Has a bit of a dark moment)

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The dreamscape had shifted. Things were different now, but Bucky didnât know what all had changed. He had fangs now. A red focusing crystal protruded from his forehead, and it gave off a fiendish red glow. He was standing in a vast hallway made of glowing crystal and swirling black tendrils of shadow swam through the crystalline structure like fish in a glass aquarium.

âœBriarburner, report,â Sombra commanded.

Bucky saw Briarburner. The lunar pegasus looked awful. He was thin looking, pinched, he had aged terribly. One eye was missing. His face and body were a mass of scars. The years had not been kind to Sombraâs second in command.

âœSire, your project to turn the crystal ponies into living focusing crystals has been a partial success. Some of them do indeed amplify the magical radiation from the ley lines and greatly increase what can be drawn upon from a limited location around them. We are gathering those who exhibit this phenomenon and they are being brought here for your inspection. It should increase your magic by a hundredfold or more. There is no accurate means to measure this, but it is speculated that your power will far exceed an alicorn,â Briarburner reported.

âœThis is good news,â Sombra hissed.

âœSire, more news from the south. The Royal Pony Sisters advance north with their army. Sire, please, hear me out. It doesnât have to be this way. Luna still loves you. Celestia is angry but I know she still loves you as well. If you would just step back from this madness and talk to them, they could help youâ Sireâ Sombra, I am still your friend. I might be the last one you have, I am begging you to reconsider this course of action,â Briarburner said in a pleading voice.

âœAnd you know this how?â Sombra asked, turning to stare balefully at the lunar pegasus.

âœI have spoken with them, sire. I went to them with a white flag. I begged them to spare your life, that there is something wrong with you and that you should be offered mercy. You need healing, we can avoid this violence,â Briarburner whimpered, now cowering before his king.

âœSo thatâs it then, my last loyal servant has betrayed me,â Sombra whispered.

âœI followed you because I loved you like my brother, you were my brother,â Briarburner growled, his posture slowly becoming defiant. âœYou were my brother. I was never your servant, but your friend.â

âœYou speak in the past tense,â Sombra said and then gave a low chuckle.

âœWe can be brothers again, let the sisters help youâ heal youâ urghâ hurghkââ

Briarburner fell silent and his eye bulged. His body slowly lifted into the air and he began to scrape his front hooves over his throat. His tongue lolled out of his mouth as he struggled to breathe. He shot one last pleading look at Sombra, a look of love betrayed.

âœSimply letting you die is too easy,â Sombra whispered as writhing black shadow crawled along his body. âœFirst, you will hang for a bitâ but not too longâ I want you aware of what comes next.â

Briarburner gasped, sucking in wind, a wet whistling wheeze could be heard in his throat as he struggled to breathe. He remained suspended in midair.

âœNext in the process of drawing and quartering, we emasculate the traitor,â Sombra announced calmly as his horn flashed.

Screams filled the hall and there was a wet tearing sound. Briarburner shrieked, a ragged cry that echoed through the hallway. Wet bits of flesh splattered as the fell to the floor. Blood trickled from the open wound and began to pool upon the crystal floor.

âœA little necromancy to keep you from dying right away,â Sombra said in a low steady voice. âœTsk tsk, we canât have you dying. The next part hurts and I want you to feel it, brother.â

âœNo, Sombra, please, no,â Briarburner croaked as he felt pressure in his stomach. A moment later, his guts spilled out upon the floor. He felt his head being forced to look down at his own entrails, and he let out a whimpered cry. His legs kicked feebly in the air.

âœWell, youâve been drawn, how about the quartering?â Sombra asked, licking his fangs as he spoke. His horn flashed again.

Briarburner gave a feeble cry as one leg was twisted and then torn free. He hung limply in the air now, suspended by shadowy tendrils that came out of the walls of the crystalline passage. The walls and the floor pulsed as he neared death. With a sharp yank, his other hind leg was torn free. One front leg was twisted slowly, the bones cracking and popping as it was pulled, until it finally snapped and then it was torn free. Briarburner let out a feeble yelp. The only thing keeping him alive and conscious now was the foulest of magic, and he felt his last leg slowly being ripped from his body.

âœAny last words Briarburner?â Sombra asked. âœWe rapidly approach the part where I take your head. I recall saying that I would have to take your head once. Where are your witty criticisms now my sharp tongued brother?â

âœIâ lovedâ youâ turnâ back-â

âœTurn back and the sisters will forgive me… I grow weary of this puerile behaviour,â Sombra said in a cold dismissive voice. He began to twist Briarburnerâs head slowly around, almost teasingly, enjoying hearing the sounds of neck bones breaking. With a final wrench, Sombra pulled Briarburnerâs head from his neck.

He allowed the body to drop to the floor. Already, the crystal was absorbing the blood and body parts, transmuting them into the crystalline structure of the tower. The tower was a living thing, and Sombra had constructed it from the bodies of those who had crossed him.

Sombra turned and walked away from the rapidly vanishing corpse.

With a low cry, Bucky awoke, sweating, his heart pounding wildly in his ribcage. He lay in the bed, terror making every nerve his in body twitch, and he struggled to draw in air after his initial cry had emptied his lungs.

Within seconds, the first tears began to fall. He rolled over and clutched a pillow. The large bed was empty and Bucky lay in the middle. He felt miserable after what he had just witnessed. His stomach churned and the remaining contents threatened to come up violently. He could taste the bile in the back of his throat.

Not all of Sombraâs memories were pleasant or helpful.

Taking a deep breath, Bucky sank even lower into the tub. A sense of lethargy had overtaken him, a creeping malaise that made him want to sink into the water and not return to the surface. He drew a deep breath and tried to push the revolting images from his mind, wishing that the memory of the dream was not so vivid. The water was hot, as hot as he could get it without scalding himself, but somehow, Bucky felt cold as he soaked. He shivered occasionally and felt as though his teeth would begin chattering at any moment.

He conjured up a glass and a bottle of gin. Having second thoughts, he returned the glass to its source and kept the bottle of gin. He chilled the liquid with his magic, lifted his head out of the water, tilted the bottle to his lips, and drank down a quarter of the bottle in one long pull.

He belched ferociously, the resonating sound causing the drinking glass full of toothbrushes on the sink to rattle and the medicine cabinet made a clattering sound. He laughed, a hollow sound that conveyed no real emotion, the empty laughter of the damned and the broken.

The bathroom door opened and Derpy stuck her head inside the bathroom. She looked at Bucky, then the bottle of gin, and then back at Bucky once more. She raised her eyebrows in concern and her ears perked forward.

âœYouâre awake. I heard a sound. I was worried,â Derpy said as she came inside the bathroom and shut the door behind her. âœYou look a little off.â

âœI feel a little off,â Bucky admitted. âœBut seeing you, I feel a little turned on.â He snatched the pegasus mare in his magic and pulled her into the tub with him, setting the bottle of gin down upon a small wooden crate by the toilet that was covered in magazines.

Squealing, Derpy fell into the tub with a splash.

âœThis water offers no warmth,â Bucky whimpered. âœI need to feel something warm,â he begged as he pulled Derpy on top of him. âœLike you,â he whispered as he pressed his muzzle onto Derpyâs and drew in her warm breath into his lungs. He took several shuddering breaths as he kissed her, finally feeling warmth in his body again. Some things certainly felt warmer than others. He needed to feel Derpyâs life affirming heat, and it was only something that could be found inside of her.

The grey mare let out a low shuddering moan as she melted into Buckyâs embrace, their bodies entwining in the tub, and she gave Bucky the sort of warmth she knew he needed. Pegasi were naturally hot blooded creatures, and Derpy definitely felt heated as Buckyâs hoof and diminished leg trailed over her body. She lifted her head, pulling her muzzle away from Buckyâs when she felt him taking her, and let out a gasp.

âœI am yours,â Bucky whispered into Derpyâs ear. âœDo with me as you will. I am your slave.â

âœIt just sort of happened,â Derpy said apologetically to Berry Punch.

âœI told you, Iâm not angry,â Berry replied patiently.

âœBut we have rules, and I broke them. I should have made my intentions clear before we did anything,â Derpy said as she slumped down upon the kitchen table.

âœI pulled you into the tub,â Bucky said in a low voice. âœSo this is my fault.â

âœIâm not angryâ look, heat of the moment thing and I understand. Bucky was having one of his turns. He needed you. There wasnât an opportunity to come and announce your plans. And you didnât try to hide it afterwards,â Berry explained. âœThere was no time to declare intentions or make your plans known. So stop fussing about it. The rule is there to make sure we communicate, like we are doing now.â

âœIâm not upset either,â Thistle said. âœI just want Bucky taken care of. He had a bad dream and he turned to you for comfort. How can I fault you for giving it to him?â

âœWeâll be in trouble if we start sneaking around behind one anotherâs backs and stop being honest,â Berry stated. âœSo long as there is total honesty, I ainât got a problem with what happened.â

âœRules and laws have one thing in common,â Bucky muttered.

âœAnd whatâs that?â Berry asked.

âœTheyâre useless,â Bucky replied.

âœHow so?â Berry inquired.

âœWell, in the case of laws, good ponies donât need them and bad ponies donât follow them anyway. As for our rules, the fact that Derpy and I are baring our guilty souls to you and Thistle shows that we donât need the rules, and if we were bad ponies, we wouldnât feel guilty about what weâve done at all,â Bucky explained in reply.

âœI never thought of it that way,â Berry said, suddenly looking thoughtful. âœWay to undermine our entire society you jerk.â

âœIâm not sure I understand,â Thistle said. âœOr that I want to.â

âœBecause you are a good pony,â Derpy said as she scratched her belly.

âœDamnit Bucky, now you have me thinking. I need to go for a walk and get my body moving so I can think properly. Youâve presented an entirely too logical argument against law and order in general,â Berry fussed. âœAnyway, Iâm not mad. Thanks for being honest. Iâm going for a walk around the house and the lake.â

âœI think Iâll join youâ all of these waffles are making me fat and jiggly,â Derpy said in a low voice, her eyes darting over to Berry, still looking apologetic for what had happened. âœPegasi shouldnât be fat or jiggly.â

âœIâd join you but I donât know if I can waddle that far,â Thistle huffed in frustration.

âœI think I will take this opportunity to use my disability to my advantage and walk behind two mares with big jiggly backsides,â Bucky announced.

âœBucky, I appreciate your earlier honesty, but my plot is not at all big or jiggly,â Berry replied in a steely voice, leveling her narrowed eyed gaze upon her husband.

âœI bet I could make it jiggle,â Bucky teased in a low whisper.

Chapter 267

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Flapping her wings carefully, Derpy gently set Bucky down on the ground. Beside her, Loch Skimmer was landing with Dinky and PiÃa riding on her back. With Bucky safely on the ground, Derpy landed beside him and folded her wings.

âœIf anything goes wrong, Loch and I will be at my old house packing stuff up. Dinky, PiÃa, enjoy the time with your father. It is important for little fillies to have quality time with their father,â Derpy said in a low voice. She reached back with her head and with a quick tug, pulled loose an annoying feather that was coming loose from her wing.

âœI feel kinda bad for leaving everypony else out,â PiÃa murmured guiltily.

âœBucky is only one pony, and we all want time with him. You need time too. Now behave with your best manners. I mean it. And not pegasus manners either. All three of you,â Derpy said, narrowing her eyes at Bucky. âœNo pranks.â

Bucky, glancing around at the crowd staring at him, nodded slowly. âœBest manners. Perform pranks. Gotcha.â

The grey pegasus leaned in close. âœPlease, this means so much to PiÃa, donât go-â

âœI was kidding,â Bucky interrupted. âœI know how much this means to PiÃa. I give you my word as your husband and one of your best friends that I will behave and make them behave.â

Smooching Bucky on the cheek, Derpy flapped her wings in a burst of happiness. When she pulled away, she was beaming, her white teeth visible for all to see. âœCome on Loch, we have a lot to do.â

âœCome on my little ladies, Diamond Tiara should be waiting for us inside,â Bucky said as he made his way to the door. He turned his head around for one last longing glance at Derpy as she walked away, Loch Skimmer at her side.

âœGreetings Pri-â

âœNo, just Bucky please. The reservations were under the name Bucky and Diamond Tiara should already be here waiting for us,â Bucky said, cutting the hostess off.

âœOf course sir,â the hostess said, looking at Bucky nervously. âœWeâve secured a private room for you so you can enjoy your time here.â

âœAnd so other patrons can enjoy their time here as well no doubt,â Bucky muttered.

Looking mortified, the hostess froze, unsure of what to say as she stared wide eyed at Bucky. Her ears went back against her skull and a single rivulet of sweat trickled down from her mane, down her forehead, and pooled on her nasal bridge. âœI didnât mean to imply that sir.â

âœYou didnât mean to imply it, but you did imply it. I didnât ask for a private room. But I suppose it is for the best,â Bucky grumbled. âœCome on girls, Diamond Tiara awaits.â Feeling annoyed and rather irritable, Bucky thought about placing a minor aversion spell upon himself so nopony would look at him.

The hostess led them through the establishment, and Bucky could see scrunched muzzles and pinned back ears. There were a few kind looks, and that made the walk through the large central tea room bearable. He could hear muttering with his sensitive ears. Disgusted muttering. And angry muttering. He had no doubt that some of the bureaucrats he had laid off frequented this establishment. He felt a painful twinge of panic, his old companion stabbing through his chest to say hello.

Suddenly, more than anything, he wanted out of the tea room and to be someplace comfortable.

The hostess ushered them into a small private room with comfortable plush chairs around a small circular table. Diamond Tiara waved, and then a look of concern spread over her face, her eyes narrowing and her mouth pursing into a tight worried pucker.

âœHiya Diamond,â PiÃa greeted as she climbed up into the chair next to Diamond Tiara.

âœHeya,â Dinky said as she climbed up into the chair on the other side.

âœThank you,â Bucky said, dismissing the hostess. He was glad to see her go. He watched the fillies talking for a moment and then went to sit down in a large overstuffed high backed chair. He settled in, sitting on his haunches, and he rested his stump upon the table.

âœSorry the about the fuss,â PiÃa said, looking at her father apologetically.

âœNot your fault,â Bucky replied. âœThe table is strangely empty for a tea party.â

âœService should be arriving soon. I used to come here all the time with Silvââ Diamond Tiara said, her words fading into a pained exhale. She looked around, her eyes narrowing and pleading look overcame her features for a moment. She took a deep breath before she continued. âœThis is a full service, or high tea. There will be several types of tea served, different types of scones, both sweet and savoury, I recommend the cheddar and chive scones, they are delicious, the lemon curd is nice, there will be egg salad and cucumber and watercress sandwiches, and there is usually a cheese sampler platter and crackers of different types.â

âœYou know a lot about this stuff,â Dinky remarked.

Swallowing nervously, Diamond Tiara nodded. âœI have to know about this stuff because of my daddyâ he would bring me along to help him charm clients and I spent hundreds of hours taking etiquette lessons as a foal,â she admitted.

PiÃa leaned near the table, lifted her head up high, rested one hoof and fetlock upon the table, and then folded her other hoof over the first, looking very prim and proper. She managed to look dignified for all of five seconds before she began to giggle.

Unable to help himself, Bucky thought about how useful Diamond Tiara would be in Sentinelâs future. Sentinel was a little rough around the edges for all of his stuffiness, and Diamond Tiaraâs fine social polish would be an asset to his endeavours as a knight. He silently cursed himself for thinking like a Canterlot unicorn, and then reconsidered and wondered if he was just being a concerned parent.

âœThe walls are fuzzy,â Dinky observed.

âœTheyâre covered in crushed velvet,â Diamond Tiara replied.

âœThis place is fancy,â PiÃa said. âœThis is so neat. Iâve been dreaming of this day.â

âœThe chairs are slickery,â Dinky said, looking down at what she is sitting on.

âœTheyâre made of silk,â Bucky commented as he prodded the seat he was sitting on with his front hoof. âœSo is the tablecloth I think. Even by unicorn standards, this is swanky.â

âœEven the ceiling has fuzzy stuff. And the light cover is stained glass. So pretty,â PiÃa said in awe, looking up. âœWhat is the wood paneling called?â

âœWainscotting and crown molding,â Bucky replied.

âœActually, this is boiserie, far more ornate than wainscotting,â Diamond Tiara gently corrected, her ears splaying out the sides submissively.

âœDiamond, relax,â Bucky said with a gesture of his remaining front hoof. He watched her take a deep breath and close her eyes for a moment. She was clearly nervous and high strung. âœYou donât need to worry about making a good impression for me.â

âœThank you, sir,â Diamond Tiara said in a low voice. âœI want you to like me.â

âœI do,â Bucky responded.

âœShe wants you to like her so Sentinel will like her,â PiÃa teased.

Turning a bright shade of pink, Diamond Tiara gnawed on her lip nervously but said nothing. She rubbed her front hooves together fretfully, and then reached up and smoothed her mane back behind her twitching ears. A loud gurgle came from her stomach and she looked even more embarrassed.

PiÃa giggled.

âœPiÃa, you shouldnât tease,â Dinky grunted.

âœI wasnât teasing in a bad way,â PiÃa protested.

âœWell, look at her, sheâs miserable,â Dinky retorted.

âœIâm fine,â Diamond Tiara squeaked.

âœSheâs just madly in love,â PiÃa teased.

âœPiÃa!â Bucky said firmly.

Fanning herself with her hoof, Diamond Tiara slumped down in her chair, her impeccable manners now forgotten. She took a few deep breaths and her eyes darted from PiÃa to Dinky. Finally, she composed herself and placed her hoof back down upon the table, poking a folded napkin nervously.

âœSorry Diamond,â PiÃa whispered, realising just how flustered her friend was.

The door opened and a unicorn with a silver serving cart pushed her way inside. She began setting the table, laying out platters and tiered serving trays laden with food. She set out several teapots, each covered with a tea cosy, a pitcher of cream, and many other things from her serving cart.

âœFresh hot rhubarb pies just came out of the oven. Theyâll take a while to cool, but I will bring you a few in a little while. And if I may be so forward Mister Bitters, begging your pardon,â the serving mare said in a low humble voice.

âœYes?â Bucky answered.

âœYou did a brave thing. You did a good thing. Youâve made the lives of a lot of ponies better, including us unicorns, showing that not all of us are bad. I have a colt that wants to grow up and be a knight like you. Heâs dying to meet you milord,â the mare said in a hushed low voice.

âœI am going to be opening a school for ponies soon. Make sure you enroll him. Weâll get to know one another soon enough, I am certain,â Bucky said, smiling carefully and trying to not reveal his teeth.

âœThank you milordâ but I am rather poorâ I canât-â

âœYou WILL enroll him, cost is not an issue,â Bucky interrupted.

âœThank you, thank you so much, I wish I could do more than say thank you,â the server gushed as she set the final items out upon the table. âœPonies say a lot of things about youâ sirâ Iâve never believed any of the bad things ponies say. Iâll make sure to tell everypony how kind you are,â she promised.

âœThank you,â Bucky replied in a warm sincere voice.

The serving mare quietly backed out of the room, bowing her head one last time as she slipped out of the door and then shut it behind her, leaving the group of ponies alone once again.

âœSentinel is going to have a tough act to follow,â Diamond Tiara murmured in a thoughtful voice.

âœHeâs going to need help,â Bucky said to Diamond Tiara, openly dropping a hint. He looked at the three fillies. âœDig in. Manners arenât so important back here in private. Just try not to get anything on the walls or the ceiling. Iâll make sure to voice to your mother that you were on your best behaviour if you will do the same for me,â Bucky said, making his foals an offer they couldnât refuse.

âœThe teapots are hot, can somepony please pour me some green tea?â PiÃa requested.

Bucky studied the teapots for a moment, and saw a pot marked with a black leaf, a green leaf, and the third pot had a red leaf. He lifted the green tea and poured PiÃa some, and when finished, poured some for himself. He watched as she added lemon juice and honey to her tea and then followed her example.

Lifting the pot with the red leaf in her magic, Dinky poured a measure of cream into her cup, and then carefully filled it the rest of the way with rooibos tea. She looked at Bucky, and beamed when he nodded. Adding the cream first was important. She knew that if she poured cream into hot tea, it would scald and taste terrible, something she had learned from her father. Adding cream to the cup first and then adding the tea slowly allowed the cream to heat gradually. She added a few spoonfuls of sugar to her tea and then eyed the food, licking her lips.

Diamond Tiara went for the black tea, lifting it carefully, pouring it into a cup, she added a whole slice of lemon and then a single spoonful of sugar. She looked around the table, surveying what had been brought out. âœPasties!â she cried, seeing a favourite treat. âœKinda makes sense too, with the shortages. Flour is common enough, and it is easy to get full on little pies.â

âœI wonder what is in the pasties?â Dinky asked.

âœUsually fruit or sometimes vegetables and cream cheese,â Diamond Tiara replied.

âœThat sounds good,â Dinky said, snatching a few steaming pasties in her magic and placing them on her plate. She continued to hunt for other foodstuffs that she loved, and after looking around for a bit, added a few sandwich slivers to her plate, all of them egg salad.

âœWanna sleep over?â PiÃa asked.

âœDinky is eating egg salad sandwiches,â Diamond Tiara replied, casting a worried look at the unicorn beside her.

âœSo, we eat egg salad sammiches and we destroy her. Together,â PiÃa giggled.

Dinky, her mouth full of egg salad sandwich, scowled at PiÃa and gave her the stinkeye.

Bucky chortled as he loaded his plate down with little assorted cheese triangles and crackers. âœIf you want to stay over, you may,â Bucky offered. Mister Rich wanted his daughter to spend as much time around other good ponies as equinely possible, and Bucky was all to happy to oblige.

âœOkay,â Diamond Tiara said as she carefully took a few pasties and placed them on her plate.

âœSo mama Derpy gave me this book, the same one that Dinky got, telling me that I am a grown up filly now, something I already knew. Since I am so grown up, can I have an allowance?â PiÃa asked and then crammed a whole cheddar scone into her maw.

âœHey, I wanf an awowfance,â Dinky said around a mouthful of sandwich.

âœIf you want an allowance, you have to work for it,â Bucky replied, raising his eyebrow over his surviving eye at his fillies.

âœAw, thatâs asking a bit much,â PiÃa grumbled.

âœLoch Skimmer has two jobs already,â Bucky said before he took a sip of tea.

âœYeah, well, we study and practice magic all the time. And weâll be starting school soon,â Dinky argued after she swallowed.

Sensing an opportunity, Bucky leaned forward and pressed his advantage. âœEvery hour you spend studying each night after school will get you a bit, for a maximum of three bits for three hours a night,â he offered.

âœThatâs fifteen bits a week if they study. Thatâs kinda low,â Diamond Tiara stated, leaning forward to engage Bucky. âœA single trip to Sugarcube Corner with one cupcake and one milkshake is six bits. Thatâs only two trips to Sugarcube Corner with three bits left over. There is not much of a chance for them to be generous to their friends with that little cashflow.â

Scowling, Bucky sat up straight and glared at Diamond Tiara, his eye narrowing. He began to tap his surviving front hoof upon the table thoughtfully. âœIf you study three hours a night five nights a week, there will be a five bit bonus added for a total of twenty bits a week. If you want more bits, youâll have to do chores. Both of you. And this doesnât mean letting Dinky do all of the work with her magic while you do nothing but watch PiÃa,â Bucky said, making a return offer.

âœThatâs not a bad deal, but he didnât make clear how much the other jobs pay,â Diamond Tiara warned. âœBe careful, heâs an accountant and heâs crafty. Daddy says to never trust an accountant unless you pay their salary, and thatâs only if they have an ironclad contract.â

âœDaddy, you wouldnât cheat us, would you?â PiÃa inquired sweetly.

âœNo!â Bucky said nervously.

âœWill these chores be paid by an hourly rate or by flat rate per chore?â Diamond Tiara questioned.

âœAre you some kind of lawyer?â Bucky asked.

âœActually, I am a certified notary public. I process a lot of my daddyâs papers for him. Iâve thought about studying law or becoming a paralegal. But there are currently not many laws in existence,â Diamond Tiara replied.

âœFlat rate per chore, with exceptions for really hard work, agreed upon by a case by case basis,â Bucky offered, his burning stare focused on Diamond Tiara. He took a sip of tea and felt immensely proud of a foal that was not his own.

âœThatâs mostly a fair deal,â Diamond Tiara said to her cohorts.

âœWe can agree to that,â Dinky said, giving her father a shrewd look.

âœI think we can work together,â PiÃa agreed, casting a glance at her sister, then Diamond Tiara, and finally, her father. She stuffed a another whole scone into her mouth and chewed slowly as she stared at her daddy.

âœYou fillies are ruthless,â Bucky stated. âœIâm proud of you for it too.â

âœEven me?â Diamond Tiara asked.

âœEven you,â Bucky replied. He watched as Diamond Tiaraâs hard edge softened and the filly began to fumble for words while turning a brighter shade of pink. âœYouâve come a long way. Never discount the progress youâve made.â

âœThankâ youââ Diamond Tiara stammered.

âœI hope we get rhubarb pie soon,â Dinky said, changing the subject. She prodded Diamond Tiara with her hoof and then patted her on the shoulder.

âœSo PiÃa, is this everything you hoped it would be?â Bucky inquired before he gobbled a cracker with cheese on it.

âœYup,â PiÃa answered in a chirpy voice. She turned her hungry eye upon a plate of cookies and grabbed several. âœI wish Ripple was here.â

âœRipple had to go with Lugus. The spiders in the Everfree have overpopulated a bit and are now trying to hunt new sources of food, like ponies,â Bucky said to PiÃa.

âœI know why she couldnât be here, I just wish she could be. Sheâs still young enough to have fun and sheâs girly in her own way,â PiÃa responded. She crammed a cookie into her mouth and chewed noisily.

âœI hope Ripple stays safe,â Diamond Tiara said in a worried voice.

âœShe and Sentinel already killed one spider. Sheâll be fine. Sheâs with Lugus and Lugus is huge. I saw Lugus lift up a whole wagon into the air,â Dinky said as she held her teacup between her hooves.

âœRipple deserves an allowance,â PiÃa stated.

âœShe sure does,â Bucky agreed.

âœHeyâ hey hey hey, if we bring you dead monsters from the Everfree, will you pay us?â Dinky asked, excited from her good idea, locking her gaze upon her father.

âœNo,â Bucky replied. âœBut I might save you from Derpy wing slapping you to death and praise you for doing a good deed.â

Scowling, Dinky had nothing else to say to her father about the issue.

Chapter 268

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âœI think that is the last of them.â

Ripple looked around her at the sounds of Lugusâ words. The woods around them was festooned with dead spiders everywhere. There were spider legs kicking and twitching all over the ground, there were dead spiders skewered onto protruding broken tree branches, spiders cleaved in half by Lugusâ axe, and crushed spiders pounded into spider jam from Rippleâs war shoes. Ripple was covered in foul sticky ichor, webbing covered her from ear to hoof, and her mane and tail was plastered to her body.

âœI donât think Iâll ever feel clean again,â Ripple muttered.

âœThat was a lot of spiders. We must have killed hundreds,â Lugus said in a nervous voice, his beak clicking together in agitation as he spoke. âœNice work with the spider queen by the way. Did you get bit?â the griffon asked, concern now filling his voice. âœIf you did, donât try to hide it out of bravado. These are poisonous.â

âœIâm good. I have a few scrapes and slices from the claws some of them had on the end of their legs. Only one laceration Iâm worried about, itâs bleeding freely. I hope it will close,â Ripple replied. She craned her head around to look at her hind leg and focused on her slashed open gaskin. âœLooks pretty bad actually. I am surprised Iâm not woozy.â

âœBattle nerves. We should get you home before shock sets in,â Lugus said as he brought his axe down upon a squirming spider that wasnât quite dead yet.

The glade was silent save for the two voices, one griffon and one pony. Not long ago, it was alive with chittering sounds and the rustle of thousands of long hairy legs. There were bodies wrapped in webbing here, many bodies of creatures from the surrounding Everfree, captured by spiders and wrapped up in silk to be preserved and consumed later.

Having a quick look around, Lugus found one pony shaped silken mass. He approached it slowly, reached out with his claws, and tore it open. Inside was a mare he did not know. Her eyes were white and colourless. Two holes could be seen on her neck. Her body was slightly dessicated.

âœWe did not save her,â Ripple said, sounding distraught.

âœWe could not have saved her. She has been here for a while. We are not to blame, we did what we could, these things happen. But never forget Ripple. This is why we do what we do. By destroying this spider nest, we are preventing future tragedies like this one. I will take her back to town so some grieving family can finally know of her fate. I want you to go home, get cleaned up, and have that gash looked at. Do as I say,â Lugus said, turning his head around and giving Ripple a glance.

âœYes sir, of course sir, but I do wish I was going with you to return the body,â Ripple answered, whipping out a goop and webbing encrusted wing in salute. âœOh yuck. This is an offense to my girly sensibilities.â

âœNO NO NO! YOU ARE NOT COMING IN THE HOUSE!â

Ripple backed away from Derpy and jumped backwards down the front porch steps. Her ears splayed out submissively and her head dropped low.

âœYouâre bleeding!â Derpy cried. âœLYRA! First aid!â The motherly pegasus whinnied in concern and then nickered nervously as she walked in a circle around Ripple, checking over her injuries.

A few seconds later, Lyra came bursting out onto the porch. She looked around, saw Ripple, looked both disgusted and worried, and immediately conjured up the first aid box as she trotted down the stairs and approached Ripple.

âœTurn the hose on her,â Derpy suggested.

âœGood idea,â Lyra agreed, her horn flaring brighter for a moment. The hose came to life and moved in a serpentine fashion in Lyraâs telekinesis as the spigot turned with a squeak.

Ripple gasped when the cold water hit her and began blasting away the green gunk and webbing she was completely covered in. The water was exceptionally icy and it felt good and sort of hurt at the same time. It shocked her senses and spiked her adrenaline, making her feel jittery and jumpy once again.

âœMy sweet little filly,â Bon Bon fussed, coming out the front door. âœSomething hurt my fillyâ it had better be dead.â

There was a loud squawk and two phoenixes appeared, one orange, one blue, both of them flying through the yard and then landing upon the porch rail. They watched with curious interest, cocking their heads off to one side, then other, and Philomena made concerned cooing noises.

Finally mostly clean, Ripple stood dripping water into the grass below. She was breathing heavily, her barrel heaving, and she gave her wings a flap to shed excess water. She shivered a bit and then had another look at hind leg. Blood was coming out in a steady trickle. Now free of filth, she saw a small flap of flesh hanging away from the gash. She hissed when she saw it, realising it might need to be stitched. She didnât look forward to finding out.

There was a flash of orange and Ripple felt two prickly pokey claws on her back. They didnât dig into her skin, but they tickled a great deal, causing shivers up and down her spine, and she realised that Philomena was perched on her withers, just between her wing joints. There was another soothing flash of orange and Ripple felt herself grow calm, her breathing slowed down and she started to think that everything was going to be okay.

There was an exceptionally bright flash of orange and a burst of intense heat. Not burning heat, but pleasant heat, like laying on a hot rock on a summer day and feeling the soothing warmth radiating out into your skin. Ripple gasped. The gash on her leg had closed considerably, and blood was no longer dribbling out. It wasnât completely healed at all, but it no longer looked like it needed stitching. Ripple felt a small head rub up against the back of her neck and feathers tickled her through her pelt. She giggled, feeling like a small filly foal once again.

âœThank you, Philomena,â Ripple said, her tone gracious.

With a squawk, Philomena spread her wings and flew off, heading back towards the hollow tree where she had made her nest. In a moment, there was a flash of blue when Freezerburn flew off after her. Ripple watched them go, thankful for their presence, even if Philomenaâs morning crowing was more annoying than any rooster.

Yawning, Bucky emerged through the front door. âœWhat happened?â

âœYou need your sleep,â Derpy grumped.

âœI heard a commotion. Hey, who hurt my Ripple?â Bucky asked, his voice becoming icy and dangerous.

âœIâm fine, a spider just got lucky,â Ripple explained. âœLugus is in town delivering the body of a mare we found wrapped in webbing. Really, Iâm okay, I just need something to eat more than anything.â

âœYou still need a proper bath,â Derpy retorted. âœCome on Ripple, Iâll help you get scrubbed up and while youâre getting a bath, somepony will fix you something to eat.â

There was a flash and a pop as Lyra returned the first aid box to its location with magic, unsummoning it now that it was no longer needed. âœStupid spiders,â Lyra grumbled. She watched Ripple go inside with Derpy and gave Bon Bon a glance. âœI hate seeing her get hurt.â

âœI know,â Bon Bon replied, a sad smile on her face. âœBut this is the path she has chosen.â

âœI just hope she doesnât end up like me,â Bucky mumbled, not yet fully awake.

âœI really hope that never happens,â Lyra whimpered. âœI love Ripple.â

âœBoth of you are worry warts,â Bon Bon said, prodding Lyra with her hoof and then poking Bucky. âœCome on, Bucky, you should go back to bed. I hope you had a nice time with your fillies earlier.â

âœToo late for me I think. Iâm awake now. Luna is going to deliver something tonight when she pays us a visit so I think I am going to head over to my tower and make sure everything is ready for later,â Bucky announced.

âœOoh, somepony is getting his orb back,â Lyra said in a voice dripping with anticipation. âœI hope we can experiment together soon. I have ideas Bucky. Defensive ideas for our cloaks.â Lyra beamed with eager excitement and completely ignored the dark look she was getting from Bon Bon, who did not approve of the orb on general principles.

I wish I understood more of what was going on in the world around me. I live in momentous times, but I lack the wisdom and the maturity to fully grasp the events that keep happening all around me. General Iron Sky is being forced to resign due to scandal, something about adultery and divorce. He had a moment where he fell down, became unpopular, and then the whole herd turned against him to kick him while he was down. While his public popularity was low, ponies seized upon his many misdeeds and spoke of them publicly. There are a lot of young pegasus fillies who have foals that they claim are Iron Skyâs. I do not know if these statements are true, but the public believes them to be. I have become aware of the court of public opinion and the tyranny of herd mentality.

It is a good reminder to keep my own snoot clean and never stray from my duties or my obligations.

It is funny how the herd can turn on ponies. Diamond Tiara, who genuinely tries to be a better pony, has not been given a second chance. General Iron Sky will likely never be forgiven. This bothers me. A pony shouldnât be shunned because of mistakes. Berry Punch says this is how herd psychology works. I struggle against my own inner nature and I am more than a creature that acts upon base instinct. We are capable of rising above our own inner workings. We should be able to rise above herd psychology. We are aware of it, why not strive against it?

I will be heading off to Griffonholm soon. I have some fear and worry. Father believes this trip will go badly, and I trust his intuition. I am not sure what he is up to, but I know he is preparing. Iâve seen the fine grains of sand lodged in his hairy hide, a clear indicator heâs been working with glass. I have a hunch that heâs doing more than making windows and glass domes. Late at night he is working with Witching Hour and Tiddlywinks. I have seen strange lights in the distance from my bedroom window.

I suspect that while Twilight Sparkle prepares for peace, my father is preparing for war.

I donât think the griffons will be ready for my fatherâs style of diplomacy. I donât want everything ending in bloodshed. I would like to see a peaceful resolution between our species. Lugus is an amazing individual, and proof that griffons can be noble, just, and true. He says their penchant for slavery comes from feline laziness and that he had to work hard to overcome his inner nature. He is industrious and has something he calls a âwork ethicâ that he takes a great deal of pride in.

I donât know if I have a work ethic. I am not sure I fully understand the concept.

My brother, Rising Star, is becoming increasingly popular. Even though his nature is somewhat questionable now, and he has even been quoted in the paper as saying âœonly a moron would trust a fey creature such as myself,â ponies seem intent to vote him into office. Lyra and Bon Bon say he has captured the public imagination and his daily visits with Barley have brought him into the public eye. There is a photograph in the newspaper of him pulling a cart with Barley sitting in the cart, and a caption stating that Rising Star is kind to the elderly. I suspect that Rising Star could do something incredibly stupid and somepony somewhere would find some way of saying something in a positive light about the situation. Barley is old, and getting older, and Rising Star was just being kind and pulling his uncle around to save his legs. Rising Starâs parents have been in the paper several times now telling stories about their son as a colt. Rising Star has become a figure of public adoration. I pray that the herd never turns on him.

My own writings go well. I have had several publications now, and I have a collection of bits growing in my secret hiding place. I have been in contact with the head of the Ponyville Gazette. She wants me to write some opinion pieces for her and she says that she might eventually hire me as a reporter if I was interested. She cannot believe I am as young as I am.

I could not help but notice that she seemed distressed about my appearance when we met.

I get a lot of looks when I go into town. Ponies stare at me, and some are openly afraid. Grimglammer, Shadowguard, and Furious will be moving to Ponyville soon, there has been some delays keeping them away, but there are no lunar pegasi here. I feel rather alone. There are no other ponies like me around. Ponies are genuinely afraid of me. I donât like it, but I understand it. Iâm different and I look scary. The herd wants everypony to look the same and conform. Ponies always talk about the three tribes. And my tribe isnât even mentioned or acknowledged. Iâm an outsider.

Luna will be coming tonight and there will be a lesson. I look forward to it.

Chapter 269

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Waiting patiently, Bucky watched as Luna inspected the vault entrance on the floor of his tower. He watched her expressions, the flutter of her wings, the way her ears moved as she studied the entrance. He watched her lips moue, and watched as she gave a sturdy knock with one silver shod front hoof.

âœThis is extraordinary work. A door made of solid glass, yet more secure than a door made of regular steel. I am impressed,â Luna stated, lifting her head and looking at Bucky.