Forgotten Magics

Chapter 6: New EnemiesBy LunarGuard12

Pyrrhic sat in his study waiting for the ponies he had invited to his manor. 'Where are they. My grunts obviously are too incompetent to handle this group.' Pyrrhic moved to his window to looked out upon the ocean and down to the  private port that was close to his manor. there was a knock at his door and his maid Crystal, a simple grey pegasus with a draker grey mane, called in "Master the ponies you called have arrived."

"Good send them up."

"As you wish." and with that she left to go bring them up. 'Finally they are here.' After a few minutes the door opened again to once again reveal Crystal with two unicorns accompanying her, one stallion and one mare. The stallion had a black coat and a red mane with a blue stripe and clear amber eyes while the mare had a white coat and a blue mane with a red stripe and bright violet eyes.

"Ah the Stretto twins it's good to finally meet you. You must be Requiem the shield" Pyrrhic said looking at the black stallion. "And you must be Aria the sword." He said looking to the mare. Neither of them would give him any response "Fine I'll get down to business I need you to kill somepony."

"Who?" Aria asked simply her voice light and delicate.

"A unicorn named Crimson Starburst."

"Where can we find him?" asked Requiem his voice low and smooth.

"He was heading to Baltimare the last we saw of him."

"Then we will start there." The twins said in unison and turned and left.

"I hate mercenaries." Pyrrhic said and Shadow Stalker once again entered after everyone besides Pyrrhic left again. "Shadow I know you're there what's on your mind?"

"It's those two. You hate mercenaries but you hired them why?"

"Because my help is helpless." Pyrrhic said with a sneer "And those two came from a reliable source that they can get any job done." Pyrrhic said unconvincingly.

"Would you like me to send my pet to watch them?" Shadow asked draping herself across Pyrrhic's back.

"Yes that would be a good idea."

Shadow pulled out a silver necklace with a black opal at the end and whispered "Tenebra come." When Shadow uttered those words the room darkened and shadows peeled themselves of the wall and came together in front of Shadow forming a beautiful unicorn mare mare with a dark grey coat, a black mane that was braided down the back and covered one of her dark brown eyes, and a black curved horn adorned her head.

"Yes mistress?" Tenebra asked her voice airy and sounding uninterested.

"Follow those two mercenaries and report back to us in one week." Shadow ordered.

"As you wish mistress." Tenebra said breaking back apart into shadows.

"Are you sure that demon will not be a problem Shadow?" Pyrrhic asked looking to where Tenebra broke apart.

"She is bound fully Pyrrhic. She cannot break her bonds. She is mine to control." Shadow said flipping her mane for no reason. "And you can't deny she has been useful."

"I can't deny that. But that doesn't mean I like using her." Pyrrhic said with a frown. 'And most of the time Demon's hold grudges when they are bound and that does not end well for the ones who bound them.'

**********

"Stupid fool." Tenebra sneered as she followed the mercenaries "She thinks she has complete control but she only does as long as she holds that necklace and even then." Tenebra gave a grin that revealed sharp teeth "She keeps forgetting to word her commands right. She said only to report back. Not report on the mercenaries and I so love giving her a hard time." and she continued to watch the mercenaries from their own shadows the twins completely unaware they were being watched.

**********

"So where are we heading now?" Rainbow asked hovering above Twilight.

"We make one stop before the border and one right next to it then move into griffon lands." Twilight said looking up at Rainbow.

"So whats the first stop?"

"A town called New Coltson." Star said "It's a little town with nothing really around but we need to make the stop to resupply or we could end up running out of food along the way."

"Well that would be bad." Rainbow said. the group had left Balitmare a few days ago and started their long trek towards the griffon border. Rainbow looked to Rig who had all of his packs with him, all three of them one across his back two along his sides. "Hey Rig what's up with the packs?"

Rig looked disdainfully at Rainbow. "What does it matter." He said harshly.

"Geez don't blow a gasket."

"It's his tools." Berry chirped. "He is basically the techy of our group and can make anything."

"Sure he can." Pinkamina said sarcastically rolling her eyes. Rig turned on her and snapped " You can dis me but DO NOT dis my mechanical ability."

"Make me." Pinkamina said staring him down. Rig opened one of the packs and pulled out a steel limb that tappered into a point. "What the hell is that?" Pinkamina asked looking at the strange metal object.

"This is a mechanical arm I made so I can do fine manipulation like a unicorn using their horn." Rig said as he put on the one arm and it split in half part way down and then pulled out a second new limb and put that one on too. "These things are linked to me so only me or somepony who I give permission to can use them."

"How did you manage that?" Twilight asked.

"Me that's how." Star said smiling "A simple ID check spell bound to the activation point did the trick."

"How did you prevent tampering of the spell though?" Twilight asked her curiosity peaked.

"Well the spell has a counter ward over it so any attempt of modification not from me or Rig is voided."

"Well what's stopping someone from removing the spell completely and replacing it with one of their own?"

"Oh that's easy I just-"

"HEY! Trying to shut Pinkamina up do you mind?" Rig interrupted.

"Sorry Rig go ahead." Star said sighing at his friend.

"Thank you now as I was saying I can modify all forms of tech from simple machines to magical devices nothing is to complicated for me to mess with."

"Prove it." Pinkamina challenged with a glare.

"Fine bring me something then and I'll make it better." Rig said glaring back. Pinkamina pulled out the retractable blade she acquired and said "Make this better then." Rig knew how he was going to get Pinkamina back for making him look like an idiot

"If I make this better in less than thirty seconds you have to do what ever I tell you for the next four days and if I can't I listen to you " Rig said.

"Make it twenty seconds and you have yourself a deal." Pinkamina said with a smile.

"Accepted." Rig said with a grin and grabbed the blade out of Pinkamina's grip and immediately went to work the steel arms splitting into ten appendages each and blazing over the blade pulling it apart in five seconds and quickly putting it back together in ten. "Done." Rig stated as the steel limbs fused back together and put themselves at his side. Pinkamina looked over the blade and couldn't see anything changed "Looks like you lose."

"Put it on." Rig said and pinkamina did as she was told "Now point it away from anypony and flick your hoof forwards." Pinkamina again did what she was told and the blade flew off and landed a good distance away from the group obviously improved.

"How?"

"I adjusted the spring and frame so when you flick your hoof while the blade is sheathed, it will be able to fly out a good distance and still be lethal. But if you just move your hoof forwards and don't flick it, it will extend normally"

"Wow that was impressive Rig you out did yourself." Star said.

"Wow that was really cool." Rainbow said looking to Storm who was looking into the distance. "Storm you there?" she said poking him.

"Hm?" Storm hummed.

"What's up Storm you seem a little distracted."

"It's nothing." Storm looked back out on the horizon 'Though he'll be joining us tonight."

**********

Later that night after all of the ponies had set up their camp Storm looked out into the darkness almost as if he was expecting someone. Rainbow moved to his side and asked "Storm you have been staring in that direction for almost an hour now what are you looking for?"

"Not looking for. Waiting for." Storm replied not even looking at Rainbow.

"Well what are you waiting for?"

"Him." Storm said pointing to a yellow dragon that was walking on all fours and stood taller than Celestia.

"Oh my Celestia. Dragon!" Rainbow yelled and took off. The others bolted to where Rainbow yelled then the stallions relaxed as they saw who it was and the girls slowly relaxed as well.

"Hello Ra'toroc." Storm said to the dragon.

"Greetings Za'taheil. I take it you were expecting me?" Ra'toroc asked Storm.

"Yes I thought I saw you in the distance earlier today."

"Ra'toroc what are you doing in this area?" Star asked seeming to know the large dragon.

"Traveling. Like I normally am." Ra'toroc looked at the mares now Rainbow back from her takeoff. "I see you have more ponies traveling with you than normal. Allow me to introduce myself I am Ra'toroc."

"His name means the traveler" Storm said with a smile " and one of the few dragons I can call friend."

"Za'taheil you may not have many friends of dragon blood but you have more friends than most dragons."

"I keep hearing you call Storm Za'taheil. Why do you keep calling him that?" Twilight asked. Rainbow was curious as well and listened in closely.

"That is his name." Ra'toroc simply said.

"Wait I thought his name was Firestorm?" Rainbow said.

"Both are my name." Storm answered "Firestorm is from my father who was a pegasus while Za'taheil was given to me from my mother."

"What does it mean?" Rainbow asked missing the uncharacteristic flinch Storm made.

"It means shifter or one who lives between two." Storm answered flinching again as he said it. Rainbow unable to miss this one because she was looking right at him. Ra'toroc watched both rainbow and Storm watching as Storms face took on a solemn quality 'Unfortunately young one you are wrong. But I cannot tell you the correct meaning. Not yet.' Twilight caught the look Ra'toroc gave Storm but did not question it. The yellow dragon talked witht the group for an hour and a half before looking to the night sky and saying "I should continue on my way." Ra'toroc stood up and looked to Rainbow who had been giving him a look most of the time while he was talking with the group. "Miss Dash I would like to speak with you for a moment." Rainbow slowly stood up and followed Ra'toroc out of earshot of the camp.

"I noticed you could not seem to break your attention from me most of the night. What is on your mind?"

Rainbow kicked a hoof of the ground before asking "Is that what Storm's name really means?" Ra'toroc watched Rainbow as he said "No." and saw how she visibly relaxed "Then what does it really mean and why don't you tell him?" she asked now angry at the large yellow dragon.

"His mother asked me not to."

"What?"

"A dragon's name tells one who they are. My name was given to me after I started to travel the world. His was given at birth because his mother already knew what he would be able to do that no one else can."

"And that is?" Rainbow asked hoping the yellow dragon would slip up and tell her.

"Good attempt but I am bound. He will figure it out if he looked a little closer at what his skin would allow him to do." Rainbow looked back to the camp and saw Storm sitting and smiling with the others. "Can i at least tell him his name doesn't mean what he thinks it is?" Rainbow asked.

"Yes and I encourage that. He won't figure out what it means if he thinks he already knows." Ra'toroc said with a smile 'Tell the others I said farewell." and with that Ra'toroc walked out into the darkness continuing his travels. Rainbow walked back into the camp and sat next to Twilight.

"So what did Ra'toroc want?" she asked.

Rainbow looked to Storm and said "Nothing really but he wanted me to tell everyone goodbye." Twilight knew Her friend was hiding something but didn't want to pry so she left it alone and a few minutes later everyone went to sleep.

**********

The Stretto twins looked to the last known location of the one they were hunting and it looked like a nice little hotel. "This is the last place Starburst was seen and our only lead hopefully we can gather some information here." Requiem said to Aria.

"No other way than to enter and see for ourselves and we might as well stay a night too." Aria replied.

"I see no problem with that since our prey is not on the run." Requiem agreed. The two entered and took in the hotels surroundings. Aria and Requiem like the way the place felt comfortable and at ease. Their line of work didn't allow many points of comfort so they took them when they came and this was one of the places they felt they could relax.

"Oh how can I help you two?" Lemongrass asked with a smile when she noticed the twins.

"We would like to rent a room." Aria said happily.

"Yeah we don't see many places like these anymore. It almost feels like a home." Requiem said honestly.

"Oh mom can I help these ponies?" Cinnamon asked running into the room and almost tripping as he tried to stop.

"I don't know. Do you think you can do it?" Lemongrass asked jokingly knowing he was better at the front desk than she was.

"I can do it." Cinnamon said getting behind the counter and looking over the book for a room. "Found one." He said after only a few seconds of looking. "Room four-oh-two is open." Cinnamon got out from behind the counter "I'll take them to their room." he said.

"Ok. make sure to get their luggage." Lemongrass said from the kitchen.

"Don't worry kid we don't have anything other than our packs and those can stay on us." Aria said smiling to Cinnamon "Just show us to our room and we can take it from there."

"Ok." Cinnamon said and he led them to their room. On the way there he asked the two "Are you two brother and sister?"

"Yep twins actually." Requiem answered "Not many ponies can tell. How did you figure it out?"

"I have a pair of friends who are twins as well and they just fall into step with each other all the time. It's kinda cool seeing them walk at the exact same time matching each other, and you two do it too."

The twins looked at one another and found Cinnamon's statement to be true they were walking in time and they didn't even notice. Requiem looked to Aria and she looked to him and the two laughed. "We're here." Cinnamon cheered to them. The two entered and looked over the comfy room with Cinnamon asking "Do you like it?"

The twins turned to him and at the same time said "Yes." and Cinnamon's smile stretched from ear to ear. After Cinnamon left the twins got themselves settled and started talking about their next move.

"This was the last place Star was but we can't find a lead." Aria said

"Seems that way. We have to pick up the trial tomorrow or we may have one long hunt ahead of us." Requiem replied.

"Why can't anything be easy for us?" Aria sighed.

Tenebra sat in the shadows of the bed and listened to the twins. 'Interesting. These two are not like most mercenaries. I think I can pull a few strings on this one.' she thought before she melted into the shadows of the bed completely unnoticed.

**********

The next day as the Twins were walking along a path they had planed out to look for Star with little luck. After several hours Aria finally spoke something that was on her mind.

"Hey Requiem when will we be able to stop the mercenary and bounty hunter business?"

Requiem sighed "I don't know Aria. Maybe never."

"Do you think we can find somewhere safe to settle down?"

"I don't know."

"Do you-"

"I DON"T KNOW ARIA!" Requiem shouted. Aria looked at Requiem hurt. "I'm sorry Aria. I didn't mean to shout but I'm plagued by the same thoughts as you. I may not voice them like you do but they are there." Aria moved to Requiem and she hugged him. the two held each other like that for several minutes before they heard a voice.

"You two done?"

They both turned their heads to see a black coated pony and three others behind him. Requiem and Aria were ready to kill these ponies for ruining their moment and hoping they gave them a reason. "You two the Stretto twins?" they both nodded. "Good means we found our paycheck." Requiem and Aria both smiled their hopes were answered. After a quick skirmish the four ponies that came after the twins were bleeding out on the ground while the twins walked away.

After the sun had set the twins made a fire and sat around it. "Another group of hunters." Requiem said "Ever since that job in Bittsburg hunters have been coming after us. Must have killed someone important in the underworld there,"

"Yeah but none of them seem to understand we far outclass them." Aria said.

"That you do do you're almost at our level." A third voice said. The twins looked to the voice and found a dark grey mare with a black mane and her curved black horn. "Demon!" They shouted in unison and started to cast spells before Tenebra melted back into the shadows and appeared inbetween the two. "If I wanted to kill you, you never would have noticed me. I come to help you."

"Why would a demon help us?" Requiem asked his horn giving off a harsh amber glow "Demons care for none but themselves."

"Though that is true I came because I have been instructed to follow you but I get bored easily and you would wander for far longer than I am willing to wait so I'll help you." Tenebra said condescendingly.

"So how have you come to help us?" Aria asked her horn glowing a fierce violet.

"I come to tell you where your pray is heading. I had to pull a few strings but I found out he is heading towards the griffon mountains with seven other ponies in his company. I suggest you challenge him and see if he will accept before you try and kill him if you don't you might be outnumbered." and with those final words Tenebra faded into the night sky as if she were smoke.

"Should we trust her?" Aria asked looking to her brother.

"No not trust. But maybe listen to at the least. We have no other leads." Requiem said still looking to where Tenebra faded away. "Get some sleep. We're heading to the griffon mountains tomorrow."

"I'm not going to sleep when a demon just visited us we can walk through the night and sleep in the morning if we have to but your not staying up alone tonight." Aria said with a grin.

Requiem mirrored the grin and replied "I guess we better start walking then."

**********

A few days after Ra'toroc's surprise visit the group had stopped at New Coltston and resupplied and left the next day and after a few days of travel Twilight noticed Rainbow was not flying above the group that day but walking with the group instead. Twilight slowed down and matched Rainbows stride "What's wrong Rainbow? You haven't flown at all today and that's not normal." Rainbow was too far lost in her thoughts to notice Twilight had asked her a question. Twilight poke her in the side and Rainbow's head snapped to the side Twilight was on. "Oh hey Twilight what's up?" Rainbow asked.

"I should be asking you that. You haven't flown all day and that usually means somethings on your mind." Rainbow looked at her hooves. "Remember when that dragon talked to me?"

"Ra'toroc?"

"Yeah him. Well he told me Storm was wrong about his dragon name and that a dragon's name symbolizes who they are."

"Yeah like how Ra'toroc's name meant the traveler and he has been traveling his whole life. So what does Storm's name really mean?"

"I don't know he didn't tell me."

"So why are you worrying about it that's usually me." Twilight said trying to lighten the mood and unfortunately failing.

"Did you see the way he flinched when he said his own name?" Twilight nodded since she noticed the reaction to Storm hearing his name. "He's hurting himself over a name he doesn't even know and I can't help him." Rainbow looked back to her hooves and decided to get off that train of thought for now "So what's Star like? Besides from the fact he's kinda awesome with the tattoos."

Twilight got  light blush thinking about Star and then answered "He's smart, worries about his friends, know more about magic than any other unicorn I know and hans-" Twilight snapped her mouth shut hoping Rainbow didn't catch that last part but the damage was done and Rainbow looked to Twilight with a smile and said "You like him don't you?" Twilight had a light blush and Rainbow snickered which made Twilight snap back "Well you like Storm don't you?" It was Rainbow's turn to blush and the two of them looked to each other and knew what the other was thinking "You don't say anything I don't say anything?" Twilight asked Rainbow who nodded and simply said "Yep."

Meanwhile

"Wonder what those two are taking about?" Star asked Storm.

"Nothing important." Storm said with a smirk.

"You can hear them can't you?" Storm nodded. "Anything I should know?"

"Nope." Storm said making a good impression of a certain red farmpony.

After a few minutes had gone by Storm asked "So what do you think of the girls?"

"Well for starters Pinkamina scares me a little." Star said with a chuckle "Kinda reminds me of the first time I met Rig. Rainbow's cool. She's a great flyer. Pinkie....you know I'm going to pull a Twilight and say she's Pinkie. As for Twilight." Star said his eyes gazing in the distance "She is the kindest, smartest, and most amazing mare I have ever met." Star then realized what he said "Don't tell Rig I said that. He would use that to get what he wants AND make me look stupid."

"Don't worry I kinda like Rainbow." Star looked to Storm surprised that he would flat out say it like that.

"Sooo I'll take that as you won't tell Rig."

"Tell me what?" Rig said coming up to the pair. Star looked to Storm who didn't make eye contact and then looked to Rig and said "Nothing what did you want?"

"I was wondering what the next stop is."

"Oh it's Gallopton." Star said.

Rig froze mid stride then put the hoof he had up on the ground before yelling "WHY THE FUCK DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?"