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Maverick had just finished his fruit palace. He was relieved to have finally made it through all that fruit, but 5 days of not eating meat was beginning to take its toll. Maverick was desperately craving anything with blood: pork chops, chicken, even steak, the one meat he usually hated.

So when Rainbow stepped out of the shower still somewhat damp, Maverick immediately asked "Can we find somewhere that serves bacon tomorrow?"

Caught off guard by the sudden question, Rainbow tilted her head and gave him a confused look. "Bacon?"

"Yeah, like bacon and eggs. I haven't had bacon in forever, like, almost a week!" He pleaded, pouting pathetically.

Rainbow fell for it immediately. "Well of course we can, but what is 'bacon'?"

"Bacon is the gift that the earth has bestowed upon us mortals. It is the single reason that humans can live with even the slightest sliver of happiness in their lives. Bacon is the most divine entity, with the power to crush a million suns in a single instant. Bacon composes the blood that flows through our veins and the air that we breathe. It is known for its miraculous healing abilities and its ability to sustain the body on bacon alone forever if needed. Bacon is the truest form of art, and cannot effectively be depicted by paintings or explained with words. Bacon is perfection in its purest form. Bacon is-"

Maverick finally noticed Rainbow's deadpanned expression and smiled sheepishly. "Um... Bacon is fried pig meat?"

Rainbow rolled her eyes, plopping down on the sofa next to Maverick and causing him to bounce up a bit. "I'll cook you some tomorrow morning. You said 'bacon and eggs' right?"

Maverick's eyes went wide with delight and he lunged forward, holding Rainbow in a death grip. "Oh thank you thank you! You have NO idea how much I miss bacon." He pulled back, his smile a foot wide, and added "Oh, and ketchup!"

Rainbow rolled her eyes and nodded. "Wanna go get it now?"

At Maverick's eager nod, she grabbed a pair of saddlebags, dropped a bag of bits inside and trotted out with Maverick following like an eager puppy.

*****

Luna was waking up from her daytime slumber. The night was still a few hours off, as per the norm, so she decided to find her sister and chat about the recent scientific breakthrough that was making headlines: a pill that voided a mare's heat cycle.

'It'll be the biggest thing since horseshoes.' Luna though as she wandered through the palace, searching for her sister.

She happened upon Celestia as she passed her room, hearing the tell-tail sound of water falling. Having seen her sister in the shower hundreds of times before, Luna was not embarrassed to walk right in to the bathroom, which was easily the size of a normal pony's living room, calling out "Sister, may I join you?"

Celestia's head popped out from behind a shower curtain, and Luna immediately noticed that her sister's mane lacked its usual flowing splendour. Not only that, but her coat was wild and un-groomed, almost as if Celestia had just...

"Oh Tia, looks like somepony forgot to recharge her mane~" Luna sung. "And your coat is so unclean; were you having sexy times with the royal concubines again?"

Celestia's fur, already flush from her shower, did not redden any more than it already was, to Luna's great surprise. "Actually, dear sister, I think you may want to come join me, and I forgot just how... male-like your mane becomes when it loses its lustre."

Luna, now thoroughly confused, trotted over to the mirror. At first she thought her sister must have played a devious and evil prank on her during her sleep, given the state of her coat and mane, and she rushed back to the shower to tell Celestia off when a thought came to her.

"Dear sister, did-"

"Indeed; two weeks, 5 minutes and 32 seconds."

Luna fell back to haunches. "But, but... How, sister?"

Celestia simply shook her head. "I do not know Luna. Whatever the human intends to do, it will be great, although probably not good..."

As Luna silently thought out hundreds of different possible scenarios, Celestia calmly finished her shower, after which she re-cast the spell that gave her mane its ethereal appearance.

"I must go warn my student of the impending disaster. Perhaps she can keep a watchful eye out for the cause of such a catastrophe. I shall return shortly Luna."

With a muffled pop that came with years of practice, Celestia vanished, leaving Luna with nothing to do but take her own shower.

As she lathered up the shampoo and began scrubbing it into her mane, Luna's mind turned again to the potential possibilities that could cause such a massive disturbance in the time stream. She factored in the hatred that Trevor had amassed along with the amount of time he stayed and tried to form some sort of equation. Almost without realising it, an idea began to form in her mind. It was a foolish idea; one that almost certainly would prove to be false, and yet for some reason, as she rubbed her coat clean of all the hair that had grown, she couldn't quite seem to shake it. The idea persisted through her whole shower, and it caused something to stir within her. It was a feeling that she hadn't felt in over a year, ever since the death of Jayce.

The moment she was finished with her shower, Luna burst free of the bathroom and galloped across the castle, intent on finding out if her sister had returned. She was in the main hallways of the palace, which led to the throne room, when she saw the line of nobles filing their way into said throne room.

Luna flew over their heads, all poise left back in the bathroom, and all but tossed the ponies entering the room back out. She instructed the guards to exit as well, declaring that she needed a few private words with her sister.

"What is it Luna?" Celestia asked with mild shock at seeing her sister so zealous in her quest for privacy.

When Luna turned to face her, Celestia saw moisture brimming in her sister's eyes. She also saw a wide smile etched on her face, and couldn't help but wonder if Luna had finally lost it. She had hoped her sister would be able to endure the humans for quite a bit longer than two years, but she had always known that it would be Luna who broke first.

However, when Luna recounted her idea to Celestia, the latter couldn't help a small smile from forming on her lips, and as she thought about the idea, her smile could do nothing but grow as the same feeling that had surprised Luna began to blossom within Celestia's chest as well.

It was hope.

Celestia fought to keep the smile out of her voice, playing the devil's advocate as she asked Luna to recount the whole story again; just to be sure they hadn't missed anything that could signal the impossibility of the idea.

"It went like this, Tia. I was in the shower, washing my mane when I had a thought. The humans who stayed longest typically had a larger impact than those who did not. And the humans who inspired the most emotion also seemed to have a larger impact. However, the only human who truly inspired the ponies with happiness, true, widespread happiness and hope, never affect the time flow, correct? What if happiness also causes a disturbance in the flow? What if it's not just negative emotions, but *all* powerful emotions? What if Maverick is... the one? And that's why there was such a gigantic jump?"

Celestia nodded, then said. "But then, if that's so, why did Jayce not-"

"Not alter the flow? Why would Maverick alter it if Jayce did not? I think I may have the answer to that as well. Perhaps breaking our chains of slavery is also a way to stimulate the effects of the reverse pill? We supposed that was because he had never taken his pill, and we are probably correct, but what if it's because he is going to free us that Maverick had the same effect?"

Celestia swept across the room and engulfed her sister in a bear-like hug. "Oh Luna, could it be?"

The pair shared a long, tender moment of sisterly affection before they parted with large smiles. However, almost simultaneously, the smiles fell, and the sister both spoke at once.

"What do we tell our subjects?" said Celestia.

"What if we're wrong?" said Luna.

They looked at each other in worry, until Celestia came do a decision.

"We must not let anypony know of this. Not only because if we are wrong, it would crush the spirits of our little ponies forever, but also because it would cause pandemonium. For now, I believe it best to keep all plans for the future to ourselves."

Luna nodded to this. "What will you tell the nobles?"

"I will think of something. Quickly now, open the doors so they do not suspect anything." Celestia said, quickly clearing her face of all signs of recent tears and resuming her neutral expression.

Luna was about to open the door when a very loud and insistent banging took place on the other side. "Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, I request immediate entry with dire news."

The pair of pony princesses spared each other a quick glance as Celestia called out "Enter."

The massive doors opened slightly, allowing a trio of guards access to the throne room. While two of them quickly shut the door behind them, the third ran to his sovereign, bowing quickly.

"My princess, we have news from the border."

Immediately, Luna appeared at the stallion's side. Her eyes, which had contained tears of joy mere moments before, were now hard and serious. "What is it, soldier?"

"Ma'am, there is a highly powerful magical presence at the border. It wrote words into the earth itself, demanding that the both of you should meet with it and discuss the terms of the coming war. It also stated that, should it not receive its hearing, it will begin its assault within the week. If I may make a sug-"

The soldier was cut off as Luna hoisted him onto her back. "No time for suggestions, solider. Lead us to the location of this spirit." She said, galloping to the nearest open balcony and taking to the skies, her sister mere moments behind her.

The stallion, who was a unicorn, quickly directed the princess of the night to his post on the wall, unable to supress a strange sense of giddy delight at the feeling of flying on a princess's back.

The trio made quick time, arriving at the border in half the time it would take a regular Pegasi to make it. Even Rainbow Dash would have trouble keeping pace with the alicorns, who alighted on a tower next to a huge gash in the earth.

"Well, that is certainly an effective way to grab somepony's attention." Luna said as she stared down at a giant caricature of herself and her sister.

Celestia released a quick pulse of magic and immediately felt the strong ethereal presence that the guard had sensed. "We will take it from here soldier. Carry on."

The stallion dismounted from Luna's back before saluting. "Yes ma'am. What are we to do if you require out aid?"

The pair of pony princesses smiled back at him, displaying large teeth and an intimidatingly wide spread of lips. "My dear boy, if *we* require help, a legion of soldiers would not be enough to stop the catastrophe that we would be facing down."

With that cryptic display that would cause even the bravest soldier to shudder, Celestia and Luna flew down to the ground, alighting lightly.

Immediately, the pair saw a black aura. Ahead of them, the light seemed to dim in the shape of a sphere. It darkened slowly and surely as the light approached the center, which was a pure, pitch black, like a black hole.

Both princesses stared at the anomaly, both rather certain they knew what was causing it. "You wanted to see us, Darkness. Well, we're here. Talk."

From the center of the sphere, a pair of eyes appeared. They were black, yet easily visible, being blacker still then the aura they floated in. A villainous smile accompanied their apparition. It was a pure white, blinding against the black background, and the teeth were razor sharp, ending in points and crossing like a badly stereotypical cartoon villain.

As the princesses watched, the pitch black sphere began to morph, growing a pair of enormous arms. The centre appeared puny compared to the monstrously huge clawed hands that tipped said arms.

The sphere then morphed a head, vaguely human in shape, but with a muzzle like a wolf. The eyes and the smile shifted forward, ending in what was arguably an acceptable position for them, but seeming dramatically oversized for the head, which was also larger than the center.

Finally, a ghost-like ethereal tail grew, enveloping the sphere and flowing out behind the monster, which was now fully formed. The black specter laughed a deep, maniacal and cliché evil laugh before finally settling down, grinning as his claws dug up the earth, as if to keep him from blowing away.

A voice echoed around the area, seeming to come from everywhere at once. To make it worse, the words all reached the princesses at different times, causing them to hear multiple words overlapping one-other.

"Celestia, Luna, it has been many years my dear archenemies. May I say you ladies appear as stunning as you did during our previous encounter? Stunning being synonymous to hideously overcharged with magical light, of course."

The spirit produced a set of tinted sunglasses, putting them over his eyes. "Ah, that procures me such a measure of comfort..." He floated onto his back, crossing his arms behind his head.

"I see you haven't changed a bit, Darkness." Celestia spat. Just to razz the spirit, she started glowing, allowing sunlight to flow straight out of her body.

Darkness merely shrugged. "Do not think such petty light will harm me, Solar Deity. You know you cannot hurt me. Of course, you are free to try."

Celestia rolled her eyes. "What do you want mongrel?"

"You should watch your language, dear. How would your mother react to such a fowl mouth? Oh, wait a moment; she wouldn't react, would she?" He said, smirking evilly.

Both princesses glared daggers at him.

"Oh, very well... I have come to offer your highnesses a deal. You are aware that a war brews between your nation and that of the Primate and Filth, are you not?" When neither princess denied it, the spirit carried on smugly. "You see, I have personally aided them in their preparations, and even I must admit, they have risen magnificently to the challenge. They shall be ready to match in a matter of days, after which we shall obliterate the holly ground of Equestria."

The spirit paused to nonchalantly clean its claws. "Unless, of course, you agree to my demands."

At once, both princesses shouted in disagreement, followed by a colourful series of curses and insults. "You shall not touch a single hair on the pelts of the elements of harmony!" Luna concluded their tirade.

"I see. I must admit, I was hoping you would be more prepared to give me at least one of them, seeing as she is no longer happy being alive. Oh yes, I'm aware of her predicament." He said as Luna flinched. "You are certain this is your wish? I am convinced you could explain the situation to the other elements."

"Shut up demon! The ponies of Equestria will never let you take their homes!" Luna shouted, stomping a hoof in irritation.

"Perhaps not, but a certain pair of princesses lack the ability to interfere with my plans, do they not?" Darkness taunted as he waved to something behind him.

Instantly, two figures walked out of their hiding spots. One was easily comparable to a giant rat. It walked on all fours, although its front legs ended in something similar to human hands. It had grey fur covering its whole body, which was appeared to be very fat. However, as it approached the princesses, the rat shifted to walking on two legs, and the rulers saw that he, for it was a he, was very powerfully muscled.

Next to him was what appeared to be a very thin and lanky monkey. It had red fur covering its body, and it bounced forward on long arms and legs. It's tail, which was easily as long as its body, thrashed to and fro. Most noteworthy, however, were the antlers on its head. One side was missing most of it, with only a tiny stub to prove it had ever been there. The other resembled that of a deer, with multiple sections like a tree branch.

Both creatures approached the princesses without caution. The way they walked suggested an arrogant confidence, although neither spoke.

"Lady Celestia, lady Luna, meet Lord Carrion." He pointed to the rat, who waved merrily. "And Genera Mantycus." He then pointed to the monkey, who did nothing. "I do believe you 4 have met in the past, but I feel reacquainting is necessary, as it has been a few years."

There was a not-so brief moment of awkward tension as both sides stared each other down. Then, without prompt, the monkey reached into the shade and took out a spear.

"Know what this is?" He said, he voice unnaturally deep and intimidating.

The princesses recoiled at the sight of the spear, wide eyed and angry. "That's a pony slayer!"

The monkey nodded before planting the spear in the ground. "We need land. Pony land is most fertile. We take pony land, by force or by deal."

The rat nodded as the monkey continued. "We ready to march. 3 days until we go, unless we receive demands. We demand land, enough to live on. Ponies will give us land or die."

The monkey pulled the spear of ground again and hefted it. "We know princess can't fight. Ponies are helpless without princess. We come back tomorrow at noon for answer." With that, he stalked off, leaving the rat and the specter.

The rat nodded to the princesses and followed the monkey without a word.

"Such a tragic day. I had hoped that your highnesses would be able to see reason. The poor dears need room to expand their living grounds. Tis unfortunate that the ponies are in control of all the good land in the immediate area."

The specter began to float backwards. "I wonder if your pony army will be able to hold the Primates and Carrions at bay, seeing as you pour princesses are hindered by your... handicap. Good day Lady Celestia, lady Luna."

The shades body dematerialised, shifting back into the form of a black sphere. In an instant, the darkness dissipated, leaving the co-rulers of Equestria alone.

The princesses turned back the way they came and returned to the watch tower. They thanked the soldier for his rapid actions and warned him that he, along with his unit, would soon be relocated. They then refused to answer the plethora of questions he asked, instead taking to the skies again and returning home to the palace. Many of the nobles were still waiting outside the throne room, but they were quickly shooed by the guards at the princesses' command.

"What do we do sister? Our little ponies will be forced to fight for Equestria, and we can do nothing to stop the villain responsible for this." Luna asked. She seemed oddly subdued after their meeting.

Celestia stood silently for a few moments of contemplation. "We cannot yield our home to the other races that live on our planet. As sad as it is, we shall be forced to prepare the army for a war. We did not, after all, assemble thousands of combat-ready ponies just to have them laze around the country."

"But sister, what about us? We can't help them because of the spell we had cast so many years ago. You remember, don't you?"

"Of course I do. You're referring to the spell of binding we placed on Darkness's brothers. I'm aware that it prohibits us from fighting, Luna. What would you have me do; break the enchantment and release ALL of the spirits of evil? Darkness is hard enough to deal with as is, and his power is a mere fraction of what it once was. I'm certain that our army is prepared for this."

Luna looked at the floor in shame at her next words. "I know we assemble them personally, but I had hoped that they would never need to perform their duty..."

Celestia put her wing around Luna's back. "As do I sister, as do I. Do you think you can assemble our forces from around Equestria and inform them to be prepared to move to Ponyville? That is most likely their target."

Luna nodded. "I shall have them all informed by daybreak. What are you doing to do, dear sister?"

Celestia looked up to the sun, which was nearing the horizon. "I need some time to think."