Inside Carousel Boutique.
While Fluttershy busied herself gathering gems, Ye Ziji engaged in a silent standoff with the Persian cat named Opal.
He sat leaning against the wall, the haughty feline reflected in his pupils, an edge of displeasure lingering in his expression.
Back when he first transmigrated into this world, where hadn’t he thrived and commanded absolute respect?
Yet now, stranded like a dragon in shallow water with his magic depleted, he had fallen so low as to be snubbed by a cat—and over his coat, of all things!
It was the first time in his life he had ever received such treatment.
A mischievous urge to mess with the furball promptly welled up in his chest.
Extending a forehoof, he didn’t reach toward Opal, but instead pointed at a red velvet pincushion resting on the nearby workbench.
Without relying on any overt magic, he simply used the tip of his hoof to give the pincushion a light, deliberate nudge, sending it sliding slowly and menacingly toward the edge of the table.
Opal’s gaze snapped toward it at once.
Her ears flattened back, and the tip of her tail twitched with irritation.
That pincushion was one of her favorite napping pillows!
How dare this insolent Unicorn touch her belongings!
“Meow!”
Opal let out a low, warning growl.
She wanted to pounce forward and bat the cushion back, yet the thought of getting too close to that “unclean” Unicorn made her hesitate.
Trapped in a dilemma, she could only glare at him with furious eyes.
Ye Ziji acted as though he hadn’t noticed her warning at all.
His hoof continued its slow, tormenting pace, inching the pincushion until only a hair’s breadth separated it from the precipice.
“Hiss—ha!”
Opal finally reached her breaking point.
She took a step forward, unsheathing her claws to leap, but remembering Fluttershy’s words, she hesitated again.
In the end, she pulled back; her noble pride refused to let her mingle with “dirt.”
Seeing her so flustered yet afraid to act, Ye Ziji felt his mood brighten considerably.
He retracted his hoof, leaned back against the wall, and closed his eyes as if none of it had anything to do with him.
This petty, one-sided victory had restored a bit of his dignity.
“I… I’ve collected them.”
Just then, Fluttershy’s voice drifted over.
Cradling a soft cloth bundle carefully sorted by color, she carried the generous haul of gemstones over to them.
She offered Opal an apologetic smile and thanked her sincerely.
“Thank you, Opal. You’ve been a huge help. When Rarity gets back, I promise I’ll explain everything to her.”
Opal gave a haughty “meow” in response.
She cast a glance at the now-open eyes of Ye Ziji, her expression carrying a hint of *at least you know your place*, before turning gracefully and leaping onto a tall coat rack.
Curling up, she began licking her paws, acting as though that silent war had never occurred.
Fluttershy let out a sigh of relief.
She led Ye Ziji out of the boutique and carefully shut the door behind them.
Walking down the street, which had regained a semblance of order, Fluttershy offered an apologetic explanation.
“Um… Ye Ziji, please don’t be mad at Opal. She isn’t usually like that. I think she’s just a little nervous… After all, her owner Rarity is missing too…”
She tried to defend the proud cat, chalking up its rudeness to worry for its master.
Hearing Fluttershy’s well-meaning defense, Ye Ziji merely gave a casual shrug.
“I don’t mind,” he replied amiably.
Naturally, his inner thoughts were an entirely different matter.
*Like hell I don’t mind!
The first thing I’m doing when my magic recovers is using wind and water elements to give that furball a completely painless depilation.*
*When the time comes, I’ll make sure that cat experiences the true meaning of “smooth” and “clean”!*
Burying those mildly vindictive thoughts deep in his heart, he accompanied Fluttershy, carrying the heavy sack of hope back to the town square.
The square had transformed dramatically.
The frantic scurrying and screaming were gone, replaced by a tense yet organized bustle.
The carpentry crew was hammering away at the Town Hall doors to reinforce them, the rhythmic thuds echoing through the air.
Mr.
and Mrs. Cake had set up a massive cauldron, and steam from the boiling water rose into the chilly night.
Several nurse ponies were taking inventory of bandages and herbs, while a few Pegasi flew overhead, patrolling the perimeter of Ponyville.
Mayor Mare stood upon the Town Hall steps, overseeing the entire operation.
When she saw Ye Ziji and Fluttershy return, relief and gratitude washed over her face.
She hurried down to greet them, about to express her thanks for their earlier aid, but Ye Ziji raised a hoof to stop her.
“Save the gratitude for later, Madam Mayor,” Ye Ziji said briskly.
“We have more pressing matters at hand.”
He gestured to Fluttershy.
Understanding immediately, Fluttershy placed the large bundle of gems onto the steps before Mayor Mare.
The cloth fell open, revealing an array of colorful gems that glittered enchantingly in the flickering torchlight.
Mayor Mare’s eyes widened in bewilderment as she stared at the brilliant stones.
“Just like the wind-amplification spell earlier,” Ye Ziji explained.
“I can use these gems as a medium to summon temporary elemental creatures to assist us. Now, I need you to tell me: what does Ponyville need most right now? That way, I can allocate these gems properly, summon the corresponding elementals, and set their lifespans accordingly.”
Mayor Mare was utterly dumbfounded.
Her mouth opened slightly, unable to process the sheer magnitude of what she had just heard.
Summon…
elemental creatures?
This went far beyond anything she had ever encountered as mayor.
She had assumed the town-wide broadcasting spell was already the pinnacle of his abilities.
Her breathing turned shallow and rapid—not out of fear this time, but excitement.
She looked from the pile of gems to Ye Ziji’s calm, obsidian eyes.
She realized that this mysterious Unicorn was offering far more than just simple assistance; he was offering the foundation to stabilize Ponyville entirely.
Her mind raced at full speed.
Defense?
Patrols?
Lighting?
Food?
Raw materials?
Demands flooded her mind like a rising tide.
She knew that every decision she made would directly determine whether Ponyville could weather this long, perilous night.
After a protracted, agonizing deliberation, Mayor Mare’s gaze swept across the glittering gemstones and the hopeful faces of the townsfolk.
Ultimately, she settled on the most cautious and stable choice.
“We need light,” she said, her tone firmer than ever before.
“We need light to pierce this darkness. We need warmth to put everyone at ease. We need more food and clean water in case of a prolonged siege. We need the power to heal the wounded, and… materials to fortify our homes.”
She had not chosen direct offensive power; instead, she chose the cornerstones of life and order.
Hearing her answer, Ye Ziji nodded.
The response was well within his expectations and earned the Earth Pony mayor a touch of his respect.
In the face of unknown terror, preserving one’s vital strength was far wiser than lashing out blindly.
“Understood.”
Ye Ziji signaled for Fluttershy and Mayor Mare to step back, granting him ample room.
He walked to the center of the square, tapped his hoof lightly against the ground, and closed his eyes.
Within his parched sea of magic, the few remaining wisps of intent began to stir.
Using the tip of his hoof like a chisel and guided by his mental focus, he began tracing an intricate magic circle across the hard stone pavers.
Through a wondrous resonance, the stone depressed on its own, forming smooth, precise grooves.
Under the astonished gazes of the gathered ponies, a massive summoning array centered around a Seven-pointed star and reinforced by countless runes took shape.
Faced with their awe, Ye Ziji felt no pride—only a helpless sigh in his heart:
*Man, how long has it been since I last had to sit through a cast bar?*
Next, he levitated several gems from the cloth bundle, setting them onto specific nodes around the array.
A large cluster of red rubies rested upon the Fire position; crystal-clear blue sapphires took their place at Water; vibrant green emeralds embedded into Wood; and heavy yellow topazes settled into Earth.
With preparations complete, Ye Ziji’s expression turned solemn.
Drawing a deep breath, he directed the faint glow at the tip of his horn toward the center of the array, funneling his newly recovered trace of magic into it like a spark meeting gasoline.
“Dormant elements, my loyal companions, in the name of the covenant, descend upon this realm!”
Following his low chant, after a minute of channeling, the entire array suddenly erupted in brilliant light!
The Fire node was the first to ignite.
The rubies melted instantly, coalescing into a sphere of scorching flame.
With a flowing mane of fire and burning eyes, it radiated a comforting warmth capable of dispelling the bitterest chill.
Rearing up with a neigh, it dipped its head in a respectful nod toward Ye Ziji.
Ye Ziji had set its duration to three days.
It would serve as Ponyville’s mobile light and heat source, as well as its first line of defense.
Next came the Water node.
The blue gems dissolved into a pool of pure water that spiraled upward, forming an elegant, colossal water serpent.
Its scales shimmered like flowing ripples, and its eyes brimmed with gentle, restorative power.
It blinked at Ye Ziji before gliding through the air, scattering drops of sweet dew over the injured ponies near the medical station.
Their wounds began to knit closed at a pace visible to the naked eye.
Beyond healing the injured, the water serpent would coordinate with the wood element to nourish crops, ensuring a steady supply of food and water.
Its duration was likewise set to three days.
Then came Wood and Earth.
Vines sprouted from the green gems, intertwining to form a towering treant whose arms were sturdy boughs dotted with small, nameless wildflowers.
From the yellow gems, the earth surged upward, mud and stone assembling into a stout, dependable stone golem.
Upon taking form, both bowed toward their summoner before setting off with heavy strides.
One headed toward the outskirts of the woods near Ponyville to gather timber, while the other trudged toward the quarry outside of town to mine stone and ore.
Their task was to supply construction materials, with a duration set to two days.
Four elemental creatures of distinct forms, each radiating miraculous power, now stood in the center of Ponyville.
The gathered crowd shifted from initial panic to shock, and finally to uncontrollable reverence and wild joy.
Watching the fiery foal banish the darkness and feeling the gentle mist of the blue water serpent heal their aches, the terror and despair weighing on the ponies’ hearts began to dissolve.
They turned their eyes toward the unfamiliar Unicorn standing in the center of the array, his frame betraying slight exhaustion, their gazes filled with unspeakable veneration.
Ye Ziji felt little in response to their adoration.
He had experienced such scenes far too many times before.
Instead, the backlash from draining his magic once again brought waves of dizziness crashing over him.
Forcing himself to stay upright, he turned toward Mayor Mare, who was still stunned by the spectacle before her.
“Madam Mayor,” his voice carried a faint, barely perceptible trace of fatigue, “I have already issued their initial directives. For as long as they exist, they will obey your commands. If you require anything of them, simply speak to them directly.”
Snapping out of her daze, Mayor Mare stepped forward eagerly, ready to pour out endless words of gratitude.
Yet Ye Ziji merely shook his head, declining the formalities.
He had no time to waste on etiquette; recovering his strength as quickly as possible was paramount.
Turning to Fluttershy, who had remained silently at his side with a mix of admiration and worry in her eyes, he lowered his voice to a whisper only the two of them could hear.
“Fluttershy, I need you to do me one more favor.”
To keep Mayor Mare and the other townsfolk from worrying, he deliberately maintained a composed facade.
“Take me to the outskirts of the Everfree Forest. The natural elements there are far more active and pure than in town. I plan to meditate there so I can recover my strength faster.”
“The… the Everfree Forest?!”
Fluttershy’s wings shuddered violently, and the color drained from her face.
To any resident of Ponyville, that name was synonymous with the unknown, danger, and terror.
It was a forbidden realm where even pony magic could not exert full control.
Her voice trembled on the verge of tears, practically pleading.
“B-but… but it’s too dangerous there! There are scary creatures everywhere… Do we really have to go there?”
Looking into her fear-stricken eyes, Ye Ziji reassured her, “Don’t worry. With me around, there’s nothing to be afraid of. Besides, we’ll only stay on the outskirts and won’t go deep inside. Trust me, it’ll be fine, and it won’t take long.”
Fluttershy fell into a fierce internal struggle.
Her instincts screamed at her to flee, to put as much distance between herself and that terrifying forest as possible.
Yet her reason told her that the Unicorn before her, having exhausted almost all of his power to protect everyone, now needed her help.
She recalled the commanding figure he had cut while summoning the elementals, and then looked at his pale face and exhausted eyes.
Fear and trust waged war in her heart.
Ultimately, her innate kindness and newly forged faith in Ye Ziji’s strength overcame her timidity.
She gave a firm, difficult nod, as though it took every ounce of her strength.
“O-okay… I’ll take you.”
Seeing her agree, Ye Ziji offered a smile of approval.
Dropping his rigid posture, his body swayed slightly.
Fluttershy reacted instantly, moving in to support him against her side, shouldering a portion of his weight.
And so, leaving behind the hopeful warmth illuminated by the fiery foal in Ponyville’s central square, a dark Unicorn and a butter-yellow Pegasus supported each other, vanishing into the deepening night toward the forbidden forest.