Author: Annonymouse

MLP:FiM is property of Hasbro. This is a free fan-fiction, not to be sold or traded for any money, goods or services.

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A/N: No comments on spelling or grammar. See my profile for details.

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MLP: Love and War

01

...

Twilight Sparkle sighed as she closed the book she had just finished reading. It was all about relationships, something she was still learning about. Still, the book had sparked something in her mind. It had extensive chapters about something she had only a little familiarity, but on a scale she could scarcely imagine.

Love.

"Spike?" She called out softly. Sure, she loved Spike, but like a little brother, or perhaps an adopted son.

"Yes Twi?" The small baby dragon poked his head into the study.

"I'm going to stretch my legs for a while." She got up and started toward the door. "May you keep an eye on the Library for a while?"

"Sure thing." He saluted with a smile.

Twilight then left, smiling back at her 'assistant'.

Love.

She did love him, but there had been so much more about love in that book. She needed to know more.

Who better to talk about love with than her dear friend and fellow Unicorn, Rarity.

As she approached Rarity's Carousel Boutique, she realized she did know love. The love for her five dearest friends, the love she held in her heart for her Princesses, and the love for this town she had come to call her home.

But still, it was not the same kind of love she had read about.

She knocked on the front door and poked her head in, seeing Rarity performing her usual multitasking with her magic, while creating beautiful clothing.

"Oh hello Twilight, you're JUST in time." The beautiful, white coated Unicorn glanced at Twilight and offered her brilliant smile.

"Oh? What may I help you with?" She walked in.

"You see, there's this order I have to fill in short order, and the Unicorn I have to make it for, well, she's just about the same size and build as you are."

"Can't you just use one of your ponyacins?" She glanced at the pony shaped devices Rarity often used to create her clothing.

"Oh, yes, but this outfit is special. It needs to be designed for flexibility, and these poor things are just not that."

Twilight nodded. She knew the drill quite well and stepped up onto the podium.

"So, what brings you here?" Rarity asked as she started placing bits of cloth on her friend.

"Well... I was reading a book and..." Twilight blushed a little. "Um... I was wondering, what do you know about love?"

Rarity stopped what she was doing, her eyes going wide and sparkling brightly. "Is there somepony you have in mind?"

"Oh, no." Her light blush spread and brightened. "I was reading about different relationships, and there was a rather extensive chapter of, well, love." She tried to calm down, and succeeded, if at least by a couple shades of pink. "I was wondering... have you ever felt love?"

"Of course dear." Rarity smiled as she got back to work. "I love all my friends, my family, and I love my work. I love helping other ponies as well. Is that what you mean?"

"Oh no. I mean, like... you know..." Her blush returned.

Rarity blushed a little. "Well... as in a relationship with a hansom colt? I had once hoped I could fall in love with a certain Prince..." She scowled slightly at her memories of a certain Prince Blueblood. "But no, I have not actually experienced that kind of love."

Twilight understood. She thought about all her friends and realized, none of them were in any form of relationship with another colt... or mare for that matter.

"Now, hold still while I assemble this outfit, we'll test flexibility shortly."

...

Twilight rubbed her shoulder. Flexibility was one thing, gymnastics class flexibility was another thing entirely, almost on the level of torture.

"I'm sorry, I should have realized you are not quite so flexible." Rarity forced Twilight onto her favourite sofa and started massaging said shoulder with her hoof.

Twilight was about to argue that this was not really needed, but it actually felt really good. "Oh, right there, thank you Rarity." She glanced at her friend.

"No trouble. I'm so happy you helped me, but I feel terrible I couldn't help you."

"It's alright Rarity." Twilight smiled as Rarity finished. "I'll just have to make observations of other ponies."

"You could always stop by Sugar-cube Corner and ask the Cakes. They're been together for many years now."

Twilight lit up a bit. "That's a wonderful idea. Thank you again." She smiled and headed out.

...

Pinkie Pie was tending to the counter, and looking amazingly bored as Twilight entered.

Upon seeing her friend, the pink pony suddenly brightened up. "Hiya Twi." She bounded over and greeted her friend. "Are you here for some cupcakes or some pie or some muffins or some cake. Oh, I know, you're here for..."

"Pinkie!" Twilight spoke loudly enough for her friend to hear over her incredibly energetic and cute rant about baked goods.

"Yes?" She tilted her head a little and blinked a few times.

"I was wondering if Mr. And Mrs. Cake are in." She could hear no sounds coming from the kitchen, which was a little odd.

"Oh no, they went to some bakers convention in Canterlot for the weekend. I'm tending to the Corner while they're away. I got all today's basic baking out of the way early this morning. Took me only three Red Pony drinks, but I got it all done and cleaned up the kitchen and washed the dishes... it was actually kinda boring. I see why Mr. And Mrs. Cake do all that together."

"Oh, I see, thank you Pinkie." She then glanced at the muffins, noting that there were no Oatmeal ones made, which actually happened to be one of her favourites. "Um, no oatmeal muffins this morning?"

"Oatmeal? Are you crazy?" Her eyes rolled as only Pinkie could roll her eyes.

This was something Twilight didn't understand. "Um... what do you have against Oatmeal?"

Pinkie's eyes glazed over a little and her hair started going limp, never a good sign.

"Um... sorry, never mind..." Twilight panicked a little.

Pinkie shook her head, her hair poofing back out. "Oh... I just had a REALLY bad experience with oatmeal when I was a foal... bad memories and all. Can I get you anything else that's yummy wummy in the tummy?"

Twilight glanced at the muffins. She was hungry and had missed both breakfast and lunch. "I'll take half a dozen of these muffins." She pointed at some random muffins.

Pinkie Pie blinked. "Bran muffins? You know what bran does to a pony, don't you?"

Twilight blinked and pointed to the muffins next to the bran, remembering the one time she had eaten half a dozen bran muffins. Not a pleasant day for the lavender unicorn...

...

Twilight sat on the grass in the park, munching away on one of the lemon poppy-seed muffins. She had been hoping to talk with the Cakes, but with them out of town, that was not possible.

Then she spotted a couple that she almost always saw together.

Lyra was sitting on her favourite bench, in only the way she ever sat, and Bon Bon was sitting next to her, her legs tucked under her like every other pony would sit.

(Maybe they can help me. They're always together after all.) She packed up her few remaining muffins and walked over.

"Hello Lyra, Bon Bon. How are you today?"

Bon Bon smiled sweetly. "Simply wonderful."

"Yea, great." Lyra smiled happily.

"What can we do for you?" Bon Bon tried to remember this pony's name. Twilight something or other. "Twilight, right?"

"Twilight Sparkle, but that's not important." Twilight sat on her haunch on the grass in front of them. "I was wondering..." (How to ask without coming across as rude...)

"Take your time." Lyra replied, leaning back and looking up at the sky. "And if you're asking why I sit like this, all I can say is, it just feels right for me."

"Oh, no, not about how you sit, though that is an interesting position. I was wondering, I always see the two of you together..." She blushed a little.

"We're the bestest of best friends." Bon Bon beamed a smile.

"Best friends? I always thought..." She blushed a little deeper.

Both Bon Bon and Lyra glanced at each other. "She thinks we're lovers, doesn't she?" Lyra chuckled.

"Most likely, a common misconception." Bon Bon replied. She then looked at Twilight. "Twilight, we're just that, best friends. Sure, we don't always talk when we're together, but that's just how we are. Sometimes Lyra plays her Lyre and I just listen. Sometimes I make my sweets and she eats them... all." She giggled as Lyra blushed a little.

"What? You're the best at making candy and I have a sweet tooth..."

Twilight's blush changed to one of sheer embarrassment. "I am so sorry... I assumed..."

Lyra smiled at Twilight. "Assuming makes an ass out of you and me. Okay, maybe this time it was just you, but I hope we cleared up any misunderstanding you may have had about us."

Twilight sighed and nodded. "I'll be honest. I was studying a book about relationships and there was a lot in there about love... I don't really understand much about what the book was referring too." She looked up at the sky. "I mean, I love my friends and the Princesses and Ponyville, but that's not the kind of love I read about."

"Were you reading some trashy romance novel?" Lyra asked, chuckling.

"What? No. I don't have any books like that in the Library... not that I know of at least." Twilight blushed a very bright shade of pink.

Bon Bon placed a hoof on Lyra's shoulder. "Stop teasing the poor dear."

"Aww, but she's being so adorkable."

"That's not a real word..."

"It's an amalgamation of two words."

Twilight took a few deep breaths to calm down. "Adorkable?"

"Adorable, because you're so innocent about these matters... and dork, or nerd, bookworm, highly intelligent student." Lyra smirked. "It's a compliment."

"Oh... um, thanks?" She rose to her hooves. "Thank you for your time."

"Twilight? Wait a second." Bon Bon reached into her apron pocket and pulled out one of her saltwater taffy. "Here, have this. Lyra always says my taffy is the best and help calm her nerves. I think you should calm down a bit before you become more 'adorkable' than you already are."

Twilight accepted the candy and popped it into her mouth. Her eyes went wide. "This is so yummy. I can't believe I never tried it before."

"You can taste the love I put into every piece of candy I make." Bon Bon beamed. "There are so many different forms of love, no amount of studying can teach you even one percent of what you are trying to understand."

Lyra nodded. "Yea, like, Bon Bon and I love each other, as the bestest of best friends. Even if we just sit silently next to each other."

"I see." Twilight swallowed the candy. She was feeling much better now. "Thank you, and I'm sorry I jumped to the conclusion that you two were a couple."

"Think nothing of it." Bon Bon's smile was infectious, and Twilight smiled back. "I hope you find what you are looking for."

...

Twilight looked down off the bridge into the stream that wound through Ponyville. Her reflection only slightly distorted by the gentle current of the water below.

"What is love..." She whispered to herself.

She then became aware of a presence next to her. She glanced over and saw another pony, a Unicorn stallion.

His coat was pure white. His mane and tail were strait, and a shining black with a crimson streak through them. His eyes were a dark red, yet bright and shiny.

He didn't even seem aware that Twilight was there next to him.

(I've never seen him in Ponyville before.) Twilight pondered a moment. He was smaller than the well known Big Mac in height and muscular build, but he was still lean. His cutie mark was a simple red heart set into a sunburst.

Twilight blushed a little at the close proximity to this stallion and inched away.

Her movement seemed to catch his attention, turning only his eyes. "Sorry, I was lost in thought and didn't see you there." He stepped dropped down from leaning on the railing.

"Oh, that's okay. I was kind of lost in thought as well." She dropped down as well and they faces each other. "Are you new to Ponyville?"

"Arrived just today." He tapped a forehoof nervously on the bridge.

"Really?" Twilight blinked. "Well, may I be the first to welcome you to Ponyville?"

He smiled shyly. "Um, thank you." He avoided direct eye contact, but glanced at her, seeming to look her over, just as she had looked him over.

Twilight was slender, lightly toned muscles under her lavender coat. Her amethyst eyes caught the light of the sun and almost seemed to dance. Her mane and tail almost danced ever so slightly in the breeze. Her horn caught the sunlight at just the right angle to almost become translucent, like amethyst crystal.

"Oh, I'm Twilight Sparkle. I'm the librarian here in Ponyville."

"Twilight Sparkle... Pretty name."

Twilight blushed and felt something in her chest. Her heart was beating faster than normal.

"I'm Dawn Glimmer." He looked like he was blushing a little as well.

(Awkward...) They both thought at the same time.

Twilight could not help but find this unicorn... attractive? Was that the word to describe him?

(She's beautiful...) Dawn thought to himself. Sure, he knew that Unicorns tended to be the most slender and beautiful of the ponies... at least in his eyes, but Twilight, she had such a radiance about and within her.

He could feel something about her, something that tugged at his heart. "I know this may sound odd, or as a come on, but... have we met before?" (Why do I get this feeling?)

Twilight could feel something as well, like she too was drawn to him. She had never felt like this around any other male pony.

"I... I don't think so." Twilight glanced about, noticing nopony was really paying them attention, other than to acknowledge their presence too walk around the pair.

She then noticed a pendant hanging from his neck. It was a ruby heart set into a golden sun. It was just like his cutie mark. "Oh wow, that's so pretty." She admired the level of detail in the piece of jewelry.

"This?" He tapped the item in question with his hoof. "Oh, this is something I found a couple years ago in an old ruin in the Everfree Forest."

This got Twilight's attention. "Only a couple years ago? But, it looks like your cutie mark."

"At first, it looked just like a stone, but it still caught my attention. The moment I touched it, I saw a bright flash in another part of the ruins, and then this flew up and attached to my neck and transformed. A few minutes later, it changed into this pendant."

Twilight's eyes went wide. "Element... of Harmony?" She looked up into his amazing red eyes. "I... I think that's an Element of Harmony... but I thought there was only six of them."

"What are you talking about?"

"Would you come with me? I think there's somepony you REALLY should meet."

Dawn Glimmer nodded and followed. (Why am I so drawn to her? What does she know about this pendant? Why is her flank so nice to look at? DARNIT Dawn Glimmer, get your head out of the gutter... Twilight isn't somepony to just look at and get all flustered over... Even if she seems really nice, and is very beautiful...)

...

"Spike, take letter." Twilight called out as she entered.

Spike appeared from up the stairs, scroll and quill in claw. "Did you already learn a new lesson about friendship?"

"Working on that." She smiled as Spike noticed the stranger walk in behind her.

"Dear Princess Celestia." Twilight started.

"P... Princess Celestia?" Dawn looked in awe. "You... do you know the Princess?"

"I am her personal student." Twilight smiled over her shoulder at Dawn, then looked back at Spike, "Scratch that last part."

"Didn't write that part." Spike grinned. He had gotten used to Twilight and how odd she could get sometimes.

"Oh, okay. Eh-hem." She cleared her throat and began. "Today I have met a new citizen of Ponyville by the name of Dawn Glimmer. He bares, much to my surprise and awe, a pendant identical to his cutie mark. Why am I writing about this you may ask?"

"Simple"

"He found this pendant in the same ruins, and on the same night that my dear friends and I defeated Nightmare Moon and returned Princess Luna to herself. He described events that only you, my friends and I know about, and bares something most wonderful."

"A seventh Element of Harmony, one as of yet unidentified."

Spike dropped the quill and scroll and stared at Twilight, then at the stranger, and locked eyes on his pendant. "Twi? Are you serious?"

Twilight nodded as she levitated the quill and scroll back into Spike's claws. "Very serious. This is an awesome discovery." She smiled at Dawn, who smiled nervously back.

(She's writing a personal letter to Princess Celestia? I... I feel like I'm a commoner among nobility.) He could only watch Twilight as she continues reciting her letter.

"I await your response Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle." She smiled a at Dawn. "Send it Spike."

Dawn watched in confusion as the small dragon incinerated the letter with his green flames. "Somehow, I know I'm missing something."

"Oh, I use a special magic spell that lets me teleport small flammable items to just about anywhere." Spike grinned.

"That is amazing." Dawn was impressed. He looked over to Twilight. "So... you are the faithful student of Princess Celestia herself? Why are you all the way out here in this peaceful little village?"

"I am here, studying the magic of friendship, and I have made some of the most wonderful friends." Twilight beamed.

At that moment, a brilliant light filled the library. The three present all covered their eyes, shielding them from the sudden appearance of none other than Princess Celestia.

Dawn nearly bruised his muzzle he bowed so fast. Twilight bowed much more relaxed, but with no less respect.

"My dear student Twilight." Celestia smiled fondly at her favourite little Unicorn. "I received your letter, and I dare say I could not believe what I read."

Twilight stood up. "It's true Princess." She looked at the still bowing Dawn Glimmer, who looked like he was sweating profusely

"Your name, it is Dawn Glimmer?"

"Yes your highness." He spoke, not even looking up.

"Please, if you speak, please do so while looking me in the face." Celestia looked quite serious. "It is difficult to understand while you speak into the floor."

Dawn lifted his head, but remained bowed down. "Yes your Highness."

Celestia smiled gently. "Now Dawn Glimmer, rise and stand. I would examine this... pendant."

Dawn rose nervously. He had never set his eyes on the Princess before, and from where he came from, she was revered not as a Princess, but as a Goddess, one to be feared.

He stood his ground, but was shaking badly.

Celestia could smell his fear and looked him in the eyes. "Why do you fear me?"

"I... Beg your forgiveness... But in my homeland, far away on the other side of the Everfree Forest, we revere and fear you as the goddess of the sun, of fire, life, death and rebirth."

"Revere, and fear me?" Celestia was a little shocked. "Why would you fear me?"

Twilight blinked. "Maybe it's the whole Goddess of fire and death part?"

Celestia nodded to her pupil. "I understand." She then smiled gently at Dawn Glimmer, who looked like he was staring death in the face right about now. "Dawn Glimmer, you need not fear me. I do not represent fire or death. I am regent of the sun, and Princess of Equestria. I am little more."

Twilight kept her silence. She wanted to say that Celestia was in deed more than what she claimed. That she was kind, wise, patient, beautiful, and overall, a wonderful Pony.

"I do not understand how I can be mistaken for such a being..." Celestia was actually a little concerned

"Is not your crest that of a phoenix raising from the sun over the very land of Gaea?" Dawn asked, still nervous as heck, but starting to become curious.

"A phoenix?" Celestia suddenly giggled. "Dear me, no. My symbol is that of the sun, nothing else. I do, however, have a dear friend named Philomena. He is a Phoenix." She thought back to nearly eight hundred years ago when she had last visited the lands on the far side of the dark and foreboding wood. "I travelled with him when I visited your lands, and it was at that time his cycle of death and rebirth came."

"But... according to legend, you showed us your power, and brought flames and death to your own symbol, and then brought life back into it, fully reborn." Dawn replied, still nervous, but his fear starting to give way to his curiosity more and more.

"I did no such thing Dawn Glimmer. It is in the very nature of a Phoenix to die in flames and be reborn from their own ashes." She then leaned close and looked at the pendant. "Now, that aside, I have come here to see this, I believe." Her horn glowed and the pendant reacted, a warm, pure and gentle glow.

Celestia seemed to blush a little and smiled at Dawn.

He felt the warmth, kindness and gentle nature of this being he had been taught to revere and fear. She was nothing like the teachings from the Priests.

His fear and nervousness washed away at that moment. This time, he knelt before Princess Celestia, not in fear, but in respect. "I am sorry for my misconceptions of you. If I have insulted you in any way, I will take full responsibility and any punishment."

Celestia developed an almost mischievous glint in her eyes, one that Twilight did NOT miss.

(Oh horse-feathers..) Twilight thought. (What is the Princess thinking now?)

"Dawn Glimmer, you are the barer of the seventh Element of Harmony, the Element of..." She glanced her mischievous eyes at Twilight. "Love."

Twilight turned nearly all red on hearing this. "L... L... L..." She stammered.

Dawn looked up. "Element of Harmony? Element of Love? I do not truly understand."

"Take all the time you need to learn and understand the very Element of Harmony you represent. Twilight Sparkle, she represents the Element of Magic, and her closest friends represent Loyalty, Generosity, Honesty, Kindness and Laughter."

"The... The Elements of... did you call them Harmony?" Dawn looked confused. "I thought they were called the Elements of Fate. I've only heard about them once."

"The Elements of Harmony do, in a way, affect the fate for those who represent them." Celestia smiled. "And to date, that fate has been to create a group of the closest friends I have ever seen. They love and care about each other. They help each other through thick and thin. They laugh and cry together. They even get into mischief together."

Twilight glanced away and whistled innocently.

Spike snickered to himself.

"These six have been the best of friends for only two and a half years, but they have been bound by their hearts and by fate sense long before." Celestia smiled at Twilight. "Twilight, you should have yourself and your friends relate the tale of how you each received your cutie marks."

"Of course Princess, we would be most pleased to do that." She smiled at Dawn, who seemed to be overcoming his lifelong beliefs of what the Goddess known as Princess Celestia was really like.

She didn't get angry at him and burn him to ashes, then revive him and burn him again as punishment. Rather, she smiled with a kindness that reminded him of the beautiful warmth of the sun itself. Dawn relaxed and looked at Twilight. "I would enjoy hearing the tales of your cutie marks. I myself have a rather boring one."

Celestia's smile did not fade away. "Element of Love, Dawn Glimmer, you shall have much to learn about this nature that has most likely shaped much of who you are. I will leave you to learn in your own way." With that, she vanished in a flash of golden white light.

Dawn shook the flash from his eyes, rubbing them gently. "I... I can't believe this. Princess Celestia is nothing like how I was raised to see her."

"It's alright Dawn." Twilight placed a hoof on his shoulder. "Maybe over time your homeland might learn the truth about her as well." She then realized where her hoof was and blushed, pulling it back. Her heart fluttered momentarily.

He looked up and their eyes met again. "I hope so. I could feel the love in her. She loves life, and she loves you too. I can see that clearly." He smiled.

"Ugh... get a room you two..." Spike muttered and left the room.

This caused the two unicorns to blush, and realize they were rather close to each other.

Twilight stepped back a little, unsure exactly what she was feeling. She had just met Dawn and already she was starting to have strange, warm feelings for him.

(I can't be falling in love with Dawn... we only just met and I hardly know him...) Twilight looked down and away.

Dawn watched Twilight suddenly look shyly away. He smiled and turned toward the door. "Twilight?"

"Oh... yes Dawn?"

"Perhaps we can pay a visit to your friends? Through them, we can learn more about each other. And seeing that I have chosen to live in Ponyville, maybe we can become friends too?"

Twilight blushed and nodded. "I... I'd like that."

...

Sugar-cube Corner.

Pinkie Pie was pleased as punch when Twilight graced the bakery a second time today.

"Welcome back Twi." She greeted her friend in her usual bubbly manner. She then saw she was not alone. "Oh, who's your friend?"

"Hello Pinkie. This is Dawn Glimmer, he just moved to Ponyville."

"Really?" Her eyes lit up. "We have GOT have a welcome too Ponyville party." She bounced happily over. "Hi, I'm Pinkie Pie."

"Dawn Glimmer." He smiled at the energetic pony. She was so full of life, and it was infectious. "It is an honour to meet a dear friend of Twilight Sparkle."

"Aww, you're just saying that." She beamed brightly. She then spotted his pendant. "Ohh, pretty. That looks just like your cutie mark."

"It does, doesn't it?" Dawn glanced at Twilight.

"Pinkie Pie, that is an Element of Harmony."

"Ooh Really? I have one of those as well." She giggled giddily. "I represent Laughter. I love to laugh and have fun and throw parties."

Dawn couldn't help it. His could only feel happiness right now. This pony sure did represent laughter and happiness "You don't say."

"So what Element do you Represent?"

Dawn blushed a little as she pressed her face to only inches from his. "Um..."

Twilight pulled Pinkie back a length. "He represents the Element of Love."

Pinkie Pie suddenly blushed, something nopony had ever seen before. "Love? Wow, that's an awesome Element, even though I never heard of that one before."

Dawn nodded a little and looked at Twilight. "I have much to learn. I'm not even really sure what these Elements of Harmony are."

"Only the most powerful and awesomest and bestest things ever." Pinkie bounced over to the display stand. "Say, would you like a cupcake? On the house."

Dawn blinked as Pinkie Pie scooped a delicious cupcake onto a plate and brought it to a table. "I can't accept something for free. You worked hard to make those."

"A labour of love for sure, but I enjoy baking and throwing parties and making everypony smile. Oh, do you like Pin the tail on the Pony?"

Dawn winced a little. "That sounds... painful."

"Of course not silly." She looked at Twilight, who was actually hiding her mirth. "Is he serious?"

"Quite." Dawn replied. "As for this party thing you mentioned... what exactly is that?"

Deathly silence filled Sugar-cube Corner.

Twilight felt the blood run from her face. Somepony who didn't know about parties? Admitting that to Pinkie Pie? She knew there would be consequences.

Pinkie then giggled. "Oh come on you silly pony. Everypony knows what parties are, especially here in Ponyville." She turned and showed off her cutie mark. "My special talent is throwing parties and making everypony happy."

"I... I guess I do have much to learn."

Twilight stepped up, feeling somewhat relieved that Pinkie didn't explode upon hearing somepony didn't know what a party was. "Say Pinkie. Why don't you tell us about how you got your cutie mark again?"

"Oh, this story is a doozy..."

...

"And that's now I got my cutie mark." Pinkie finally finished.

Twilight blinked. She had been expecting her to say "And that's how Equestria was made", like the last time she had heard the story.

"Most interesting..." He felt odd. (Something about her story is familiar.)

"Can you tell us about how you got your cutie mark?" Pinkie started, then shook her head, her curly mane whipping about. "Or even better, you can tell us all at the party tonight."

"I... I guess I can. It's nowhere near as impressive as your story though."

"No spoilers." Pinkie pressed a hoof to his mouth. "Now, eat up." She pushed the plate with the cupcake in front of him and bounced off. "I got to get everything ready for the party."

Dawn looked at the brightly coloured food before him, then at Twilight. "Um... what is this exactly?"

"A cupcake. They're very tasty."

Dawn sniffed it. It smelled very fragrant. He took a tentative nibble and tasted it.

Twilight watched as his eyes lit up. He took another bite and chewed slowly.

"Do you like it?"

He nodded and swallowed. "Never before have I tasted anything like it. Where I come from, it is quite barren. The region is quite harsh, but near the sea. Our mainstay of food is the kelp we harvest from the ocean."

"Kelp?"

"It's a plant. It's quite salty." He took another small bite and savoured the delicious food. "I don't even know how to describe this." He then took a final bite and finished it off. " I can tell the one who made this loves what they do."

Twilight smiled. "Pinkie Pie loves to bake and throw parties... also, she does things that are... best not thought about."

"Like what?" Pinkie asked as she popped out from under the table.

Twilight didn't blink or miss a beat. "Like that."

"What?"

"How?" Dawn boggled. He looked under the table. No visible trap doors, and the tiles looked like they were not made to move.

Twilight sighed. "Thank you for the cupcake Pinkie."

"Yes, thank you. It tasted very good." He licked a bit of frosting off his lips.

"No, thank YOU." She beamed. "I'm just happy that it made you happy. Now, preparations... so much preparations..." She ducked back under the table and was gone.

Dawn looked under only a second after she had vanished, and saw neither the pink pony, or any signs as to how she had vanished. He poked his head up, his eyes just above table level. "That was... interesting."

"I know what you mean..." Twilight giggled. "I gave up trying to figure Pinkie Pie out a long time ago. I just accept her for who she is, even if it does drive me crazy sometimes."

"Well... where too now?"

...

Rarity knew a good looking stallion when she saw one, and Dawn Glimmer saw a DAMN good looking stallion for certain.

But she had seen him walking with Twilight toward the Boutique, and noted how close they were walking side by side.

She just had the feeling that they were close, even if they may not realize it just yet... or did Twilight know him from before coming to Ponyville? How could she never have mentioned knowing such a stud and never tell anypony about him?

No, they had to have just met, and maybe it was love at first sight?

They approached and entered the Boutique Rarity had quickly started reorganizing things around the shop to make it look like she had not noticed them coming.

She glanced over her shoulder when she heard the bell, signalling somepony coming in. "Welcome to Rarity's Carousel Boutique" She smiled at Twilight. "Twilight Darling. Twice in one day you visit? What a special surprise." She glanced at her companion. "And who might your hansom escort be?"

"Hello, Miss Rarity. I am Dawn Glimmer." He bowed his head. "Between Sugar-cube Corner and here, Twilight has told me a little about you."

"You don't say." Rarity batted her eyes and smiled at Twilight. "Whatever could you have told Sir Glimmer about Lil' Miss Rarity?"

"Only that you are one of her dearest friends, a wonderfully skilled fashionista, and Represent the Element of Generosity."

Rarity stared at Twilight. "I thought we were not going to go telling everypony about that? I don't want to be a celebrity because of that."

"I told him because..." Twilight smiled at Dawn, almost fondly. "He represents the seventh Element of Harmony."

"Seventh?" Rarity stared in wide eyed wonder for a moment before collecting herself. "That is simply awe inspiring. A seventh Element." She zipped over. "What is it?"

Dawn spoke, his smooth voice making Rarity blush as he spoke. "Love."

Rarity promptly fainted.

"Oh yea... she's bit of a drama queen..." Twilight deadpanned.

"Am not." Rarity raised her head for a moment before fainting away again.

Dawn was at a loss for words as Twilight levitated her friend onto her favourite, red velvet lined sofa.

(She can levitate a whole pony?) Dawn was in awe. (And she's not even straining. I... I can't even lift a young foal, and that's straining all my magic and even my body to do so.)

Twilight looked over. "Is something wrong?"

"You... you're amazing."

"What? No, I'm just... I mean... what?"

"You levitated Miss. Rarity with such ease and grace."

Twilight blushed at the praise. "You can do it too you know. I'm nothing that special."

"You are truly the Element of Magic. I only know two magic tricks. Simple Levitation and a basic light spell." He looked down.

"I... Well, I am Celestia's student. I owe it all to her patience and teaching."

"You are blessed by the Goddess of the Sun herself." Dawn smiled. "Um... is Miss Rarity going to be fine?" He had to change the subject. His heart was starting to beat faster.

"She'll be fine. She's stronger than most would give her credit for." Twilight smiled.

"You really mean that Twilight?"

"Yes Rarity, I do." She smiled as Rarity sat up. "And sorry about that drama queen remark."

"Oh, I forgive you. I know, it is true though." She rose and walked around Dawn. "Slender, yet strong. From what you said, I assume you are more used to performing physical labour than relying on your magic?"

"The use of magic is strictly forbidden, except by direct from the Priests and Priestesses of my homeland."

"To deny a Unicorn the use of their magic?" Rarity's mane actually lost a few shades of its royal purple. "However can you survive like that?"

"It is not so bad really." Dawn replied. "It's always been like that for as long as the history of my home can remember."

"What of Pegasus? Are they denied the right to fly?"

"We have no Pegasus. The first ones I had ever seen were when I emerged from the Everfree Forest and found Ponyville."

Silence.

"Did I say something wrong?" Dawn wondered.

"Not at all my good sir." Rarity stood before the pair of Unicorns and frowned. "However could you control the weather?"

"Control? Weather is a natural force. How can anypony possibly control it?"

"Twilight, I believe Sir Glimmer deserves to be introduced to to the best flier in all of Equestria."

Twilight nodded, agreeing fully and completely. "I think you're right. But may I get to the reason we came here?"

"And what might that be? Tell me, tell me please."

"Might you relate the tale of how you got your cutie mark?" She explained that this was actually a request from none other than Princess Celestia herself.

Rarity smiled and began her tale.

...

Dawn was in wonder. "To be able to find gems..." He shook his head. "Such a gift would allow you the status of High Priestess among my homeland. That is the highest status anypony can possibly receive"

Rarity simply smiled. "Why thank you, but I have the feeling I would not be happy as a high priestess."

"You would aim to become more powerful?" Dawn paled.

"Oh dear me, no. Such power simply does not interest me. While I do crave fame and prestige, I want it to be for something I work for, not for my special talent." She winked at Twilight. "Now, seeing that you have already visited Pinkie Pie, I sense a party in the near future."

"You can read the future as well? You very well could surpass the status of High Priestess... whatever status that could be."

Rarity giggled. "Dear me, no. You are new to Ponyville and have already met Pinkie Pie. She happily throws parties for all newcomers. It helps them to meet everypony and get a jump start on making new friends."

Dawn looked embarrassed, at least a little, for jumping to such a conclusion

"I can't wait to hear ALL about you at the party." Rarity beamed. "Now, you two should skedaddle and meet Rainbow Dash."

...

As the pair of Unicorns walked, they talked a little about some of the things they enjoyed doing.

"I enjoy nighttime, well, I used to fear it, but one day the moon suddenly shone and the stars sparkled with such brilliance that I lost my fear." Dawn related. "That was a little over two years ago."

"That was when we defeated Nightmare Moon and rescued Princess Luna."

"Who?"

Twilight stared in disbelief. "You don't know about Princess Luna or the legend of Nightmare Moon?"

"No, this is the first time I've hear that there was another Princess... is she like Princess Celestia?"

"She is you younger sister, and regent of the Moon." Twilight explained.

"I... I never knew. My homeland only venerated the Goddess Celestia and hid from the night." He frowned a little. "There is so much I do not know. My homeland was so... strict, especially compared to the freedom here in Ponyville." He looked at ponies who were working in shops and running stalls in the marketplace. They all looked so happy and free.

Twilight frowned a little. (What kind of place can his homeland be? Unicorns are not allowed to use magic and Pegasus don't even exist there. It sounds like a terrible place to live.)

"I'm glad I got lost in the Everfree forest three years ago." He smiled, looking up at the clear blue sky.

"Three years?" Twilight boggled. "Dawn... have you been lost in there all this time?"

"Yes, I wondered through the forest for three whole years, trying to find my way out, and only last night did I step clear and lay eyes upon Ponyville."

Twilight was stunned. "How... how did you survive?"

"I broke our laws a second time and used my magic. With light, I could find safe places to sleep at night. My telekinesis allowed me to move plants I had learned to be hazardous out of my way, as well as to pick fruit from the trees."

"Didn't you try to learn new magic?"

"No. I have no talent for magic at all, not that I know of at least. I did learn that most of the animals in the forest, for some reason, were actually kind to me, mainly because I tried to be kind first."

"You showed them love and kindness, didn't you?"

Dawn nodded. "Though we could not understand each other, they still would help me out while I helped them in turn."

"You would like Fluttershy then. She can communicate with animals and shows them great kindness. She is the kindest pony I know." Twilight smiled fondly. "In fact, Fluttershy represents the Element of Kindness."

"Amazing." Dawn could only smile. "The more I hear of these Elements, the more I want to learn about them."

"I have the feeling you will learn more and more, and even learn more about yourself."

"I would truly like that. The first seven months in the Everfree Forest were truly frightening until I found those ancient ruins and this pendant. After that, the night became gentler, and the animals friendlier." He smiled at Twilight, an almost fond smile.

Twilight returned the smile.

"Hey there Twi." A familiar voice called out to the mare.

"Applejack?" Twilight turned around as spotted yet another one of her friends approaching.

"Why hello there." She beamed. "So this here's the young stallion Ah've been hearin' so much 'bout?" She looked Dawn Glimmer over. "Y'all look pretty strong, for a Unicorn."

Dawn glanced at Twilight.

"Dawn, this is my good friend Applejack. She's the most Honest pony you will ever meet." She winked at Dawn.

"Honest... Honesty?" He caught on right away. He faced Applejack and bowed. "It is an honour to meet another dear friend of Twilight Sparkle. My name is Dawn Glimmer."

"Why golly. Yer quite the gentlecolt, ain't ya?" Applejack smiled, but also blushed a little. She then layed eyes on the pendant. "And golly, it's true. The seventh..."

Dawn nodded. "I.. I'm still not exactly sure why these are so important. Till I met Twilight and Princess Celestia, I had no idea why I felt this pendant was so important to me. I knew it had to be magical, especially because it transformed from a plain stone into a wondrous necklace, then into this pendant."

"It... became a pendant?" Applejack whistled. "How in tarnation did it do that?"

"I don't know. It just did." Dawn replied.

"Say Applejack?"

"Yea Twi?"

"Celestia asked Dawn to learn all our cutie mark stories. She feels there's something important about it all."

"Any friend of Twi's is a friend ah mine. Ah'd be pleased as pie ta tell y'all about it."

...

Dawn was thinking. So far all the stories had been wonderful to hear. They all had one connection, seeing a rainbow. Could it be possible? No, it had to just be coincidence.

So far he had met three of Twilight's friends and learned their cutie mark stories. From what Twilight had told him, there was two more stories he had to hear.

"So, y'all excited 'bout Pinkie's party tonight?"

"To be honest..." Dawn chuckled a little. "I have no idea what to expect. I have never been to a party before, much less even heard of them."

Applejack's jaw nearly hit the ground. "What the hay? Never heard ah parties before?" She shook her head to clear her thoughts a little. "What kinda cave y'all been livin' in?"

"No cave, though my home was constructed from stone. It could get quite cold during the long winters."

"Ah know what ya mean." Applejack laughed. "Las' winter Ah got a touch ah frostbite in ma tail. Sure as hay didn't feel all that nice. Always wondered how Pegasus ain't ever bothered by th' cold."

"I too have experienced frostbite. Were it not for the priest of my town, I would have lost my hooves, tail and horn."

Applejack and Twilight paled at hearing this.

"Loose your horn?" Twilight gulped. She couldn't imagine a fate worse than that for a Unicorn. Even death would be more welcome than loosing their horns, the very focus for all their magic.

"Correct. The Priest was able to save me by placing me in cold blankets and slowly heating them up. It was painful, but I was saved. If I had lost my horn, I could live with that, or even my tail. Had I lost my hooves, I would have been useless, and most likely become a sacrifice to the Goddess."

The more Twilight learned about Dawn's homeland, the less she liked it.

"What in Tarnation?" Applejack looked like she was getting angry. "How the hay can y'all talk like that and not be bothered?" She took a breath and glanced around, lowering her voice. "What'cha mean by sacrifice anyway?"

"I would give my life to the Goddess Celestia as a sacrifice in hopes that the winter would not take anymore lives. Still, I'm glad I could be saved. It was still a horrible winter though."

Applejack was appalled, as was Twilight. She would have to learn all she could about this land and write a letter to Celestia as soon as possible, and hopefully put an end to such practices. It was simply barbaric. Heck, disallowing Unicorn to use magic sounded bad enough.

She then paused. Twilight looked at Dawn. "Dawn?"

"Yes Twilight?"

"Are there stories of there ever being Pegasus in your homeland? I somehow doubt the cold winters would have bothered them too much at all."

Dawn closed his eyes and thought. "I don't really know too much about the history, but I do know some very old stories about the winged ponies. They..." His eyes snapped open, a look of horror on his face. "They were all killed... six hundred and fifty years ago, the Priests decided that the power of flight was a gift only the Goddess Celestia should possess and outlawed flying. The Pegasus refused and revolted, and then they were all wiped out..." He hung his head, tears falling freely. "My homeland is a terrible place."

Applejack agreed wholeheartedly, but seeing this magnificent stallion crying like this, it tore at her heart.

"T'ain't yer fault Sugar-cube That was a long time ago." She still was angry, not at Dawn, but at these so-called priests who made up these atrocious laws. Unicorns not being allowed to do magic. Pegasai not being allowed to fly. How could anypony deny the natural and free abilities that one was born with? That would almost be like denying an Earth Pony the right to walk or talk.

Twilight lead Dawn over to the side and they sat on the grass under a tree.

Dawn did not sob, but let his tears flow freely. "Why... why does this make my heart ache?"

"Because..." She glanced up at Applejack who was just now kneeling down with them. "You represent the Element of Love. You're feelings for all living things not only gives you great strength, but also great empathy."

"L... Love? The seventh Element is Love?" Applejack gasped. "Golly. Love is a powerful emotion. Ah've heard legends ah wars bein' fought, won an lost, cause ah love denied. Great an powerful beings brought low cause ah love. Even miracles that nopony could understand cause ah the love between two pony." She looked at Twilight, noticing how she was sitting right next to Dawn, allowing him to lean on her. (An I can feel the love that darn well may be growin' in their hearts. An that's th' honest truth.)

"Oh my." The most gentle voice suddenly spoke as Fluttershy approached. She saw the crying stallion and came over, her heart reaching out and wanting to comfort him. She then noticed Applejack, then Twilight in VERY close proximity to him. "Is... is everything alright here? I hope I'm not intruding."

"Y'all always welcome Fluttershy." Applejack waved her over. "This here's a new friend ah Twi's."

Dawn wiped away his tears and turned his head, his muzzle brushing softly against Twilight's.

They both blushed madly and leaned away, but didn't jump away. It was, after all, and honest mistake.

"My apologies Twilight." He bowed his head.

"It's ok Dawn." She could feel the heat in her face, and especially where they had touched. That had nearly been a kiss. "I mean, no harm was done... right?"

Dawn nodded. (Their customs are strange. Had I done that in my homeland, I would have had to either take her as my mate, or pay reparations to her family... Neither could I possibly ever afford. Twilight and her friends are so understanding... why do I feel like I'm being stared at?) He turned to face a pink coated and maned Pegasus

"Hey Shy?" Applejack leaned over and poked the ultra-shy mare with a hoof.

She simply toppled over, like a stone statue.

"Gosh darn it..."

"I... I'm sorry... I did something wrong, didn't I?" Dawn hung his head.

"No Dawn. Fluttershy is just the kindest soul you're ever likely to meet, and the most shy."

It took a little coaxing, but they managed to bring Fluttershy back around, though she was still under the effects of a full body blush from what looked to her Twilight and this beautiful stallion kissing.

No, Twilight wouldn't do that with somepony she just met... or did they have a history? No, Twilight would most certainly told them if she had a coltfriend. Then again, with how studious she is, she couldn't possibly ever have had the time for one.

"I... I'm sorry..." She whispered.

Dawn was glad, his time in the Everfree Forest had allowed him to train his ears to hear the faintest sounds, alerting him of potential danger. He actually heard Fluttershy speak, even though Applejack and Twilight missed it.

"There is nothing for you to be sorry about." He spoke very softly. He seemed so non-threatening that even Fluttershy was able to look up and meet eyes. Her colour started shifting from pink to a butter yellow, all except for her face. That retained the pink hue. "I am the one who should be to blame for startling you." He glanced at Twilight and blushed himself, as did she.

Applejack chuckled to herself. (Gosh darn lot ah blushin' goin on here. They're all so darn cute. Makes me wanna blush too.) And she did, ever so slightly.

Twilight was impressed at how easily Fluttershy seemed to open up and talk to Dawn Glimmer. She oddly felt relieved as Fluttershy's blush faded away completely and she started speaking in her usual soft voice.

"So you come from the other side of the Everfree Forest?" Fluttershy 's sea-foam green eyes wide with wonder.

"Yes, it's a long way away. And I kind of got myself lost in there for three years."

Fluttershy giggled. "How can you get lost in there? The Everfree Forest is not really THAT large. I know ponies who have crossed it in only three months."

"Seems like somepony's got a bad sense ah direcshun." Applejack sniggered.

Dawn sighed. "My sense of direction is not too fault. The woods would always change, never being the same. I could travel in as strait a path as possible, only to have the sun move in a different path the next day. After I found the ruins where I found this, the Element of Love, I camped for the night, only to awaken the next day surrounded by forest."

Fluttershy blinked. "Wait... did you say Element of... Love?" She would have made a chameleon proud at how her coat itself changed from yellow to pink. She then looked from Twilight to Dawn, and how close they sat. "Oh my..." Steam rose off her head and she toppled over... again.

"Y'all gotta be kiddin' me." Applejack facehoofed.

...

A cool cloth helped cool Fluttershy down and bring her about again.

Dawn was feeling a little nervous, sitting so relaxed with three very attractive mares.

Applejack looked toned and strong, but still VERY feminine with muscle and curves in all the right places.

Fluttershy possessed such a level of innocent cuteness that he had never dreamed could exist beyond fluffy baby bunnies. Also, this was the first time he had actually ever seen a Pegasus up close. He wondered at her slender feathered wings.

Twilight, she, in his eyes, was flawless. Her magic was beyond anything he could imagine. Even the Priests and Priestesses of his homeland could not hold a candle to her brilliance. In his eyes, she was almost worthy of being called a Goddess in her own right.

Then there had been the other mares.

Pinkie Pie had a light athletic build, looking younger than she most likely was, especially with the joyous and infectious energy she possessed.

Rarity had been a true beauty, from the tip of her nose to the tip of her tail.

While Fluttershy recovered, Twilight had easily coaxed Applejack to tell Dawn the story of her cutie mark.

(Again... the Rainbow...) Dawn kept this to himself. This was no coincidence. Fate perhaps?

Fluttershy had been resting, but listening as well. Finally she sat up and pulled the cool cloth from her face. "Um... would you like to hear my cutie mark story? I mean, if you want too, that is."

Applejack and Twilight were actually quite surprised that Fluttershy would offer to tell her tale to a pony she had just met. Maybe she could feel their own connection, just as all the others had.

"I would be as honoured to hear yours as I have been to hear the stories of your friends."

With a gentle smile, Fluttershy began.

...

Having bid a good day to both Applejack, who had an applecart to run, and Fluttershy who was at the market to buy some apples from said Applejack, the two Unicorn continued on their way toward a site that would take Dawn's breath away (even if it would only be for a moment).

"Breath... slow, deep breaths." Twilight spoke calmly. She herself was used to hyperventilating and loosing her breath, such as how she could become when excited over learning new things that greatly interested her.

"Cloud..." Deep breath, in... out... "House?"

"I guess I should have warned you..." Twilight sighed. Hindsight was usually twenty / twenty... She then spotted a flash of rainbow in the sky. "Uh oh..."

...

Rainbow Dash was performing her job, tending to the day by day weather of Ponyville. Most of the time free drifting clouds were left to drift as they wanted, but they still had to be kept thin to make sure no unscheduled rain fell.

As she was clearing up the last cloud, she saw a flash from the corner of her eye. She glanced and spotted Twilight Sparkle just below her house, with another Unicorn.

Sure, Dash was up over fifteen hundred lengths, but her vision while flying was virtually flawless. The faster and/or higher a Pegasus flew, the sharper their eyesight and senses became. This really helped with flying at the insanely high speeds she so enjoyed.

She smirked and dove down into a death spin.

...

Twilight and Dawn watched as the cyan pony suddenly dove toward the ground, spinning, to what they could tell, uncontrollably.

Dawn gasped as the Pegasus approached the ground at dangerous speeds. If she crashed, she was going to most certainly get hurt very badly, at the very least. Most likely she was going to die on impact.

Only a single length from the ground, Rainbow Dash pulled up and flew level with the ground, coming to a complete stop before a grinning at a clapping Twilight and a pure white Unicorn who looked like all life had suddenly drained out of him.

Dash landed and grinned at Twilight. "Hey Twi. Nice statue ya got there."

"Statue? What statue?" She looked at Dawn and gasped. The horrified look on his face shocked Twilight. "Dash, he's new to Ponyville and knows nothing about Pegasus, never mind your own flying skills." She gently patted his face. "Dawn? Dawn Glimmer? Are you alright? Remember, slow deep breaths..."

...

"I'm sorry. Didn't mean to scare ya like that." Dash chuckled.

"I... I'm ok..." Dawn looked at the cyan Pegasus, her slender and very athletic frame, and her strong wings. How he had seen her flying so fast, gracefully and freely, he suddenly understood why the Pegasai of his homeland had rebelled against the law of no flight. "I thought you were going to crash."

"Oh, well, the first few times I tried that trick I did crash." Dash smirked. "First time I crashed right through the roof of Lyra and Bon Bon's house. They were not too pleased."

"You... crashed into a house and... lived?"

"Just through the roof. I pulled up and flew out their window. Good thing it was open or I'd have broken that too."

Twilight hung her head. "They're still a little miffed because of that you know."

"Hey, I payed for the repairs for their whole roof." Dash placed her forehooves on her flank, quite possibly the strangest position Dawn had ever seen any pony take. "And you know well enough I can hit the ground WAY faster than that and come away without much more than my mane being all messed up."

Dawn was starting to turn white again.

"Breath Dawn... Breath." Twilight reminded him for a third time.

"I... I'll be... ok..."

Three times in only a matter of minutes... Twilight sighed. "You're certainly not going to be good for Dawn's health, you know that Rainbow Dash?"

"Hey, I can't help it if my awesomeness is too much for some ponies."

Twilight then chuckled lightly. "Remember I said he's not accustomed to Pegasus?"

"Oh yea, why's that? He live in a cave all his life?"

Dawn slowly shook his head. "Not a cave. My home was built from slabs of stone though."

"Really? Wow. Bet they were heavy."

"Indeed..." Dawn's mane and tail were once again black. "And cold in winter."

"Cold don't bother us Pegasus much." Dash grinned.

Dawn nodded slightly. "I can understand now. Pegasus sure are powerful, no wonder the war with them took nearly a hundred years... A tragic event in the history of my homeland."

"Wait.. war?" Dash seemed to think. "I remember there was a war some seven hundred and fiftey years ago that lasted one hundred years. Lots of Pegasus were killed in that war, but so were so may Earth Ponies and Unicorns. If I remember right, their leaders tried to tell Pegasus they were no longer allowed to fly or something silly like that."

Twilight was impressed Dash knew that. "How do you know that?"

"Well, when the Pegasus finally realized the war was just being dumb, they took off. Only a few remained behind, thinking they could make a difference and get the stupid law removed. Nopony ever heard from them again. One of my ancestors was one of those Pegasai to leave." Dash looked at Dawn. "Wait... are you from that place?"

"I am ashamed to say I am." Dawn hung his head. "My people have performed such an atrocious act as to disallow Pegasai to fly, and Unicorns, such as myself, are not permitted to practice or even perform magic in public or even in the privacy of our own homes."

Dash paled, nearly turning white herself.

"Breath..." Twilight shook Dash by her shoulders.

Dash recovered nearly instantly. "But, that was like, forever ago. You can't be serious that those laws still exist, can you?"

"They do still exist. Until I arrived in Ponyville just recently, I had not imagined that Unicorns could learn such powerful magic, or Pegasus actually existed. I thought the stories of the 'winged devil ponies' could never actually be true."

"Winged Devil Ponies?" Dash fumed. "Ok... let me just... calm down..." She did not want to overreact. "Ok... what's with that name?"

Dawn bowed his head. "They earned that name during the war. They would fly in and grab Earth ponies, haul them into the sky and drop them, or ambush them and knock them off cliffs, or even create violent lightening storms that would wash away entire Earth Pony settlements."

"Nowadays, my homeland is a very strict place with many laws. Ninety five percent of the population is Earth Pony. The remaining five percent are us Unicorn. At one time, according to stories and legends, all three existed in even numbers, but after the Goddess Celestia descended, many laws came into place. Magic and flight was suddenly believed to be the rightful domains of the Goddess of the Sun, fire, life, death and rebirth."

Dash was doing her best to remain calm, and somehow, with Twilight pinning her down with her magic, was succeeding. She was wanting to fly right over to wherever Dawn came from and raise heck.

"Then the war broke out. We Unicorn tried to stay out of it, but the Earth Ponies felt we were aiding the Pegasai from behind the scenes, so any excuse was used to execute unicorns. Within only thirty years of the war... more than half of all Unicorns had been put to the torch, burned alive after having their horns brutally ripped from their heads." He could see the anger and hatred in Dash's eyes.

"But... finally, the war came to an end when there were no Pegasai left. Hearing what you said makes me feel... only a tiny bit better. I am happy to hear that most of the Pegasai left and were saved. Our history states that they had all been wiped out completely." He knelt before Rainbow Dash, his head bowed. "I offer my deepest and most sincere apologies for what my homeland has done."

"Hey, that was a way long time ago." Dash replied, still mad, but quickly calming down. "It's what's going on right now that's pissin me off. How can your homeland not allow Unicorns to use their natural gifts of magic? What happens to any Pegasus that travel to your homeland?"

"I do not know why our High Priests and High Priestesses have decreed these laws, or why they have lasted as long as they have." Dawn remained prostrated before dash. "If you wish vengeance, strike me."

"Oh heck no. You're a victim here. Why should I wanna hit you?" Dash lifted Dawn up and they met eye too eye.

Dash suddenly blushed as crimson eyes met crimson eyes. "Um... Why does it feel like I know you?"

Dawn felt the same, but knew that had to be impossible. He had never been out of his homeland until only three years ago... or had he?

"Rainbow Dash, I know I have no right to ask you of this... but could you tell me the tale of how you got your cutie mark?"

Dash was a little taken aback by the sudden change of topic, and especially with such a request. She only told her closest friends this story, but for some reason, she felt it was alright to tell this stranger.

So she sat back. "Get comfortable, this is an epic story."

...

Dawn finally knew the truth. He had been outside of his homeland before.

"A rainbow explosion... I... I remember seeing that now, so many years ago..." He sighed. "I want to tell you my tale, but I think it should wait." he looked up at the sky and at the sun as it approached the horizon

"What for?" Dash REALLY wanted to know more about Dawn. Sure, his homelands sounded like a terrible place for anypony to live, but there was something she saw in his eyes. Something from her own past that she couldn't exactly remember.

...

Dawn entered Sugar-cube Corner, lead by Twilight Sparkle and followed by Rainbow Dash, who now knew about the seventh Element of Harmony. In turn, he knew her to Represent the Element of Loyalty.

The sight before him was nothing like he could even have dreamed of.

So much brightness. So much positive energy. He could feel that everything here hod truly been a labour of love and joy. He spotted Pinkie Pie as she bounced over, a smile crossing his lips.

"Hey there Dawn Glimmer!" Pinkie Pie greeted him with a huge hug. "Come on in and let me introduce you to everypony." She grabbed his forehoof and, somehow, dragged him to the center of the floor. She then took a deep breath and called out. "May I have everyponie's attention!"

All eyes were now on Pinkie Pie and the new Unicorn in town.

"I would like to introduce the newest resident to Ponyville. Dawn Glimmer."

Everypony cheered and welcomed Dawn.

His eyes were so wide in wonder. He had never felt anything like this ever before. He felt... welcomed.

He had to be strong... He couldn't cry. He held it in and began to enjoy himself.

...

Outside Ponyville.

"Are you certain?" A cloaked pony turned to his companion, another cloaked pony.

The second pony simply nodded.

"You better be. I payed for the best tracker in all Gaea. Lead on."

"No need." The tracer pointed toward a building that looked very lively.

"What in Celestia's dark name?" The first pony blinked at the bright lights and odd music. He actually had to stop his forehoof from tapping to the beat. He then spotted his prey.

"Finally. After three years lost in that cursed wood, we escape and instantly find your trail. I can't believe this good fortune."

"Remember, I charge by the hour."

"Yea, I know. But the bounty on this one's head is high enough to pay that bounty ten times over." He grinned. "And that's dead, double that alive."

The tracker pony blinked. "You sure the reward was that high?"

"five hundred thousand bits alive and half that dead. Yea, I can afford to pay you." He grinned and readied his bladed hoof-shoes

But then he stopped when he saw a female unicorn emerge from the building, using MAGIC of all things to carry a couple drinks.

"Blasphemy... they use magic like... like it's their birthright."

"Sickening... Can I rape and kill the mare?"

"I don't care. He's mine though."

...

Twilight sat next to Dawn and surprised him by levitating a drink with straw before him.

He accepted, trying his own clumsy telekinesis to hold it up. He decided to sit on his haunch and hold it between his hooves when he nearly dropped it twice.

Twilight laughed, a beautiful sound to Dawn. "Don't worry Dawn. With practice you will get better." She sipped at her own drink.

"Twilight?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you... for everything. I hope I can find something I can be useful at."

Twilight swallowed her latest sip, feeling a light warming in her belly and cheeks. She had not realized it yet, but the punch had been spiked (and not with a small dragon. Blame Berry Blitz, the local brewer of various 'none-foal-friendly' beverages, aka. Alcohol That Pegasus was ALWAYS happy to attend parties).

"Why do you say that? Can't you rely on your special talent?" She glanced at his cutie mark.

"I don't know really. I cannot honesty remember why I got it... all I do remember was that..." His ears perked up suddenly and he shoved Twilight to the side, saving her from being hit by a dart. "Twilight, get back inside. You're in danger." He took a fighting stance.

Twilight stood beside him, seeing the pair of cloaked ponies emerge from the bushes across from the bakery.

"You missed. I thought you said you never miss."

"How was I supposed to know he's shove my little sex toy to the side like that?" The smaller pony reloaded a hoof mounted crossbow with another dart.

Twilight blushed brightly at that comment. "What did he just say?"

"Don't worry, I'll protect you." Dawn stepped in front of her.

The larger pony dashed forward, his hooves striking up sparks on the cobblestones.

Twilight could see he was wearing bladed hoof-shoes, a highly illegal weapon. She watched as he lept, clearing five lengths, spun in mid air and attacked.

But he never hit his target, much to Dawn's surprise.

Twilight's horn was glowing, and so was the attacker.

"What the hay? You witch, PUT ME DOWN!"

"Not until you tell me why you are attacking us."

"I ain't attacking you. I'm attacking that run away murdering, magic using, sex toy of the High Priestesses."

Twilight flinched a little hearing that, but didn't release the attacker. "I don't believe you."

"He didn't tell you?" He laughed and spat at Dawn, right in his face. "He sold himself to the High Priestess to pay the priest of his town having saved his life. He then used magic to drown an innocent filly and ran away. There's a massive bounty on his head."

"I was trying to pull her from the river." Dawn cried out. "I was trying to save her, that's why I risked using my magic."

"Likely story. You was seen with your horn all glowing like, and so was that filly, thrashing in the river till she finally went under an drown."

Twilight gritted her teeth. "Silence."

His mouth suddenly went shut and he couldn't open it no matter how he tried.

But she was distracted. Too late she remembered the pony with the darts. She felt one sting her shoulder. In an instant, she felt her magic drop and she staggered, unable to remain standing.

She then fell, the last thing she saw was the first attacker attacking Dawn again and the smaller one advancing, something long and thick already evident between his legs.

...

Dash happened to see a strange glow outside the window to the bakery and called the others over, then went toward the door to investigate.

But before they even got outside, the glow suddenly stopped, and moment later a white with black mane and tailed unicorn came crashing through the window, a deep, bloody cut on his side. A moment later a cloaked pony lept through the broken window.

"Official business ponies. I'm a law enforcer and I'm bringing in this murderer."

"Now hold on a sec." Dash stepped forward, catching the stranger by surprise.

Rarity was helping Dawn to his hooves while the Applejack joined Dash. Fluttershy let Dawn lean against her and started to back away.

"What the? Pegasus? I thought we murdered ya all off long ago."

Dash saw red. "You... You're from Gaea, aren't you?"

"You know of our beautiful country? Nice to know, and now that we know about this country, you know we'll be here back in force... not only to take back that criminal, but to finish wiping out you filthy, disgusting vultures."

Applejack grabbed Dash and was having a hell of a time holding her back. She was a lot stronger than her slender frame suggested, but then again, this was a pony who could easily crash into the ground while pulling the Sonic Rainboom, and laugh about it.

But still Applejack was stronger, physically at least, and could hold her back.

The attacker could see the grooves being worn in the solid wooden floor and gulped. "Just you wait..." he then threw something on the floor, filling the room with a thick smoke. Dash flapped her wings, clearing away the smoke and in moments the bakery was clear.

Dawn collapsed, blood pouring from his injury. "Twilight... help... her..." he then blacked out.

"I'll take care of him." Nurse Redheart, who had joined the party, stepped over, her ever-present emergency kit at the ready. "You go save Twilight and kick that liar's flank."

"You betcha, thanks." And Applejack let slip the Rainbow Dash of War.

...

"You're seriously going to fuck that disgusting horned mule?" The larger pony frowned at his companion as they headed back toward the Everfree forest.

"Hell, might take us three years to get back, an I'm bored with fucking the animals in there... specially sense I gotta kill em first sense they try to eat me. This hot piece of ass, I'll keep her drugged up till I'm good and satisfied. Hell, she might pop me a foal I can raise. If it's a filly, I get my own little fuck pupped. If it's a colt, then I can just sell it off when we get back. Most likely gonna by a horny foal anyway."

"You've got some sick tastes, you know that? Anyway, let's make sure we get to the forest before that she-devil with wings catches up. I got the worst vibe seeing her."

"Yea? Wish I coulda darted her too. I hear Pegasus have the tightest plots."

"Ugh... enough. This ugly mule is enough. You can raise your own inbred slaves when we get back. Before that, no stopping to fuck the bitch."

"What if it takes us three years to get back?"

"Won't take that long. We only took that long because we were chasing that murderer around in here for three years."

Shrug. "Fine, let's double time"

The larger nodded and pulled out a trio of small glass flasks. They fed one to the unconscious Twilight and then drank one each.

In seconds, they all became invisible, leaving no tracks to follow.

...

Dash could see the tracks heading toward the Everfree forest. These two she was chasing were fast for ground pounders. She then stopped. The tracks had vanished. She landed and looked around at where they had disappeared It looked like the tracks had simply faded away.

"What the heck?" Dash fumed. She looked back to see Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie. "The trail ends here."

Applejack was examining the tracks. "The smaller one is the one carrying Twi. His hoof-prints are deeper than the larger ones. How we gonna find em in the dark?"

Fluttershy flew up finally. She examined the tracks herself and sniffed. "They went this way"

"How can you tell that sugar."

"They do not smell like they have bathed recently." Fluttershy scrunched up her nose.

"Everypony, follow Fluttershy." Rarity lit the way with her horn.

...

Back at Sugar-cube Corner.

The party had been in full swing till the party, and front window, had been crashed.

Most present at the time had quickly made their way out.

Dawn lay there, having regained some consciousness. He glanced up to see a pony with a heart and cross shaped cutie mark tending to his wound.

"How long was I out?"

"It's only been fifteen minutes." She replied, herself glancing at some of the remaining ponies who were helping clean up the broken glass, mainly unicorns with their magic. "You just rest and..."

"You don't understand... that pony... he's very dangerous. His companion... if he took Twilight... he might..." he gritted his teeth as he started to get to his hooves. "If he defiles her... I will become a murderer..." His red eyes glowed slightly.

Nurse Redheart gasped. "No, you have to stay. That cut is deep, and I've only put bandages on it. It needs stitches or healing magic. Twilight is the only Unicorn in Ponyville who can cast that kind of spell."

"Then... I'll have her heal me after I save her."

He didn't understand it. He could see the path they had taken. He could feel where Twilight was right now. Dawn ignored the insane burning pain of his injury and rushed out the door.

...

Tracking was not quite so easy in the forest, so many strange scents were starting to mess Fluttershy up.

"Oh... I'm so sorry. I can't follow them anymore."

"Not sure it really matters Sugar-cube" Applejack sighed. "They're movin pretty fast, and we're crawlin along."

"The forest is too thick for me to spot them from the sky." Dash fumed. "Rarity, can't you try to track them somehow?"

"I've tried, but they're not carrying any gemstones."

"Oh, I know. We can go to the other side of the forest and wait for them to come out." Pinkie suggested.

"An just how do y'all expect us to guess where they'll come out the other side? The Everfree's a really big place, and it'd take us months just to cross it. Assumin' we don't go an get lost in here."

"Aww, Applejack. I thought it was a great idea."

"I'm so sorry. I'm useless." Fluttershy hung her head and started whimpering.

"You are not useless Darling." Rarity hugged Fluttershy gently. "Those ruffians are just moving too fast, and they're using some strange magic to hide themselves from my magic too."

Dash sighed. "I think I know something. Where they come from, Pegasus were either chased out or killed off completely. Unicorns are not allowed to use magic, and I bet they have tricks to keep a unicorn from using her magic. How else could they have ponynapped Twilight?"

"Dunno Sugar. All Ah know is, when Ah catch up to em, they're in for a world ah hurt." She kicked a tree and splintered it in half.

She knew she could kick harder, and was actually very gentle with her beloved apple trees

"It's too dark to do anything... We should head back and try again in the morning."

At that moment, they heard hoof-prints approaching from behind, as well as ragged breathing.

They watched in almost horror as Dawn staggered up, blood having soaked through the bandages on his side. "Have... to... save... Twilight..." He continued past the group, but Rarity rushed in front of him.

"Hold on Sir Glimmer." Rarity frowned. "You are in NO state to be running."

"Have to... save... Twilight..." The strange glow in his eyes suddenly faded and he collapsed.

...

"Can we stop running? We been moving for three hours now. My fuck toy is getting a bit heavy, and I wanna make sure she ain't gonna cause us no trouble."

The larger pony slowed. "Fine, best take care of this before she wakes up, but we don't have time to stop for you to have your fun."

The smaller pony dumped Twilight on the ground and pulled out a small saw from within his cloak, a cruel grin on his face.

...

Twilight suddenly awoke, her head screaming in such agony. Her left eye couldn't open for some reason, like something thick and sticky was keeping it shut. Her right eye opened and she saw the pair of attackers laying near a small fire.

She tried to move, but her head exploded in agony.

"Oh look, she's awake." One of the attackers spoke and approached. He looked down, a cruel grin on his face. "Yer lucky we're only stopping for a quick break. There's some skragweed by your face, eat up, cause you're walking."

Twilight struggled through the pain and looked up, seeing something lavender and pointy hanging from a cord around his neck

Horror filled her as she recognized her own horn. Her scream ripped through the forest, frightening many night time predators into hiding.

...

Morning.

Dawn struggled his way out of the bed. His side stitched up. "Let... me... go... please?" He gasped for breath as Nurse Redheart tried to push the very strong Unicorn back down.

"You are terribly injured. You have to rest and heal."

"You do not understand..." Tears in his eyes. "They will cut Twilight's horn off and rape her, if they have not done so already... I have to try to save her."

Redheart gasped. "How... how can ANYPONY even dream of doing something so cruel..."

"The Earth Ponies who conquered my homeland six hundred and fifty years ago..." He pushed the smaller nurse aside and rose to his hooves. "They called me a murderer... I am not. I will save Twilight without taking any lives." He smiled at the cute nurse. "I thank you for patching me up."

He took a step and felt a little sting in his flank. Looking back he saw a stallion wearing a doctor's coat... and a needle sticking out of his own rump. "That's... cheating..." He collapsed and blacked out.

...

The letter had been sent to Princess Celestia. Twilight's friends knew they could never find the ponynappers on their own and would REALLY be needing help.

Only moments after the letter was sent, Princess Celestia appeared in the Library.

They all bowed quickly before standing and explaining the plight of the Princess's beloved pupil and their dear friend.

"She has been Ponynapped?" Celestia's eyes narrowed, dangerously so.

Pinkie Pie's mane and tail were strait, and had been so sense the realization of just how dangerous things had become for Twilight.

"Where is Dawn Glimmer?"

"He is at the hospital." Rarity answered. "He was hurt really bad trying to protect Twilight."

Celestia nodded. "Take me to him."

...

"Absolutely not." The doctor blocked Applejack from entering the room. "He's sedated and needs his rest. His injury is severe."

"Y'all don't understand. He's the only one who can find Twilight. He done told us he can sense her."

"I'm sorry Applejack, but his injury is life threatening. It got terribly infected with his little stunt of running into the Everfree Forest last night. He's just lucky no predators caught scent of the blood." The Doctor replied, a stern look on his face, which suddenly vanished as he appeared to perform a faceplant.

Applejack was plenty confused till the tall, elegant form of Princess Celestia walked past and entered the closed room.

She followed, with the rest of her friends.

"Dawn Glimmer..." Celestia lowered her horn to his injury and focused her magic. Healing a wound like this was extremely difficult for any Unicorn who knew the spells, but it was no trouble for the Princess.

The bandages flew off, revealing the horrible gash.

Fluttershy whimpered at seeing this, but her eyes stayed locked on as the magic took effect.

The raw red from the infection faded away. In mere moments all she could see was the horrid gash in his side. The cracked and gashed ribs she could see knitted and repaired themselves. This was followed by what looked like the painful healing of the muscle and blood vessels. The injury soon looked far less severe than it had moments ago. Finally, skin started to pull and grow over the wound, making it almost completely vanish, all but for the silver scar.

Dawn's eyes snapped open and he gasped, wincing in pain before it faded away.

His eyes then met Celestia's.

"Go, save Twilight Sparkle. I have healed you and strengthened your magic."

Dawn rose and bowed only his head, then rushed from the room, his eyes glowing bright red.

Celestia looked at the rest of the stunned ponies. "My little ponies, go, he will need your strength to save Twilight."

"Can't you come with us?" Fluttershy asked shyly, having not left with the others just yet.

"I wish I could, but I must prepare for a journey over the Everfree Forest, to Gaea, and put an end to the madness. If those two who took Twilight reach there before you stop them and save Twilight, then we run the risk of an all out war. Here, take these medical supplies with you, I feel you may need them." She summoned a saddlebag and set on Fluttershy's back. "Now go, may you be in time."

The others had already left, so did not hear Celestia's words. Fluttershy nodded and rushed from the room.

(Oh Twilight...) Tears poured from Celestia eyes as she vanished from the hospital. (I can feel your pain... I hope I can heal you.)

...

He moved fast, feeling stronger and lighter than he ever had in his life. He had failed that filly those three years ago. He would not fail Twilight. His heart guided him.

He knew there was four strong and amazing mares right behind him, and one flying above. Somehow they were making amazing time.

The vines and plants almost seemed to move out of Dawn's way, like they knew he had something so important to do that even nature feared his wrath. Whenever they came to a river, there was a fallen log or boulders to help them cross. Canyons all had natural stone bridges or fallen trees to help cross.

Dawn knew they were catching up. The closer he got, the more he started to feel Twilight's pain.

...

"Damn forest..." The tracker scowled as he yanked on the chain attached to the iron collar around Twilight's neck. "Why is it starting to feel like something is trying to slow us down or stop us?"

Twilight had a few choice words she wanted to say, but the muzzle that sick and twisted tracker had put on her kept her from speaking. She wanted to cry every time she saw her horn hanging from around his neck. The cord had been made from her own tail hair as well, not cut, but ripped out.

She would stagger every now and again, only to get painfully yanked along and forced to keep moving.

Then they came to the canyon, a brutal river far below.

"What the hay?" The larger of the two scowled. "I sure as hay don't remember there being anything like this last time we came through here."

"What are you talking about? Last time we were running all over the damn forest hunting that bastard."

"Yea, I know... And I have the feeling that as soon as he can move again, he's going to be coming after that mare you're dragging behind us. She's just slowing us down."

"What do you suggest?"

"Fine,,, Fuck her, then kill her and leave her as a reminder not to screw with us."

The tracker suddenly got a sick gleam in his eyes. "Oh... bout time I get to rut the bitch."

He shoved her down to her knees and slammed her forehead against a rock, right where her horn had been sawed off. He then wrapped the chain around the rock to hold her down.

Twilight's head exploded with untold agony at the blow and she cried in pain.

The tracker then mounted her, biting into the back of her neck and drawing blood. "Nng, so tight..." He grunted as he pressed the tip of his shaft to her most private place.

...

He sensed them before even Rainbow Dash could spot their quarry. He pushed on ahead, almost doubling his speed and crashed through a thick wall of vines. The first thing he was the look of total shock and almost terror on the trackers face as he was biting into Twilight's neck, his eyes locked onto Dawns.

"Shit..." He muttered as the slightly larger unicorn charged full speed, horn lowered.

The hunter jumped off, extending his own hoof-blades before he landed, but he was not as quick as he had been hoping.

Dawn glimmer had rebounded off a boulder, cracking it in half and launching himself right at his target.

Tracker barely manged to deflect the oddly hard, and glowing horn with his weapons, but the connection sent him flying sideways with an unseen force. He slammed into a tree and fell limp.

Dawn rushed to Twilight's side and cried in dismay at all the blood coming from the most evil of wounds imaginable to any unicorn. He spun around and glared, but the tracker was missing.

"Well, never thought you'd have the guts to come after us in your condition." Hunter snickered, then spotted the total lack of a wound. The only telltale sign there had ever been one was the odd, silver streak on his coat. "What manner of witchcraft is this?"

"Our benevolent, kind and wise Goddess, Celestia herself, healed me." Dawn turned to face his hunter. "You and your vile companion... you have done the most disgusting thing you can to a Unicorn... and you will pay for that."

"You and what army?"

"This army."

Hunter looked and paled at the sight of not one, but two Pegasus, another Unicorn with a brightly glowing horn and finally two strong and healthy, and totally ruttable female Earth Ponies.

"So, you've got your concubines to back you up?" he chuckled. "If you so much as make a move to attack me, your little purple mare will die."

Dawn looked down at his hooves where Twilight had been laying, but she was gone. He looked around and saw Tracker, at the edge of the canyon. He was holding both Twilight and her horn, which was mounted onto his dart-bow.

Tracker giggled insanely. "You can choose one and only one. The rutt-toy, or her horn. You won't be getting both." With that, he threw Twilight over the edge to the sharp rocks and the raging river below. At the same time, he fired into the canyon, in another direction, the horn.

"NOOOO!" Dawn rushed to the edge.

But before he could leap after her and pray to his new Goddess Celestia, a cyan and rainbow Pegasus streaked past him, diving for Twilight.

Fluttershy flew as fast as she could after the horn... but could only watch it vanish into the churning water.

Applejack and Pinkie Pie rushed after Hunter, closing on either side while Rarity threw a kinetic bolt at Tracker.

But Tracker was ready, and skilled at fighting Unicorns and their magic. This spell was a lot more than he had been expecting, as his 'native' unicorns had much weaker magic.

Still, he pulled another horn from within his cloak and deflected the spell, at the cost of the horn shattering. "In Celestia's dark name... such insane power." He looked back and then grinned. "Still got one trick left." He grinned and dove off the cliff, falling past Rainbow as she carried Twilight back to safety. His cloak suddenly expanded and folded out, into wings. He glided away, riding the turbulent winds of the canyon.

Hunter on the other hand, was being hard pressed by two strong fighters. While one was very direct, and was splintering trees with her hooves, a downright near impossible feat as far as he knew, the other was attacking with fast front kicks, sticky ribbons that clung to his face and small stones that would make small, and very loud, pops and bangs, as well as mildly disorienting flashes.

He gritted his teeth as his left foreleg was struck by a bone-shattering hind kick from the orange pony.

He gasped in pain and decided it was time to get the heck out of here. He threw down something that created another thick cloud of smoke and vanished into it. Once out of sight, he made use of another trackless potion, escaping these very dangerous mares.

...

Ponyville Hospital.

Twilight was currently heavily sedated and unconscious, which was a blessing. Her injury though, had become infected. With the only Unicorn in Ponyville capable of using the magic potent enough to cure the infection being the victim of it, things did not look good.

The Doctor (not Dr. Whoof) did his best to keep the infection from spreading with what medicine he had on hoof. He had cleaned the horrid wound, something that made this unicorn extremely squeamish.

He finally felt her fever from the infection had stabilized, if not dropped by at least a couple degrees. He exited the OR and into he waiting room, where six VERY worried ponies and one extra very worried baby dragon were waiting.

Dawn was the first one up. "Is... is Twilight going to be ok?"

"Her fever is coming down, thanks to some of the amazing medicines that we've received from Zecora... but I'm afraid there's nothing I can do about her horn. Without the missing piece, I cannot graft it back on..."

Fluttershy cried openly. "I'm sorry I was too slow... I'm useless..."

Rarity comforted the poor Pegasus "Shh, you are not to blame. It was those two monsters who are to blame." She tried to remain calm, but her eyes showed that if she ever got her hooves on Tracker... Well, let's just say, it would NOT be pretty.

Rainbow Dash sat next to a very melancholy Pinkamena (a very nerve wracking time for said Pegasus). "Can we go in and see her Doc?"

"She's sleeping right now, so if you're very quiet, I guess I can allow you a short visit." He glanced back at the room. "Twilight Sparkle is going to need all of your strength and love to pull through this."

Dawn hung his head. If he had taken the time to finish off Tracker... Twilight would have her horn and be on the way to a full recovery. He then thought of something else. He pulled the doctor aside when the mares entered the room.

"Doctor, I have a question."

"What is it?"

"Can you perform... a horn transplant?"

...

To Be Continued...

...

*Please do not flay me, but according to standard myth, Phoenix are all male, so I choose to refer to Philomena as a 'he' rather than as a 'she'. I know in canon Celestia referred to Philomena as a she... which grated on my nerves... ever so slightly.

*This Lil' Miss Rarity has NOTHING to do with the masochistic 'Lil' Miss Rarity' commonly found on some Pony Tumblr sites.

Love and devotion come hand in hand. While love can be shared freely with all, the core of love and devotion can only truly be shared between two hearts.